opposing bench yelling during free throws
 

Girls MS 7th grade game. During 1st half home team shooting free throws in front of VIS bench, VIS team members on bench would squeal and screem. This was very unsporting in my and my partners opinion. Is this something that could be considered disconcerting the free thrower? We treated it as it was. Did we stretch the rule? I'll hang up and listen.:rolleyes:

Some would say overly officious and girls will be girls. If it works for you, then so be it.

I believe the rule states "No opponent shall disconcert the free thrower." An opponent is any participant of the opposing team - to include the bench.

Now, at what level do you just talk to the coach and is it bad enough for you to call it vice just letting it go.....that's another story..... At the younger levels I've talked to the coach before - never called it myself.

If you felt that the bench was disconcerting the FT shooter, you can call the violation on them if the FT is missed. If you also felt that the disconcertion was unsporting, you can call an unsporting technical foul on the bench in addition. Always a judgment call. Handle with care.

Girls MS? Not a bad idea imo to mention to the coach that it might be a good idea if his bench kept quiet during their opponent's FT's.

It is always (with apologies to J. Dallas Shirley) disconcerting (free throw violation) at the least and unsportsmanlike (technical foul) at the worst. There is no inbetween. You have one or the other.

MTD, Sr.

Hit the attic. Pull out the 2001-02 rulebook. Look up POE 2 and then admit you're wrong.:D

<b><u>POE #2: Disconcertion During Free Throws</u></b>
<i>Some states have indicated a growing concern with the free throw shooter being disconcerted by a defensive player. Disconcertion may occur through hand and arm movements and verbal outbursts during the attempt. The committee emphasizes that disconcertion is a violation (9-1-5) and may result in a substitute throw. If persistent or deemed unsporting, the <b>TEAM</b>/player may be penalized with a technical foul.</i>

You can call both if the official deems that the disconcertion is also unsporting in nature. If it's on the bench, it's a team technical foul.

I believe that with that team tech comes an indirect to the coach and a seatbelt. Right?

Correct, using the rationale of case book play 10.4.1SitD.

JR:

Where does my post disagree with the 2001-02 POE? I said at the least it is a violation and and the worst it is an unsportsmanlike techincal foul and that is what I said in my post; my post is based upon the POE. I don't disagree with the POE at all. What I have stated in past threads on this particular type of conduct is that it is my humble opinion that disconcertion can only be committed by players on the court and if the same actions are committed by bench personel it is a unsportsmanlike technical foul. But there has never a ruling from the NFHS or NCAA addressing this play directly.

MTD, Sr.

Disconcertion by a coach
 

Had a MS game. In first half while A1 is shooting 2 freethrows. After 1st throw, coach for team B starts yelling "he stepped on the line." I was trail and could clearly see that he was not even close. So, I could only presume that the coach was trying to get in the shooters head.

I could have T'd him, but instead walked over and told him never to do that again. He didn't.

Opponents ???
 

Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.: I don't think we need a "ruling" from the NFHS for this act because there's already a "rule", opponents may not disconcert the free thrower, and if it happens, it's a violation, reshoot. However, I agree that this act, at it's worst, may indeed fall under the unsporting conduct technical foul rule. Also, I'm not familiar with NCAA rules.