In 2- or 3-person games, at least ONE official should ALWAYS stay out and look for numbers and players. In my pregames we always cover this, no matter what. Goes something like . . .
OK guys, if we have a situation where there is a fight or flagrant act, the closest official(s) can go in and try to break up the fight. The official that is farthest from the fight, and has the best general perspective to what is happening across the entire area of the floor, holds tight to get numbers of anyone who participates in the fight or leaves the bench. Make good mental notes so we get the offending players off the floor.
I know it is not the same situation, but I use the same philosophy for handling jump balls too. Closest official goes in to get the jump ball called. The official farthest from the action holds tight to make sure that no "funny business" is happening between any of the players at or around the same time.
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