Cat Fight!
 

Last night just after the start of the 4th quarter in my JV girls game (cross town rivals) we had a fight start in the stands. I am T (opposite) and I sense a commotion behind me before hearing someone yell. I glance back and two girls are really laying into each other. I am about to blow my whistle and get the players out of the area when I notice the girl with the ball is about to shoot. I hold my whistle a second, let her shoot and as soon as she releases give a tweet.

I immediately start trying to herd the girls to the bench and one girl from the visiting team takes a few steps backwards toward the fight...which has now moved onto the edge of the court. Not wanting her to get sucker punched from behind I grab her arm and yell "Watch it, clear the area"...to which she yanks her arm away and yells "Get off me", then notices the fight and scurries to the bench.

Teachers and security are there in a flash and break it up before a riot starts (and the gym was packed). We kept the game stopped while the police get there and escort the participants out. Coaches talk to their teams for a minute and we finish the game...took them a while to get back into the flow, each team turned it over on their next two possessions. Just before we resumed play, I went to the visiting team coach and told her I grabbed one of her players by the arm as she was unwittingly backing into the fight. She said "Yea, I saw that and got onto her for yelling at you." I just apologized to the girl and told the caoch "Completely understandable. All she knew was someone grabbed her just as all H was breaking out." Player said thanks as she was walking out onto the floor.

Guess the question is, would you have held the whistle for that second since the players were not in the immediate area of the fight? Keep in mind, I turned a little and could see what was happening off the floor out of the corner of my eye.

Larry, jmo but I think that you handled the whole situation well.

I think I'd stop play as quickly as possible for the purpose of safety, especially if the players are at risk in some manner. Just isn't worth anyone getting injured. Sometimes it's a wonder that sort of thing doesn't happen more often.

Seems to me you saw no danger in holding whistle until the shot was up. JMO you showed a lot of restraint, while understanding what was happening in front and behind you. Kudos to you. I don't think you're going to get any complaints either way considering the circumstances. If I had a choice in your situation, I'd like to think I would've handled it the same way.:D

Sounds like you handled a really bad situation in the best way possible. I hope I never have a fight situation, but if I do I hope I think as quickly as you did.

I agree. If you blow the whistle a second earlier, then Team A has possession and gets the ball back after the stoppage. If you wait a second to blow the whistle, then they get the shot they wanted. It's a no-lose.

A couple years ago, during a close score rival high school game, (the two teams' student cheer sections were sitting at opposite corners of the gym, filling their corner of the stand completely). They students were obnoxiously loud the whole game. As the final buzzer rang, one student threw a water bottle across the gym towards the other team. Just then, both teams cleared the bleachers in a matter or seconds and met in the middle. Us refs were running out anway, but could have got caught in the middle, if we werent already heading out. Police and school officials were on hand and overted an ugly scene, but it was a little unsettling to see the bleachers clear so quickly. It was at a christain school, so that may explain it. JK

I'd err on the side of blowing it dead sooner. Give the ball back to the team that had it, and no one is going to complain.

Just like we don't tolerate racism, I would hope that we don't tolerate blanket statements against religions here. Yes, there are Christians who are hypocritcal, but you can't paint us all with the same brush. I take offense to your remark.:(

I oppologize for that remark. I'm christian too, so it was like making fun of myself, but I guess you gotta be careful how you joke nowadays.

I am Christian myself, just an oberservation I have made tho, some of the worst games from everyone envolved are at Christian Schools.

Nice job handling a difficult situation. I had a similar situation earlier this season and did somewhat the same. In either case, I don't think anyone would fault you for your choice. Fact is, it all worked out OK, and you kept your head. Keep up the great work.

So, Larry, what was the result of the try and how did you resume the game? :D

BTW nice work on everything else. :)

I have had some bad games at Christian schools. I have had some excellent games at Christian schools.

I have had some bad games at public schools. I have had some excellent games at public schools.

Would you ever consider saying, "Just an observation I have made tho, some of the worst games from everyone involved are at black schools." I hope not. Because that's stereotyping. But it seems some people have no problem stereotyping Christians.

{rant on} As someone who has taught at Christian Schools and coached at Christian Schools for 15 years I take issue with some of the disparaging comments. I have attended/coached/officiated hundreds of games at Christian Schools. Only one time do I ever remember anything being remotely out of hand. I am curious though, do people think that because it happens at a Christian School that makes it any more wrong? Because a person is a Christian does not mean they have any more control of their emotions. Yes, we can get into a whole spiritual discussion here, but let's just say that Christians are not supernatural - they are human and we all know that sports brings out everyone's worst. The fact that you say "Well, it was at a CS so what do you expect" does bother me. I schedule officials for one of the local CS's here and my guys beg to go there because there's never a problem.

*sigh* OK, I feel somewhat better now. Thanks for listening. {rant off}<RANT off>