So, how'd you like a game to start like THIS?

[M&M Guy]

Originally Posted by UNH IM Ref

No way jose that floor is not ready for play anyway.

Granted, my example may be bad, but I was simply trying to point out the difference between "accidental" and "on purpose" long delays.

Originally Posted by UNH IM Ref

Besides spilling water while drinking during a TO & throwing dust for your own aggrandizement before a game are 2 extremely different things IMO. One's a T & the other is common in-game court maintenance.

I agree to a point, but which T would you give?

As I see it, the choices are:
T for delay - only charged to team; not to player.
T for unsporting behavior - charged to player, team, and indirect to HC.
Warning for delay - recorded in book, T charged for any other delay in the game.

What if the kid does it, trying to be cool, but sees the gym's HVAC is blowing the dust back unto the floor, gets this "oh, sh!t" look on his face, and is even on his hands and knees with the custodians trying to help clean it up. Would you still call this "on purpose"? If it's clear the kid didn't mean to delay the game, then you've got accidental in-game court maintenance, which is no different than cleaning up water after the TO, which is only a warning.

Another possible scenario - what if, during player intros, teammates are doing chest bumps and high-fives with each other, but one slips and hits their head on the floor and is knocked unconscious. The start of the game is delayed as the trainer attends to the player. So, since self-aggrandizement and the results delay the start of the game, who do you award the T?

My point is many say "give the kid a T for delaying the start of the game", but you cannot, by rule. It is a team T for delay, and it is not charged to the player. If you go with the unsporting T, what if the results are accidental? Then how is it not a warning first?