Fight in HS girls game

[RefBob]

Originally Posted by Pantherdreams

Seemed to be managed fairly well (for a basketball fight) and much better than some videos that have arisen over the year.

Seems to be conflicting reports whether officials/game management caused the game to end early. Not sure why game ended and was forfeited. Was not an all out brawl, players didn't leave benches. I'm not there so don't want to second guess the first hand knowledge but would like to know why game ceased.

This has been my rookie year, so I have certainly appreciated the veteran advice. My question is should the one official have intervened to try to break up the fight? Especially to the point of ending up on the floor, on top of the players, trying to pull them apart? I always thought that physically intervening in a fight is the last thing that an official wanted to do. Thanks.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by RefBob

This has been my rookie year, so I have certainly appreciated the veteran advice. My question is should the one official have intervened to try to break up the fight? Especially to the point of ending up on the floor, on top of the players, trying to pull them apart? I always thought that physically intervening in a fight is the last thing that an official wanted to do. Thanks.

I will try to intervene in the early stages and IF I think I have a chance. Once it appears that it's out of my control, I'm out.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by deecee

I will try to intervene in the early stages and if I think I have a chance.

Against high school girls? C'mon deecee, man up.

(I wouldn't go near that scrum with a thirty-nine and a half foot pole (with apologies to Dr. Seuss).)

[Bad Zebra]

Wow...that's ugly. And to quote the movie Anchorman..."That escalated really quickly". I've watched the video three times and I'm trying to decide whether the L did the right thing by jumping on the pile early to try to stop it. In all likelihood, he probably prevented some injuries...those three looked like they were going to tear each other apart. I'd be interested to know how the State viewed his response. His partners seemed to do I good job keeping the benches out of the fray but I wonder if they were able to get all the numbers of participants.

I honestly don't think I would have jumped in that way...especially a girls game. With cameras everywhere and lawyers aplenty, somebody would look to extract a pound of flesh and the officials are always an easy target.

[Hawkeyes]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

I honestly don't think I would have jumped in that way...especially a girls game. With cameras everywhere and lawyers aplenty, somebody would look to extract a pound of flesh and the officials are always an easy target.

These situations can be complicated, and videos like this may not help our ability to recruit young and new officials...
TBS: Reasonable minds can consider a scenario where their own kid were being beaten during a basketball game by an opponent; and how they'd choose to deal with the adults closest to the action and/or the adults responsible for the safety, fairness and sportsmanship of the game.
No weapons or expert martial artist involved here - just high school kids.


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[Hawkeyes]

Originally Posted by RefBob

This has been my rookie year, so I have certainly appreciated the veteran advice. My question is should the one official have intervened to try to break up the fight? Especially to the point of ending up on the floor, on top of the players, trying to pull them apart? I always thought that physically intervening in a fight is the last thing that an official wanted to do. Thanks.

Breaking up a fight or doing nothing as #34 is beating the head of red #2 may have the same consequences - depending on the lawyer "they" hire. If your state doesn't address this: Just do the right thing!


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[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Hawkeyes

Breaking up a fight or doing nothing as #34 is beating the head of red #2 may have same the consequences - depending on the lawyer "they" hire.

Before I retired from teaching, teachers were told that if they allowed students to fight without, at least, making an attempt to break it up, that we could be sued if the participants were severely injured. The only option for us to not intercede was if we were concerned for our own safety. I sure hope that this doesn't apply to basketball officials as well.