The Scorer's Table: An Official's Friend

     A long time officiating mentor Edgar Cartotto, often described the scorer's table as "either special ed or thieves." Edgar officiated men's Division I for many years before assuming the supervision of the Northeast Conference. An outstanding clinician, Edgar is not soft on words and opinions. What he meant by that quote was that as officials we must be vigilant and ever alert, especially with the scorer's table.

     In a prior piece I commended the outstanding scoring crew at the Crusader Classic at Roselle Catholic (NJ). I also mentioned how a good crew makes our officiating life better. This article will elaborate a little more on what makes a good scorer's table.

     If you have an efficient scorer's table and you are doing the job officiating the game, life doesn't get much better. Unfortunately, you might take care of business on the court but an inefficient crew can really deteriorate your game - especially with fans and coaches - in a hurry.

    On a high school, travel, or AAU game your crew at the very least will be a time keeper and official scorer. Ideally, and frequently, you will have a home and visitor scorer. Before the game we introduce ourselves as officials and remind the table they are an extension of the actual officiating crew. After reviewing a few concepts regarding time outs and notifying us on bonus free throws and disqualifications we may ask if they have any questions.

     From a very basic approach, scorers are asked to communicate on fouls (e.g. 'Her third, team's fifth') and on the score at the end of each period. They must also verify if a field goal near the arc was a two or three pointer per our signal or verbal communication. Time keepers start and stop the clock when necessary and inform us with the horn when a substitute is waiting to enter. Time keepers, especially if an older gym's clock has no area for team fouls, must alert us when a team is in the bonus. Hitting the horn fifteen seconds before a time out expires important as well. 

    Time keepers usually keep the possession arrow as well. That is not a big thing for us as we are instructed to keep possession on the floor and never look at the table on a jump ball - we are supposed to know who gets possession. In some cases an inexperienced timer may ask if they have to keep the arrow. In that situation we will excuse them, saying we keep it on the floor and will handle it.

     A lot of the duties of the crew do not sound extremely difficult. However, they do require a knowledge of the game and concentration. For example, we do not want score table personnel checking phones or blackberrys and texting during time outs; halftime is another story but not during the game itself. There have been scorer's or time keepers replaced by officials after failure to comply following an admonition. 

      A few other points and examples from 23 years (and counting) of officiating basketball....   

     In those two plus decades I have officiated roughly over 3,000 games. If 100 (which I doubt) were nightmares or scorer's table induced headaches that means 97% of the games went smoothly from their end. And that's a good - no great - number in anyone's book.

     High school games will usually have an adult timing and students on the book. I have had crews of all adults or students. It varies. The adult with two students is a good mix as the younger members of the crew follow the lead of the adult, more often than not, running the clock.

     Nothing can drive you crazy like a horn sounding during play with a scorer saying 'ref number 10 (who fouled three minutes ago) has five fouls'. One place - and I will use names - Hoboken (NJ) has a policy of purposely not putting team fouls on the score board. We worked a freshman/JV doubleheader there last year and at least three times were told several minutes after the fact that a team was in fact in the bonus. Again, that sort of scenario tests the patience.

     Patience with table personnel. In the prior situation, we had some crew members going through the motions. If someone makes a mistake but is working conscientiously you can understand. We, especially officials, make mistakes. In that case, we should correct the mistake, point it out, encourage the person committing the error and move on.

     A few years ago I had a pretty good crew in a JV game in Newark. At half time the young ladies on the crew ordered take out. The second half they proceeded to eat chicken during the game. They didn't miss a beat. The scorer's table, though, was a greasy mess by the time the final buzzer sounded.

     Score table personnel are not to root in an outwardly vocal manner and/or criticize our calls. If the latter happens I remind them they are members of our officiating crew and our crew does not stand for dissension. Translated, keep commenting negatively on our calls and you will be replaced.

     Post game, I always thank the table personnel. That thank you goes a long way and they appreciate it. About a dozen years ago I took it farther. I worked at one high school about five times on different levels. I had the same young ladies on the scorer's table. They were students at the school and did a great job. My last assignment there for that season was the team's final home game. I brought a chocolate rose for both of the ladies, They were really flattered and loved the gesture.

    There are thieves out there. About a year ago we were in North Bergen (NJ) and the home team was down one with ten seconds to go. After a time out they bring the ball up, misfire a jumper, get two rebounds, miss both put-backs and after the visitor secured control the horn sounded. My officiating partner and I could not get a good look at the one scoreboard clock. We were focused intently on the final sequence. Suffice it to say, it was the longest ten seconds in modern times. Guess the basketball Gods saw justice to be served. My partner and I verified the final score with the table then jogged off the floor saying almost in unison to one another, "thieves."

     The home book is official. If the books do not agree on fouls or points and you cannot correct it by memory, you have to go with the home book by rule. There are times a score is off by one and the home does not have a three point field goal for that quarter but you and your partner remember it. In that case it can be corrected. There are times I know the visiting scorer is better and more experienced but on a discrepancy, we go with the home. The home book is official.

      Don't be fooled by appearances. For the better part of the Spring I officiate girls lacrosse. The varsity games have a table with a scorekeeper (or two) and timer. Early in April I worked a varsity game at Passic Valley (NJ). The timer introduced herself and I noticed she had about five earrings in each ear not to mention jewelry on her pierced lip and chin. Plus purple hair. I wondered how experienced and/or competent she was. Concerns were quickly eliminated. She knew the game and was simply the best timer I have had in girls lacrosse this Spring. Going back to PV two weeks later I knew, there was a real pro on the scorer's table.

     The best. Burt Shoops is a PA announcer at Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. Burt has a string of over 700 plus consecutive announced men's and women's games at FDU. A sports junkie with a basketball passion, Burt is apt to show at a high school game and keep the clock. Just like a great player makes those around him better, Burt puts the younger table members at ease and allows them to rise to excellence. The joke about Burt is while he's on the clock he not only knows how many fouls and points a player has but his, or her, SAT scores and class rank as well. Burt is simply the best in heading up a scorer's  table crew.

       The scorer's table works in relative anonymity, until something goes wrong. If everything is smooth they barely or rarely get noticed. Except by we very appreciative officials.