:confused:

You made me curious - why not? When is the visible count required?

In NFHS, silent and visible counts are required by rule (rule 2-8) for throw ins, free throws, backcourt, and closely guarded. So no, you should never have a 5 second count in your head or call a violation for such without having a visible count.

Had a 10 second violation call the other day where I didn't visually indicate every second. A1 inbounds the ball. I get to 4 seconds and the defender bats the ball away from the dribbler. I have a lapse in concentration and stop my visual count as players are diving on the floor for a loose ball. As I closed down on the play anticipating a held ball, A2 recovers and I realize that team control in the backcourt never ended, but I was certain that at least 3 seconds had passed. So I resume my count at 7 and eventually have a 10 second violation on A.

But to answer #2, I can't think of a reason I would want to do this. But I'd rather apply the rule correctly even if it didn't look good.

Nicely stated. I stand corrected from an earlier post about the rules not addressing the visibility of the count.

But I also completely agree with HokiePaul's perspective. I would do the same thing in that situation. Visibly count as often as you can, but using good judgment there may be times here and there when you skip a few arm strokes.

Don't worry. Typical AR MSU.

To Me, NCAA Rules Are Harder To Understand Than Rocket Surgery ...
 

As was I. Thanks.

Send Me A Contract ...
 

I want to work for that coach.

Visible Count ...
 

Maybe twenty-five years ago you would have been "the only one who knows". In 2014, almost everyone in the gymnasium has a video camera, pretty much anyone with a cell phone. Johnny "loses" the game on a late in the game ten second backcourt violation, and the next day Grandma emails the coach with proof that there were only eight visible counts.

It happens to me a couple of times each season. Sometimes it takes me a few seconds (brain fart) to realize that there's a closely guarded situation. I give it four visible counts, and call the violation knowing that it was probably six, or seven seconds. Someday, I'm going to get caught red handed on "Candid Camera". Hopefully I can explain it away by concentrating on the actual time rather than on the visible count.

So what? Assuming the count was reasonably accurate, the video will also prove that. The lack of a visible 10 second count puts nobody at a disadvantage.

Still A Good Idea To Have A Visible Count ...
 

Already got it covered:

This is the statement that I was questioning:

I agree. It's different than a 5 second count, in that there's no "closely guarded" judgment involved. Everyone knows you have 10 seconds to get across the line. With 5 seconds, it's assumed that if you're not counting, then the player isn't in jeopardy.

Not Closely Guraded ...
 

We (Connecticut IAABO) did away with the "not closely guarded" signal (it looked like the sixty-second timeout signal) this year after using it for a couple of years, for the exact reason stated by Adam.

This is what happens when you browse with multiple tabs open! I thought you were replying to this thread, where no official count is required during the second of three free throws. I am terribly sorry and have deleted my erroneous comment.

I certainly hope "MSU" doesn't stand for "making shit up" and very much doubt that I am "typical" in any relation to that statement. I always try to base my replies on rules and expectations, not fabricate responses to make myself look like I know what I'm talking about. I am confident my post history confirms this and am sorry you think this is typical behavior from me. I will try to avoid such mistakes in the future.

Last season, in one of the few HS games I worked, I completely forgot to do a ten second back court count. I was too used to going by the shot clock, that using a count did not even register, even after I looked up to make sure the shot clock was running (which it wasn't, since there wasn't one). After what was probably 12-15 seconds, I looked up again, and finally realized there was not a shot clock, and I was screwed because I wasn't really keeping that good of a count in my head. A second or so later, the offensive team got the ball into the front court, but the entire last few seconds the defensive coach was screaming for 10 seconds. I would have been completely guessing, so I did not make the call. When I got in front of the defensive coach, he asked how there wasn't a 10 second violation on that possession. I told him I screwed up, was doing college mechanics out of habit and forgot to count expecting to be able to use the shot clock. I told him I would make sure it didn't happen again. He said thanks for the explanation, and we moved on.