Bench Conduct Situation

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

The following Situation was posted on the Facebook Group: NFHS – Basketball Officials.
I have edited it into NFHS/NCAA Case Book form. Situation (a) was the Facebook Situation and I have added (b) and (c) as two other possible scenarios.

Situation: Team A has Control of the Ball in its Front Court with at the end of the 2nd QT and is holding the Ball for the last shot. (a) Team B Substitutes are loudly counting down from five seconds even though there are ten seconds on the Game Clock. (b) Team B Coaching Staff is loudly counting down from five seconds even though there are ten seconds on the Game Clock. Or (c) Other Team B Bench Personnel loudly counting down from five seconds even though there are ten seconds on the Game Clock.

RULING: What say you?

I am also sending this Situation to the OhioHSAA State Rules Interpreter with a request that he forward it onto the NFHS for an Official Ruling.

How would I handle (a) (also (c))? If I am the C or T on the Table Side, without stopping the Game I am going to discretely tell HC-B to have his Substitutes to knock it off.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

The (Connecticut) CIAC has already addressed this.

If the defensive bench is miscounting during the end of the shot clock period to trick the offense into shooting early, what should you do?

Bench warning for the first offense, bench technical for the second offense.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The (Connecticut) CIAC has already addressed this.

If the defensive bench is miscounting during the end of the shot clock period to trick the offense into shooting early, what should you do?

Bench warning for the first offense, bench technical for the second offense.

Billy:

The CIAC and I are on the same page philosophically.

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Just got a more detailed update from our local IAABO interpreter:

Scenario: Team B has possession of the ball and Team A’s bench personnel begin counting down (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) when the shot clock displays more time. How should officials address this situation?

Answer: For the first offense, issue a warning to Team A’s bench. For the second offense, issue a Bench Technical, which is also an indirect technical to the Head Coach of Team A and a loss of coaching box privileges.

Rule references:

10-5-1-D: .... Disrespectfully addressing, baiting or taunting an opponent

4-19-24…. An unsporting foul is a noncontact technical foul which consists of unfair, unethical, dishonorable conduct or any behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

The (Connecticut) CIAC has already addressed this.

If the defensive bench is miscounting during the end of the shot clock period to trick the offense into shooting early, what should you do?

Bench warning for the first offense, bench technical for the second offense.

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Just got a more detailed update from our local IAABO interpreter:

Scenario: Team B has possession of the ball and Team A’s bench personnel begin counting down (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) when the shot clock displays more time. How should officials address this situation?

Answer: For the first offense, issue a warning to Team A’s bench. For the second offense, issue a Bench Technical, which is also an indirect technical to the Head Coach of Team A and a loss of coaching box privileges.

Rule references:

10-5-1-D: .... Disrespectfully addressing, baiting or taunting an opponent

4-19-24…. An unsporting foul is a noncontact technical foul which consists of unfair, unethical, dishonorable conduct or any behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

Billy:

Is this your IAABO Board Interpreter's advice as to how to handle the Situation or has IAABO's State Interpreter or the CIAC's State Interpreter officially made a Ruling on this Situation?

MTD, Sr.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

... advice as to how to handle the Situation.

Original policy came from the CIAC, followup came for my local interpreter (probably with the cooperation of the IAABO Connecticut State interpreter and the CIAC).

[BillyMac]

I had a problem yesterday with both middle school team benches trying to distract opponent free throw shooters by banging their feet against the bleachers.

I haven't had to deal with such an unsporting problem since I was working local recreation league games (for money and experience) forty years ago.

I know that some here have disagreed regarding if the bench can be held liable for such distracting behavior.

I warned both benches with possible violations and the problem ended.

Back forty years ago I didn't warn, but just called the violation.

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I had a problem yesterday with both middle school team benches trying to distract opponent free throw shooters by banging their feet against the bleachers.

(--8<-- snip -->8--)


I know that some here have disagreed regarding if the bench can be held liable for such distracting behavior.

I warned both benches with possible violations and the problem ended

I had this also happen in a recent middle school boys game where the players on the visitor's bench used their voices to try distracting the free throw shooter.

Except for one game where the coach addressed the behavior before I could, I've found that issuing a warning in this situation makes the problem go away.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

I've found that issuing a warning in this situation makes the problem go away.

A warning of a delayed violation, or a technical foul warning?

Or does one "move up the ladder"?

First bench distraction.

Delayed violation - miss - another free throw; make - warning of a possible delayed violation. Or do you forget the possible delayed violation warning on a make and play on?

Second same bench distraction.

Delayed violation - miss - another free throw plus bench technical foul warning; make - bench technical foul warning.

Third same bench distraction.

Delayed violation - miss - another free throw plus bench technical foul; make - bench technical foul.

9-1-3-B: No opponent shall distract the free thrower

4-19-14 An unsporting foul is a noncontact technical foul which consists of unfair, unethical, dishonorable conduct or any behavior not in accordance with the spirit of fair play.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Delayed violation - miss - another free throw; make - warning of a possible delayed violation. Or do you forget the possible delayed violation warning on a make and play on?

On a make, I'm not a big fan of stopping the "flow of the game" to issue a possible delayed violation warning, however I'm not a big fan of "got'cha" officiating either (on the next free throw situation that misses).

Maybe a possible delayed violation warning "before" the next free throw situation?

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

First: Merry Christmas everyone!

Second: One can do an Advance Search and find a number of threads concerning Disconcerting Action by Bench Personnel. I recommend to use "Mark T. DeNucci, Sr." for the User Name.

MTD, Sr.