What Are You Gonna Do?

[frezer11]

Let me further the scenario: Say the kid that's just behind the 3 point line is the one who got the technical foul for screaming "F--- You" at the kid who is not shooting. Does this change how anyone deals with the situation?

I realize it isn't in the book that he can't stand there, but if you know his sole purpose is to intimidate the shooter, then how is that not an unsporting act? And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying give him a T, I'm saying you need to move him diplomatically if possible. If you're the trail, call him over and have a pointless conversation or SOMETHING to get him to move. This isn't in the rule book, it's just good game management to prevent another possible bad scenario after one that has already occurred.

[BatteryPowered]

Let's assume this kid is wearing number 12.

I get close enough for him to hear me and say "Number 12" and when he looks I beckon him over and say "You know, it appears things are getting a bit chippy and from what I have seen so far you are a leader of this team. Think you can help me get everyone focused on just playing basketball so we don't have a parade to the line shooting technicals?"

It may be total BS, but you moved him out of the way and avoided a possible escalation...made it obvious to him that the crew is watching EVERYONE...made him feel important and may have just saved the entire crew some grief. It might not work as the kid may ignore you, but it is worth a shot.

[MD Longhorn]

So .. player does something completely legal and isn't otherwise breaking any rule... and is completely out of the visual range of the shooter.

What am I going to do? Absolutely nothing.

[j51969]

If the home team is shooting I can't imagine this would even be an issue. Does he have eye's in the back of his head? If its the visiting team shooting, my guess is the fans are giving him a hell of a lot more than someone standing 6ft behind him. Did this become an issue with a coach, or was this just an observation on your part?

[APG]

Originally Posted by frezer11

Let me further the scenario: Say the kid that's just behind the 3 point line is the one who got the technical foul for screaming "F--- You" at the kid who is not shooting. Does this change how anyone deals with the situation?

I realize it isn't in the book that he can't stand there, but if you know his sole purpose is to intimidate the shooter, then how is that not an unsporting act? And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying give him a T, I'm saying you need to move him diplomatically if possible. If you're the trail, call him over and have a pointless conversation or SOMETHING to get him to move. This isn't in the rule book, it's just good game management to prevent another possible bad scenario after one that has already occurred.

Short of saying something...how is standing 6 feet behind a player going to intimidate anyone? Are you trying to imply that one's mere presence...standing behind someone and not doing anything...is somehow unsporting?

[Scrapper1]

The only thing I might do is what BatteryPowered suggests. Find a way to talk quietly to the kid and let him know he has a very short leash before disconcertion kicks in.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by APG

Short of saying something...how is standing 6 feet behind a player going to intimidate anyone? Are you trying to imply that one's mere presence...standing behind someone and not doing anything...is somehow unsporting?

This.

If he's disconcerting, then I'll deal with it. He is legally allowed to be there so I have no business moving him.

[JRutledge]

Nothing!!!

Peace

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

Let's assume this kid is wearing number 12.

I get close enough for him to hear me and say "Number 12" and when he looks I beckon him over and say "You know, it appears things are getting a bit chippy and from what I have seen so far you are a leader of this team. Think you can help me get everyone focused on just playing basketball so we don't have a parade to the line shooting technicals?"

It may be total BS, but you moved him out of the way and avoided a possible escalation...made it obvious to him that the crew is watching EVERYONE...made him feel important and may have just saved the entire crew some grief. It might not work as the kid may ignore you, but it is worth a shot.

You've just moved him within the peripheral vision of the shooter, too.

[BatteryPowered]

Originally Posted by Adam

You've just moved him within the peripheral vision of the shooter, too.

Not if, while he is moving to you, you backup enough so that he is not.

Sometimes it might be safe to assume that people are not as dumb as a box of rocks when reading their post. Some of us are smart enough to think of those things and are hoping the readers are smart enough to understand that not every action in a hypothetical situation needs to be written. For example, I failed to mention that the brief conversation should occur while the official is standing so that he can see the other players and that he/she should continue breathing during the stoppage in play.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

Not if, while he is moving to you, you backup enough so that he is not.

Sometimes it might be safe to assume that people are not as dumb as a box of rocks when reading their post. Some of us are smart enough to think of those things and are hoping the readers are smart enough to understand that not every action in a hypothetical situation needs to be written. For example, I failed to mention that the brief conversation should occur while the official is standing so that he can see the other players and that he/she should continue breathing during the stoppage in play.

Didn't mean to insult your intelligence. :/

So, let me ask, what are you going to do if he doesn't come over when you beckon him?

[BatteryPowered]

Originally Posted by Adam

Didn't mean to insult your intelligence. :/

So, let me ask, what are you going to do if he doesn't come over when you beckon him?

My apologies...guess I woke up a tad bit cranky this morning. I definetly could have stated that more diplomatically.

If the player doesn't come over I am doing nothing because I cannot make him move. You obviously have to be there and see the events leading up to the T and how the game has been going. If the T was unsporting and emotions are obviously high I just consider this "preventative officiating". I was always taught that 95% of the time, trouble starts when the ball stops. If you can do something to difuse the situation why would you not try? I understand there is no basis in the rules for making him move but consider the possibilities of how far south things could go in certian situations if you do nothing.

[Rich]

I'd do nothing, as long as the player isn't talking to / at the shooter.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by BatteryPowered

My apologies...guess I woke up a tad bit cranky this morning. I definetly could have stated that more diplomatically.

If the player doesn't come over I am doing nothing because I cannot make him move. You obviously have to be there and see the events leading up to the T and how the game has been going. If the T was unsporting and emotions are obviously high I just consider this "preventative officiating". I was always taught that 95% of the time, trouble starts when the ball stops. If you can do something to difuse the situation why would you not try? I understand there is no basis in the rules for making him move but consider the possibilities of how far south things could go in certian situations if you do nothing.

I'm not saying do nothing. I'm saying I'm not goint to tell him he has to move. You're right, I'd have to be there, and if I got the sense he was about to do something stupid, I'd be watching like a hawk.

Trouble also comes when we try to enforce non-existent rules for "game management" purposes. Chances are, this kid won't last much longer in the game anyway if he's being that much of a d-bag.

[MD Longhorn]

This conversation is incredibly dumb. There is no rule support to move this player. If you try to, you are causing a problem where one does not exist. I completely fail to understand why standing in one place, completely out of the view of the shooter, would even remotely be considered intimidating any moreso than standing anywhere else on the court.

We don't pick nits.

This is not even a nit. It's an imaginary non-existent nit.