No padding on backboard

[jas4yf]

Originally Posted by so cal lurker

What did you do?

We ended up playing - though I will add I do agree in hindsight that we likely should not have.

Neither of us had run into an issue like this before and were not exactly sure what our jurisdiction was in a playoff game. CIF had awarded this school a home playoff game, and they had played here all season. While I think we would have been 100% justified in refusing the coaches' requests to play, we were a bit at a loss for what to do.

Both coaches wanted to play and were adamant none of their players were athletic enough to get anywhere near the rim (this was a game between two small schools), the visiting team had traveled over 2 hours and did not want to potentially have the game rescheduled.

Like I said, I'm confident we made the incorrect decision by rule, so no need to post letting me know that, but that was the end result.

The game went on, the home team won, the backboard was, as the coaches expected, never an issue and everyone went home.

[BryanV21]

Am I the only one that thinks it's messed up that they couldn't get a hold of the assignor or somebody else with the authority to say "yes, go ahead and play" or "no, we'll reschedule"?

What about holding up the game until someone with the authority to do so called and said one way or the other?

[Smitty]

Maybe I'm the only one, but I would not have given it a second thought - we would have played the game. I'm not about to cancel a playoff game that both teams traveled to a neutral site to get to, along with their fans, when the state tourney schedule probably also depends on the outcome of this game - after an entire season of games was played here. Not gonna take that high road.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Maybe I'm the only one, but I would not have given it a second thought - we would have played the game. I'm not about to cancel a playoff game that both teams traveled to a neutral site to get to, along with their fans, when the state tourney schedule probably also depends on the outcome of this game - after an entire season of games was played here. Not gonna take that high road.

I agree. Good opportunity to make sure you probably may not work any playoff games ever again.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Smitty

Maybe I'm the only one, but I would not have given it a second thought - we would have played the game. I'm not about to cancel a playoff game that both teams traveled to a neutral site to get to, along with their fans, when the state tourney schedule probably also depends on the outcome of this game - after an entire season of games was played here. Not gonna take that high road.

I think we are a product of the philosophy that the game goes on and we file a UIL incident report after the fact.

[rotationslim]

Rule is clear, but you also have to apply common sense. The meeting with BOTH coaches agreeing that it isn't an issue for their athletes would be significant in my decision to allow the game to go on. It being a playoff game it seems like athletic directors from schools are also in attendance, did they weigh in on the issue? Obviously it is bizzare that in this day and age there isnt padding on there-- I cant even imagine how that exists. The peach baskets duct taped to the plywood fantail in my church gym even has padding.. I would have felt like I was walking into one of those movies about 1950's Indiana high school basketball.

[BryanV21]

If both coaches agree to allow players 7 fouls before they are disqualified from the game is that okay, too?

I don't mean to imply that I would want to, or ever would suspend the game. However, I would feel better about things if a "higher up" gave us the thumbs up to play.

Where is the line between common sense and going by the rule book? Is that just one of those things that experience has to teach you?

[rotationslim]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

If both coaches agree to allow players 7 fouls before they are disqualified from the game is that okay, too?...Where is the line between common sense and going by the rule book? Is that just one of those things that experience has to teach you?

Geez.. everyone wants to be a hardcase-- the discussion on this board was about applying common sense. Meeting with the coaches would be gathering pertinent information to use in the judgement call as to allow the game to continue or not. Pretty much the only thing that is relevant to the "safety" aspect is if any player on the court could elevate to a level that put his head in proximity to the bottom of the backboard. Pretty sure the coaches are the ones who can tell you that, and I know we are supposed to demonize and belittle coaches on this board, but in this case they are the source of the information you need to make a wise ("wise" meaning applying judgement to facts that you have) decision.

And, BTW this "playoff game" sounds like such a slipshod operation that if you, as ref, walked off and refused to call it they probably would have grabbed the mom taking tickets and given her a whistle and said "game on"

[Mark Padgett]

Do you guys ever check the Hot Moms for padding?

[jas4yf]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

Am I the only one that thinks it's messed up that they couldn't get a hold of the assignor or somebody else with the authority to say "yes, go ahead and play" or "no, we'll reschedule"?

What about holding up the game until someone with the authority to do so called and said one way or the other?

Our assignor has been great all season and works very hard for our unit and is generally easily reachable - I'm confident if we had trouble reaching him there was a legit reason. Of course it would have been preferable to get a ruling from him, but in the moment I was more concerned with the lack of a game administrator from the host school at a postseason game.

[BillyMac]

Probably not going to happen, but if anybody gets hurt, anybody can sue anybody for any reason at any time. Billable hours will be involved.



I would probably let them play, but I would feel a lot better if someone with more gravitas than me approved.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by jas4yf

Our assignor has been great all season and works very hard for our unit and is generally easily reachable - I'm confident if we had trouble reaching him there was a legit reason. Of course it would have been preferable to get a ruling from him, but in the moment I was more concerned with the lack of a game administrator from the host school at a postseason game.

Which CIF Section was this?

My area doesn't start playoffs until tomorrow.

[jas4yf]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Which CIF Section was this?

My area doesn't start playoffs until tomorrow.

Southern

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by jas4yf

Both coaches . . were adamant none of their players were athletic enough to get anywhere near the rim (this was a game between two small schools),

The game went on, the home team won, the backboard was, as the coaches expected, never an issue and everyone went home.

The league I played in in HS fit this bill.