According to the Associated Press, the NCAA’s Basketball Rules Committees is sending a proposal to the playing rules oversight panel regarding the good-ol’ flying-out-of-bounds timeout rule.
“With players holding the ball with two hands, diving out of bounds, there’s some risk of injury,” Larry Keating, the rules committee chair, told the AP. “The NBA had that problem four years ago and dealt with it. I just think it was something that everybody wanted to see and we were willing to do it.”
Another proposal could force Division III schools (oh, and Division II, too) to add clocks that display tenths of a second and shot clocks mounted above backboards by 2010. Will this happen? It might. Other proposals aimed at the NCAA as a whole have been struck down on the basis that they have been inconsiderate of anyone outside of Division I, but this seems like a reasonable request and timeframe.
I say good and good! The “flying out of bounds” timeout makes about as much sense as… Ok, well, it just doesn’t make any sense. And now that we have a “health” reason, then it sounds like it will finally be done!
The clock is actually a pretty smart idea as well. This one seems to make sense too. Especially for opposing players, who aren’t necessarily familiar as to WHERE the clock is, late in the game, knowing how much time’s left is very critical… but I think it will also aid referees, for the same reason. Especially in gyms where the clock is not on the baseline wall, this will make things lots easier.
This also addresses the NBA style/stadium style scoreboards in the middle of the court jutting out of the ceiling. Those scoreboards are such a challenge for the point guards to see without turning backwards.
If a player has the ball and is in the air and hasn’t stepped out of bounds, is he out of bounds? Nope, he isn’t. So why shouldn’t he be allowed to call time out at that point?
A health issue? Give me a break. These are guys that bang around all game long. These are the same people we applaud for diving on the floor (and sometimes out of bounds) for a loose ball, but if they are going to call time out, now we are concerned for their health?
That call should be allowed. If they don’t signal and/or the ref doesn’t hear them, then don’t give it to them. But if a player has the ball and is able to do it before he is out of bounds, then let the call stand.
As for the clocks, those are both good ideas that all schools should implement. The shot clock should be somewhere that people relevant to the game (i.e. the players) can see it and the scoreboard should do tenths because with all of the awful officiating in d3, it gives teams at least a chance to get some time on the clock in certain situations.
WOW!!! I “Rant” about something… and there might be something done about it!!! (http://www.d3hoops.com/dailydose/?p=124)
Now Rusnak – “If a player has the ball and is in the air and hasn’t stepped out of bounds, is he out of bounds? Nope, he isn’t. So why shouldn’t he be allowed to call time out at that point?”
Yeah – but he isn’t in control either!!! To call a timeout you should be in control of more than the ball. You should have control of the ball, yourself, and thus the play. By flying out of bounds with the ball… you are certainly not in control of yourself (especially while trying to contort your body so the ref sees you call timeout) and you’re not in control of the play since you are hurdling out of bounds. There shouldn’t.
A great example of that… if the clock has 4.9 on it, but you can’t see it… many people are going to scream the operator didn’t start it on time because they don’t see the clock change until it has 3.9 in reality. Seeing the tenths allows everyone, including the refs, the chance to see if the clock did indeed start or stop.
Also, some gyms don’t think about the game when mounting scoreboards and shot clocks. By making sure the clock is completely visable to those it matters to the most – the players – they are making sure every team has a fair chance at reading a clock without having to look away from the game at hand.
Finally… maybe we should also add the orange lights to this. Goucher also added these lights behind the backboard and from just one game this year, I can tell you it makes a huge difference. You don’t have guess if the shot was off in time. There is a visable clue that you can see in the corner of your eye from almost any position. It simply eliminates any guess work.
I am happy to see the flying-timeout could go away… and maybe we can get some parity with the clocks at all gyms!
The light-up backboard is one of the things that the rules committee recently attempted to force down Division III’s throat. I support schools moving toward this standard, for sure, but not at the pace at which the rules committee attempted to put in a year ago (or maybe two). D-III schools simply can’t turn on a dime and install such things, but I hope schools budget for it in the near future.
“Also, some gyms don’t think about the game when mounting scoreboards and shot clocks.”
These schools are idiots. You are installing this stuff to play college basketball, put it somewhere that is relevant.
“Yeah – but he isn’t in control either!!! To call a timeout you should be in control of more than the ball. You should have control of the ball, yourself, and thus the play.”
Why? If you have the ball and you are not out of bounds, you should be able to call time out. If you are flying out of bounds and you shoot the ball and it goes in, they don’t take the points away from you for being out of control.
“Finally… maybe we should also add the orange lights to this.”
I’m in favor of the lights as well…and replay off of any video footage in the building. If it captures the play, then use it.