Late technical foul

[IowaMike]

You did the right thing. As you said yourself, you simply reacted to the situation. If it would be a technical in the first quarter, then it should be a technical in the last minute. I think most officials would prefer to not have to call a T at that point of the game and wish the players and coaches would just do their job and not force us to make that call. But they are the ones who are responsible for the T. I personally dislike working with guys who won't take care of business.

[mj]

Good call. Sportsmanship doesn't go away even though the stakes are higher.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by IowaMike

You did the right thing. As you said yourself, you simply reacted to the situation. If it would be a technical in the first quarter, then it should be a technical in the last minute. I think most officials would prefer to not have to call a T at that point of the game and wish the players and coaches would just do their job and not force us to make that call. But they are the ones who are responsible for the T. I personally dislike working with guys who won't take care of business.

Iowa....well put. The part I highlighted in blue I think speaks for the majority of us here.
Rich......good job!

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by IowaMike

If it would be a technical in the first quarter, then it should be a technical in the last minute.

Not pertaining to Rich's T, but just in general, how many of us agree with the above statement?

I believe that there is a school of thought that espouses that late in close games the decisions of the officials have greater impact and also the emotions of the coaches and players are higher, hence the threshold for what qualifies as unsporting behavior is also elevated.

Thoughts?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

I believe that there is a school of thought that espouses that late in close games the decisions of the officials have greater impact and also the emotions of the coaches and players are higher, hence the threshold for what qualifies as unsporting behavior is also elevated.

Thoughts?

I think that that particular school of thought needs to grow some cojones. They're looking for a reason not to have to call the "T". And they'll always find one.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

Not pertaining to Rich's T, but just in general, how many of us agree with the above statement?

I believe that there is a school of thought that espouses that late in close games the decisions of the officials have greater impact and also the emotions of the coaches and players are higher, hence the threshold for what qualifies as unsporting behavior is also elevated.

Thoughts?

You know, I've had some time to think about Thursday night and the technical, and I'm fine with it.

This same school of thought is the same that people have when they think officials shouldn't call a foul on the last possession because it could decide the game.

I could've passed on the technical foul, sure. I could've pretended there were no gestures, no unsportsmanlike words. Had I simply reported the foul he would've calmed himself down eventually, sure. I imagine there are a lot of officials that would've turned themselves away from the kid to not see what was happening "behind his back."

How is that fair to the game or to the other team's players who maintained composure even when they were down 5 points in the fourth quarter?

I'd like to think that my "reaction" was based on my 22 years of experience -- it certainly wasn't out of anger. It was the same reaction and the same "patient whistle" I'd apply on a shooting foul -- I probably took three steps towards the table before I brought my whistle up and called the technical. Those of you who have done this a while probably know what I mean when I say how it's amazing you can be working a game that's so important to the kids and teams and to you it's just Thursday.

And I have to give the visiting coach credit. There was a lengthy article in the paper with quite a few quotes and he didn't blast the officiating or the kid for getting the technical -- he chose to blame some missed bunnies in the fourth quarter that brought the home team back into the game.

If you think I'm second-guessing because it means I'm sorry I called it, I'm coming across the wrong way. I re-examine a lot of calls I make during a game and this is no different.

[just another ref]

Last week, boys playoff, late first half, home team had a double digit lead. H1 drives, pulls up, and gives a head fake. V1 is fooled, leaves his feet and lands on top of him. Foul is called. V1 lands on the floor. H1 turns away from V1 and throws the ball to the floor behind him. I couldn't tell if it hit V1 or just spiked right in his face, but the official called the T. Now, instead of H possession, V make 2 free throws, then inbound and hit a 3. Huge play.

2 minutes left in the game. Visitors now up 1 or 2. V2 drives and scores. Here's H1 again. I don't know if he thought V2 pushed off or what, but he yells "Come on, ref!" He gets his second T. V now get 2 more free throws plus the ball back, and they go on to win by double digits.

No one likes to hang a loss on one player, but this was extreme.

I don't think anyone thought this official took the game away. He simple made two calls which needed to be made.