Pregame running under the basket...

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'd be careful about unilaterally penalizing a team for running around the entire perimeter of the gym, or some similar pregame activity, without the backing of your state high school athletics governing body, especially since this NFHS Point of Emphasis is no longer in the current rulebook.

Why?

We unilaterally penalize just about all unsporting acts during our jurisdiction, and that includes pre-game also. That's just part of our job description. We don't need a POE or any specific instruction to do that. They're usually judgment calls anyway, and if you judge any act worthy of an unsporting "T", then just call one without bothering to analyze it to death first. Treat it the same as any other "T"----> warn and whack or just whack. In my experience, a warning will usually take care of the problem.

But if you just sit there and watch them though and you do have problems because of it, then those problems are on you.

And note that imo this is another situation that should be brought up with your local association during the pre-season. Get their direction so that everyone in your area is calling it uniformly.

[shishstripes]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

I'd be careful about unilaterally penalizing a team for running around the entire perimeter of the gym, or some similar pregame activity, without the backing of your state high school athletics governing body, especially since this NFHS Point of Emphasis is no longer in the current rulebook.

Look at what the POE is asking state associations to adopt procedures for. Has nothing to do with running around the perimeter of the court. And I do understand that the POE is not in the current book but if it is unsporting should we do nothing?

The POE doesn't say to penalize them for running around the perimeter, which I do not think would disrupt their opponents warm-up unless they cut corners where they ran through the other teams warm-up to the point where it is disrupted.

What I pictured and remembered from my years in school was running around the perimeter and when on the opponent's end, cut through the middle of the key straight to center court. Which I remember happening 20+ years ago.

At the same time, how often does this really happen after our jurisdiction begins when we arrive on the court at 15:00?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

This is another situation that should be brought up with your local association during the pre-season. Get their direction so that everyone in your area is calling it uniformly.

It already has: Team members are not allowed to congregate at midcourt during introductions. Officials will direct players to free throw line area in front of respective benches.

Other than the above, that's all our state high school athletics association has come up with. However, once our jurisdiction begins, NFHS Rule 10, specifically unsporting acts, is always in full effect.