Hotly contested HS boys game, a little chippy and a little physical. We warned the teams (through the captains) to quit the yakking, etc. A1 is attempting to save the ball from going out of bounds, gains control while in the air and just before landing out of bounds turns, faces and fires the ball at B1. We have all seen this play before. The ball is thrown extremely hard at B1 and deflects out of bounds. Technical foul on A1 for unsportsmanlike?

was the intent to hurt the other player or to make the ball go out of bounds on the other player?

If it's thrown low it's a no call. If it's thrown at the head, it's a T.

I think this is great hustle, no call. Pretty hard to judge mal-intenet on this play.

"thrown extremely hard" and "deflected out of bounds" suggest to me that it's good, hard play. I agree, if it's thrown at the upper body or face, it's unsportsmanlike but, more often than not, balls thrown high tend to be caught by the swarming defense.

I watch these situations with a mindset that if it's something I don't want to see again in the game, I call the T. Also, if A1 is teetering on the edge of going OB or is flying OB, (s)he usually can't get too much zing on the ball. If A1 has time to plant and sling the ball in a classic fastball pitch at someone in particular, he probably had time/distance to pass too...flagrant?!?!?!

how low
 

what if its thrown at the groin??

Nothing, good play.