Throwing off the ref?

[Mark Padgett]

Sorry I misunderstood your inquiry. Noel Coward once said that America and England were two countries separated by a common language. Perhaps the difference is even greater with Australia, mate

I was addressing the situation in which a player deliberately throws the ball at an official to indicate displeasure with a call. Apparently, you were asking about situations in which a player tosses the ball toward the official during the time when the ball is at the disposal of an inbounder, etc.

My philosophy, developed over many years, is to try to jump out of the way of the ball and continue the 5 second count. It is my firm belief that the player's learning experience is greater if you make the call, then explain it as opposed to letting the player get away with this, then explaining it later. If you make the call and the player sees that there is a consequence to his actions, he will better remember not to do it in the future. I feel that is a more effective method of teaching.

Besides, doing it that way consistently eliminates the possibility of you inadvertantly helping one team by making subjective decisions about when or when not to do it.