Player Down - Rule and Your Philosophy

[Johnny Ringo]

When a player goes down and appears to be injured no matter how severe it may or may not be ... what do you do?

I know there is a proper procedure to follow and I know everyone has their own philosophy here (right or wrong, but we know everyone sees and applies differently).

What is your take on a player down?

[Mark Padgett]

I can tell you that in our local kids rec league, we have an inviolate rule - if a player appears to be hurt, we immediately stop play and take care of the player - no exceptions and the game situation is irrelevant. We drill the following into everyone - officials, coaches and players alike - "Player safety is rule number one".

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

When a player goes down and appears to be injured no matter how severe it may or may not be ... what do you do?

I know there is a proper procedure to follow and I know everyone has their own philosophy here (right or wrong, but we know everyone sees and applies differently).

What is your take on a player down?

If the player is in a position where he's in danger of further injury or if the injury is obviously severe, we kill the play.

If the play is transistioning to the other end, the T stops and stays with the player. That tells everyone, "We see him." As soon as team control ends or the offense stops pushing the ball, we kill the play.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

If the player is in a position where he's in danger of further injury or if the injury is obviously severe, we kill the play. If the play is transistioning to the other end, the T stops and stays with the player. As soon as team control ends or the offense stops pushing the ball, we kill the play.

BktBallRef: Well said. Rookies take note.

Also, regarding "team control ends", that means as soon as the shot is attempted, the official blows the whistle, while the shot is in the air. If the attempt misses, we go to the arrow, if the attempt is successful, the other team gets the ball, and is allowed to run the endline.

[TGR]

I agree with BktBallRef's process when a player goes down.

However, I believe that BillyMac's procedure that read, "Also, regarding "team control ends", that means as soon as the shot is attempted, the official blows the whistle, while the shot is in the air. If the attempt misses, we go to the arrow, if the attempt is successful, the other team gets the ball, and is allowed to run the endline" is incorrect.

Think about this situation: A1 goes down with a possible injury and Team B quickly transitions to a two on none break. B1 misses the lay up and B2 follows up and scores. I would never blow that play dead after B1's miss and go to the arrow. It wouldn't be fair.

If we actually followed that procedure quoted above, there would be no reason why a player wouldn't "fake" an injury every time down the court. There would always be a chance that the team who had numbers would miss their shot attempt and that the arrow was pointing in favor of the "injured" player's team.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by TGR

I agree with BktBallRef's process when a player goes down.

However, I believe that BillyMac's procedure that read, "Also, regarding "team control ends", that means as soon as the shot is attempted, the official blows the whistle, while the shot is in the air. If the attempt misses, we go to the arrow, if the attempt is successful, the other team gets the ball, and is allowed to run the endline" is incorrect.

Think about this situation: A1 goes down with a possible injury and Team B quickly transitions to a two on none break. B1 misses the lay up and B2 follows up and scores. I would never blow that play dead after B1's miss and go to the arrow. It wouldn't be fair.

You might not think that it's fair but it IS the rule.

NFHS rule 5-8-2NOTE: When a player is injured in Art. 2(a), the official may suspend play after the ball is dead or is in control of the injured player's team or when the opponents complete a play. A play is completed when a team loses control (including throwing for goal) or withholds the ball from play by ceasing to attempt to score or advance the ball to a scoring position. When necessary to protect an injured player, the official may immediately suspend play.

Billy's advice was to follow the existing rules, as cited above. Your advice is to make up your own rules. Methinks the wise thing to do is to go with Billy.

[Mwanr1]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

You might not think that it's fair but it IS the rule.

NFHS rule 5-8-2NOTE: When a player is injured in Art. 2(a), the official may suspend play after the ball is dead or is in control of the injured player's team or when the opponents complete a play. A play is completed when a team loses control (including throwing for goal) or withholds the ball from play by ceasing to attempt to score or advance the ball to a scoring position. When necessary to protect an injured player, the official may immediately suspend play.

Billy's advice was to follow the existing rules, as cited above. Your advice is to make up your own rules. Methinks the wise thing to do is to go with Billy.

I agree with TGR and will not kill the play if there's a 2 on none play. NO WAY!

[mick]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

You might not think that it's fair but it IS the rule.

NFHS rule 5-8-2NOTE: When a player is injured in Art. 2(a), the official may suspend play after the ball is dead or is in control of the injured player's team or when the opponents complete a play. A play is completed when a team loses control (including throwing for goal) or withholds the ball from play by ceasing to attempt to score or advance the ball to a scoring position. When necessary to protect an injured player, the official may immediately suspend play.

Billy's advice was to follow the existing rules, as cited above. Your advice is to make up your own rules. Methinks the wise thing to do is to go with Billy.

I do not like the Red part. I think it is stoopid.
I think the rule could stand without that tripe.

If the ball is in flight [with 5-on-4] and with the injured player out of harm's way, I would like to see play continue until it changes direction or until the ball backs away from the basket.

[blindmanwalking]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

BktBallRef: Well said. Rookies take note.

Also, regarding "team control ends", that means as soon as the shot is attempted, the official blows the whistle, while the shot is in the air. If the attempt misses, we go to the arrow, if the attempt is successful, the other team gets the ball, and is allowed to run the endline.

This is the only fair solution. If the offensive team were allowed to continuously attempt shots they would be gaining a huge advantage from the other team's injured player. The way the rule is set up it allows the offense to attempt a shot they probably would have got if no player were injured and does not penalize the defensive team by not having 5 players available to rebound.

[Mwanr1]

Originally Posted by blindmanwalking

This is the only fair solution. If the offensive team were allowed to continuously attempt shots they would be gaining a huge advantage from the other team's injured player. The way the rule is set up it allows the offense to attempt a shot they probably would have got if no player were injured and does not penalize the defensive team by not having 5 players available to rebound.

Depends on the situation: if A team makes no attempt to run back on defense and B1 misses and B2 follows up and score, I'm going to hold my whistle. Again, it is a 2 on none situation. It would not be the same had it been a 5 on 4 situation. If it's a 5-4 situation, once I recognize the team in control isn't attacking the basket, I'll blow the play dead immediately to check on the injured player.

I've seen and witness coaches run out on the floor without being "PROPERLY BECKON" onto the court. Would you guys administer a technical foul to the head coach? What about a parent from the stand to check on his/her son/daughter?

[mick]

Originally Posted by Johnny Ringo

When a player goes down and appears to be injured no matter how severe it may or may not be ... what do you do?

I know there is a proper procedure to follow and I know everyone has their own philosophy here (right or wrong, but we know everyone sees and applies differently).

What is your take on a player down?

*We* do not know that.
[See BktBallRef procedure.]