The new regulations also state that only players in the game or the head coach have the authority to request a timeout. If, on the other hand, an assistant coach asks a timeout and the request is incorrectly granted, the timeout is valid and there is no penalty or other consequence.
In other words, assistants do not have the power to call timeouts.
However, they can communicate a need for a timeout to the player-coach if appropriate. For example, if the opposing team is about to run a specific play and the defense seems confused, the assistant might signal this by shouting "timeout!" to get his player's attention before pointing out the situation on the field. The player will then know why he is being told to leave the game and will have more time to react when his coach gives him the all clear.
Timeouts are used to stop the clock during certain situations. For example, if a defensive player is injured and needs to be replaced, the coach can ask for a timeout before selecting a new player. Or, if the coach believes the opposition is trying to steal a victory by hacking at goalposts with their hands, he could ask for a timeout to give himself more time to make sure it isn't allowed.
There are two types of timeouts: dead and live.
A timeout can be called by a coach or any player on the field who is involved in the action. A player on the sidelines is not permitted to call a timeout. Do coaches use television timeouts?
Television timeouts are used extensively in sports such as basketball, football, and hockey. The referee will blow his whistle, which signals the start of each period or game, and immediately after he blows the ball will drop out of sight behind the goal line or under the hoop. At this point, the players on the floor are required to stop what they are doing and stand still for 10 seconds while the television camera focuses on them. After 10 seconds, the ball will be reset for another go-around.
Coaches use timeouts to get their teams organized before an important play, change tactics on the fly, or avoid a penalty. Timeouts are also used during replay reviews of plays that are scored or could have been scored. The referee will signal for a video review of the play and will usually give the team with possession of the ball five minutes to respond. If there is a change made during the review, the coach can ask for a new timeout to be issued.
Timeouts are beneficial for coaches because they give them an opportunity to communicate instructions to their players and adjust their strategy without violating the rules.
When a player or coach requests a timeout, the official must recognize the request and stop the clock. The official will keep track of how long the timeout is and restart play when it expires. Referees also control when teams can replace players in order to minimize unwanted game interruptions. For example, if a player gets injured and needs to be replaced, the ref will usually call a time out to allow for this replacement.
There are three types of timeouts: dead ball, replay, and technical. A dead ball timeout is called by either team when the ball is out of bounds. Examples include when a player is injured and has to be taken off the court or when a player commits a foul outside of playing time. Dead ball timeouts last for five minutes unless canceled by either party. At the end of that period, the team that called the timeout may substitute another player.
A replay timeout occurs when there is a dispute about whether or not a shot was made or not. For example, if a shooter aims at the basket but misses the mark, the opponent might call a charge on him if he believes the shooter intended to shoot. In this case, the referee would signal for a replay by raising his hand above his head while saying "replay". The opposing team receives a timeout as well as any coaches on that side of the court. Once the replay is finished, then the game can continue with 12 men on the court.
The rules let any player on the field to call a timeout; however, this rarely seldom occurs. Coaches cannot call a timeout.
Only players on the floor are allowed to call timeouts in the NBA. Players and coaches may only call timeouts when the ball is dead or when their team has exclusive control of the ball. A coach may not call a timeout while an opponent player is shooting a free throw, even if the clock is stopped.
In other words, coaches can't call timeouts unless it's beneficial for their team. For example, if a coach calls a timeout when his team has the ball and goes on a 20-point run, that would be considered good coaching. If a coach calls a timeout when his team has the ball and doesn't do anything with it, that would be considered bad coaching.
Timeouts are useful in basketball because they give coaches a chance to regroup their team and plan new plays. Without a timeout, coaches have only 5 minutes to make adjustments on the court during game time. This means that they need to come up with new strategies in a short amount of time otherwise their opponents will win or lose before they get a chance to make changes.
Coaches also use timeouts to communicate plans to their players. For example, if a coach wants to switch everything but the right corner backcourt pair so that his team can run some specific plays, he would tell his assistant coach this through the timeout. The assistant coach would then relay this information to the players on the bench so that they could make the change without confusing things up front.
However, a timeout can be announced over the public-address system by an assistant coach or manager during free throw practice or during a stoppage in play to allow players time to reach their positions on the court.
Timeouts are used to communicate important information to the team during critical moments of the game. For example, a coach may use the timeout to tell his players where to go on the floor or what defensive strategy to use after a change at the end lineup card. Timeouts are also used as opportunities for players to get into a good shooting position before the end of the shot clock.
A player can ask for a timeout any time he wants by shouting "timeout" or using a signal gun to alert his teammates and opponents that he needs a break. The referee will stop the game to allow the timeout to be called, or the coach can call it himself without stopping the game. Once the timeout is called, the coach can instruct his players where to go on the floor or what defense to run next. He can also give them instructions while they're waiting for the other team to resume playing.