Free Throw Disconcertion
 

If players on the bench yell "Shot" or "Box Out" during a free throw is it considered disconcertion and if so what is the penalty?

No. They would have to do more than that and I am not completely sure that you can "technically" call dissertation for bench personnel. I just do not have my rulebook to know for sure.

Peace

I walked into the teeth of this question several years back.
9-1-3c says, "No opponent shall disconcert the free thrower."
To some, that leaves the door open for penalizing those on the bench of the other team who disconcert the free thrower.
To others, such a violation can only be committed by an opposing player on the court, with an unsporting T, if merited, on the bench for the distractive behaviors you describe.
What's your interpretation?

I've passed on penalizing the bench. If I did, then wouldn't I have to penalize a coach is telling his players to "Box Out" during a free throw.

I don't recall ever calling disconcerting on bench personnel. That being said I have no idea how you wouldn't consider an opposing team member(bench) an opponent.

They would have to do something rather organized for me to even draw my attention. But simply saying "Box out" is not what I would call disconcertion. Now if you say that right as the FT shooter is in their motion or doing only when the shooter is with the ball, then I might consider it. But I do believe there is a case play that addresses this and I am not sure that a violation was the remedy, but I could be wrong on this but I have nothing in my office to look this up right now.

Peace

I know it would t be required but this would get at least a warning first before I would consider a T. They would have to pretty much force me to penalize.

Here is the link to a 2013 thread on the Basketball Forum. The thread is 4 pages long and I get quite riled up later in the thread.

https://forum.officiating.com/basket...ion-bench.html

I would recommend reading the posts by BillyMac and myself: #6, #13, #14, #17, and #18.

MTD, Sr.


P.S. The NFHS and NCAA Men's/Women's Committees have yet to address the definition of "opponent".

Wow, that was quite a thread from '13. Interesting discussion among officiating professionals. It happens quite a bit in the middle school games we are assigned. A quick word to the offending bench has always stopped the problem.

And with lower level games, check the rules of competition. Our CYO league made very clear that disconcertion applied to everyone -- including parents and fans because they wanted to get rid of the behavior.

Our CYO league hasn't gone there yet, but we do get our occasional parent who gets asked to leave for many other "interesting" offenses. Even had a girl ask me last year if I could throw her Dad out. Told her she had to suffer along with me. She said she suffered 24 hours a day and could I give her a break-------ah, from the mouth of babes!