Disconcertion by a mascot???
 

Is this possible?

Here's the situation, NFHS:

The layout of the gym is such that the crowd is on bleachers on either side of the court, and the wall are about 12 feet or so beyond the baseline. Team A has about six or so cheerleaders along the baseline on either side of the paint (nothing between the lane and the wall), and a mascot.


Team B is lined up to shoot a 2 shoot free throw in the first half. I had just called the foul, so I was near half court at the T position. The mascot behind the cheerleaders along the baseline across the court from the tableside and benches, so he's clearly in my line of sight. I'm standing back, observing for the first free throw, and notice quite clearly the mascot observing my partner bouncing B1 the ball to her for the free throw. He turns and looks at B1 and as soon as he notices she's settling in to shoot the free throw, mascot starts dancing/shuffling/whatever along the baseline and is crossing through the paint area (still OOB, behind partner and cheerleaders) right as the girl releases her attempt. I guess you could call is a somewhat 'animated' walk. In my opinion, this was about as pre-meditated as they come. As soon as the shot has missed, I tweet the whistle and go visit with partner at lead. He had an idea of what had happened. I told him that we're going to re-shoot the first free throw, and address game management regarding the mascot.

I asked at the table for game management. He was already walking over. I asked him "Please make sure that doesn't happen again," and he told me that he was "on it." As we shoot the free throws, admin is trying to look up under the mascot head and give him a tongue lashing.

The mascot was later spotted in the student section, sans head, looking very glum. No further problems.

My question: can the mascot disconcert? Were our actions allowable "by the book"? I think we did the common sense thing and followed the provisions of disconcertion, but I don't necessarily think that the mascot is a "member of the team", even though it certainly is a representative of it.

How would you handle this?

If it is that big of a problem, just have the mascot removed or removed from the area. I would not call this disconcertion as the rulebook states because that mostly involves the participants, not a fan, cheerleader or mascot. I do not think you have support though interpretations to actually apply disconcertion to this situation. Of course a Referee can rule on things that are not specifically covered in the rulebook, but that would be a stretch if you ask me.

Peace

I'm with Jeff on this one. I had a partner this year stop the game while a bunch of boys walked from one side of the court to the other; even took the ball back from the shooter because she was waiting. He then stood there and told them to hurry up.

I would never do that, this isn't golf.

I agree with Rut. If anything, just have the mascot move. If there was a section of stands in that area, and the mascot was in the section jumping up and down, I would bet you wouldn't have thought twice about ignoring it. I feel the same way if the cheerleaders started waving their pom-poms and yelling and screaming. If they are interfering with play, move 'em. I've had some upset cheerleader coaches when I told them the squad couldn't stand on the baseline because there wasn't enough room for safety purposes since the area at the baseline wasn't deep enough to accommodate play.

And you guys would feel the same way even if the mascot jumped into the area beyond the paint, right under the basket and started doing the hokey pokey while the shooter was attemping a FT?

Yes, tell him to knock it off or just shaw him away if it really bothers you.

Yep. Tell him to knock it off or get game management to take care of him.

You mean if they came onto the court? As I said before, if it is a problem either throw them out of the game (Ask Curtis Shaw) or remove them from the spot. If you think I am giving another shot for something that did not have the mascot coming onto the court and grabbing the FT shooter, then you are mistaken. Disconcertion is about the participants. Mascots are not a participant. I just would not allow a mascot to come onto the court or close to the court that directly interfered with play. Jumping up and down near the sideline is not disconcertion in my opinion.

Peace

Depends. If the mascot's doing the correct version, in keeping with the appropriate tradition, then I don't have a problem. If he's throwing a bunch of his own interpretations and making a mockery of the hallowed Hokey Pokey, then by all means, throw his a$$ out.

Seriously, how would you treat that different than fans behind the basket yelling and waving pictures of bricks? Or, what about the 3-year-old who gets away from mom while walking back from the concession stand and starts a temper tantrum in the same area because mom didn't buy the Skittles? 9-1-5 says no <B>opponent</B> shall disconcert the free thrower. So, while I understand the thought, there is no rules backing awarding another FT due to disconcertion. Ask for the ball back, tell him to stop, move him to a different spot, and start over. But there's no rule that says the player is allowed another attempt because someone's dancing funny.

What you describe is not disconcertion, but would fall under the proviso where and official can charge a team with a TF because its followers act in a inappropriate manner, i.e., throwing rolls of toilet paper onto the court after the team scores its first basket of the game.

MTD, Sr.

T.P. For Team Spirit ...
 

To me, this would be worth the technical foul. Even if I lost the game by one point.

That is correct. The mascot is a team follower and his actions could result in a team technical foul, but he is not an opponent and therefore cannot commit disconcertion.

The result of the attempted FT should have stood.

Just wondering, didn't Curtis Shaw kick a Mascot out of a game a month or two ago?

thanks guys. fair enough. it has been fun that i've been able to say that i 'kicked' a mascot out though, even if it was the AD... it's actually pretty funny in retrospect.

This is a place that I have used the stop sign for fans once the ball has been given to the shooter. Usually, I will have them hustle through or wait till the FT is completed to make their trek. Hey, we're already the fashion police, so being a traffic cop is not that much of a stretch.

Really. Next up, notifying players they aren't drinking enough water to stay properly hydrated or halting spectators from returning to their seats too close to the bench with unhealthy snacks.

I think that you did the right thing.

This is also my position. HOWEVER. . .

This exact scenario happened in a women's NCAA D2 game locally (I had the men's game following, that's how I know about it) and the officials called disconcertion. Their assignor backed them, and they apparently even got a ruling from the NCAA rules editor to support the call. I don't know if it will get published, but I personally think it's a bad ruling.

Only "opponents" can disconcert. Hard to see the mascot as an opponent.

Scrapper1:

If that is the NCAA Women's ruling then the NCAA Women's Committee must have asked Barb Jacobs to come out of retirement to make the ruling because I agree with you 100% that it not only a bad ruling but a ruling that can not be defended by rule.

MTD, Sr.

It's really sad that someone from the NCAAW side thinks that. :(

You guys are breaking my heart.

I realize this strays a bit, but did anyone see the State Farm commercial with the squirrel mascot?

I Didn't Realize That Chuck Wore Glasses ???