Ejecting Fans

What is your threshold for ejecting or cautioning fans? Do the "three P's" (personal, profane, prolonged) apply to fans as well? This assumes you are doing this indirectly, through on-site management.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by AremRed

What is your threshold for ejecting or cautioning fans? Do the "three P's" (personal, profane, prolonged) apply to fans as well? This assumes you are doing this indirectly, through on-site management.

I hardly ever consider anything when it comes to fans. Unless they interact with the participants directly in an inappropriate way, I have no thought process that even includes them in what they do or say. And student sections are usually going to say some personal things to players or coaches under the right circumstances. Mostly I let the school administrators handle these situations.

Peace

[grunewar]

I just ignore and avoid the crowd and let game mgt take care of it.....if there is such a thing.

I have only ejected one fan - ever (Rec Ball) many yrs ago as I had just ejected the head coach and he (the fan) came onto the court......buh, bye.

[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.

[KevinP]

I called a PC foul on the home team, I go to report it, the official scorekeeper, who happens to be the home team coaches son starts shaking his head at me and mouthing, "no way" no way",,, Thats the closest Ive come to removing person,,, funny thinking about in now but not at the time.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by KevinP

I called a PC foul on the home team, I go to report it, the official scorekeeper, who happens to be the home team coaches son starts shaking his head at me and mouthing, "no way" no way",,, Thats the closest Ive come to removing person,,, funny thinking about in now but not at the time.

Did you talk to him?

[Bad Zebra]

Teachable moment right there. Next dead ball...have a brief, but definitive, conversation about his ability to remain impartial, or else give the seat to someone who can. I actually once had a mom admit she couldn't be impartial (sub-varsity game) so she had the coach get another parent to keep the book.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Teachable moment right there. Next dead ball...have a brief, but definitive, conversation about his ability to remain impartial, or else give the seat to someone who can. I actually once had a mom admit she couldn't be impartial (sub-varsity game) so she had the coach get another parent to keep the book.

I don't think I would have waited, but I could see doing it either way. I agree, though, he and I are going to have a chat at some point soon, if not immediately.