New NFHS Mechanics?

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

Our assigner of officials and the guy in charge has said we will be using two hand mechanics this year. So excited.

Did they say if this was a national change or just unique to your area? I'm praying for the former.

[crosscountry55]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Did they say if this was a national change or just unique to your area? I'm praying for the former.

Me too. With a little practice it's ridiculously easy to master. Just set up your right hand with the tens digit as you move toward the table. If need be, score the basket with your other hand and then *poof* up go the fingers.

I have heard the real NFHS roadblock has been over concern that high school table personnel cannot process a two-hand signal, especially if the official is still walking toward the table while reporting. I think that's a weak position and pretty demeaning to table personnel. All of this, "stop, be rigid, put up one hand, stick your hand straight out" stuff makes me feel like a robot and slows down game flow. I've largely abandoned it and don't really care if some purist evaluator downgrades me for it.

If I can tell the table is inexperienced, sure I'll slow things down for them. But I shouldn't have to assume that they're dense and slow because usually quite the opposite is true.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

... NFHS ... stick your hand straight out ...

IAABO signals actually say not to stick your hand straight out, but rather, to signal the player number off to the side. This change was made a few years ago. If I recall correctly, the change was made because it was thought that holding up fingers in front of a vertically striped jersey could lead to mistakes by the table crew.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

IAABO signals actually say not to stick your hand straight out, but rather, to signal the player number off to the side. This change was made a few years ago. If I recall correctly, the change was made because it was thought that holding up fingers in front of a vertically striped jersey could lead to mistakes by the table crew.

As one with experience on the other side of the scorer's table, I would agree with this concern. As a scorer, I've had officials flash the numbers so quickly in front of them, their fingers blend in with the stripes, making it difficult to see on occasion and prompting the question, "Who was the foul on again?"

As an official, I try to report using a hand off to the side--on the side of offending team's bench if possible--to help make it easier for the table crew.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

As one with experience on the other side of the scorer's table, I would agree with this concern. As a scorer, I've had officials flash the numbers so quickly in front of them, their fingers blend in with the stripes, making it difficult to see on occasion and prompting the question, "Who was the foul on again?"

Just for the other side of the coin -- when I have scored, I have found it easier to see the fingers in front of the stripes than when the signs were off to the side -- in the latter, the fingers would blend in with the crowd in the background.

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

IAABO signals actually say not to stick your hand straight out, but rather, to signal the player number off to the side. This change was made a few years ago. If I recall correctly, the change was made because it was thought that holding up fingers in front of a vertically striped jersey could lead to mistakes by the table crew.

This is the first instance I can think of that makes our grey pinstripes more practical than black and whites.

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by SC Official

Did they say if this was a national change or just unique to your area? I'm praying for the former.

I don't think they mentioned either way, just that we should use two hand mechanics. Sorry.