[Mark Padgett]

I helped out a friend by taking an 8th grade girls elite (top competitive level) game at the last minute last night. My partner was someone new to me, but he called a very good game overall.

With only about 45 seconds gone in the game, I was waiting for a girl to retrieve the ball which had gone into the next court so we could have a throw-in. I was on the corner of the side line and the end line diagonally opposite the visitor's bench. I heard my partner blow his whistle and turned around to see him giving a T to the visiting coach and then making the "you're outta here" signal. The coach just stared, then picked up his stuff and walked out. I went over to my partner to get the skinny.

Apparently he heard the coach say very loudly to one of his players, "The next time she pushes you, punch her right in the mouth until she stops."

My partner said that qualified as flagrant unsportsmanlike conduct, since the coach was directing a player to physically assault another player.

I said, "ooooo kay" and just let it pass.

What do you guys think?