"Practicing" on the bench

[Amesman]

Have not found anything (or at least have not been looking in the right place) for this one: Is there a rule prohibiting a player(s) on the bench from warming up with a ball during the game?

Could mean just flipping the ball hand-to-hand or flicking short shots up in the air while on the bench.

Or, during a timeout before attempting free throws, a player grabs a ball and starts practice shooting the ball straight up near the huddle. Or could be a cold bench player being called in to shoot technical FTs, wanting to get a better feel.

[Adam]

You could invoke player safety and tell them they can't be messing around with a ball at the bench. If that ball gets away from him, it could be a real mess.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Amesman

Have not found anything (or at least have not been looking in the right place) for this one: Is there a rule prohibiting a player(s) on the bench from warming up with a ball during the game?

Could mean just flipping the ball hand-to-hand or flicking short shots up in the air while on the bench.

Or, during a timeout before attempting free throws, a player grabs a ball and starts practice shooting the ball straight up near the huddle. Or could be a cold bench player being called in to shoot technical FTs, wanting to get a better feel.

There's no rule against any of these acts and absolutely no reason in the world for an official to worry about any of 'em either imo.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

You could invoke player safety and tell them they can't be messing around with a ball at the bench. If that ball gets away from him, it could be a real mess.

OOO to the nth power......

[rsl]

Different issue, but related. Boys Soph game, and the JV Boys keep trying to warm up during timeouts. The boys aren't bench personnel. If they were it would be an easy T. I suppose they are fans and I should get the AD to take care of it.

It can be even worse near the end of a rec game when the players for the next game keep trying to warm up during end of game time outs.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by jurassic referee

ooo to the nth power......

agreed.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rsl

Different issue, but related. Boys Soph game, and the JV Boys keep trying to warm up during timeouts. The boys aren't bench personnel. If they were it would be an easy T. I suppose they are fans and I should get the AD to take care of it.

It can be even worse near the end of a rec game when the players for the next game keep trying to warm up during end of game time outs.

strictly game management issue, IMO. I don't usually worry about it.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by rsl

JV Boys keep trying to warm up during timeouts. Players for the next game keep trying to warm up during end of game time outs.

Gym rats. All gyms have them. I used to be one.

[rsl]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

strictly game management issue, IMO. I don't usually worry about it.

I've resigned myself to this approach. It was not by design, but practically there is nothing you can do so now I just go with the flow...

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by rsl

Boys Soph game, and the JV Boys keep trying to warm up during timeouts. The boys aren't bench personnel. If they were it would be an easy T. I suppose they are fans and I should get the AD to take care of it.

Yup, always let the AD take care of any fan problems.

Btw and fyi, practising during a TO is prohibited under rule 2-7-4 but there is no penalty listed in the book for it. Just saying....