Fight - Same Team
 

Real situation:

During a full timeout, Player A-1 very audibly yells "F-U" in the huddle and slugs Player A-2 in the face. Fight breaks out between the two, they are separated and A-1 continues to yell obscenities. She is removed from the gym by her own coaching staff. Meanwhile, A-2 continues to sit on the bench for the duration of the game.

What do we have from an officiating standpoint?

Whoa! Did you get video? :rolleyes:

What do we have? A mess.

The definition of fighting (4-18) does not restrict fighting to acts between opponents. So these girls (or at least the one) were guilty of fighting and could be subject to flagrant T's.

That said, I'm not sure whether I'd step in. I'd certainly have the rules on my side if I assessed the T's and ejected those who fought.

Coach!!!!
 

It depends on how quickly and professionally the coach handles the situation. If he does his job then you don't have to worry about it. If he doesn't then you have to step in and take care of it.

One flagrant technical foul was issued to A-1 for language. So, she was ejected, although her coach was going to take care of her regardless.

There were no technicals for fighting.

It was handled promptly and professionally by A-Coach.

"...step in and take care of it?" :confused:

The old saying, "I went to a basketball game & a hockey game broke out" LMAO.

Shouldn't that be a T against the coach?

That would be interesting to see something like this happen in person. Just to see what would happen.

Better you than me. I would NOT like anything like that to happen a game I was watching or working. What a complete mess!

Why would it be a T against the coach?

There's no rule regarding teammates fighting. The player can be assessed a T, probably flagrant. for profanity but that's it.

Wouldn't it also depend on whether A1 or A2 were active floor players or bench personnel?

I do see the point however for giving the player a T for the unsporting conduct.

Am saying it'd be interesting to see in person, just to see how it would be handled. Although I don't wish this happens to anyone.

During a time out...
 

... all team members are bench personnel.

My assignor here locally would say these are high school athletes and they need to know how they can act during a basketball game. Fighting is absolutely unacceptable and penalties should be meted out appropriately.

Flagrant technical fouls on both fight participants.
Four throws for the other team and the ball for throw-in opposite the table. Both team members are disqualified from the contest AND get to enjoy the penalties that the league requires for fighting (if applicable).

Be a hard a$$ and enforce the penalties here.

Do you have a citation for all team members being bench personnel during a time out?

A time-out is not an intermission. During an intermission, all team members are bench personnel. (4-34-2)


Dump both of them.

I had a colleague run into this in a JC men's game.

Other posters hit it right on the head... the fight rule doesn't require it be between 2 opponents. Charge the technical fouls and eject the players. In college players must go to the locker room once they have been ejected.

If they're on the same team, that might not be such a good idea.

Mea Culpa
 

time out. not intermission. players is players. no indirects.
disqualified players.

Fighting can be with anyone.

2008-09 NFHS Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 9: Team members are leaving for the locker room at halftime when a fan taunts a member of the visiting team. The visiting team member immediately reacts, goes toward the fan and gets in a fight with him/her. RULING: The referee rules a flagrant technical foul on the visiting team member for fighting and he/she is ejected. Since he/she is a team member during intermission, an indirect technical foul is also charged to the head coach (loss of coaching box). The referee is also within his/her authority to assess a team technical foul for unsporting behavior on the spectator. If this occurs, the technical fouls are offsetting since they occur at the same time. The penalties are the same with the exception of bench personnel being ejected. If both technical fouls are assessed, each team begins the second half with one foul toward the team-foul count and play begins at the point of interruption, which is an alternating-possession throw-in to begin the third quarter. (10-1-8; 10-4-1g)


Teammates are not immune from penalization for engaging in unsporting conduct with each other.
2007-08 Basketball Rules Interpretations
SITUATION 13: Team A members are shouting disparaging, racial and/or profane remarks directed toward their own teammates. RULING: Such unsporting acts shall be penalized regardless if directed toward opponents or teammates. (10-3-7b; 10-4-1c)
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