Lopsided Foul Counts

[Rich]

Originally Posted by kwv001

I think pizanno makes a good point. Last Friday night, I used the exact line, "I don't count them, I just call them" after a coach had pointed out to us that the foul count was 7-0 in the opponents favor. Of course he had also pointed out to us when it was 4-0, 5-0, and 6-0. His team was lazy and playing defense entirely with their hands.

As I finished informing him that I just call them and turned to walk away, he yelled out to me that "you don't do that very well, either"!. Whack! As I was reporting the technical, the thought went through my mind to ask him if he liked #8 any better than the first 7, but I refrained. Although at that point I think the technical was necessary, I didn't feel very good about it, because I felt that at least to a certain degree I had baited him into it.

He wanted one, had one coming, and you just facilitated it. I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Personally, I'm more in the camp of "The fouls are 9-3 because the fouls are 9-3. Period." And unless the coach is asking a question, I'm just ignoring it until I have to either deliver a warning (he's too loud about it, out of the box, or otherwise being a douchebag) or a technical.

I called two in a varsity girls game last week (first USC technicals in 2 years) on the losing team with a 4-point margin and a minute left. Girl acted up after we didn't call a violation (I was the C, it was a backcourt violation they wanted, and the T was straddling the line) and got whacked. I reported the T and it was the girl's fifth foul. Since I was there reporting the foul and technical, I told the coach it was 5 fouls and started the clock.

He asked for a timeout. I told him I needed a sub first. He told me he wasn't giving me one and that he wanted a timeout. I repeated, "by rule, I need a sub before the timeout." He came back with, "you're not getting one and I want a timeout" and he turned his back to me. During this time the horns went off in the background. I whacked him.

Could I have avoided the technical by granting him the timeout? Sure. And I know many would've done that. But the easy way isn't always the right way.