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).