Penalty for Disconcertion . . . by Whom?

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Freddy

NFHS 9-1-3 After the ball is placed at the disposal of a free thrower:
c. No opponent shall disconcert the free thrower.

By rule, is it correct, however, that the penalty for disconcertion, when it is merited, may differ, depending on the disconcerter(s)?
Consider: if the opponent doing the disconcerting is a player on the floor, then the consequence is a violation (9-1-PENALTIES-2-a,b).
However, if the opponent(s) doing the disconcerting is bench personnel, must that be a T for unsporting conduct, and not a violation?

At the heart of the matter is this: by rule, can a violation ever be called on a non-player?

(Real situation from the last day of a camp today)

What exactly did the bench personnel do?

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

What exactly did the bench personnel do?

The bench personnel were all yelling at the free thrower while he was shooting. At camp, the brackets for the closing tourney were such that a JV team was playing its own V team. The JV knew they would be defeated soundly and was having a little too much fun for our supervisors' tastes and didn't heed the tactful warning to knock it off after a first FT was successful, so I called a violation for disconcertion when the second free throw was unsuccessful. It solved the problem, but the supervisor whom I respect the most expressed his feedback that bench personnel cannot commit a violation--if any penalty was to be given it would have had to be a bench technical.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Freddy

The bench personnel were all yelling at the free thrower while he was shooting. At camp, the brackets for the closing tourney were such that a JV team was playing its own V team. The JV knew they would be defeated soundly and was having a little too much fun for our supervisors' tastes and didn't heed the tactful warning to knock it off after a first FT was successful, so I called a violation for disconcertion when the second free throw was unsuccessful. It solved the problem, but the supervisor whom I respect the most expressed his feedback that bench personnel cannot commit a violation--if any penalty was to be given it would have had to be a bench technical.

Interesting scenario. I could see it penalized as unsporting behavior, especially after a warning has been given. I think that's how my supervisors would want it handled.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

Interesting scenario. I could see it penalized as unsporting behavior, especially after a warning has been given. I think that's how my supervisors would want it handled.

Maybe, but it seems Freddy's supervisor was under the impression that a violation isn't supported by rule.