PC signal sequence

[kstiles99]

So I've been looking at a bunch of nfhs game footage and I've seen many versions of the PC foul signal. Most guys put about 10 short blasts of air in the whistle and come out with their left hand and kinda draw back and punch real energetically with their right fist. During camp they tell us to put in 1 short blast of air with a regular fist in the air. Then put the hand behind your head say "offensive" and point with that same hand in the other direction. So I'm really drawn between these two. The correct mechanic is the last one I described.. I know. But the first mechanic is easily understood by everyone, most officials do this, and it looks so much cooler. (I know we're not out there to look cool, but this motion looks more fluid and crisp)

So tell me what you think, and what you do in your games! Thanks.

[Rich]

One whistle, punch with my left.

Hard to reallly look convincing using the mechanic you describe.

[BillyMac]

It has always been my contention, for the past thirty-four years, that there are as many player control foul signals as there are members of a board, or association. For some reason this signal, more so than any other, is a chance to "do your own thing".

My suggestion is to do what the best officials in your local association, or board, do; or go with what your mechanics manual (NFHS, IAABO, etc.) states. You probably can't go wrong either way.

For me (Mr. Boring, Vanilla, Conservative, BillyMac), I follow the IAABO mechanics manual:

Sound whistle, fist in the air to stop the clock, hand behind the head for player control foul, verbalize "Player Control", point in the direction that we will be going, and then point to the designated spot.

I only use the punch for a "true" team control foul (i.e., illegal screen). Not all player control fouls are also team control fouls.

But if the best guys in your local association, or board, use the punch for player control fouls, then it's not the worse thing that you can do to follow suit.

"When thou art at Rome, do as they do at Rome." (Miguel de Cervantes)

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Not all player control fouls are also team control fouls.

Is that a correct statement? I might deserve a "Doi!" on this one, but are not all player control fouls also team control fouls? Not all team control fouls are player control fouls. I get that. (Go easy on me...I'm in the last hour of a twelve hour work day right now, so I reserve the right to be wrong on this one)

[Freddy]

I've always considered the "punch" the directional point for a TC foul. Does anyone ever throw this pugilistic signal in a direction other than the way the ensuing play is gonna go? I mean, does anyone ever punch toward the play or the other way or toward OOB?

[constable]

Originally Posted by Freddy

I've always considered the "punch" the directional point for a TC foul. Does anyone ever throw this pugilistic signal in a direction other than the way the ensuing play is gonna go? I mean, does anyone ever punch toward the play or the other way or toward OOB?

Nope. If I'm calling a TC foul I punch the way we're going. I'll throw in a block or a push signal ( the 2 most common) when I report, and then punch the direction again.

If you punch one way and point the other you'll confuse the hell out of each other.

[bballref3966]

Originally Posted by Freddy

I've always considered the "punch" the directional point for a TC foul. Does anyone ever throw this pugilistic signal in a direction other than the way the ensuing play is gonna go? I mean, does anyone ever punch toward the play or the other way or toward OOB?

I go fist up, then punch the opposite direction at the spot. When I'm reporting, I normally punch towards the table while saying "team control foul" and then give a strong directional point with two fingers. I don't think the NFHS necessarily "wants" the punch to be used as a directional, but I don't think they care if you do use it that way. I was taught that the TC foul signal is a "fist forward."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

I've always considered the "punch" the directional point for a TC foul. Does anyone ever throw this pugilistic signal in a direction other than the way the ensuing play is gonna go? I mean, does anyone ever punch toward the play or the other way or toward OOB?

The most common type of team control foul that I call is the illegal screen. I will do the punch in any direction that I happen to be facing, usually toward the play. I don't see anything in the mechanics manual (IAABO for me) that suggests to punch in any particular direction. What does the NFHS mechanics manual say?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

... but are not all player control fouls also team control fouls? Not all team control fouls are player control fouls. I get that.

Airborne shooter has released the ball, ending team control, but then plows into a defender's torso, a defender that has obtained a legal guarding position. No team control but there can still be a player control foul.

Now go back to work. You're getting paid to make widgets, not to surf the internet.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Airborne shooter has released the ball, ending team control, but then plows into a defender's torso, a defender that has obtained a legal guarding position. No team control but there is still player control.

An airborne shooter is not in player control as (s)he is not holding or dribbling a live ball. An airborne shooter may commit a player control foul, however.

[Rich]

Some of you talk way more than I do. I likely say nothing at the spot and "red 25" at the table and nothing more. Signals do my talking.

[mtn335]

Originally Posted by Rich

Some of you talk way more than I do. I likely say nothing at the spot and "red 25" at the table and nothing more. Signals do my talking.

I say "Offense!" at the spot on a PC, every time. This is not a conscious decision on my part. It just seems to come out.

-------

I worked my first state tournament in March. Half a dozen guys in my association always make the "grand tour" of state sites, watching 1st-round games at the 1B/2B site in Spokane (where I was), semifinals of 1A/2A in Yakima, and finals of the big schools in Tacoma. One of these guys charts the fouls in every game he watches (including here) and makes comments on the sheet as the game goes on. This guy is a veteran official but not a playoff-level official, and his comments have a reputation for missing the point sometimes.

In my first game, I had a PC for a push-off as C in transition, maybe 10 feet into the frontcourt. Pretty easy call, the girl got her arm out in front and flattened the retreating defender.

Now, I'd been focusing for a month on perfect NFHS mechanics specifically for this tournament, because the observers who help determine the finalists are known to mark guys down for "that college shit". So when this foul happened: fist, hand behind head, yay! And then for some reason I punched instead of pointing. So...remembered to add the one, forgot to subtract the other. (I like how it looked on film though!)

Well, the observer told me later "Great PC signal!" but the guy from my association wrote "NOT NFHS CHARGE MECHANIC" in giant letters on his little sheet. Left me chuckling.

(End of the story: got my final; head observer said my signals needed more personality but acknowledged that my "robotic" (his word) precision may have helped me get the game. Heh)

[Rich]

My goodness, I'm so thankful I can make the call without worrying about signal sequence and all that nonsense.

I assign and I couldn't possibly care about this stuff. You can get every signal right and if you get the call wrong you will always be rated below the guy that punches and gets it right. At least with me.

[JetMetFan]

Interestingly, in the IAABO manual the description under the TC signal reads:

"Team Control (not a punch)"

So...I've just shot my arm/fist directly above my head and now I'm supposed to move that same arm/fist in front of me. I guess I'm supposed to drop it straight down like it's Thor's hammer or something instead of punching?

[constable]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

Interestingly, in the IAABO manual the description under the TC signal reads:

"Team Control (not a punch)"

So...I've just shot my arm/fist directly above my head and now I'm supposed to move that same arm/fist in front of me. I guess I'm supposed to drop it straight down like it's Thor's hammer or something instead of punching?

I've often wondered about that. Then I remember it is more IAABO nonsense and I stop wondering.