Time-Out Quiz

[CoachRob]

Team A has used two time-outs in the first half of an NFHS game, one in each period.

During the half-time break, and with both teams at full strength, coach A notices his star attackman A1 is not dressed, having had to use the “facilities” during the intermission. The ref informs both teams they have 20 seconds to restart play for the third period.

Coach A, realizing A1 will not be ready in time, requests a team time-out.

1. Is team A entitled to a time-out?
2. If "Yes", how long does team A get?
3. If "No", WHY not, and how is play restarted?

[eme]

Remember that timeouts called during a break between periods are charged to the preceding period. I.e. the coach has no more TOs left in this scene.

Here is what I would do.

1. Lower-level hs game. With my hand on my beeper (which is still running down its 20 seconds) I'd say, "Coach, you have no more TOs. You need a third attackman up here." If an attackman comes on out quickly, I will turn off my beeper and away we go.

2. High-level hs. game. "Coach you have no more TOs; you used them in the first half." Keep my hand on my beeper with one arm in the air (dead ball signal so my partner doesn't start FO)and wait and see if a third attackman quickly materializes. If he does and it looks like it's going to be close, I will shut off the beeper, and away we go. If no one materializes, I will let the beeper go off, signal delay of game and award ball to other team at center X (and here I will wait until theyhave that third guy in the attack box...I won't penalize them twice).

[LaxRef]

2. High-level hs. game. "Coach you have no more TOs; you used them in the first half." Keep my hand on my beeper with one arm in the air (dead ball signal so my partner doesn't start FO)and wait and see if a third attackman quickly materializes. If he does and it looks like it's going to be close, I will shut off the beeper, and away we go. If no one materializes, I will let the beeper go off, signal delay of game and award ball to other team at center X (and here I will wait until theyhave that third guy in the attack box...I won't penalize them twice).

I guess I'd be inclined to call the technical foul for delay of game, award possession to the other team, pump my arm, yell "timer's on" and start my beeper, and penalize them with a 30-second technical if they still didn't have a full team on the field by the time the buzzer went off. This may be because they really drilled into me how important it is to keep the game moving when I was learning to officiate.

In any case, if they can't put a body on the field during that additional 30 seconds or so (including time to signal the first technical and then award the ball), they I think they deserve a penalty.

[Snake~eyes]

Remember that timeouts called during a break between periods are charged to the preceding period. I.e. the coach has no more TOs left in this scene.

Here is what I would do.

1. Lower-level hs game. With my hand on my beeper (which is still running down its 20 seconds) I'd say, "Coach, you have no more TOs. You need a third attackman up here." If an attackman comes on out quickly, I will turn off my beeper and away we go.

2. High-level hs. game. "Coach you have no more TOs; you used them in the first half." Keep my hand on my beeper with one arm in the air (dead ball signal so my partner doesn't start FO)and wait and see if a third attackman quickly materializes. If he does and it looks like it's going to be close, I will shut off the beeper, and away we go. If no one materializes, I will let the beeper go off, signal delay of game and award ball to other team at center X (and here I will wait until theyhave that third guy in the attack box...I won't penalize them twice).
We don't even use beepers at youth level! lol But I would pretty mcuh do what you say.

[LaxRef]

We don't even use beepers at youth level! lol But I would pretty mcuh do what you say.

We don't require them for HS, but usually the referee is experienced enough to have one, and I figure, hey, I paid for the darn thing, so I'm going to use it to keep the game moving.

If you don't have one, I'm not sure how you sell the delay of game calls to keep the teams moving.

[Laxref_36]

High School games (Varsity and Junior Varsity) should have officials with timers. It teachs that you, as a coach or as a player, need to be ready at all times. If we don't learn this basic tenent of being prepared at the high school level, we are really going to be really lost in the college game.

I find that after the first delay of game call against a team, that coach has a tendency to make sure all his or her players are Equipped properly and Ready to play.

Laxref, you are correct, when the game moves along at a good pace it benefits players, coachs and even officials.

[LaxRef]

High School games (Varsity and Junior Varsity) should have officials with timers. It teachs that you, as a coach or as a player, need to be ready at all times. If we don't learn this basic tenent of being prepared at the high school level, we are really going to be really lost in the college game.

I agree that they should have timers. However, working in Pennsylvania, you probably have a reasonable expectation that varsity officials will pony up the $45 for timers. Where I've worked, sometimes we're lucky to get new officials who are willing to buy the right shorts! :chuckle:

Seriously, if you have severe officiating shortages, which I think are common outside the mid-Atlantic region, you have to remove as many impediments to officiating as possible. Telling a new guy who wants to try out officiating that he needs $300-$400 worth of equipment is going to discourage a lot of new guys! The more experienced guy will usually have a beeper and do all of the beeper work.

Where I've worked, we've tried to let new guys buy their gear over a few years. Realistically, by the time they become COC officials they should have everything, but I've known some guys who've been working forever that still didn't have long-sleeved jerseys (in Minnesota, no less!) or mesh. I've even run across a COC guy or two that didn't have a beeper!

Personally, I've got everything, plus extras (no extra beeper, though, so don't ask to borrow one if you forget yours!).

[Snake~eyes]

I agree that they should have timers. However, working in Pennsylvania, you probably have a reasonable expectation that varsity officials will pony up the $45 for timers. Where I've worked, sometimes we're lucky to get new officials who are willing to buy the right shorts! :chuckle:

Seriously, if you have severe officiating shortages, which I think are common outside the mid-Atlantic region, you have to remove as many impediments to officiating as possible. Telling a new guy who wants to try out officiating that he needs $300-$400 worth of equipment is going to discourage a lot of new guys! The more experienced guy will usually have a beeper and do all of the beeper work.

Where I've worked, we've tried to let new guys buy their gear over a few years. Realistically, by the time they become COC officials they should have everything, but I've known some guys who've been working forever that still didn't have long-sleeved jerseys (in Minnesota, no less!) or mesh. I've even run across a COC guy or two that didn't have a beeper!

Personally, I've got everything, plus extras (no extra beeper, though, so don't ask to borrow one if you forget yours!).
Same here, I think its better to be well equipped, I have everything I need. Many officials do not buy beppers or jackets because they can be very expensive, the jacket is nice to wear before the game. We are not suppose to wear jackets during the game unless weather conditions arebad. I have a couple pair of shorts, shirts(long and short) and everything else. Also I just bought 5 pair of socks for $1.33 each online.

$1.33 x 5 = $6.65
The price for one pair in many magazines.