Fan Ejection

[OrStBballRef]

Let game administration know the fan needs to go and then inbound the ball. Only reason why I'm holding it up is if he/she (fan) is on the court and interfering with play. My focus is on the 10 players between the lines and not the fans in the stands.

So long as game management is involved there is no way I'm even thinking of having the home coach get involved or threaten with a T. Not in a varsity game with game management/AD/security around.

There is no good reason to be joking with the fans. It can be looked at as pretty unprofessional. It looks bad especially if a coach needs to remind a official the game is starting back up again Sounds like the guilty official feels to be a 'man of the people' that's great just not during the game.

[refinks]

Tough situation all the way around. But here's my take.

I've only had to do it once, but if I ask for a fan to be removed, we are not starting until the fan is gone. Same thing in baseball (of which I've had to have several fans removed at the little league level.) I may be in the minority on this, but that's the way it is. If game administration can't remove the fan, then guess what, we are waiting on the police to arrive and deal with the situation, even if it takes an hour. I would be hard pressed to call a forfeit in this situation (I know officials that would), but if I had to call an administrative T, I would. I'd be sure to give the teams head coach plenty of chance to deal with the problem though.

As for communicating with fans, I've seen it done before at all levels, including varsity, in my association. I personally don't have a problem with it as long as it's not interrupting the flow of the game. Generally when I see it happen is in pregame or between quarters. I try not to acknowledge fans during the game, I may have a quick chat or a quick hello before the game if it's somebody I recognize or know, but during the game, I try to be all business on the court. I've worked with partners that I've had to blow my whistle at and tell them "Let's Go!" because they were too busy associationing with fans. To me, that's crossing the line.

[BryanV21]

I don't think I'd ever give a team a tech for how their fans are behaving. It's not in their control, nor should it be their responsibility. If anybody is to blame for not taking care of the fans it's game administrators, and in that case I'll let my assignor know of the issue and let them handle things.

And besides a quick "hello" or head nod, officials should not be communicating with fans. It's not only unprofessional, but can lead to coaches and/or players from the opposing team to feel they are being unfairly treated. And although it may not be true, it can lead to some bad situations.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

I don't think I'd ever give a team a tech for how their fans are behaving. It's not in their control, nor should it be their responsibility. If anybody is to blame for not taking care of the fans it's game administrators, and in that case I'll let my assignor know of the issue and let them handle things.

Ever? Not even a fan stepping on the floor or throwing things?

[BryanV21]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Ever? Not even a fan stepping on the floor or throwing things?

Okay, I'm sure there are extreme cases when a tech is deserved, but I was thinking more along the lines of what happened in the the OP. Meaning the problem(s) didn't spill onto the court and disturb the game itself.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by BryanV21

Okay, I'm sure there are extreme cases when a tech is deserved, but I was thinking more along the lines of what happened in the the OP. Meaning the problem(s) didn't spill onto the court and disturb the game itself.

I agree. And I suspect none of this nonsense would have occurred had the officials not been trying to be Mr. Congeniality with the fans in the first place.

[PAlbc]

So what if this was a middle school game, or other level with no game manager or security? Let the coach deal with it? Even if it's not their fan?

Would you hold up the game then?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

I agree. And I suspect none of this nonsense would have occurred had the officials not been trying to be Mr. Congeniality with the fans in the first place.

I've joked with a fan or two in the past. I'm there to do a good job, but I'm going to have some fun while I'm there.

[refinks]

To add to my post, there is a difference between telling game administration to deal with a fan and telling game administration to eject a fan. Normally if I have to tell game administration to deal with a fan, it gets done and we have no more issues. The one time I had to tell game administration to remove a fan was because said administration didn't want to handle the issue without being told. Even after telling them to get the fan removed, it still took about 3 warnings of calling the police (we don't always have uniformed officers at games in our area, this is a case that we didn't) the AD finally had the fan removed. I hope I never have to go through that again.

The aftermath of this incident was that I filed my report with my state association and my assignor, was reassigned from my other 2 dates at that location that season, and said AD was not there the following year when I went back, nor have I seen him at any other school in or near my area.