Disconcerting during FTs

[BakoRef]

9-1-3-d: No opponent must distract the free thrower [emphasis added by me]. Does opponent here mean players on the court and substitutes on the bench? What about other bench personnel such as the team manager or an injured team member?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by BakoRef

9-1-3-d: No opponent must distract the free thrower [emphasis added by me]. Does opponent here mean players on the court and substitutes on the bench? What about other bench personnel such as the team manager or an injured team member?

All of the above. Try to address the first time so you don't need to call a violation.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BakoRef

9-1-3-d: No opponent must distract the free thrower [emphasis added by me]. Does opponent here mean players on the court and substitutes on the bench? What about other bench personnel such as the team manager or an injured team member?

Yes, it includes all of those people. There was a case play covering this several years ago.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

All of the above.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Yes, it includes all of those people. There was a case play covering this several years ago.

While I fully agree with bob jenkins' and Nevadaref's replies, I would love to see the case play citation. We've discussed this situation many times on the Forum (with some not agreeing with us), and I don't remember any such caseplay.

[Indianaref]

POE #2 in the 2001/02 rule book---"The committee emphasizes that disconcertion is a violation and may result in a substitute throw. If persistent or deemed unsporting, the TEAM/player may also be penalized with a technical foul."

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Indianaref

POE #2 in the 2001/02 rule book...

Nice detective work Indianaref. I had to actually take out my rule book printed on dead trees, my hard drive only has rule changes and points of emphasis beginning with 2004-05.

I'll save Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. a trip up the stairs to his cold attic library, here's the entire text:

2001-2002 NFHS Points Of Emphasis
2) Disconcertion During Free Throws
Some states have indicated a growing concern with the free throw shooter being disconcerted by a defensive player. Disconcertion may occur through hand and arm movements, and verbal outbursts during the attempt. The committee emphasizes that disconcertion is a violation and may result in a substitute throw. If persistent or deemed unsporting, the team/player may be penalized with a technical foul.

I 100% agree that one can call a violation on the opponent's bench (often in the first half), and this citation may help our cause. However, as the Devil's advocate, this citation, interpreted literally, states that the "team" may be charged with a technical foul, not a violation. And the citation still has the pesky word "player" (not team member) in it, and for some, this may not quite be 100% convincing.

I just need this (below) to form my 100% convincing opinion:

9-12-Penalty: If a violation by the free thrower follows distraction by an
opponent, a substitute free throw shall be awarded.

From my Funk & Wagnalls:

Opponent: A person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like; adversary.

[Pantherdreams]

When I read this and what people have posted that all makes sense.

Can I assume the majority (if not all of you) are only concerned with disconcertion if that is clearly the intent? Player/team member yelling, waving, noise, making, gesturing directly at the shooter or during the performance/release of the shot.

ie. You are not concerned with player who's movements are in the regular course of assuming position or regular conversation between the coach and staff/ coach and team members/players.

I've got a an ole sherrif I work with who awards more replacement free throws and throws out techs here than everyone I've ever worked along side combined. Basically if its not Sunday sermon still and quiet by the players on the floor and the team members we are doing it again. He has teched up coaches for instructing bench personnell during an opponents free throw.