Fight in high school game (Video)

[Mark Padgett]

The table announcer said the remainder of the game will be rescheduled. Since that will be a continuation of this game, will they start by shooting the 83 technical fouls I counted?

I'm not even sure how you diffuse a situation like this. The calling official went INT right away (probably was thinking flagrant) and closed down to the player on the ground. It would take some darn quick thinking by the other refs to keep the benches from exploding, but the coaches have to do a better job of that. In this case it would probably be easier to note the players left on the bench and eject everyone else. That is, if the game is going to be finished which clearly here was not the right option.

[frezer11]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I'm not even sure how you diffuse a situation like this. The calling official went INT right away (probably was thinking flagrant) and closed down to the player on the ground. It would take some darn quick thinking by the other refs to keep the benches from exploding, but the coaches have to do a better job of that. In this case it would probably be easier to note the players left on the bench and eject everyone else. That is, if the game is going to be finished which clearly here was not the right option.

Exactly, what could be done to prevent it? I think the majority of brawls or fights there is something leading up to it, but this is one where I would believe it if there was nothing prior to this, and one idiot has a foul like that and it starts the whole thing. The calling official did a great job of immediately signaling, and immediately attempting to keep separation to prevent a brawl, but once it started, not much else you can do.

Just proof to why you have to be prepared in ALL games at ALL levels, because something like this can happen anywhere!

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by AremRed

I'm not even sure how you diffuse a situation like this. The calling official went INT right away (probably was thinking flagrant) and closed down to the player on the ground. It would take some darn quick thinking by the other refs to keep the benches from exploding, but the coaches have to do a better job of that. In this case it would probably be easier to note the players left on the bench and eject everyone else. That is, if the game is going to be finished which clearly here was not the right option.

The game was less than 3 minutes old. Not sure there is much you can do in this kind of situation. The play the dark jersey player did to defend the lay-up was dirty beyond belief. The only thing the official in the Trail should have done, is turn around and stop everyone from coming off the bench. Instead he rand to the play and they did not need him there. But other than that, I see not much that could have been done. It was chaos when coaches, players and people in the stands appear to be in this situations.

Peace

[deecee]

Yuck. Looks like all bench personnel came on the court. Cant' tell which players were involved for sure. I'm suspending the game and letting my governing body decide on what should have happened.

[mutantducky]

lol at the teen who shoots near the end of the video.

That was a dangerous situation. Luckily it didn't end up worse. For the players returning next year I'd suspend them for a couple of games for the new season, to send a message.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by deecee

Yuck. Looks like all bench personnel came on the court. Cant' tell which players were involved for sure. I'm suspending the game and letting my governing body decide on what should have happened.

One state in which I work has a bench clearing rule stating that if three or more individuals (illegally) leave the bench area during an altercation that team forfeits the contest. If both teams infringe, a double forfeit is ruled. The game ends right when this happens and the officials are not to continue.

[twocentsworth]

I hereby nominate the official standing just above the top of the key w/ his hands on his hips watching the fight unfold for the "Cool Hand Luke Official of the Year Award"
#myhero

[Rich]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

I hereby nominate the official standing just above the top of the key w/ his hands on his hips watching the fight unfold for the "Cool Hand Luke Official of the Year Award"
#myhero

Can't tell if you're serious or sarcastic, but I'm not getting in the middle of a fight in a HS game. Wouldn't expect any of my officials to do so either.

[#olderthanilook]

What a bunch of hoosiers.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

One state in which I work has a bench clearing rule stating that if three or more individuals (illegally) leave the bench area during an altercation that team forfeits the contest. If both teams infringe, a double forfeit is ruled. The game ends right when this happens and the officials are not to continue.

This clause should be in the rule book for HS. College has replay and more attentive coaches.

[HokiePaul]

Wow,

I've seen a few hard Intentional Fouls like that and most of the time, when the officials step in immediately as they did here, the teams move on with the FTs. I didn't even think the foul was unusually dirty when I watched it, although it was certainly excessive.

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

One state in which I work has a bench clearing rule stating that if three or more individuals (illegally) leave the bench area during an altercation that team forfeits the contest. If both teams infringe, a double forfeit is ruled. The game ends right when this happens and the officials are not to continue.

Wish all states did this. Makes a lot of sense.

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The game was less than 3 minutes old. Not sure there is much you can do in this kind of situation. The play the dark jersey player did to defend the lay-up was dirty beyond belief. The only thing the official in the Trail should have done, is turn around and stop everyone from coming off the bench. Instead he rand to the play and they did not need him there. But other than that, I see not much that could have been done. It was chaos when coaches, players and people in the stands appear to be in this situations.

Peace

Agreed. This is something that's good to pre-game so the official furthest from the play can try to stop kids from coming on the court and get the numbers of those that do.

In this case, the benches empty so it likely would not have been effective any way. And the real failure is on the coaches. But it is the only thing I see from the officials that could have been done differently.

Sometimes its gonna hit the fan and all you can do is protect yourself and get out of the way.

[griblets]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

The game was less than 3 minutes old. Not sure there is much you can do in this kind of situation.

I was in a similar situation as the new L in a BV game in the late 90's. 51 seconds into a rivalry game, we had an intentional foul on a fast break layup, and all hell broke loose. It didn't matter that I had closed down and signaled intentional right away...players came off the benches, fans came out of the stands immediately. Fortunately, there were at least a half dozen or more officers in the building that surrounded the court and kept the fans from entering. Order was restored after several ejections and then another during the TF shots, and the game was fine after that.

To JRut's points, sometimes, they've already decided to fight before we show up, and there's nothing we can do to stop it.

Follow up article #2