"Poor application of the rules"

[bainsey]

PIAA's backcourt question got me to thinking.

Folks here have given ample evidence as to why the sitch he posed was a backcourt violation. And yet, even when you provide solid reasoning for such a ruling, you can still hear, "that's a poor application of the rules." (It didn't happen on that thread, but it's not an uncommon objection.)

Is this comment simply a fallback when people have no viable argument, or do you find there are rulings that are technically sound, but are indeed a "poor application?"

[Adam]

Never heard it, but it sounds the same as other similarly ambiguous terms such as "game management" or "spirit of the rules." Terms that actually have a solid foundation but are overused and abused.

[jeffpea]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Is this comment simply a fallback when people have no viable argument, or do you find there are rulings that are technically sound, but are indeed a "poor application?"

if anybody ever says that to you, simply respond: "actually...it's the CORRECT application of the rules...sounds to me like you simply don't like the rule."

their argument isn't w/ you...it's with the rule book...

if they persist, ask them: "which of the other rules should we ignore in tonight's game? how about no 3pt shots or no traveling?"

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by jeffpea

if anybody ever says that to you, simply respond: "actually...it's the CORRECT application of the rules...sounds to me like you simply don't like the rule."

their argument isn't w/ you...it's with the rule book...

if they persist, ask them: "which of the other rules should we ignore in tonight's game? how about no 3pt shots or no traveling?"

FWIW, the games I did last night (8th grade girls) were on a court that had no three point line, so we couldn't give three point baskets to the girl who made 2 shots from beyond the top of the key.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

The games I did last night were on a court that had no three point line, so we couldn't give three point baskets to the girl who made 2 shots from beyond the top of the key.

Feel sorry for the kid, whose team is down by three, with seconds to go in the game, who shoots a three-quarter court shot, horn sounds when the shot is in the air, nothing but net. Another loss, get on the bus, let's go home.