First Time Ever - T to start game

[Man In Blue]

Originally Posted by ranjo

Happened in a JV boys game last night -

As my partner and I go over to meet and greet the visiting coach, he is at the table and his scorer is erasing something in the book. We ask what he is doing, and he explains that he is changing his starters. We tell him that if he does that, it is a technical foul as is is way past the 10 minute mark. He responds with "Then just give us the technical because there's no way these guys are starting". He then asks if it is charged to him or just to the team and we tell him it is only a team foul and he still has use of his box.

We inform the home coach we are starting the game with a technical foul and then the visiting varsity coach comes over to tell us that its not right to start the game that way - That it had happened before this season and the officials let it go. We don't buy into his story and tell him two wrongs don't make a right.

So instead of a jump ball at center court, we award two free throws to the home team, give them the ball for a throw-in, set the arrow to the visitors, and continue the game.

Its one of those things you read about, but in all these years it is the first time I have seen or had it actually happen. You can only imagine how perplexed the spectators were, trying to figure out what was going on. I think all of us missed the anticipation of the jump ball going up!

How many of you have actually started with a technical for anything other than dunking in warm-ups?

Are you sure this is how you want to handle a JV game? I am a by the book kind of guy but this seems excessive to me. Especially if the coach wants to change starters to send a message to his team.

Varsity game I am all over this and access the T. Sub-varsity I am asking coach what's up?

In my part of the world sub-varsity is about getting kids on the court. Often there are different uniforms, possibly 2 number 5's etc. As long as the coach explains what is happening there should be a little slack.

I am not saying that I would pass on playing rules, etc but fashion police can take a back seat for common sense.

Besides what advantage did the coach gain?