Verbally counting during a throw-in

[HokiePaul]

Originally Posted by Adam

Would you allow the defensive players to start counting down early at the end of the quarter?

Again, yes ... what is the rules basis for penalizing this? Everyone knows that the scoreboard has the official time, not the defensive players. The only live ball instance I can think of where a player is entitled to a distraction-free environment is during a free-throw.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by HokiePaul

Again, yes ... what is the rules basis for penalizing this? Everyone knows that the scoreboard has the official time, not the defensive players. The only live ball instance I can think of where a player is entitled to a distraction-free environment is during a free-throw.

Lots of courts have the score board placed in a position not visible to an offensive player facing one or both baskets.

Distraction is fine (ball ball ball), deception of this sort is not part of basketball. It's not gamesmanship. It's bush league, and it's unsporting.

It's one thing if the student section is doing it (then it's just bush league), but when the team does it, it's unsporting.

In the case of a live ball count, it's either an attempt to influence a call, show up an official, or deceive the offense.

[j51969]

Originally Posted by Adam

Lots of courts have the score board placed in a position not visible to an offensive player facing one or both baskets.

Distraction is fine (ball ball ball), deception of this sort is not part of basketball. It's not gamesmanship. It's bush league, and it's unsporting.

It's one thing if the student section is doing it (then it's just bush league), but when the team does it, it's unsporting.

In the case of a live ball count, it's either an attempt to influence a call, show up an official, or deceive the offense.

+1

I guess I should have read your post earlier and saved myself the key strokes.

I couldn't agree more

[Pantherdreams]

Thanks for the responses. Your conversation here basically mimicked the one we had at our last association meeting in regards to it.

Basically it came down to we can't tech them up or ask them to stop because they aren't in violation of any rule. We wouldn't tech up a kid for calling "ball" or players calling out stunts and switches defensively.

Their coaches claim is that they communicate timing issues and adjust defensive technique/strategy based on call.

We also aren't talking middle school house league here. This is a strong varsity girls team with mutliple presses/stunts they run defensively being coached by a former university coach.

If they are doing to it to incite the crowd or question officials we can then respond appropriately. In fairness to the team involved no coach or player has ever question or asked about a 5 second call though I've only done 2-3 of their games.

[Adam]

I don't care why they say they're doing it, they're not doing it in my game. There's no rule specifically addressing lots of things we deem unsporting, this is no different.

[frezer11]

Originally Posted by Adam

Would you allow the defensive players to start counting down early at the end of the quarter?

Originally Posted by HokiePaul

Again, yes ... what is the rules basis for penalizing this? Everyone knows that the scoreboard has the official time, not the defensive players. The only live ball instance I can think of where a player is entitled to a distraction-free environment is during a free-throw.

I have to agree with Hokie here, there is not basis for penalizing in this instance. I for one think the counting on the inbounds issue is OK, and to some degree I understand the strategy, but I certainly see the point of others thinking it is unsporting. But for the end of the quarter? Hell half the idiots on the offensive team's bench are doing it by counting too fast anyways. Calling that an unsporting T is fishing for trouble...