T after final horn changes outcome

[A Pennsylvania Coach]

Still thinking about this one a week later....

Youth "travel" league in our area, "Division 2" (5th grade) boys. Late in season, home team (12-1) trails visiting team (8-5) for most of the game. After a strong fourth quarter comeback, home team is still down 36-35 with 6 seconds left. I'm lead, home team player drives from my side and misses a final shot at horn. Ball kicks to visiting team player on opposite side who "spikes" the ball touchdown-style directly in front of my partner, who pins him.

I ran over and asked him if he was sure before he went to the table but there really was no turning back. He went to the table and I told the home team who was lining up to shake hands to hold on a minute. He reported it, we switched, and I asked the home coach for a shooter. The visiting coach got my ear for a moment and in this situation, I gave him a few seconds of attention. He tried to tell me the game was over, and I told him "the game isn't over until we leave the visual confines of the gym" and he looked at me like I was crazy. (In these games, we just stash a sweatshirt and keys behind the scorer so it's not like we run off the court into a locker room somewhere when the final horn goes off.) Although I could certainly feel for the coach I had my partner's back for a call that was correct at least by rule.

We got the shooter to the line and I've never secretly rooted so hard for a kid to miss at least one. Since the home team was probably 6-for-20 from the line in the game it seemed likely, but of course he hit them both and the game was over, home 37, visitor 36.

We then hustled over, grabbed our stuff, and exited. It was a tiny elementary school gym and I guess in hindsight we could've gone out a side door but we went out the main door and had some hysterical comments shouted at us on the way out, including a guy who was outside when we got outside, with his daughter, who was cursing at us but not really threatening in any way. We made it out quickly and without incident.

I spoke to both my partner and the travel league assignor on the phone while driving home. My partner says if he could've rewound time five seconds he would've passed on it, and I can understand that. Kid spikes ball directly in front of you, reaction is to call a T. With a few seconds to think about it, you can probably turn your head and run away from it without a problem.

The assignor backed us up, saying that he has been pushing sportsmanship in the league for a couple years now. The regular season just ended and I think I'll see the playoff brackets later today. The loss may have knocked out the losers, but probably not. (Not sure about tiebreakers in this league.)

So, what would you have done?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by A Pennsylvania Coach

So, what would you have done?

Better that they learn the lesson in 5th grade, than in 12th grade.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Better that they learn the lesson in 5th grade, than in 12th grade.

I wouldn't lose any sleep over this one, that's for sure.

[just another ref]

Not much else you could have done. My take? What's the technical for? Is this act unsportsmanlike? I don't think so. It's an act of jubilation.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Better that they learn the lesson in 5th grade, than in 12th grade.

Who, the official?

The kid spiked the ball *in celebration* of the win. So what exactly did the kid do that warranted a technical foul?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by just another ref

My take? What's the technical for? Is this act unsportsmanlike? I don't think so. It's an act of jubilation.

There it is.

Unlike other sports, the NFHS basketball rule set has nothing against "excessive celebration." NFHS 10-3-6c says baiting or taunting is illegal, not celebrating. In fact, penalizing this only perpetuates a rule myth.

Had the kid spiked the ball in an opponent's face, then I have a T. Otherwise, I have nothing.

[tref]

One thing is for sure, win or lose this kid will never spike the ball again

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Not much else you could have done. My take? What's the technical for? Is this act unsportsmanlike? I don't think so. It's an act of jubilation.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Who, the official?

The kid spiked the ball *in celebration* of the win. So what exactly did the kid do that warranted a technical foul?

I don't read "jubilation" or "in celebration" in the OP, so I was giving the official the benefit of the doubt. Most times (but not all, for sure), throwing the ball up in the air = celebration; spiking the ball = frustration / taunting.

[JugglingReferee]

I'd pass on that one. The only thing you can do is try to "offer" more information to your partner.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by tref

One thing is for sure, win or lose this kid will never spike the ball again

Agreed, I probably wouldn't have called it; but I have no problem with the call in a fifth grade game. That coach also learned the final horn doesn't mean unsporting behavior goes unpunished; assuming he can do the math.

It's not like he rang the kid up for untucking his jersey.

[fiasco]

Personally, spiking the ball by the winning team would have to be accompanied by some sort of gesture, statement, or something like intentionally doing it right in front of a losing player that could be considered taunting for me to issue a T.

Otherwise, I'm just leaving it alone.

[fullor30]

If team was leading and dribbling out clock only to toss ball in air in jubilation after horn would you T? Almost same act IMO.

Edit : Just read Bob's post

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

It's not like he rang the kid up for untucking his jersey.

Don't confuse the rookies. They think of esteemed Forum members, like you, as infallible basketball official gods.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by fullor30

Almost same act.

Just like up is the same as down?

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by just another ref

Not much else you could have done. My take? What's the technical for? Is this act unsportsmanlike? I don't think so. It's an act of jubilation.

That's my question. If the kid spikes the ball in an opponent's face or does something anyone would be able to tell was taunting, I can see ringing him up. That part of the equation isn't mentioned in the OP.