Fan Interference

[MOofficial]

This came across an email today and just wanting some different opinions or what the definite ruling was.

http://gamtape-04.vo.llnwd.net/d5c4d...fd2a/00010.mp4

Thanks

[egj13]

First off that Trail was pretty far out of the play on the inbounds?

Anyway was he blowing it dead because the mascot was on the floor?

[maven]

I'd guess that the old L wanted to verify that the shot got off before the shot clock expired.

Originally Posted by egj13

Anyway was he blowing it dead because the mascot was on the floor?

Originally Posted by maven

I'd guess that the old L wanted to verify that the shot got off before the shot clock expired.

Did neither of you see the fan in the white shirt run on the court thinking the shot clock buzzer was the end of game buzzer? The dude almost bowled over the C.

I think OP is asking about possible techs for either the mascot or the fan coming onto the floor.

[maven]

Nope, didn't see that.

What rule warrants a T in this case?

Originally Posted by maven

What rule warrants a T in this case?

Perhaps check out this post for more info. Kinda long, but worth a read.

[JRutledge]

Just have the fan removed. Do not penalize the team for the actions of the fan.

Now the participant or mascot, that is a different story. I remember a Louisville game where a cheerleader came onto the floor and threw the ball in the air.

Peace

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Two things bothered me from the time the TO ended and the Ball cleared the bottom of the net: 1) The locations of T; and 2) The clock continued to run for 0.8 seconds after the Ball cleared the bottom of the net and the clock finally stopped.

MTD, Sr.

[JugglingReferee]

MTD beat me to it.

Ball was clearly through at 10.1 seconds. It was stopped at 9.3s.

The shot was released with 1 on the shot clock, and was almost through the hoop at 0!, so there shouldn't be an issue with the release before the shot clock. And even if that was the concern, you have to do it before the ball is inbounded with dribbles.

The mascot did not interfere with the play. I would give him a delay of game warning. I would also remove the fan.

I had a case on the weekend where a coach did enter the court, and he did interfere with the play. He earned a T.

For what it's worth, I estimate 7 on the clock when it was stopped by the new T.

As for the old T/new L, I think he could have been at the "S", which is quite far from the "E" near half-court.

[JRutledge]

What rule would you use to give a delay of game to the mascot?

Peace

[jeschmit]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

What rule would you use to give a delay of game to the mascot?

Peace

4-27
Followers are fans, bands, cheerleaders and mascots associated with a particular team.

10-2-8
Team followers, as in Rule 4-27, shall not commit an unsportsmanlike act, including, but not limited to, the following:

d.Delaying the game by preventing the ball from being promptly made live or by preventing continuous play, such as but not limited to, followers entering the playing court before the player activity has been terminated. When the delay does not interfere with play, it shall be ignored.

Note 1: Before penalizing a follower(s) of a team for violating Rule 10-2.8, the officials shall have knowledge as to which team’s follower(s) committed the act.

Note 2: When the misconduct of the follower(s) is extreme or excessive, such behavior may be penalized by the official requesting home/contest management to eject from the premises the team follower(s) involved in the misbehavior. In such a case, a technical foul shall not be assessed.

PENALTY: (Art. 8) Two free throws awarded to the offended team. The ball shall be put back in play at the point of interruption.

My question... does the official sounding his whistle for the follower being on the court constitute the play being interfered with? Or should we go with an IW here and resume play as the follower removed himself from the court?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by jeschmit

My question... does the official sounding his whistle for the follower being on the court constitute the play being interfered with? Or should we go with an IW here and resume play as the follower removed himself from the court?

My point was there is no rules support for giving a delay of game warning to someone that is not associated with the team. And if they stopped the game for the mascot or fan, they are perfectly in their right to give a T for either. I would just give one for the mascot as that is clear who they are supporting. The fan would just be removed. But there is nothing that says you give a delay for someone coming onto the court. It would be the same if a player off the bench came onto the court and interfered with the game. And as usual, this was on tape. Someone is going to see you either enforced an actual rule or not enforce an actual rule. Welcome to the video age.

Peace

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by jeschmit

My question... does the official sounding his whistle for the follower being on the court constitute the play being interfered with? Or should we go with an IW here and resume play as the follower removed himself from the court?

It wasn't an IW. He blew it for a reason. As for the followers, it's either a T or nothing, there is no support for a DOG warning.

[A Pennsylvania Coach]

Here's the boxscore:

Davis & Elkins vs Fairmont State (1/26/13 at Fairmont, W.Va. -- Joe Retton Arena)

I'd toss the mascot and the fan; I'm leaning toward no Ts for either but I wouldn't have a problem with one. I'd hate to penalize the team for the actions of their followers, but the opponents were put at a disadvantage when play was stopped.

[yooperbballref]

To me the mascot although should not have went onto the court, wasnt hurting anything. The kid in the white shirt is a different story being right in the middle of the play at half court and almost plowing right into the C.