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High School game. I call travling on Team A player.He turns and has his back to me and say's fu*k you. I T him. The coach asked why the T and I explained to him what he had said. His reply to me was "He didn't say it to your face, so why did you give him a T" He also said, "In the heat of competition that I should have ignored it".
So you wonder why kids are the way they are today. That coach and player had no respect for the officials. But, mostly for the game itself. |
Not judging cause it wasn't me, but I also would have tossed him. No doubt that you should have T'd him up...
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My first T of the season last night for profanity.
Player missed a wide open layup and "F-bombed" to nobody in particular. Profanity is profanity |
RD,
I hope that it was so loud that everyone could hear it? Profanity is not profanity. Everything has a context. |
PS2Man:
My context... If I heard it, then someone else heard it. That is "my" context." The T is warranted. |
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Just my two cents on this issue. |
PS2MAN,
Do you call a travel on a player if nobody saw it?? How about a foul??? It's your word against his on those... This is the kind of stuff that you let go and it will only get worse later. You gotta deal with it immediately. Clay, You did exactly what I would have done and did do in the same situation about 2 weeks ago. I don't care who heard it and who did not hear it. I did and I am in charge of the game. Bravo. |
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Unfortunately the fed does not see it this way. Unsporting fouls: 10.7.A A player shall not disrepectfully address an official in such a manner to idicate resentment. 10.7.B Use profane or innapropriate language or obsence jestures. Penalty for all is a T. I agree that a cuss word said under the breath could go by with a talking to but addressing an official as in the obove case MUST be a T. IMO It is because we choose to "ignore" this much of the time that players and coaches see it as acceptable. If one official calls it correctly and another does not we loose consistancy. In my area (minnesota) the sportsmanship in BB has continually deteriorated since I have began officiating and IMO it is partially becaues we as officials do not strive for consistancy pertaining to what is andis not acceptable on the court. I agree that there is subjectivity here but I think sometimes we as officials give players and coaches so much rope we end up hanging ourselves as well as the game w/ it. My 2 cents. |
MN 3SPORT REF,
Very well said, and your 2 cents very wll spent on your comment. |
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Get rid of him!
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Maybe a T, maybe an ejection depending on what kind of mood I might be in or if I'd had any problems with the kid during the game. Often I will say something to a kid in passing to watch your language etc., and then if he continues the proper penalties are applied. Different topic, but same for a coach. He will usually get a reprimand from me if I hear him using profanity. He can do what he wants in the locker room, but the court is different. Thanks David |
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I am with Dan and PS2
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Peace |
I agree with MN 3
It's a T - under the breath, maybe a little talking to, but if you heard it, it's a T. "If you expect more, you get more." And it's in the rules, so let's expect more of kids. |
It is in the rules.
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There are a lot of rules, but there is descretion also. It of course is your option to eject a kid for this, but you also have to deal with the fallout when you do as well. I just would rather worry about the things that affect my game, then the things that do not. A player using profanity to themselves does not feel to me like an ejection. And then if I do that, I have to be on top of all other language that happens the rest of the game. And if I do not hear the language clearly from someone else, now I have to explain to a coach why his kid was ejected and his opponents player was not. There is just a better way. Peace |
In a girls Varsity game I gave the girl a T for turning to me and saying 'Blow Me'.
I thought it was pretty interesting and got some good laughs from some other officials and coaches who were in the stands at this tournament. |
PS 2, Dan, rut,
I agree with using discression and preventative officiating for a minor "quiet" obscenity or gesture, but you are telling me you would not T a kid that turns to you and says F**K YOU after a call? Is it because we are not punishing this that our dignity as officials continues to come under increasing attack??? |
JR
Could you please show me the quote where I said anything about an "ejection." Me thinks we are making incorrect inferences. |
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Again, do what you feel is best. You have that right to do so. But I would rather leave myself some wiggle room than having to put myself in a box and use no descretion. Just an opinion. Peace |
Thank you all for helping me grow as an official, esp to those who felt I should have let the T go.
Tonight I have a high school game, and have made a note to myself that cussing at an official is not the right thing to do, but is accepted for many of you in this board. So tonight, if this would happen again I will take the player aside tell him that it is not nice to cuss at an official. And after the game I will take him to McDonalds and buy him a happy meal. |
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Second of all, everyone has their own line drawn in the sand. Personally, I think I'd probably give a T if I heard a kid say, "F-you" after I had made a call. But then again, there are even extenuating circumstances to that. If the kid was losing by 30 and there was a minute left in the game, I might just ignore it. I have never heard anyone attack the dignity of officials because they let too much swearing go on in the game. Besides, who is at fault here? When I played, I would have never ever sworn at an official. If I had done that, my coach would have sat me down for the rest of the game and my dad probably would have pulled me off the team for the rest of the season. We're out there trying to control the game. We're not out there trying to correct the mistakes of crappy parents, coaches and administrators. Z P.S. to Clay "Buy the kid a happy meal." That's hilarious. :-) I don't think anyone is saying you did the wrong thing. An "F-you" directed at the official is different from a frustrated "****" to nobody in particular. I think others are just saying that swearing is not always an instant T. Anytime we become a "black and white" official where we are always going to deal with something the same way without thinking about the context of the game, we may end up regretting it. The coach was certainly wrong for telling you to ignore it instead of dealing with his player. [Edited by zebraman on Jan 30th, 2004 at 02:01 PM] |
And don't forget after calling the T the coach was told what the kid said and he condoned it. What is the coach teaching the kids.
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Peace |
I agree with those that think that an under the breath profanity probably deserves a talking to or warning. To be honest I would guess that the majority of us have said under our breath, s**t I kicked that one or something similar. However the original post was directed at the official, even though his back was turned, I for one would have called it a flagrant T with the proper ejection.
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[/B][/QUOTE]There are NEVER extenuating circumstances, or any excuses for that matter, to let any ball player at any level talk to you like that. That's completely different than a muffled obscenity mouthed out of frustration at himself. Are you now gonna let every ballplayer on the floor tell you to f**k off? To be consistent and fair, you pretty well have to, don't you? There is a major difference between a player swearing, and a player swearing AT an official. [Edited by Jurassic Referee on Jan 30th, 2004 at 02:22 PM] |
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The original post mentioned a player cussing at an official by saying "f... you!" I don't care if it's directly face to face or with his back to me--in fact I think it may be a bigger deal with his back to me, as he may be sending a message to others on the floor that will contribute to a deterioration of the game. That, in my opinion, is flagrant and he is gone. The morphed part of the thread seemed to deal with profanity in general and specifically profanity that went from 'muttered under breath to barely heard by official or those nearby'. In those situations I think I agree with many, that a lot of discreation can be used in these instances--which I usually do. Taking aside, the warning to player, coach, capt., etc. In our assoc. we have been instructed the "F" word is automatic--flagrant. So, from that aspect, situations like the one which began this thread, would be very easy for me to judge and penalize. |
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You have the right to do what you feel is best. But if I called a T for an action when a player cursed at themself, I would have some problems to deal with. Especially at the varsity and college levels. All I have ever said was make a decision based on context. I never said it was OK to curse the official out. Profanity is prohibited, but so is handchecking. Both have a context to what is going on in the game. Calling a handcheck when a player is not trying to go to the basket is just as bad as calling profanity on a player for using language to themself. That is just my opinion. |
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davidw.
That was a great reply. Very well worded and understood. |
Ref Daddy's post, not Clay's post.
My first post was addressing Ref Daddy's statement. I was not addressing the original post specifically. I have read here and heard others make points of how profanity is automatic. Well to me it is never automatic. Because there are other terms if used are going to result in a T without the profanity. Sorry if that was misunderstood. But if the original post took place and I heard the player, I have no problem with giving them a T, profanity or no profanity. I know I have in the past given a T to players and they did not use any profanity. Sometimes it is the tone and the way things are said and done.
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Dude, we are just talking.
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Peace |
Just for my information... Will everyone assess a flagrant T for a kid that says FU after a traveling call against him? Whether his back is turned or to your face? If someone doesn't think this is the proper punishment, I think we have a problem in our ranks.
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If I receive a FU from a player, coach, or other bench personnel, that person is receiving a flagrant technical foul from me. MTD, Sr. |
I would assess a flagrant T if the f-bomb was followed by you, since it was directed at someone. As for the f-bomb by itself, I'd promptly stop play, tell the kid to watch his language and let the coach know. If the coach decides to be an *** (as was the case in the original posting), I'd warn him that anyone on his team using the f-bomb will be getting a T no matter what. Usually coaches will shut up and really keep an ear out on their players.
Likewise, I've been known among coaches here for catching even the unspoken f-bomb. I've become such a good lipreader that I can distinguish any profane word, and bring a stop to it. That drives the guys in the city rec leagues I worked nuts. The HS coaches will be like where did that come from, and I'll flat out tell them, I saw it on his lips. Should see the looks I get when I say that. One result though: no more swear words the rest of the game! |
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Thanks for the replies, guys. I was reading this thread and getting confused. On one hand I'm reading that the player says FU with his back turned after a call against him and on the next I'm hearing that we should take the player aside and tell him not to do that!!!
All you new officials out there, THIS IS WHAT A FLAGRANT T IS. Don't get confused by the talk about swearing under your breath after a missed shot or bad pass. That's not what we're talking about here. Clay the only mistake you made was not tossing the kid in the first place. Then if the coach questions you he's an idiot. If he continues to be an idiot T him up and tell him to sit down for the rest of the game. I'm kind of ticked off about this subject because of some of the things that are going on out on the court that are being let go. Also, I'm ticked off because all my games got cancelled this week due to the cold weather (-41 without the wind chill yesterday morning). Sorry for the ranting, but this call is very black and white and not subject to interpretation. If you wear the stripes, you have to make the call. |
Dan, not only would I have T'd the young gentlemen, but I probably would have got the coach for trying to justify the players actions, how ridiculous. Tying to justify dropping an "F'bomb' with a 'you' attatched to it, because it was in "the heat of battle". you did the right thing..
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I would have tossed him in a heartbeat and if the coach actually said that I would have considered tossing him also... But I would only consider it and probably not toss the coach..
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Mregor |
Re: Dude, we are just talking.
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Mregor |
No brainer
If I hear the "F" word it is automatic and any official in high school basketball that would not address this is contributing to what is wrong with high school sports. I happen to be a classroom teacher and will not tolerate this behavior in my classroom, hallway or at any high school event and anyone involved with a high school activity that is not inforcing this rule should not be officiating at this level. You are not gaining any respect from the kids if you are overlooking this and they see you as weak and lacking authority if you do not call the offender on this issue. If you don't get backing from a coach because you T'd the "F" word then I wouldn't lose any sleep over it because he is not worth the time!! We do not have to apologize to anyone for expecting a little sportmanship. Someone on an earlier post said something about having to explain a "F" that only you heard to an evaluator, well if he doesn't accept your explanation then you need a new evaluator. Stand your ground because it is the right thing to do!!!
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I think that we are getting away from the original statement. In the original post, the profanity was directed at the official. I don't see how any official could let this go. If he is saying it to himself because he messed up, maybe. But I don't care if it is under his breath. If it is towards the official, you T him up.
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Whack. Look, I have left lots of frustrated "profanity" go over the years, but when this crap is directed at the official or his calls, it's getting penalized in my games. Even when I've had supervisors/assignors -- I've never had to explain a technical, but I have had to explain why I DIDN'T give one. And if someone did ask me to explain, I would simply say that I don't tolerate bad sportsmanship, do you? F you? I don't care if the kid's back is turned -- if I know he said it and it was directed towards me, it's a flagrant technical foul. End of story. |
There seems to be something interesting going on here. I aint gonna read this entire thread again but I don't think ANYONE said to ignore an f bomb directed at an official, and I know for sure *I* didn't say it. Yet here we all are, bravely stepping up to the plate and jutting out our chests (a lot like that Janet Jackson thing :) ) proclaiming "Not in my game!" and going on about the general decay of society. This is not all that complicated. A player says "f*** you" then take him. No ifs ands or buts, not a big deal. A player misses a break away layup in front of 300 people and mutters f*** to no one in particular then *I*, for one, will ignore it. That is how I choose to handle it, not a big deal. |
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Read the original post again. He said F U after a travel call. I don't jut my chest or anything else on a Monday morning. |
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Read everything that follows the original post again. ***Edit to add:*** Rich, you might want to read everthing that follows THIS post as well. [Edited by Dan_ref on Feb 2nd, 2004 at 11:44 AM] |
Something is wrong here!
Maybe, just maybe things are different where Dan_ref lives but where I come from we do not have to justify our postion because some high school kid said the "F" word in a game no matter where it is directed or who heard it . Our coaches expect a "T", the players expect it, the AD's expect it and our State Activities Association expects it. Maybe things are different where Dan lives but swearing is OK unless it is directed at somebody? Maybe where you live but not where I live and never the "F" word!! I can tell that you are not from around here!
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Re: Something is wrong here!
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DJ, I am with you. F-bombs are a no no in my games whether they are directed at me or because they are mad about missing a layup. An F-bomb rates a flagrant technical foul each and everytime in my games, no matter what the sport. I substitute teach as a math and science teacher in the Toledo Pulbic Schools, and have had seventh grade girls tell me what to do, and they do not stay in my classroom any longer that it takes for me to write the dean's referral slip. MTD, Sr. |
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Re: Something is wrong here!
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Peace |
90% of the time!
If at all possible if a coach has a question concerning anything concerning my officiating I will be willing to listen to him and if it is chronic or I don't agree I will give him the classic "One more time and I will..." That will always give him a choice. Let him make the choice. So if he does not consider swearing to be bad enough to warrant a technical then that is fine and he has a right to his opinion. Here I would say I disagree with what you are saying and if I here it "one more time" I will....! If I have never worked for him he will then probably learn that I mean what I say. If I as an official am going to say it then I have to be willing to back my word. Quite frankly, I could care less if I have to give a technical. I don't want to but I don't care if I do. I will do what I am hired to do. You are talking to a referree who gave a technical foul 30 seconds into a state championship game because of bad language by a coach and I received nothing but positive feedback because many people heard it and it was the right thing to do. There were no hard feelings and the rest of the game was a blast to work! If people condone swearing at the games that I work then they have no respect from me as an official and the people that are important to me as an official. i am strictly talking about games played by school age kids.
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Local interpetation
There is also something called "local interpetation" of the rules and a pure rules guy will have difficulty with this but things are different in different areas for many rules. I agree 100% with Rut.
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Flagrant technical if a kid f-bombs himself quietly after blowing a layup? I don't think so. |
Yes
If I am standing there and I hear it, yes we will around here! What if there is a 5th or 6th grade player in the front row and you and he are the only ones to hear it? Maybe it doesn't matter but I think it does.
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Excuse me, I do not...!
By no means do I advocate an ejection for the first swearing episode but I will be watching him carefully until he gets a handle on his emotions!
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Re: 90% of the time!
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I think our point is to just "make it be there" and understand the context of the comments. If that does not matter to you, then so be it. But do not be surprised if you are questioned if everyone did not hear the words. Peace |
And...
And just because everyone said that the kid was the nicest kid and would never do anything like that does not mean that he didn't do it. Sometimes the hardest part about swearing isn't what is said but who or what team said it. If you are going to give it to a team make sure you are 100% sure you have the right team or to an individual make sure you are 100% sure you have the criminal and not the victim.
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Re: And...
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Peace |
As I mentioned earlier, the F word is automatic ejection for us per our assignor. That said, I agree with those posts indicating the need for certainty when assessing a penalty.
To me, this gives me the opportunity to use some discretion for those "under the breath" profanes (including the F bomb, for me) where I will usually say to the player something such as: "I hope you didn't say what I think you said", and give him a whince-like look to see if they get my message. If I feel they have gotten the message, by their communication verbally or non-verbally, we go on with the game--no penalty. Overall I have had good luck using this approach. I usually do not use this approach with players that had not heeded earlier warnings or were pushing the limits prior to the profanity. |
I had a college game this year where it was less than 5 point game with about 8 to 10 min left. The point guard lost the ball OOB and drop the "F" bomb as loud as possible. I gave a "T" and the coach said you can't do that in such a close game w/out a warning. My response was it doesn't matter how close the game is, and no I do not need to give a warning. That was the players 4th foul and about 30 seconds later fouled out. They lost by about 10 points. After I gave the "T" I questioned myself but later after thinking about it I would do it again.
If I am the only one who heard it and it is not directed at anybody then I will let it go w/a verbal warning but if it is heard beyond the court and it is an "F" bomb it is automatic. The other swear words get a little more flexability. |
Am I confussed? Did someone say that if it wasnt in there area to let it go? Soooo a player drops the f bomb and the official in that area doesnt call it for whatever reason, and it was clearly heard by you and half of the gym, you would let it go??? If so, it makes for a poor officiating team! I choose not to let myself or my partners to get disrespected by such actions.
As for CLAY I think you did the right call. |
What ever happened to the idea of players keeping their mouths shut. When I playied, we were told to not talk to the officials unless spoken to by the officials and the official required an answer. Then if we had any problems with an official to tell the coach and he would handle it. Too much NBA? Too much TV Basketball? Too many coaches who have forgotten or do not know that job is to teach the players about life through basketball? In grade school games, I will T a player for improperly questioning a call with out the use of profanity. Body language is very powerful! For a F**K YOU, remove him from the game. I am more forgiving in a High School game, but I have not seen that kind of behavior. A F**K YOU is an automatic ejection. Profanity and slamming the ball on the floor and not catching it is automatic T.
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RIGHT ON!!
I'll reff with you any day 'SPORTSOFFICIAL". Seems to much summerball is being brought to the court during regular season. |
DJ David Sportsofficial
AMEN!!! |
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