RULE NO. 2—OFFICIALS AND THEIR DUTIES
Section VIII—Duties of Timers
a. The timers shall note when each half is to start and shall notify the crew chief and both coaches five minutes before this time, or cause them to be notified at least five minutes before the half is to start. They shall signal the scorers two minutes before starting time. They shall record playing time and time of stoppages as provided in the rules. The timers shall be provided with an extra stop watch to be used in timeouts, etc., other than the official game clock or watch. The official clock or scoreboard should show 12 minute periods.
b. At the beginning of the first period, any overtime period or whenever play is resumed by a jump ball, the game clock shall be started when the ball is legally tapped by either of the jumpers.
c. If, after time has been out, the ball is put in play by a throw-in or by a free throw, the game clock shall be started when the ball is legally touched by a player on the court.
d. During a jump ball, time may not be reduced from the 24-second clock or game clock if there is an illegal tap.
e. The game clock shall be stopped at the expiration of time for each period and when an official signals timeout. For a charged timeout, the timer shall start a timeout watch and shall signal the official when it is time to resume play.
f. The timers shall indicate with a controlled game horn the expiration of playing time. If the timer’s signal fails to sound, or is not heard, the timer shall use other means to notify the officials immediately. If, in the meantime, a goal has been made or a foul has occurred, the crew chief shall consult the timer. If the timer agrees that time expired before the ball was in flight, the goal shall not count. If he agrees that the period ended before the foul occurred, the foul shall be disregarded unless it was unsportsmanlike. If there is a disagreement, the goal shall count or the foul shall be penalized unless the official has other knowledge.
g. In a dead ball situation, if the clock shows :00.0, the period or game is considered to have ended although the buzzer may not have sounded.
h. Record only the actual playing time in the last minute of the first, second and third periods.
i. Record only the actual playing time in the last two minutes of the fourth period and the last two minutes of any overtime period or periods.
j. Timers are responsible for contents in Comments On The Rules—Section N.
