Technical Foul

[Rusty Gilbert]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

A technical foul is just what it says, technical. It's a way of dealing with infractions of the technical aspects of the game. Why must it have any meaning? Sure, we debate a lot about the judgement aspects of giving T's for unsporting behavior. But there are many basic, objective technical infractions for which the proscribed penalty is a technical foul.

If a player while dribbling steps on a boundary line, you blow the whistle and call him for an out of bounds violation. That's the rule.

If a free throw shooter crosses the free throw line before the ball hits the rim, you blow the whislte and call him for a free throw violation. That's the rule.

If a player dunks the ball in pregame warmup, you call a technical foul on him and an indirect on the head coach. That's the rule.

I could tell them all not to do those things. And they all know they are not supposed to do those things. But when they do, it's our place as officials when we recognize the illegal act to penalize it according to the rule. And they all know that's what we're supposed to do.

6 players from the same team participating at the same time? Duhhh..... Saddle is on target. This is NOT one of those things that requires "solomonic wisdom" concerning whether to penalize. It is a basic, objective technical infraction. Don't make it hard. Everyone knows what's supposed to happen. Just do it.