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-   -   Player threatens opposing player (https://forum.officiating.com/basketball/13746-player-threatens-opposing-player.html)

TravelinMan Wed May 19, 2004 09:17pm

2 minutes left in a close girls varsity game. Team B calls a timeout. During timeout, coach from team A comes over to me and informs me B1 has threatened A1 with physical abuse i.e., she's going to punch her lights out next time up the court. How would you handle this potentially dangerous situation? I'm going to hold off telling you what I did because I don't want it to influence your opinions/thoughts. Thanks.

__________________________________________________ ________
"It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer."--Albert Einstein

BktBallRef Wed May 19, 2004 09:27pm

I would tell the coach, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on her."

And that's what I'd do.

But I'm not going to play "He said, she said."

tomegun Wed May 19, 2004 09:30pm

Quote:

Originally posted by BktBallRef
I would tell the coach, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on her."

And that's what I'd do.

But I'm not going to play "He said, she said."

I think this is all you can do at this point.

TravelinMan Wed May 19, 2004 09:42pm

Quote:

Originally posted by tomegun
Quote:

Originally posted by BktBallRef
I would tell the coach, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on her."

And that's what I'd do.

But I'm not going to play "He said, she said."

I think this is all you can do at this point.

Let me add that I believed A1 coach - B1 had threatened the other player - B1 was big, physical, brash, "in your face" kind of player who definitely was capable of threatening players. And saying I'd keep an eye on her was too reactive, passive, insufficient....I wanted to AVOID issuing any flagrants. Up until now game had been exciting, clean, contest between 2 evenly matched teams - I wanted tokeep it that way.

SamIAm Wed May 19, 2004 09:43pm

Pull both coaches and both players together and tell the players, "I dont know and I don't want to know who started any problems you two may be having, but there will be no <b>"insert your phrasing here"</b> going on out there (the court)."
Most questions that come up after that can be answered by,
"That's not important, lets just play ball."


TravelinMan Wed May 19, 2004 09:54pm

Quote:

Originally posted by SamIAm
Pull both coaches and both players together and tell the players, "I dont know and I don't want to know who started any problems you two may be having, but there will be no <b>"insert your phrasing here"</b> going on out there (the court)."
Most questions that come up after that can be answered by,
"That's not important, lets just play ball."


Hmm, but I didnt want to single out these 2 players. I was concerned that A1 would suffer repercusions from B1 possibly after the game????

TravelinMan Wed May 19, 2004 10:11pm

Since I haven't herad any other opinions/thoughts, I'll tell you what I did and maybe that will generate agreement/disagreement.

First, I went to team B bench. I told them, without mentioning any names, that they were allowed to talk among their own teammates. Any other talking, would not be allowed and if it occurred a T would be issued in accordance with the good sportsmanship rule. B1 gave a sneer and a look of disgust. Her coach told B1 and the rest of his players to abide by what I said. He was in full agreement. I told them I was giving the same instructions to team A.

I then went over to Team A bench and gave the same schpeel (or speech if you are not from NY).

By the way team B was leading by one at the time and ended up winning the game by the same margin. No incidents the rest of the game. Both coaches came over to me after the game and applauded me for the way I handled the situation. I lucked out this time. You win some, you lose some, and a few get rained out!

Stat-Man Thu May 20, 2004 12:34am

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
You win some, you lose some, and a few get rained out!
I've had a game suspended due to a electrical surge, but I have yet in 20 years to have a basketball game rained out ;)


rainmaker Thu May 20, 2004 01:26am

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
Both coaches came over to me after the game and applauded me for the way I handled the situation. I lucked out this time. You win some, you lose some, and a few get rained out!
You didn't luck out. YOu won out in this situation by your capability and panache. Great job!

Jurassic Referee Thu May 20, 2004 02:23am

Quote:

Originally posted by Stat-Man
Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
You win some, you lose some, and a few get rained out!
I've had a game suspended due to a electrical surge, but I have yet in 20 years to have a basketball game rained out ;)


I've had 2 games rained out - both in old high schools with leaky roofs. Water on the court, and just too dangerous to play. Also had kinda similar one with a wet floor, but couldn't really call it a rain-out. Visiting JV team, before they left their dressing room after their game, put towels over the drains and then left the showers running. The visiting Varsity team was in a different dressing room. About 5 minutes into the first quarter of the Varsity game, we had water pouring out onto the court from under the door to that dressing room. Ended up having to call the game. Lots of suspensions, etc. on that one.

BoomerSooner Thu May 20, 2004 05:50am

Is this not one of those situations though where maybe saying something is not called for??? Just me, but it seems like it comes close to an official physically restraining players from coming off the bench during a fight. The official has in essence prevented action that could be beneficial to the other team. Now maybe that is the response that Coach A wanted, but then again in a close game I'm sure he wouldn't have minded having 2 extra FT's and one of B's "big, physical" players off the court. I just think saying anything tip-toes the line between coaching and officiating.

I do want to make it clear that I'm not condoning letting players duke it out or letting play get overly rough, but in my opinion, the way to stop it is enforcing the rules and popping her with a Flagarent or Tech when the sitch calls for it.

Danvrapp Thu May 20, 2004 07:16am

Quote:

Originally posted by Stat-Man
Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
You win some, you lose some, and a few get rained out!
I've had a game suspended due to a electrical surge, but I have yet in 20 years to have a basketball game rained out ;)


Then you haven't been officiating enough basketball :D

CYO Butch Thu May 20, 2004 07:19am

Quote:

Originally posted by BoomerSooner
Is this not one of those situations though where maybe saying something is not called for??? Just me, but it seems like it comes close to an official physically restraining players from coming off the bench during a fight. The official has in essence prevented action that could be beneficial to the other team. Now maybe that is the response that Coach A wanted, but then again in a close game I'm sure he wouldn't have minded having 2 extra FT's and one of B's "big, physical" players off the court. I just think saying anything tip-toes the line between coaching and officiating.

I do want to make it clear that I'm not condoning letting players duke it out or letting play get overly rough, but in my opinion, the way to stop it is enforcing the rules and popping her with a Flagarent or Tech when the sitch calls for it.

I'm sorry, I don't buy it for a minute. That's like the cops saying they can't do anything until after a crime is committed. The fact is, they, and you, can do something. TravelinMan did something. BRAVO! Ignoring it could have led to serious injury, a major brawl, and who knows what else. If you are in a position to do something to keep that from happening, I believe your moral responsibility <b>far</b> outweighs the need for detachment. I could go on about reporters watching a kid die to get the photo rather than providing care and the like (I guess I just did), but I won't rant any more.

mick Thu May 20, 2004 07:24am

Quote:

Originally posted by Jurassic Referee
I've had 2 games rained out - both in old high schools with leaky roofs.
I've only had one leaky (lotsa towels)almost finished, new school roof. :)
mick

SamIAm Thu May 20, 2004 10:54am

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
Quote:

Originally posted by SamIAm
Pull both coaches and both players together and tell the players, "I dont know and I don't want to know who started any problems you two may be having, but there will be no <b>"insert your phrasing here"</b> going on out there (the court)."
Most questions that come up after that can be answered by,
"That's not important, lets just play ball."


Hmm, but I didnt want to single out these 2 players. I was concerned that A1 would suffer repercusions from B1 possibly after the game????

In that case, I think your actions were best. But I am curious about the repercussions after the game part. Did you think there would be a fight? How well did you know the player in question? Games are frequently closely contested with words and a push here or there, what made this one different?

Regardless of the answers to those questions, I still think your actions were best.

TravelinMan Sat May 22, 2004 01:20pm

Thanks everybody for the responses. I consider it part of good game management to avoid technicals and flagrants wherever possible(please understand I am not saying it is poor game managment to call technicals/flagrants, in fact good game managemnt may demand technicals) . As I officiate more and more games, I find I get better at handling situations like this. There is no substitute for experience.

ChuckElias Sat May 22, 2004 02:35pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
I consider it part of good game management to avoid technicals and flagrants wherever possible(please understand I am not saying it is poor game managment to call technicals/flagrants, in fact good game managemnt may demand technicals) .
Perhaps it would be better to say that good game management is knowing when the technical or flagrant can be avoided; but calling it when it's necessary.

TravelinMan Sat May 22, 2004 04:13pm

Quote:

Originally posted by ChuckElias
Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
I consider it part of good game management to avoid technicals and flagrants wherever possible(please understand I am not saying it is poor game managment to call technicals/flagrants, in fact good game managemnt may demand technicals) .
Perhaps it would be better to say that good game management is knowing when the technical or flagrant can be avoided; but calling it when it's necessary.

Yes Chuck, it would be. But what I am also trying to say is an official can help avoid technicals by being aware of the situation and doing whatever he can to prevent player/team behavior that demands a technical be called. For example, rough play by both teams. You've called fouls but rough play persists. Now is the time to get the captains together and warn them. If a T ensues, you've done your best to avoid it. Of course, some behavior warranting a T can come without warning. This is beyond the officials control. I hope I've exppressed my thinking a little better.

__________________________________________________ ______
"Almost every wise saying has an opposite one, no less wise, to balance it."--George Santayana

ChuckElias Sat May 22, 2004 07:51pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
But what I am also trying to say is an official can help avoid technicals by being aware of the situation and doing whatever he can to prevent player/team behavior that demands a technical be called.
I'm with you.

Mark Dexter Sun May 30, 2004 04:01pm

Say you'll watch for it, maybe talk to both team captains/coaches if you think it's warranted - seems about all you can do.

I was working a (flag) football game once where the offensive line of one team (my co-workers :eek:) kept coming up to me saying that a player on the opposite team (grad students in my department :eek:) was continually trash-talking and swearing at them when she went through the line. I kept on telling them I didn't hear anything (they claimed she was doing it quietly) and that I wasn't going to flag what I couldn't hear. Wouldn't have been any different no matter who was playing.

TravelinMan Sun May 30, 2004 04:08pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Dexter
Say you'll watch for it, maybe talk to both team captains/coaches if you think it's warranted - seems about all you can do.

I was working a (flag) football game once where the offensive line of one team (my co-workers :eek:) kept coming up to me saying that a player on the opposite team (grad students in my department :eek:) was continually trash-talking and swearing at them when she went through the line. I kept on telling them I didn't hear anything (they claimed she was doing it quietly) and that I wasn't going to flag what I couldn't hear. Wouldn't have been any different no matter who was playing.

Girls trash talk? How does it compare to boys/men? Give me a sample :)

Mark Dexter Mon May 31, 2004 09:58am

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan

Girls trash talk? How does it compare to boys/men? Give me a sample :)

That was the problem - I didn't hear any of it!

Mark Padgett Mon May 31, 2004 12:45pm

Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
Girls trash talk? How does it compare to boys/men? Give me a sample :) [/B]
Girls trash talk goes something like this:

"YOU ARE LIKE SO NOT PRETTY!"

Mark Dexter Mon May 31, 2004 12:51pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Mark Padgett
Quote:

Originally posted by TravelinMan
Girls trash talk? How does it compare to boys/men? Give me a sample :)
Girls trash talk goes something like this:

"YOU ARE LIKE SO NOT PRETTY!" [/B]

Mark - that's just the girls talking to you when you wear fishnets. :p


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