"Shoot The Ball!!" Taunting?

[davidw]

Boys varsity. B playing a 2/3 zone. Everytime B sets up in zone, B1 shouts at player A with ball: "Shoot the ball!" "Come on, shoot the ball!" Ball is passed around parimeter with B1 carrying on with his "Shoot the ball!", sometimes almost screaming it.

I guess the thing that bothered me most about it was his demeanor. He had, what I would call, an 'ugly scowl' on his face and his tone was, IMO, a taunting/baiting one.

At a break in the action, I walked up to him and said basically, "I don't have a problem with you saying 'shoot the ball', but I think you are approaching taunting behavior." He gave me a 'what me look?!' and asked what I meant. I said, "I think you know what I mean. No taunting." He gave me a nod and I said, "Thanks."

There was a time out soon thereafter, and I informed my partner of my conversation with B (who, incidently, was one of the captains). My partner got a quizzical look, and began to caution me; baically saying he didn't think my warning was appropriate.

B definitely toned down his shouting of 'shoot the ball' etc. And we had no other problems during the balance of the game.

My partner and I discussd it afterwards a little and he still disagreed with me regarding the warning.

My question is, what are your thoughts on this type of behavior? Does it in any of your opinions, fall into the class of taunting/baiting? Which was one of the reason I chose to talk with him; the inclusion of Taunting and Baiting as a Point of Emphasis this year. Curious for some feedback.

Thanks.