Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. wroteLast weekend on the three hour drive across the State of Ohio to officiate in the State Special Olympics Basketball Finals, Daryl Long and I were discussing the "not closely guarded signal" in basketball. I said it was a stupid signal because if I am not visually counting it means that there is no closely guarded situation. My position on the basketball signal lead to a discussion as to why do we need to signal a foul tip.
We came to the conclusion that a foul tip signal is not necessary becasuse when a foul tip occurs, the ball remains live, so why do we need to signal a foul tip, just signal a strike and an out if it is strike three?
Any comments.
MTD, Sr.
I agree that it's generally not needed. I stopped using it several years ago and only restarted because of "negative feedback".
It is needed it the swing isn't obvious -- I ended a play in a D-3 game last week when a batter may have swung, but was also trying to get out of the way of an inside pitch -- but it didn't matter because the ball hit the bat and went sharply and directly to F2's mitt and was caught. So, here I gave the foul tip signal and then the strike signal.
Finally, it's different from the "not closely guarded" signal -- without it, the coach doesn't know whether you're not watching the play or are watchinbut judging the difference to be greater than 6' (3' in NCAAW). S/he doesn't know whether to discuss your mechanics or your judgment.