Do Official's Duties Extend to Peacemaker?

[Freddy]

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Thanks Freddy, nice video.

When it comes to confrontations between two players, I'm doing the same that the official in your video did, try to step in between the two 'knuckleheads".

If they start throwing punches, or if other players join in, I'm outta there and backing away, trying to remember numbers.

While teachers and coaches may have some limited legal responsibility to break up fights, basketball officials, as far as I know, have no such legal responsibility.

But then again, as I've often said in the past here on the Forum, here in the United States, anybody can sue anybody, at any time, for any amount, for just about any reason, and one being sued will have to hire an attorney, and their billable hours aren't inexpensive.

[JRutledge]

I even think in the video the official was too much in a hurry to report the foul.

Peace

[thumpferee]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I even think in the video the official was too much in a hurry to report the foul.

Peace

Jump (held) ball!?

[Kansas Ref]

Thanks to you all for the kind guidance provided on this issue; furthermore, you'all have cited some other issues that I/we had not considered that pertain to the issue. However, I must say that in retrospect the cop who was there at the gym and did not even try to breakup the fight was terrible optics for law enforcement. Now after reading what you'all have written, perhaps the cop was wisely avoiding any "liability". But the optics were terrible: I mean there was a grown-azz man who is a cop and he could not even intervene with trying to separate two teen-agers from fighting?
I must admit that when I see [the security] cops at my games standing in the corner munching on popcorn and drinking coke, I cannot help but to feel like I'm fending for myself with no backup.
But hey, I digress, and am venting now--this all occurred about 6 weeks ago yet I still cannot let it go/get over it! After reading you'alls comments I now have a "path forward", thank you Forum!

[Paintguru]

Originally Posted by Kansas Ref

Thanks to you all for the kind guidance provided on this issue; furthermore, you'all have cited some other issues that I/we had not considered that pertain to the issue. However, I must say that in retrospect the cop who was there at the gym and did not even try to breakup the fight was terrible optics for law enforcement. Now after reading what you'all have written, perhaps the cop was wisely avoiding any "liability". But the optics were terrible: I mean there was a grown-azz man who is a cop and he could not even intervene with trying to separate two teen-agers from fighting?
I must admit that when I see [the security] cops at my games standing in the corner munching on popcorn and drinking coke, I cannot help but to feel like I'm fending for myself with no backup.
But hey, I digress, and am venting now--this all occurred about 6 weeks ago yet I still cannot let it go/get over it! After reading you'alls comments I now have a "path forward", thank you Forum!

Perhaps I'm wrong with my thinking, but I wouldn't expect (or necessarily want) a police officer to assist in breaking up a 1v1 fight. Now if something spills out (or in) where fans/parents are involved, I would expect involvement. However, for better or worse, a fight between players is part of the game and participants in the game should deal with it.

One other tool that has not been mentioned is the use of your whistle to try and get two players to stop before things escalate. There is nothing like a Fox 40 in your ear to get your attention.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by thumpferee

Jump (held) ball!?

You are right. He did not immediately give the signal so I thought maybe he had called a foul. I still think he needed to not leave the scene so early. But that is also understanding the temperature of the game as well.

Peace