Disconcerting

[Sven]

Speaking of disconcertion...while I was officiating a girls' JV game recently, a group of five or six middle-school aged boys were hollering at the top of their lungs trying to rattle the visiting teams' free throw shooter. They were in the front row of bleachers, even with the free throw line extended. Their antics seemed to have an effect, which only spurred them to greater volume as the game wore on.

Nothing they said was vulgar; just loud yelling directed at the shooter.

I was troubled and embarrassed by their behavior (at least partially because I know them as students and felt they needed a scolding). What they were doing seemed unsporting, but I didn't do anything about it. I couldn't think of a rule that would apply. In the back of my mind, I heard the echo of "the stands belong to the fans" and I bit my tongue.

Would I have been wrong or out-of-line to tell them (at an opportune time) to knock it off ?


Sven