R's -- keeping track of TO's on the fly

[parepat]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Yes, I write it all down -- qtr. and time -- but I'd like to get some ideas on how to keep track of TOs for each team so I can immediately say on the mic, "TO, __, their __ charged TO of the half." My memory alone just won't serve me and I don't want to make an error on the mic.

Ideas or what do you guys use?

And I thought I was the only one. Since I face the pressbox while announcing,I have my line judge indicate how many time outs remain. Likewise, on penalties he indicates the next down. It is amazing what the brain will forget in the middle of an announcement. A quick glance at the LJ solves the problem.

[Texas Aggie]

But I can signal to stop the clock (assuming my crewmates have not done so already), pull the card, see the #, put the card back, face the pressbox, hit the mike switch, signal TO, point to calling team and announce "Timeout by Jefferson, that is their 2d charged timeout" in 5 seconds. Is that too long???

Yes, it is. I'm trying to streamline the process.

[Canned Heat]

My crew notes the time and quarter on each TO as a group immediately after they are called and I have anoounced who called and which TO this is in the period. BJ has Ready Ref timer just started or running at this point and then I gather with the Ump, BJ creeps in to confirm count and we share that all around the board. Between maybe a brief discussion with my UMP or BJ who may or may not mention something they've seen during the course of the game, we will all look at each other and confirm how many are left for both teams with fingers in the air from the wings pointing to each side with fingers showing who has what left...and I'll have the wings tell the coaches the TO's remaining for his team and the opponent, if they ask. Late in the game they will usually just inform them of both teams' status.

In the event you forget...yanking the card is a safe bet. I know guys that use baseball ump clickers to keep track, as well. I think double down markers would drive me nuts, but if it works, it works.

[Texas Aggie]

The problem with yanking the card is that I use the Honigs "book" style with their card. I would have to pull it out, open it up, pull the card out (if its on the back of how I put the card back the last time), THEN put the card back in, close it, put it in the pocket, then give the signal. That's 6-8 seconds. I've been looking for a better bookkeeping option, but that's what I've used for years.

The clicker is not a bad idea, though. I may look into a lap counter of some sort as well.

[JugglingReferee]

If you're a basketball referee, you're taught in some lands to simply remember the timeout situation.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

If you're a basketball referee, you're taught in some lands to simply remember the timeout situation.

That's what I've been thinking for this entire thread: in basketball you have 5 for each team, and they come in 2 flavors!

But we football officials have to remember enforcements, and you can remember only so much...