Issuing a Technical
 

Okay tonight I had a varsity boys game, 2 man mechanics. A10 had already picked up one technical from my partner in the 1st half (20 minute running clock). Mid way through the second half I have a standard call on A10, nothing which I felt was even noteworthy.

Coach A gets ready to sub him out. I'm at half court and A10 is walking off the court. From the 3 point line to half court, where I was he is just staring at me. He walks past me and his head turns and he still is staring at me, I could see it out of my peripheral. I turn and deliver his second T.

Coach asked the player what he said, player said "nothing". I said "he stared at me coach." After the Technical, I decided to give coach a little more explanation because he told his players not to look at me anymore.

I told the coach, "You know I'm not oversensitive, coach, but your player took 10 steps and stared me down the whole way, he wanted that T." Coach said "you're right."

But I'm wondering honestly...even though this is HTBT moment, was I a little too thin skinned? I seldom question my technicals, but this one I am.

Did you feel as though he was trying to intimidate you? If the answer is "yes" don't question yourself.

Thanks. I have no doubt he was trying to intimidate me.

Maybe I question my initial explanation...I was too brief perhaps and I felt when coach told his players not to look at me that I had sent the wrong message.

Even the coach agreed with you after the explanation. Assuming he was sincere, why question yourself. If the coach agrees with you, it seems like a solid call.

exact situation on the interweb. 2000 nba playoffs, a younger Ron Garretson "Whack! Get out!" to Rasheed Wallace. Staring and trying to intimidate. Outstanding!!:D

Funny Rasheed Wallace Ejection - YouTube

Righteous T.

I wasn't so sure he was sincere, but this morning I'm feeling you are correct. He said it straight faced and didn't say anything afterwards so I shouldn't try to figure out if he was sincere.

I didn't have a "Whack" though...I also liked how he explained it much better. I should have used the word intimidate because that's what the kid was trying to do.

Thanks for posting

"Whack, get out... get away from me Steve!"

Funny stuff :D

I have to think other players on the floor were well aware of what was going on and measuring your reaction. I'd T him without thinking twice.

It takes two . . .
 

I would never know if a player was staring at me for ten steps, because I never spend that much time looking at them :) Maybe, that's why you're questioning the T . . .:)

Look at me now
 

Good point, I think Sheed got 3 steps before the hammer was dropped.

Considering this is summer ball or off-season type ball, I would not put up with much crap. This time should be to teach kids how to play, not tell you how to do your job. I have a much shorter fuse for these games in general. They are not paying me enough and there is not the same structure. We allow other things to do so these kids can play, I am not taking their crap as a result.

Peace

Maybe your second explanation should have been your first explanation, but other than that, there really isn't anything you could have done differently. It was deserved, you gave it, and there were no more problems from A-10. Chances are that the coach has not had a dreamy time at practice with this kid.

"Coach, I felt he was trying to intimidate me."

When a player (or coach) engages in the silent stare down, they risk the officials' reactions and they know it. They hope to be able to respond with "but I didn't say anything."

Nice job, Toren.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I think a T for staring is kind of a weak call. The kid hasn't done anything. He's just trying to project an image. To me, the obvious response is to simply turn your back.

Yes, the image is "I will kick your @$$, ref."

One or two steps is one thing. TEN steps? Whack.

I wouldn't say it's a weak call, but I do agree that the option of turning away and ignoring would be preferred for me.

I'll agree so far as to say I have never looked at a player so long after a call. Once I know there's no extra curricular activity going on, I turn to report. But if he does it in a way that's obviously intimidating and purposefully gets into my vision (IOW, he takes away the "turn away" option), I've got no problem with sticking a player. Especially in a summer game. Especially a player who's already been stuck once and should have learned his lesson.

I'm guessing the player was walking back and was between Toren and the table, where Toren needed to report the foul. I'm not cowering in this case by turning away when I've got business to do in the player's direction.

Had this same situation in a soccer game the other day. My Assistant Ref flagged a kid for an offside call. The kid drops to one knee staring at my AR all the time while shaking his head. Gets up after about 5 seconds and then stares at me. Result? Instant yellow card for dissent. Got the " but, I didn't SAY anything ref" excuse. He found out the hard way that dissent is either by "word or action".

Toren, sounds like you handled business. As Sean Connery said in "The Untouchables".. " Well, then you did your job.. go home and sleep well tonight".

Did he actually kick the ref's @ss? Did he make any move whatsoever toward the ref? Did he say anything threatening to the ref? Did he DO anything whatsoever unsportsmanlike?

No. He looked at the ref because he was unhappy with a call. Don't look back at him and move on. JMO.

__________________________________________________ ____

I did a quick search on the forum for the word "staring" and came up with this very old thread:

http://forum.officiating.com/basketb...ld-you-do.html

It gets a little silly toward the end, but it's an interesting debate, with some vintage contributors.

So if a player dunks on an opponent and is staring at them in close range, that would be OK actions to ignore?

I am not saying that I necessarily agree that staring is a clear unsportsmanlike act, but let us not act like the only actions that get you in trouble are ones that are verbal and demonstrative. If we stare at a player, I know it is not seen as just something to walk away from, people make interpretations based on that action too, even if we are talking to someone.

Peace

Of course. The player had the option to question the call civilly, but instead chose to attempt intimidation ... for ten steps.

Staring in and of itself is one thing, but when the intent is threatening, you have to deal with that.

Good link, though.

"Dont you eyeball me young man!"

IMHO, in addition to intimidation, this action can also be considered disrespect to the official, which merits a T.

"Ref, that was a horrible call" is acceptable in most cases, but, "Ref, you suck" or "Ref, are you blind?" probably are not.

My favorite is a team up by 30+ points and a player *****es at me about a steal, says "common you gotta call something!" Loud enough for my partner to hear.

Ok hows this "T"!

ikr!

Had that last weekend, score was 34-4 when A1 started to whine a bit. A4 snaps at him, "Look at the score. We're good."

Gotta love when players identify themselves as being smart & take care of their knuckleheads for you!!

Let me take a wild guess, A4 was a much better player than A1?

Good call, ref.

"You wouldn't let him do that in the classroom, coach, and I won't let him do it here." :)