Late technical foul

[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.