Air Horn!

[Clark Kent]

BV game and early in the first period we are shooting the second free throw and just before the visiting team releases the ft an air horn goes off. He misses the shot, and next dead ball we stop play and my partner goes over with someone from game management and demand it. He threatened their team with a T is they didn't get it out of the crowd....a few of the football players on the front row turned around and magically made it appear!

My only question is would any of you have upon the rebound of the FT by the home team have stopped play? or was waiting for the dead ball the appropriate thing to do?

[BillyMac]

This is not by the rule book, I have no citations, and a lot of Forum members are going to give me a hard time regarding my answer, but here it is. If I deem that the air horn caused the shooter to miss, I'm calling it disconcertion, and I'm giving the visitors another free throw. Yes, I know that the rule states that no opponent, including bench personnel, may disconcert the free thrower, and I know that fans are not opponents, but this was an unsporting act, and I'm going to use common sense and use 2-3.

OK guys. I'm ready. Give me your best shot.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This is not by the rule book, I have no citations, and a lot of Forum members are going to give me a hard time regarding my answer, but here it is. If I deem that the air horn caused the shooter to miss, I'm calling it disconcertion, and I'm giving the visitors another free throw. Yes, I know that the rule states that no opponent, including bench personnel, may disconcert the free thrower, and I know that fans are not opponents, but this was an unsporting act, and I'm going to use common sense and use 2-3.

OK guys. I'm ready. Give me your best shot.

I don't think you can go there. What's the difference between the horn and a loud, shrill, piercing scream, or whistle, or whatever?

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I don't think you can go there. What's the difference between the horn and a loud, shrill piercing scream, or whistle, or whatever isn't artificial?

There, fixed it for ya!

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by tjones1

There, fixed it for ya!

Some people can whistle really loud without using anything artificial.

[tjones1]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Some people can whistle really loud without using anything artificial.

LOL DUH!!!!!!!!!!! Narrow minded....for some reason I was only thinking of a good old Fox 40 or old metal pea whistle in the crowd.

Good point... my fault.

[AKOFL]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Some people can whistle really loud without using anything artificial.

My point would be the original noise was a artificial noise maker. None of yours were artificial. that would be a difference for me to lean twords(?) giving the guy another shot

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This is not by the rule book, I have no citations, and a lot of Forum members are going to give me a hard time regarding my answer, but here it is. If I deem that the air horn caused the shooter to miss, I'm calling it disconcertion, and I'm giving the visitors another free throw. Yes, I know that the rule states that no opponent, including bench personnel, may disconcert the free thrower, and I know that fans are not opponents, but this was an unsporting act, and I'm going to use common sense and use 2-3.

OK guys. I'm ready. Give me your best shot.

I have no problem with killing the play and giving the shooter another FT. But it has nothing to do with disconcertion. As you stated, fans can't be called for disconcertion. Use 2-3, have the illegal item remove and give the kid his FT.

He'll miss it anyway.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

This is not by the rule book, I have no citations, and a lot of Forum members are going to give me a hard time regarding my answer, but here it is. If I deem that the air horn caused the shooter to miss, I'm calling it disconcertion, and I'm giving the visitors another free throw. Yes, I know that the rule states that no opponent, including bench personnel, may disconcert the free thrower, and I know that fans are not opponents, but this was an unsporting act, and I'm going to use common sense and use 2-3.

OK guys. I'm ready. Give me your best shot.

As you have written, disconcertion is not the proper call. A team technical foul per 2-8-1 is supported by the book.


RULE 2, SECTION 8 OFFICIALS’ ADDITIONAL DUTIES
The officials shall:
ART. 1 . . . Penalize unsporting conduct by any player, coach, substitute, team
attendant or follower.
NOTE: The home management or game committee is responsible for spectator behavior,
insofar as it can reasonably be expected to control the spectators. The officials may call
fouls on either team if its supporters act in such a way as to interfere with the proper
conduct of the game. Discretion must be used in calling such fouls, however, lest a team
be unjustly penalized. When team supporters become unruly or interfere with the orderly
progress of the game, the officials shall stop the game until the host management
resolves the situation and the game can proceed in an orderly manner. In the absence of
a designated school representative, the home coach shall serve as the host management.

[chseagle]

What's the ruling concerning yelling things when in the process of shooting free throws?

Last night during the Girls' Varsity game, whenever the home team was shooting free throws, the visitors' JV Girls watching as spectators were yelling various things while the home player was in the process of shooting free throws. Could this be considered disconcertion?

I'm asking this as a two-sided question, what would a floor official do in that situation? What should game management/crowd control do in that situation?

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by chseagle

What's the ruling concerning yelling things when in the process of shooting free throws?

Last night during the Girls' Varsity game, whenever the home team was shooting free throws, the visitors' JV Girls watching as spectators were yelling various things while the home player was in the process of shooting free throws. Could this be considered disconcertion?

I'm asking this as a two-sided question, what would a floor official do in that situation? What should game management/crowd control do in that situation?

The JV team members are NOT opponents during the Varsity game. They are spectators. They should not be sitting in the team bench area. If they are in the bleachers behind the bench, then they can yell all they want.

Neither game management nor the officials should do anything about this. It is part of basketball.

However, the players on the court, and the coaches and team members sitting on the benches are not permitted to distract the FT shooter. That is a violation and will be penalized with a substitute FT.

[chseagle]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

The JV team members are NOT opponents during the Varsity game. They are spectators. They should not be sitting in the team bench area. If they are in the bleachers behind the bench, then they can yell all they want.

Neither game management nor the officials should do anything about this. It is part of basketball.

However, the players on the court, and the coaches and team members sitting on the benches are not permitted to distract the FT shooter. That is a violation and will be penalized with a substitute FT.

A couple of the JV Players were questionable, the few that were questionable were sitting in the location where team gear was being kept (water bottles & medical). All were sitting right behind the bench, & a couple of times it looked as if the cheerleaders or the JV Girls' Coach was trying to get them to cheer while the free throw was being attempted.

The WIAA has a program called "Just Play Fair!" that emphasizes sportsmanship & on the Sportsmanship/Crowd Management Evaluation Form, 1 of the points on the form is: Yelling or waving arms during opponent's free-throw attempt under Unacceptable Behavior.

I know from watching College & NBA Games, that fans are waving foam fingers, banging thundersticks, & other things to distract the player.

I didn't think however it was legal for anyone to yell anything specific during the free throw attempts. Only yell, clap hands, & stomp feet.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by chseagle

A couple of the JV Players were questionable, the few that were questionable were sitting in the location where team gear was being kept (water bottles & medical). All were sitting right behind the bench, & a couple of times it looked as if the cheerleaders or the JV Girls' Coach was trying to get them to cheer while the free throw was being attempted.

The WIAA has a program called "Just Play Fair!" that emphasizes sportsmanship & on the Sportsmanship/Crowd Management Evaluation Form, 1 of the points on the form is: Yelling or waving arms during opponent's free-throw attempt under Unacceptable Behavior.

I know from watching College & NBA Games, that fans are waving foam fingers, banging thundersticks, & other things to distract the player.

I didn't think however it was legal for anyone to yell anything specific during the free throw attempts. Only yell, clap hands, & stomp feet.

If the WIAA has specific regulations above and beyond the NFHS rules, then that would be followed in your state. However, the NFHS rules do not forbid any of the behavior which you have described.

Perhaps someone who currently officiates in the State of Washington will come along shortly, see this post, and clarify how this should be handled up there.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by chseagle

What's the ruling concerning yelling things when in the process of shooting free throws?

The scorekeeper, timer and shot-clock operator should refrain from yelling during FTs.

[Ignats75]

I was doing a BJV game a couple of years ago where one of the HCs was a notorious bad boy coach. Probably will retire with the career record for T's in his conference.

I was T on a free throw (before the mechanics change-so I was AWAY from the benches). It was the first half. Just as the shooter was in his shooting motion, the coach open palm slaps the floor and yells real loud, "BOX OUT".

I whacked him for unsporting behavior. I could've gone the disconcertion route, except the FT was made. But, this guy had already been warned that he needed to calm down and it was clear that he waited for the shooter to just about release the ball to do what he did.

V officials and my partner and I had a lively discussion about whether it was unsporting behavior. I won the vote 3-2.