Ref. responds to fan

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

How would everyone handle a sitiation where a fan(s) are verbally sparring with players? Had this one a few weeks ago in a moderately rough.....wait for it......rec game.

This is where I might say somthing to a fan especially if an adult or even kid is saying something directly to a player. Also much of this would depend on if and where the GM is located and how much they can and will handle the situation. But most HS or college games this is not an issue. It might be in an AAU game or some other non-sanctioned event.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by dsqrddgd909

How would everyone handle a sitiation where a fan(s) are verbally sparring with players? Had this one a few weeks ago in a moderately rough.....wait for it......rec game.

Notify site admin if you think it is something that needs to be addressed.

[Berkut]

I pretty much (almost) never interact with fans. I am in the "you can't quote silence" camp on this one.

That even goes as far as tolerating them much further than most officials. I simply do not care what they say to me, and pretty much ignore everything.

I've only ever had three fans tossed, and in two cases GM actually handled itm and in one I did (which was likely a mistake).

One case a fan was threatening to me, another a student got up and stepped onto the court trying to get into a fight with a player, and the last a mother told her son to hit another player.

If they are going to interfere with the game, they have to go. Other than that...they paid their two bucks to come act like a monkey - I let them.

[just another ref]

But sometimes you just can't help yourself. Many years ago, when I first started, jh girls game. Ball went out of bounds right in front of blue team fans. (all 25 of them) I said "White!" They all, in perfect unison said "Whaaaaaaat??"
I looked up at them all, and slowly, clearly said "Whiiiiiiiiiite!"

Several of them actually laughed.

[Mark Padgett]

8th grade girls game last weekend, A1 to inbound in front of parents. Her dad is yelling at her about some bad plays. A1 turns around and says, really loud, "SHUSH!" Some of the parents laugh. There's a timeout. I'm standing there and say to the parents, "Did she really say 'Shush'? I thought my grandmother was here." They laughed again and one of them said, "She could have said something nastier". I replied, "Then I really would have thought my grandmother was here!" That brought out some pretty good laughs.

Sometimes talking to the fans is fun.

[Tio]

The reaction was definitely unprofessional. Can you imagine if NBA or college refs responded everytime someone had an issue with a call?

First off, the statement by the fan should be ignored. Fans are 1. biased and 2. Don't usually know the rules. The demonstration by the R probably did nothing to change this and only drew further attention which may have egged on the fans. I know its hard in a small gym where you can hear everything, but we need to continue to be professional in all circumstances.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by Tio

Fans are 1. biased and 2. Don't usually know the rules.

Fans are 1. biased and 2. Don't ever know the rules.

Fixed it for ya'.