I had a sort of similar situation in baseball. I work one team that has their dugout up and yelling on every play of every inning. They do nothing but yell encouragement at their own players. I'll admit after a full inning it is as annoying as anything I've been around, but certainly not usporting. One time when I had them, there was a big commotion in their dugout and I could tell something was wrong. I walked over and asked the coach and evidently a fan went into their dugout and told them to be quiet. Since I didn't actually see the fan do it I didn't eject him (he stepped in through a door in the back of the dugout). I told the coach and players that I agreed with the fan that they were annoying, but there was nothing in the rules that said they couldn't cheer for their team anytime they wanted. :D

Very true, so here is an ill eagle:

http://ethicscrisis.com/sick_bird.jpg

lol i knew that was going to be commented on once i hit submit

i believe that is actually a duck:D just bein a SA

That's how ill he is. You can't even tell he's an eagle! :)

I'm with the OP. I have very sensitive periphrial (sp?) vision. Having fans running on the sideline would be very distracting to me. I sometimes even get startled by mascots painted on the floor. Fans belong in the stands and we aren't playing until they get there.

I've never been in a gym where there would be room for this kind of fol-de-rol. I'd have done as OP in any game I've ever had.

Well fortunately, this school is a private school and a full size Field House with lots of room to spare. They even have a practice gym!!!

Chanting too?:eek:

Ah, the humanity, the humanity......

You knew better than that. All sports have 'em. Obviously.

IREFU2 is a good friend of mine and an outstanding official and partner, but he's very serious on the court and is not as appreciative of the amusing sideline entertainment as I am. Of course, non of us were there so only his and his partner's judgement count as to whether or not the fans this day were a detriment to the game and the safety of the crew and players.

That being said...The gymnasium in question is best HS facility I ever seen or worked in. The school is the private institution where the local rich, powerful, and politically-connected send their children so there was plenty of money poured into this building.

It's a full 94' basketball court that has a 2' restraining border encompassing the court. Baseline side nearest the entrance it's at least 10' from the outer edge of the restraining border to the wall. The opposite baseline where the home cheerleaders congregate it's about 15'-20' from the outer edge of the restraining border to the wall. Tableside, the bleachers are 6-8 feet behind the benches. On the far sidelines opposite the benches it is at least 8ft from the bleachers to the outer edge of the restraining border. There is plenty of room around the entire court to hold a parade if that's what they wanted to do.

Sh!t, even the the official's changing room is outstanding. You enter through the AD's lounge (yes, lounge, his office is a separate room within the lounge). The locker room has about 10 lockers in a U-shape with a bench in the middle plus 2 individual chairs. Clean shower (with fixed and removable shower heads), clean toilet, clean urinal, and extra space for stretching.

Oh, I forgot to mention the best thing about this school. It's 10-15 minutes from my job and 10-15 minutes from my house. It's right off the interstate exit and also only 5 minutes from my kids house. I love it when I see that school on my schedule.

There's a big difference between being serious and being an OOO. One of the differences is worrying about the fans chanting, unless the chant happens to be obscene or racial in nature, or sumthin' like that.

Anyone even thinking about calling this one should run it by his supervisor first to get their opinion. You don't want to be "that guy"- the only official ever to worry about what the crowd is doing in this particular gym. If all of the other officials going in there don't have a problem with the crowd, then fuggedaboutit. You're just trying to impose your own personal standards, instead of simply following the norm. Jmo.

Okay, time to lay this dog to rest. This didnt happen in the first game which was a JV game. I wasnt impossing my own personal standards and in both my opinion and my partners too, we felt that running up and down the court with the opposing team was unruly and interfering with the orderly progress of the game. The players both home and away were getting distracted. Now, if the majority thinks that you can continue a game with such antics, then that is the majorities opinion. I rather take the chance of being frowned on for stopping such antics instead of doing nothing and getting a phone call later. I think we should close this thread. The horse has been beat to death.

of course this isnt going to happen during a JV game, because its a JV game...

how did this interfere with the orderly progress? -- how were the players getting distracted? -- this sounds like you are trying to justify a position most here disagree with

if you just say we did it because we felt it was the right thing to do and we wanted to -- then fine -- I honestly dont have see anything wrong with what you did if what you say about disruption and orderly progress and what not. however I do not see that -- were they in the way of throw ins, were they harrasing the team verbally (and I dont mean funny chants, I mean harrasing), were they threatning anyone. I just would like clarification because I dont ever get to work in a gym with that much space and should this happen from what I read I dont see much I can do or would do about it -- but any extra light could help should this ever come up

Okay, if you have 15 or so fan running down the court opposite the table, chanting bounce, bounce(evertime the ball is bounced) and then pass, pass (everytime the ball is being passed), then shot, shot (on every shot) by the visiting team, you dont have a problem with that? It is distracting to the table, the teams as well as the officials. I am not trying to justify anything because I did what I felt was correct and actually people in the stands clapped and the fack dukies appologized for their actions. I hope this brings the light on for you.