Ejecting Fans

[Adam]

I have a slightly different threshold. To me, if the fans/parents are actually preventing you from focussing on the game, then it's time for them to stop. 99% of the time, in school games, game admin takes care of the issue before I even notice anything is wrong.

In spring/summer/fall ball, GM sometimes needs a little prodding. I've never actually tossed a fan, but I have, in a YMCA league game, loudly informed the table that we were on the verge of clearing the bleachers.

[Scooby]

I have never tossed a fan , but I have asked GM to monitor a fan or section. So my threshold if fairly high. Things like threatening a player, racial or sexual orientation comments would cross the line for me. But for me I would eject quicker when comment are directed at a player than myself. As far as comments that would distract me from calling a game, I cannot think of a comment that would do that. And if what a fan says effects my game, I think that is more about me as an official, than the fan.

[JetMetFan]

I tossed a fan, or I should say I had a fan tossed. Once. 15 years ago during a summer AAU game because he was being a loudmouth in an otherwise very quiet gym in suburban Atlanta. As he was leaving I heard his daughter say to a teammate, "Did he get kicked out?" The teammate nodded yes and the daughter said, "Good."

Otherwise, as long as they stay in the stands I'm letting game management deal with them. I may give GM a little prodding if they're going overboard in a H.S. game but other than that I try to forget the crowd is there.

[Raymond]

I have once. BV between 2 heated rivals in a gym without much room on the sidelines. Ravens' current backup QB steps on sideline while dribbling over division line against pressure defense. I make the call and a fan jumps into neutral zone along sideline and yells "bullsh!t" a couple times. I walked over to GM and advised them that person needed to leave...IMO.

Later in the same game, during OT, said player gets fouled by superstar from other team followed by a taunting T on Mr. QB. When I turn around from reporting my fouls there's a fight going on at the top of the bleachers. Turns out it was between Mr. QB's father and Mr. Superstar's uncle.

With that type of environment I felt validated in my earlier ejection of the unruly fan. A have a low tolerance for that type of garbage.

[bob jenkins]

Once in a freshman game (back gym, no bleachers, fans standing around the court) when there was no (real) game management. I tossed him myself.

Once in a varsity tournament when a fan made a racial threat. I had the home AD remove the fan.

[Welpe]

Once in a girl's middle school game. Small gym, pack of fans standing at the top of the bleachers and completely showing their rears. During a dead ball, one of them starts yelling and screaming directly at me in a manner that brought attention of the whole gym on him. I went over to the table and told the timer / game admin that he needed to leave. She all too happily agreed and told him to get lost. He made quite a scene leaving, which further validated my decision.

This worked in this situation. If it were a loud, even semi full gym I'd have not noticed but I doubt all of the players would have heard that either.

[Lcubed48]

Once in a girl's MS game, two women (moms?) were taping the game. During a time out, they decided to verbally intimidate the visiting team. The visiting coach brought it to my attention. The GM tossed them without hesitation after I pointed them out.