Tech or no call?
 

HS Varsity boys end of season game before playoffs and state, two undefeated teams; crew calling a great game staying out of the game for the most part. Its overtime freethrower on the line makes and one shot to bring score up 3; the crowd is in the game; however this 6'5" shooter on the FT line holds follow thru arm high after shot drops, turns to the crowd nodding in showman fashion turns back towards bench walks 2-3 steps before dropping his arm for the time out called by opposing team while teammates patting his back. Would you T him for unsportsmanlike conduct; is this a justifiable T? Is it worth the crowds turning on the refs or would the T be such a game changer that the refs got too involved? The time on clock 30 sec. End result no T and same team won. Oh yea all playoffs played at neutral sites.

No I wouldn't call a T but whether the crowd would turn or not is never a factor when I decide to call a T or not. You're in the wrong business if you're factoring in how a crowd might react to your call.

If you happen to be a fan, this is really the only relevant part of the OP.

If you're an official, here's the NFHS rule reminder from the 2011-12 Points of Emphasis:

So the short answer is yes, a T can be called and it's backed up by rule.

Wow. So they've played 4 full quarters, and the team with the lead now has a total of 3 points? That's it? Must've been a tough shooting night!!:p

It is OT, he is in front of his own bench.

Worse that Northern Illinois's first half against Eastern Michigan. :D

MTD, Sr.


P.S. As a Moderator I must insist that this thread get back on point. My opinion is that crowd reaction to one's call should not determine one's call but the player's, his teammate's, and opponent's reaction to his actions are factors in your your decision making process.

What does this even mean to you? To me, it's fan speak and can mean so many things, few of them meaningful for officials.

We are not their to "blend into the woodwork" (a phrase uttered by a recent partner in a captains meeting), our goal is not to go "unnoticed" or remain "invisible."

IMO, the action described in the OP is NOT egregious enough to warrant a T. The majority of decisions we make in a game are judgement calls....this would not "trip my trigger" and call a T.

But it might warrant a comment to the player / captain / coach to the effect of "knock it off -- don't let this get to be unsporting"

Well of course! I assume the officials in this forum would have enough skill and experience to manage the game thusly....if not, then every response from forum veterans would read like 1,225 pages of Tolstoy's "War and Peace".

A very quick, "Put your arm down" would do the trick. I would not do anything if that was the first time and that kid had not been a problem.

Peace

I certainly wouldn't make that assumption. One first time poster from yesterday worked his first games ever on Saturday,

Had a similiar situation here at a cross-town game. H team center drop steps and throws it down (failry impressively I might add) and as he is running down the court mimics ripping his shirt open like superman. Ref whacks him immediately and of course H coach goes nuts.

My son asked me later why he got whacked and I explained that had the officials not handled the situation then it leaves it open for the V team to handle it in their own way.

In the OP I think a T would not be a horrible idea although I could see letting it go as well. I think it would have depended on how "hot" the game was prior to that point.

True in a vacuum... however since this information comes from a fanboy and not someone on the court or otherwise involved, we don't know if there had been any previous actions like this or warnings from officials. It's certainly not an automatic T, so absent anything else I agree with you and wouldn't call it. But I also wouldn't assume that if there WAS a T here, the official was wrong to call it.

I wouldn't call a T necessarily. I do agree a quick "Put your arm down" should suffice.