We are trained to follow NFHS protocol and guidelines - see my post above (#40)

NFHS 2015-2017 Basketball Officials Manual

page 11

1.4.3.C. Should a fight occur, use your voice and whistle to gain the attention of players.

1.4.3.D. Do not touch, hold or grab players - both for your own safety and for liability concerns.

1.4.3.E. One official should remain away from the action and observe non-participating players and bench personel.

Clear enough?

Given this guidance, one would be opening himself up to a lawsuit if he or she were to ignore the guidance and start playing a role for which he or she is not trained. If your day job is a cop, by all means, feel free to step in (with deference to your department's guidelines). But if you're a banker or a lawyer or a teacher, I recommend you stick to the NFHS guidelines.

Serious question: Do you have any idea what you're talking about or just saying whatever comes to mind?

There is infinitely more that can go wrong in most situations if you get involved than if you just watch. You can claim random events about people having to go to court to defend themselves because they only observed. This just isn't true. You can't compare NBA events to HS events when money amounts change litigation procedures.

If a player gets injured at the HS level they will be going after the assaulter or the school. Why would they ever care to waste there time going after an official? Especially since I'm hoping most officials pick up there phone and then are done.

Telling officials to observe instead of break up fights is substantially better advice at the high school level.

I've tried to parse these sentences 5-6 times and have no idea what you're trying to say.

It honestly seemed pretty clear to me. Whether you agree with his statements or not, I'm not sure which part is unclear.

Paraphrased:
If a player in a high school game is injured in a fight and his parents decide to sue, they're going to go after the school or the person who actually assaulted the kid. there's no point in wasting time going after the official, especially when most of them will simply need to make a phone call to NASO or their state association for legal representation.

RefHoop:

Was the lawyer Alan Goldberger by any chance?

MTD, Sr.

Thanks for translating that into English. The logic is still horrible, but at least I now understand what he was trying to say.

I actually agree with the logic, although it doesn't make one immune to the possibility of a lawsuit

Having means (i.e. NASO insurance) makes you more likely to be named in a lawsuit, not less. Plaintiffs and their lawyers go after cash - from anyone that MIGHT be liable. They don't care if you, State Farm, NASO, or someone else has to pay. Whether or not the litigation impacts your life is another matter altogether.

Nice. This principle made its way up from the last page of the officials manual to page 11 this year.

Yup!

My state has said that we are not to get involved in breaking up a fracas.

That's all the guidance I care about.

[QUOTE=Dad;974259]Serious question: Do you have any idea what you're talking about or just saying whatever comes to mind?

Yes, putting someone's name on a lawsuit is not too big deal, particularly if the kid is injured bad enough...

https://cdn.streamable.com/video/75a...dd987e691a.mp4

Imagine this being your kid.

https://youtu.be/iBXzVvOxzDk

What's your point? I would never be working my kids' games, and if I was a fan I certainly wouldn't be suing the officials for not getting involved.