Mind your own business?

[Ignats75]

Originally Posted by LDUB

Of course it is a mistake which could have been avoided, but what does that have to do with not penalizing it? The way to handle the situation is clearly outlined in the rules. Are you friend with the guy who wrote that article about the NBA game with 6 players?

So your judgement is that you would rectify a problem that was caused by your mistake with a Technical Foul? Exactly how long did you plan on refereeing at the varsity level. Being afraid to whack a coach would cost you games around here, but whacking a coach when you were too proud to admit you messed up will cost you just as dearly around here. No one is arguing that the coach should not be on the floor. However, the reasons that the problem developed are mitigating factors.

• If the officials used their game management and awareness skills there wouldn't be a problem.
• The ball was still dead when the coach first started to request the timeout.
• There are other times that we as officials do not enforce the letter of the law...Advantage/Disadvantage....Three Seconds...etc
• The spirit of the rule is to prevent unsporting behavior by the coaches. The only unsporting act in this scenario is the eggregous lack of game management by the officials multiplied by the TRAIL invading the coach's huddle

I still can't believe that a crew would start an inbounding play as described in the OP.