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Tony,
Please allow me to clarify my ultimate point. I'm not advocating that we use such a rule (or interpretation as it currently stands), but I believe that the combination of empowering the official to take action by having such a rule in the book and the coach knowing that a penalty CAN be assessed in such a situation provides the necessary impetus for the coach to ensure that his bench personnel behave properly.
Of course, it should be used judiciously, and it is probably best wielded as just a threat rather than actually employed. However, in my opinion, having it be that way is greatly preferable to declaring that if the official can't pinpoint an individual offender then nothing can be done about it.
That is my belief as to why the rule exists in both NFHS soccer and NCAA basketball.
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