First "T" for this year

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Terrapins Fan

Saw a pregame dunk in warm ups and I said, " You "T"ing him up for that?" He said, "No, I am just going to tell him not to do it again".

It depends on what the meaning of the word dunk is.

[Butterfly182310]

I've never handed out a lot of T's. In my early days though, I did adhere to the advice that certain acts were automatic T's. In retrospect though, many of them were not really necessary. Eg. When a player commits a foul, then slams the ball against the floor and catches it because he's angry at himself, it's probably not a T'able offense in my book. A few words with that player to make sure he's back in the right frame of mind will go further toward game control than calling a technical foul. It's hard to imagine any referee going through too many seasons without issuing a single "T", but if they're a routine part of nearly every game, we may want to re-evaluate our criteria for calling them.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Butterfly182310

I've never handed out a lot of T's. In my early days though, I did adhere to the advice that certain acts were automatic T's. In retrospect though, many of them were not really necessary. Eg. When a player commits a foul, then slams the ball against the floor and catches it because he's angry at himself, it's probably not a T'able offense in my book. A few words with that player to make sure he's back in the right frame of mind will go further toward game control than calling a technical foul. It's hard to imagine any referee going through too many seasons without issuing a single "T", but if they're a routine part of nearly every game, we may want to re-evaluate our criteria for calling them.

While I'm not as concerned with whether a technical foul works to control the game, I agree that in some situations (ball slammed and caught immediately) call for either a quick chat or nothing.

[Butterfly182310]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

While I'm not as concerned with whether a technical foul works to control the game...

Maybe this discussion should morph into "the purpose of technical fouls".

The "T" was placed into the rule book as a tool to maintain order and sportsmanship. It shouldn't be viewed as a weapon.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Butterfly182310

Maybe this discussion should morph into "the purpose of technical fouls".

The "T" was placed into the rule book as a tool to maintain order and sportsmanship. It shouldn't be viewed as a weapon.

I never said I saw it as a weapon. It's a rule to be enforced. You're right about why, but too many officials try to judge a technical foul after the fact by asking if it made the game better. The answer to that question is irrelevant in determining whether it was a good T or not.

Calling the T when it's needed (due to the behavior) will generally make the game better; but if it doesn't, that doesn't mean it wasn't a good T.