Kill Throw-in

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Well, probably because it's the head coach's responsibility to have the correct number of players on the floor, not the officials. Yes, we try to fix the coach's screw-ups if we can, but if we can't, oh well. It's the coach's fault ultimately, not ours, and if play starts with 6 on the floor, we gotta call it.

Yep, I agree.

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

In the case above, the throw-in never ended- so we have a little justification for getting the extra player off the floor. If the clock had have started though, no way can we fix it then.

I just don't concur with the logical basis of this sentiment.

What is the fixation with the clock starting? Why is that being considered controlling? Why isn't the case being made that the point of no return is when the ball becomes live? Isn't that what determines the start of play?

Consider the following play:
The inbounder throws the ball across the court and it goes OOB untouched for a violation, but during this time an official notices that the defensive team has six people on the court.

Would anyone really contend that this isn't a T since the clock never started? The fact that a turnover occurred obviously means that the defending team gained an advantage. They would now be getting the ball.

What if the team with six on the floor commits a foul before the thrower releases the ball? Do we say that it isn't a problem because the fouler wasn't the sixth man or that the defense didn't gain an advantage?

How about if we say that the sixth kid wasn't "participating" since he was just standing there or because he was in the process of leaving the court?

There are so many was to twist this, but none of them can distort the fact that while the refs screwed up, one team did indeed break the rules and this is a technical foul. Just call it and move on with the game.