Ejections after Cal-Stanford scrap highlight need for a rule change

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by APG

I disagree...assuming assistant coaches are acting as peacemakers, they almost always help the situation IMO...the NBA has this rule right in that head and assistant coaches can come onto the court acting as peacemakers.

That is a delicate balance. Just look at this situation compared Notre Dame-St.Johns situation. I did not see the situation calming down very quickly in this game compared to a few days ago. It even seem this situation between Cal-Stanford went on too long. There were as many coaches on the court as players and I honestly cannot think in that chaos that officials can always tell who is who and adjudicate the right things in the situation. At least players are in uniforms and Head Coach is usually very easy to identify. Assistants in suits are not necessarily easy to spot who is on what team.

Peace

[APG]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That is a delicate balance. Just look at this situation compared Notre Dame-St.Johns situation. I did not see the situation calming down very quickly in this game compared to a few days ago. It even seem this situation between Cal-Stanford went on too long. There were as many coaches on the court as players and I honestly cannot think in that chaos that officials can always tell who is who and adjudicate the right things in the situation. At least players are in uniforms and Head Coach is usually very easy to identify. Assistants in suits are not necessarily easy to spot who is on what team.

Peace

Well at this level, they have replay, so that would make for easy identification...but I do agree it would harder in games w/o the use of replay. And also, in NBA games, not all assistants are going onto the court...usually its 2-3 of their job to make sure no one leaves the vicinity of the bench, because unlike NFHS/NCAA, while it's not an in-game penalty for just leaving the bench area during an altercation, it is an automatic one game fine and the league is real strict about this (just ask Amar'e about this).

Still, since coaches great input on the rules, I wouldn't be surprised to see this rule altered.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by APG

Well at this level, they have replay, so that would make for easy identification...but I do agree it would harder in games w/o the use of replay. And also, in NBA games, not all assistants are going onto the court...usually its 2-3 of their job to make sure no one leaves the vicinity of the bench, because unlike NFHS/NCAA, while it's not an in-game penalty for just leaving the bench area during an altercation, it is an automatic one game fine and the league is real strict about this (just ask Amar'e about this).

Still, since coaches great input on the rules, I wouldn't be surprised to see this rule altered.

I am just saying it would not be a good idea. I am sure it would be considered a change. But then again not many fights anymore like this and I would not be surprised if nothing changes for a couple of situations that might involve a coach or two.

Peace

[APG]

Also in the ND/St Johns, situation, there's an assistant coach that's off the bench and gets involved. Don't believe he was ejected from the game. And honestly, I bet if we went back and watched films of altercations or potential altercations, that more assistant coaches, by strict interpretation of the rule, should be ejected, yet aren't.

[JetMetFan]

I'm with JRut. More people out there creates a chance for more chaos. Leave the rule the way it is and let the individual conferences deal with the discipline. Most games at all NCAA levels have cameras in the building, whether they're on ESPN or the internet. If they were being peacemakers they'll be back on the bench the next game because their conference commissioners will be able to see what happened.

Originally Posted by rockyroad

So if you pause it during the "height" of the confrontation, there are 10 Coaches in suits on the court in the middle of the players...so why are only 3 of them being disciplined?

That's where the us problem comes in. We as officials know what the rule is but don't enforce it, in this situation or the St. John's/Notre Dame situation. If anything might bring about a change it's the lack of consistency from us.

[Indianaref]

Hopefully they ejected Cal #35 for coming off the bench as well. As far as ejecting the assistant coaches, I think I'm with Jeff on this one, way too many folks out there.

[scrounge]

I think the rule should be changed...there's already a mechanism to punish those who are exacerbating the situation. True peacemakers shouldn't be punished for a good deed because others are rats. Hold them to a strict standard; even a HINT of not helping and they're gone. But if they're truly helping - well, that's their role IMO.

[APG]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

That's where the us problem comes in. We as officials know what the rule is but don't enforce it, in this situation or the St. John's/Notre Dame situation. If anything might bring about a change it's the lack of consistency from us.

I've went back and viewed 4 altercations or potential altercations, and assistants came out in EVERY single instance and no ejections were handed to the assistants. It would appear this crew handled this contrary to how this is usually handled at this level. I wonder if the crews were dinged for not doing so...if I had to guess, I'd say not.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by APG

I wonder if the crews were dinged for not doing so...if I had to guess, I'd say not.

In January, NCAAW received a video bulletin from Debbie Williamson dealing with stuff like this and she didn't sound happy that assistants weren't ejected for coming off the bench during an altercation (near-fight between Md & UNC). Does anyone know whether NCAAM received anything similar this season?

[MD Longhorn]

Put my on Jeff's side of this one. 5x5 on the court, 2 of them pissed, USUALLY at least one of each side is helping break things up. At worst, you have 8 people to watch.

Add a coach and 2 assistants and suddenly the "pile" is twice as large, with twice as many arms and elbows. Intentions aside, this sudden 14 person pileup becomes much harder to manage.

Add to this that in general, my experience with ***. coaches is that they live up to their abbreviations and are more hotheaded than some players.

[rockyroad]

So if you pause it during the "height" of the confrontation, there are 10 Coaches in suits on the court in the middle of the players...so why are only 3 of them being disciplined?