I wonder that every time I work a league with a running clock that stops on FTs. It's about as useless as a screen door on a battleship.

The key difference here is there IS a running clock. That is, if you're in running time, you call a shooting foul, and no-one requests a time-out, the clock runs during the free throws. How is this any different after a time out? I say the most fair time to start the clock is when the ball becomes live.

Didn't think about chopping time in, though. That's an amusing observation. I usually (not always) chop time in after a throw-in during running time, but only to keep good habits, and it's usually a half-hearted chop. The timekeeper ignores these signals, anyway.

The problem I've seen with a running clock and FTs is that a team can deliberately delay on the FT (both getting to their spots, which has no time requirement, or in shooting the FT) in order to get more time to run off.

That wouldn't be such a big deal when the running clock rules only kick in for blowout situations. However, for rec-league type games that are normally running clock through most of the game, I've seen teams game it at the ends of quarters or even at the end of a game before the stop clock in the last 1-2 minutes segment kicks in.

Screen Door Would Keep Out The Mosquitoes On A Battleship ...
 

Submarine?

You mean submarine?

Maybe, but there are ways to deal with it as officials to prevent delaying the game.

Back to the Future reference. Part II, I think.

So, if there is a throw-in, you start the clock immediately also?

Good point. I guess I could say the ball is live and in bounds for free throws. Besides, you can't score directly from a throw-in.

Awarded Points ...
 

You almost can. Defensive basket interference on a throwin where the ball ends up in the imaginary cylinder. Could be considered indirectly from a throwin?

In the one league my organization officiates, yep. As soon as the thrower has the ball, the clock starts again.

Someone got it.

As long as it is consistent. And if it is not consistent, then each situation needs to be clearly spelled out.

Does that also apply to the throw-ins that begin each quarter/half?

Yes it does in that one particular league. As soon as the thrower has the ball is his hands (or taps it after a bounce pass from the official) to begin the throw in, the clock starts. The league admins feel that the more the clock runs, the faster the games get over. If a team delays coming out and getting ready to play after a timeout, they want the officials hitting the whistle and putting the ball down. Once that happens, the clock starts.

That is a lovely set of house rules.