Dead Ball Technical question.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

This is why I've always been trained that the calling official should not be looking away to see the arrow. Off ball official should glance up if need be, but the on ball official shouldn't look anywhere else until the players are separated.

We almost never look at the table arrow. Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we're taught, from the get go, to keep an extra whistle in our pocket, and to switch it every time the alternating possession arrow changes.

We're all really good at this. This past week, as the umpire, I forgot (a rarity for me) to switch my whistle after the third/fourth period intermission alternating possession throwin. The next held ball, I felt for the whistle in my pocket, and came out with a direction, and a color. My partner immediately corrected me, and a quick look at the table arrow confirmed my error. With two whistles, and an arrow, two out of three almost always wins. If we have to, we'll throw some memory into the mix.

Also, there's no arrow at the table for all of my Catholic middle school games, the pocket whistle is the official arrow. When my partner and I can't agree, which very seldom happens, we use our memory, and my partner almost always remembers better than me.

Now, I am not suggesting that others use this procedure (When in Rome ...). All I know, is that it's the way we've done things here since 1985 (possession arrow adopted). Rookies are taught that this is the correct "local" mechanic, and they are expected to do it. All 325 of us are expected to do it. Maybe because it works. "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" (Thomas Bertram "Bert" Lance, 1977).

Even then, if we still screw up, we just tell the coach that we'll be sure to give him two of the next three arrows, and he'll be totally satisfied.

[Freddy]

Official(s) tableside ought never turn around to look at direction of the AP arrow...ever. Official opposite table with most convenient line-of-sight to the table gives a quick glance, then gives directional signal. Other official(s) pick up on that to prep for next throw-in. Maximum amount of time with all eyes on players as possible.
Of course, when in Nome, do as the Nomans do. Just so heads aren't unnecessarily turning away from potential dead ball action areas.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Official(s) tableside ought never turn around to look at direction of the AP arrow...ever. Official opposite table with most convenient line-of-sight to the table gives a quick glance, then gives directional signal. Other official(s) pick up on that to prep for next throw-in. Maximum amount of time with all eyes on players as possible.
Of course, when in Nome, do as the Nomans do. Just so heads aren't unnecessarily turning away from potential dead ball action areas.

Exactly

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

We almost never look at the table arrow. Here, in my little corner of Connecticut, we're taught, from the get go, to keep an extra whistle in our pocket, and to switch it every time the alternating possession arrow changes.

Good advice for those who live in specific corners of Connecticut. Not so much for the rest of us.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Adam

Good advice for those who live in specific corners of Connecticut. Not so much for the rest of us.

Thus,

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I am not suggesting that others use this procedure (When in Rome ...).

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Adam

Good advice for those who live in specific corners of Connecticut. Not so much for the rest of us.

The amount of misplaced pride in an area so clearly still in the mid-80s amazes me. 2-man, wearing belts, carrying an A/P binky in the pocket...

I started in the 1980s too. I've changed with the times.

Official opposite the table look when convenient. After all the crap is over. There's no hurry to signal direction, after all.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

The amount of misplaced pride in an area so clearly still in the mid-80s amazes me. 2-man, wearing belts, carrying an A/P binky in the pocket.

The "Belt Era", in my little corner of Connecticut, may soon be over.



There was an unannounced change in the Handbook of IAABO (International) 2014-15. Please note the differences below:

Handbook of IAABO 2013-14
Page 2: IAABO Uniform
The approved official uniform established by the Executive Committee of IAABO shall be:
1) Long black slacks

Handbook of IAABO 2014-15
Page 2: IAABO Uniform
The approved official uniform established by the Executive Committee of IAABO shall be:
1) Long black pants (beltless, and not tapered)

This unannounced change is on our local board's agenda to be discussed at the next business meeting.

We're gonna party like it's 1999.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The "Belt Era", in my little corner of Connecticut, may soon be over.

Please tell me IAABO has also banned members from mentioning the "b" word in online forums??

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by AremRed

Please tell me IAABO has also banned members from mentioning the "b" word in online forums??

Only if it's "tapered".

Originally Posted by Rich

... wearing belts ...

"We Didn't Start the Fire" (Billy Joel, 1989).

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Rich

There's no hurry to signal direction, after all.

I once hurried this directional signal and popped a player right in the face.

[frezer11]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I once hurried this directional signal and popped a player right in the face.

We've had previous threads on this forum discussing coaches who are out a step or two on the court during a live ball. Well an illegal screen (team control signal) by a table side C can remind them in a hurry that they are to be on the sideline!! I almost caught a coach clean on the jaw once, he actually leaned back, Matrix-style to avoid it, falling on top of his assistant coaches!! Needless to say, he did a pretty good job of staying back after that....