A Merited T . . . or Not?

[so cal lurker]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

I player cannot "fake being fouled" since a foul is a judgement about level of contact made by the official. A player could fake contact that doesn't actually happen, but that its only a foul once its called. If I've recognized there was no contact then there is not a foul call. A player can't fake being fouled, since you only refs can determine if you are fouled.

I think you're over thinking this part -- I don't think this is unclear. The player can fake the contact or the effect of the contact to make the referee think it was a foul. I don't think it is there for regular game events but for the you-have-got-to-be- $%$%-kidding-me scenarios.

I've seen it called exactly once, in a high school game I was watching and happened to have a perfect angle. Defender faked to draw a charge with a huge groan and flop. Unfortunately for the defender, the referee was a the right angle to see there was a full foot of space between the two players when he went down in agony . . .

[Pantherdreams]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

I think you're over thinking this part -- I don't think this is unclear. The player can fake the contact or the effect of the contact to make the referee think it was a foul. I don't think it is there for regular game events but for the you-have-got-to-be- $%$%-kidding-me scenarios.

I've seen it called exactly once, in a high school game I was watching and happened to have a perfect angle. Defender faked to draw a charge with a huge groan and flop. Unfortunately for the defender, the referee was a the right angle to see there was a full foot of space between the two players when he went down in agony . . .

I get that they mean faking contact to try to get call but that is part of my point. If precision of language is going to be of importance to application of the rules be precise.

In terms of calling a T. I think you can call someone if they've faked when there is no contact and they go down or grab at their eye etc. Clearly making stuff up.

I think if there is contact I can come up with almost no scenario in which I would T up what I considered embellishment. How kids respond to pain/contact/impact and their level of toughness/desire to get hit/ how they choose to absorb contact are all too individualized. I'm letting it go. Worst case scenario I ask them to stay on their feet or be less theatrical.


I've been in a gym where it was called once. Was a bad call. We had a player who was dropping back to floor at any bump in the chest. My partner had warned him for 'flopping' asked me to keep an eye on it and T if it got bad. 2nd half offensive player gets elbows up high on a pivot and kid goes down like he's been shot. Partner blows whistle and T's him for flopping. Kid stands up and spits blood and part of a tooth on his shoe and gets tossed.