Jump Ball Survey

1. Haven't really nailed down a routine. I usually point directions for everyone's benefit, especially mine.

2. Check the clock. Look at each partner. Loud and long tweet. Drop whistle and move to toss.

3. I toss with one hand. I keep the ball at the same level in my hand while walking in and go straight up from there. No dipping down to tip off the jumpers (see what I did there?).

As an aside, I hate talking to the jumpers or players around the circle prior to the toss. I don't want to start the game being overly officious. I do the bare minimum required by rule; once I start going in to toss I don't stop unless there is obvious movement by a player who shouldn't be moving. The jump ball only happens once a game, assuming the R is doing his job correctly. The faster we get the ball in play the better.

PS: In the last two weeks I have both been jacked in the face by a jumper's elbow and chopped in the nuts by a jumper's knee. Not my lucky month. (And no, the incidents had nothing to do with making sure the jumpers were far enough apart).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I hate talking to the jumpers or players around the circle prior to the toss. I don't want to start the game being overly officious. I do the bare minimum required by rule.

From my article Things Officials Should Probably Not Be Saying In A Game:

"Hold your spots", said by the referee, or tosser, before the jump ball, is only rule based for some of the players. One exception to this rule, and there are others, is that players on the jump ball circle can move off the jump ball circle at any time: before the toss, during the toss, or after the toss.

"You can't stand behind him”, stated by the referee, or the umpire, before a jump ball, to a player who is directly behind an opponent, both whom are ten feet off the jump ball circle, is not rule based. The rule that players can’t stand behind, within three feet, of an opponent, only applies to players on, and within three feet of, the jump ball circle. Players farther back than that can stand wherever they want, as long as they get to that spot first.

[JRutledge]

And you know what some of us feel about that article.

Peace

[Toren]

I only talk prior to making my approach and that is to check with my partners that they are ready. "Ready?" They usually give a thumbs up or whatever.

I then check the clock and ask them if they are ready.

I blast my whistle for the 20+ in attendance (that's not 20,000, just 20).

Then I walk into the circle, usually two feet short of the jumpers, and I toss the ball two handed with a slight forward movement so as to reach the jumpers.

After the toss, I make sure the time has started, arrow set and I settle into the trail.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Toren

After the toss, I make sure the time has started, arrow set, and I settle into the trail.

Good points.