Assistant coach misunderstanding

[Adam]

Too much talk, IMO. The one time someone listens, it's the wrong person.

[crosscountry55]

Similar situation for me earlier this season but due to a high ten-count in the backcourt. I'm L opposite the table staying connected because all 10 players were in the backcourt. Loud gym, can't hear a verbal TO request. When I figure my partner is getting close to 10, my instinct is to look toward the bench, and when I did, I saw the HC and AC both standing, and the AC was motioning for the timeout. I didn't grant it, and T calls the 10-second violation. HC is pi$$ed! I had to go talk to him and say, "Only you can stand, and all I saw was your assistant calling the TO, so I couldn't confirm the request." As I'm walking away, AC mutters, "I was only calling it because you weren't responding to [the HC]," who apparently had been motioning and yelling before I looked over. Again, loud gym, so without another set of eyes I'm not sure how much more I could have done.

This is why I'm not the biggest fan of allowing HCs to call timeouts.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

Too much talk, IMO. The one time someone listens, it's the wrong person.

"The things I did not say never hurt me." (Calvin Coolidge)

“Never miss a good chance to shut up.” (Will Rogers)

[BryanV21]

I'll tell head coaches that their assistants can let me know whether they want a 30-second or full time out (after the HC actually calls for a TO), should the HC want to hurry up and get into the TO with his team. I should edit what I'm saying so they know that only the HC can actually request a TO, and that the assistants can only let me know which TO the coach wants.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

... a 30-second or full time out ...

This season, one of my goals was to inquire of the head coach if he wanted a "sixty or thirty" second timeout. Since the two types of timeouts came into existence many, many, years ago, I've been asking "full or thirty", as have many of my colleagues. Our interpreter prefers that we ask "sixty or thirty" so I figured that I might as well do it the preferred way.

Several times already this season I have asked "full or sixty".

I guess that you really can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This season, one of my goals was to inquire of the head coach if he wanted a "sixty or thirty" second timeout. Since the two types of timeouts came into existence many, many, years ago, I've been asking "full or thirty", as have many of my colleagues. Our interpreter prefers that we ask "sixty or thirty" so I figured that I might as well do it the preferred way.

Several times already this season I have asked "full or sixty".

I guess that you really can't teach an old dog new tricks.

That's a good point. In the heat of the moment a coach may get confused between "30 and full". It may be easier to differentiate between "thirty and sixty". I'll see what my partners think of that next game.

Thanks

[JRutledge]

If a coach cannot make that information clear, they are getting a full or 60 second timeout. Usually they make this clear and sometimes the AC will repeat what the coach said. Use common sense and do your job. There is not much else to talk about or tell them.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

If a coach cannot make that information clear, they are getting a full or 60 second timeout.

By local interpretation, that's how we handle it here in my little corner of Connecticut. We don't go digging into the huddle to get an answer.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

In the heat of the moment a coach may get confused between "30 and full".

Maybe, but I guarantee you that he will get even more confused by "full or sixty".

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

That's a good point. In the heat of the moment a coach may get confused between "30 and full". It may be easier to differentiate between "thirty and sixty". I'll see what my partners think of that next game.

Thanks

If he doesn't understand the difference between a full or 30, even in the heat of the moment, he probably shouldn't be coaching. There isn't going to be a decision that is going to be much easier for him.

I ask them once. If they don't respond, than I will make the decision for them, they will be charged with a full timeout. Especially if it is going to eliminate a media timeout.

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by johnny d

If he doesn't understand the difference between a full or 30, even in the heat of the moment, he probably shouldn't be coaching. There isn't going to be a decision that is going to be much easier for him.

I ask them once. If they don't respond, than I will make the decision for them, they will be charged with a full timeout. Especially if it is going to eliminate a media timeout.

There's no harm in dumbing things down for some people. I hate catering to stupidity, but in some cases it just makes my life easier.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by johnny d

If he doesn't understand the difference between a full or 30, even in the heat of the moment, he probably shouldn't be coaching. There isn't going to be a decision that is going to be much easier for him.

I ask them once. If they don't respond, than I will make the decision for them, they will be charged with a full timeout. Especially if it is going to eliminate a media timeout.

I tell them in pregame, "let us know on timeouts so we don't have to guess."

If I have to guess, it's a full.

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by johnny d

If he doesn't understand the difference between a full or 30, even in the heat of the moment, he probably shouldn't be coaching.

I think you missed the point. The difference Billy is talking about is "full" and "sixty." Like him, we're taught to say "sixty," and not "full."

What's the difference? In NFHS, all time outs are full. They all have a time limit, 30 or 60 seconds. I believe the term "full" came from the NBA, when they started having 20-second time outs. "Full" has just stuck with most, over the years.

Either way, if a coach says "full," he didn't say "thirty," so you have to give him a sixty.