The play described below is provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on NFHS rules. NCAA rulings may be different.
Team A is leading 52-51 with 36 seconds left. A-1, who was dribbling the ball, has the ball batted away by B-1. During the scramble for the loose ball, the official thinks he hears a timeout request from Team A’s head coach and sounds his whistle while the ball is still loose. Team A’s coach had not requested a timeout.
Handle the situation.
This is an inadvertent whistle. This creates a point-of-interruption situation. By rule, although the ball was loose, Team A still had team control. Under the rule governing point-of-interruption situations, the ball will be awarded out of bounds to Team A at the spot nearest to where the ball was located when the whistle was sounded.
(References: Rule 4-36-1, 4-12-4, 4-36-2a)
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Very Interested Play. This Play could happen, we as Officials need to make sure there is ball control
before we grant a Timeout. Thanks.