BatteryPowered |
Mon Feb 01, 2016 02:12pm |
Oh wise ones of the court...
Give me your thoughts.
In the girls varsity game I called last Friday between two private schools. we had a situation about mid-way through the 4th quarter. The gym only held about 300 in the stands but the running track around the top was three deep...and the place was loud. Nobody was ejected so there was no need for me to file a report.
I was at trail, table-side, (with 8 of the players on that side of the court) when there was a quick cross-court pass and the player for the home team drove the basket from the C primary area. There was a foul called on #45 from the visiting team by the C…I think it was a double whistle (L and C) but not sure. The game had started getting “a little chippy” and the crew had called several fouls in a fairly short period of time so after the foul was called I just stepped down and watched everyone while the foul was reported rather than immediately start moving to the other side (remember, almost all of the players were table side). This was the 5th foul on the visiting team player and as she started walking toward their bench she used her arms to “pump up” the fans of her school. I made immediate eye contact with her and said “Don’t do that” as I shook my head no. About the same time, someone from their bench behind me said “Just get off the floor.” Given the noise in the gym she may not have heard the words but I know she saw me. She then looked me in the eye and did it again. I immediately assessed an unsporting technical.
After the initial foul was reported, I moved next to the table and reported the T (or at least started reporting it). The head coach for the visiting team immediately started protesting the call. After I finished reporting I answered his “what did she do” question and told him that I would not let anyone incite the crowd, especially after a warning, and in my opinion that is what she was doing. He commented that it “was a district game” and suggested that I look at the score…then added we should let “the players decide it.” I told him she had made a decision and we were finished discussing it. Before I could go tell my partner at L what we needed to do he said “So you’re going to decide the game?” I looked at him and said “Coach, don’t go there. We’re done.” However, he immediately said “So you have decided who will win.” With that, I called a T on the coach of the visiting team and successfully made my “escape”, told the partners what we had and moved to the other side of the floor.
At the time all this happened, the visiting team was up by 6. The shooter for the home team hit all 6 free-throws, then they made a basket after the throw-in to take the lead. Home team called a time-out a few seconds later when the ball went off them out-of-bounds. We got together as a crew, discussed the situation and finished the game without further incident (home team won by 3 after visiting team missed two 3-point attempts in the last 10 seconds).
A few minutes ago the head coach of the visiting team left me a voicemail. He asked that I give him a call so we can discuss the technical that were called. I am of the opinion he knows why they were called and I have nothing to gain be continuing the conversation.
I would like your opinion on if you think I am correct in not wanting to call him. I also welcome your feedback on the above sequence of events…understanding you were not there and only have “my version”.
I have sent this message (except with actual school names) to our association President wanting his input and will wait to here from him...but I would still like input here.
|