Weird Situation

[McMac]

Hey everyone, first time poster, been lurking for a few months.

Had an awkward situation last night in a MS boys game. I am in the lead on the endline when play transitions the other direction. I go to head up court when my first step is impeded by a 3 or 4 year old girl running in front of me!!! I never saw her until I had run into her and knocked her to the floor.

Because play was on the other end of the court, I let play go for a second, (probably more in shock that I just knocked over a kid) until my partner (2-man crew) calls a foul on the other end. Mom (I assume) runs onto the court and takes care of her kid. I run to other end to administer free throws.

What would you have done had there not been a foul?

Thanks!

PS No children were harmed in this incident.

[Jurassic Referee]

I would have thrown the kid back; too small to keep.

Seriously.....if you can get the kid safely back off the court and out of harm's way without stopping play, do so. But if there's any chance at all that the kid might be put at any risk, immediately stop play and protect the kid. The safety of any child comes before anything that happens out on the court.

Welcome to the forum.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

The safety of any child comes before anything that happens out on the court. Welcome to the forum.

Sometimes I think that Jurassic Referee has bipolar disorder.

[Adam]

Channeling my inner "that guy" here: Make sure you call a T on the home team for the failure of game management to stop the kid before he got on the court. They could have at least tased him before he got there.

Seriously now:
If play had started coming your way, blow the whistle. Same as you'd do if there was a spare ball rolling on the floor.

Did Mom wait until play was stopped to run out and get her kid?

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

Did Mom wait until play was stopped to run out and get her kid?

More importantly, was the Mom single, and hot?

[Scratch85]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

I would have thrown the kid back; too small to keep.

Seriously.....if you can get the kid safely back off the court and out of harm's way without stopping play, do so. But if there's any chance at all that the kid might be put at any risk, immediately stop play and protect the kid. The safety of any child comes before anything that happens out on the court.

Welcome to the forum.

+1, except the kid may have been a keeper. We don't grow 'em as big in my neck of the woods as most places.

When it comes to small kids like you describe in your OP, I agree with JR. Yours' was a MS game but even if it had been a V game, make sure the kid is OK. It's just a game.

[McMac]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

More importantly, was the Mom single, and hot?

Unknown and not IMO.

[Mark Padgett]

This is not that unusual during rec games. When it does happen, I always tell the mom that if the kid is going to come out on the floor, he (or she) has to check in at the table first.

[Freddy]

Did the child suffer from an apparent concussion? That would have opened up a whole new set of NFHS protocol applications!

[Back In The Saddle]

Immediate T for having 5 1/2 players on the floor!

You handled it well enough, it sounds like. This won't be the last time somebody or some thing comes onto the court during play. Your overriding concern will always be safety. In the case of a small child, you have that child's safety to consider. But depending on the circumstances, the child and/or the parent, may also pose a risk to the players.

The Jurassic one has spoken much wisdom. If you clearly can remedy the situation without stopping play, then do so. If you cannot, or you have reasonable doubt about your ability to do so, then stop play.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Back In The Saddle

The Jurassic one has spoken much wisdom.

Oh brother. We'll never hear the end of this.

[BillyMac]

Little middle school kids game. Small cafetorium court. Crowded bleachers. Parent is returning from concession stand with a few hot dogs and steps on the court to get back to his seat. Point guard passes to wing, who didn't realize a pass was coming and made a V-cut to the basket. Pass hits parent and thus doesn't go out of bounds. Wing comes back from his V-cut and picks up ball. Play on.

[Back In The Saddle]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Oh brother. We'll never hear the end of this.

It's okay. He's already forgotten I ever said it. You can even ask him, when he wakes up.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Little middle school kids game. Small cafetorium court. Crowded bleachers. Parent is returning from concession stand with a few hot dogs and steps on the court to get back to his seat. Point guard passes to wing, who didn't realize a pass was coming and made a V-cut to the basket. Pass hits parent and thus doesn't go out of bounds. Wing comes back from his V-cut and picks up ball. Play on.

But did he spill his beer?