Fan Ejection

Originally Posted by johnny d

The fact is that it is not my problem. Everybody at the game has a defined role and it doesn't matter if that person is making $30 or $300. My role is to officiate the game. It is the role of game management to handle crowd control. How they do that is up to them. If there is a spectator that needs to be removed, it is game management's responsibility to either remove the individual or call the proper authorities to have said person removed.

I don't expect game management to help me or my partners officiate the game. They should not have any expectation that I will help them do their job either.

Finally, it wasn't the officials actions or decision that forced game management to do their job, it was the unruly fans decisions and actions. Perhaps if game management was more proactive in performing crowd control, then the official would not have had to step in and tell them what needs to be done.

If ejecting a fan would you wait until the fan is removed or resume play? I'm assuming resume play?

[johnny d]

Originally Posted by AremRed

If ejecting a fan would you wait until the fan is removed or resume play? I'm assuming resume play?

It would depend on a number of variables, including but not limited to the reason why the person was asked to leave, and if the person in question was continuing to be a distraction to the game or official while waiting for the proper authority to remove them.

In my first year as an official, I was working a freshman game. During a live ball, an irate lady came charging out of the stands screaming I am going to F***ing kill you. Looked like she was going to steamroll my partner. Instead, she went right past him and onto the visiting team's bench, where she proceeded to beat the daylights out of a player. Turns out, two teammates where beating the hell out of each other on the bench. The kid losing the fight was her son, so she decided to even the odds a little. Needless to say, we had to wait for the police to come in that situation.

[biggravy]

Sometimes the best way to deal with a mouthy fan is to get the ball in play and get back to running up and down the court... They stop being the focal point when the game is playing.

I've only had to toss one fan in recent memory. FC throw in baseline, I was T on a 3 whistle crew. She came out of the stands, beer in hand (in a cup, don't ask how she snuck that in), and started giving me the finger screaming in my ear. If play is disrupted, loud profanity, etc. we are not starting the game until that person is out of sight. It makes it tougher on GM when we start play again. Makes it seem like it isn't that big of a problem, in my opinion. More pressure one the fan to leave when we are all just standing there waiting on them.