Team A is fouled in the act of shooting while the 2nd Quarter buzzer sounds. So no time is left and the shooter goes to the line. The entire Team B bench stands up and walks down the sideline towards their locker room as the FT shooter is shooting her first shot. There are probably 8 players walking along the sideline with at least one foot in bounds. I say this is a violation or even a technical because the half is not over until those two free throws are attempted. I asked three refs and no one could give me a straight answer.

Team A is fouled in the act of shooting while the 2nd Quarter buzzer sounds. So no time is left and the shooter goes to the line. The entire Team B bench stands up and walks down the sideline towards their locker room as the FT shooter is shooting her first shot. There are probably 8 players walking along the sideline with at least one foot in bounds. I say this is a violation or even a technical because the half is not over until those two free throws are attempted. I asked three refs and no one could give me a straight answer.

Not sure of the actual rule, but we experienced this earlier in the season. We were told that it is a violation to do what you described.

It's not a violation.

 

It was just handled poorly by the officials IMO. You just tell the teams to stay at their bench.

I respectfully disagree with Clyde. 14-15 Case book Rule 9.1 Comment Players who do not occupy a marked lane space may not have either foot break the vertical plane of the free-throw-line extended and the vertical plane of the three-point line until the ball touches the ring or the backboard, or the free throw ends. It is a poor job of the officials to keep the team at their bench, but if they are walking off and step onto the court by my understanding of the rule it is a violation.

I respectfully disagree with Clyde. 14-15 Case book Rule 9.1 Comment Players who do not occupy a marked lane space may not have either foot break the vertical plane of the free-throw-line extended and the vertical plane of the three-point line until the ball touches the ring or the backboard, or the free throw ends. It is a poor job of the officials to keep the team at their bench, but if they are walking off and step onto the court by my understanding of the rule it is a violation.

 

That rule deals with FTs where players are lined up. In this case, the official has to keep everyone at their bench OR tell the players that are in the game to get behind.

 

My assumption is that they simply let the two teams go to their lockerrooms while the shooter was shooting. If so, then IMO they simply mishandled it. When they saw this happening they should have stopped play before the shooter shot the ball.

Here is another "Another Question."

 

Team A is shooting a FT. The player has been given the ball. Opposing Team B's coaches and players begin yelling for an immediate timeout once the shooter has the ball.

1) Is the timeout request granted?

2) Is this a violation against the non-shooting team?

3) Is this a viable strategy for distracting or freezing the FT shooter?

Once the player has the ball, the timeout should not be granted and the coach should be ignored until the FT has been shot, then the ref can grant the coach the timeout before the second free throw or right after the final free throw. There have been times where one ref has granted the time out, while not watching to see if the player even has the ball. In that case, the other ref will stop the play and ask for the ball back from the shooter to grant the time out.

Once the player has the ball, the timeout should not be granted and the coach should be ignored until the FT has been shot, then the ref can grant the coach the timeout before the second free throw or right after the final free throw. There have been times where one ref has granted the time out, while not watching to see if the player even has the ball. In that case, the other ref will stop the play and ask for the ball back from the shooter to grant the time out.

I agree, in which case it is a viable tactic. The question I really have is if a timeout is granted - and according to the rules it is not, as you've pointed out - could the coach requesting it decline it if given, stating that it is a violation of the rule? If this scenario did play out, it definitely would be a disruption to the shooter, which would be the devious intent of the coach's request.

(Hey, this sounds like something the NE Patriots might try. Ha, ha.)

Once the play is stopped to grant a timeout, the only choice the coach has is 30 second or full timeout. If there are no more timeouts, then the technical is granted but the coach can still talk to their players like an actual timeout is called, but they lose posession. The coach can not cancel a timeout.

First scenario: Game Management issue. That's why there are 3 officials on the floor, to manage.

 

Second scenario: No time out granted, no violation. If an official thinks it was done as an intentional attempt to distract, then while the free throws are going on, one of the 3 should be having a conversation with the coach.

 

Similar situation the other night when a bench member would yell "box out" just as the shooter was releasing the ball. Is it disconcerting the free thrower, maybe, is it addressed, possibly…again, best option is likely to go to head coach and tell him what you are seeing / hearing and get them to address it. Most will.

 

Sometimes a good strong 3 - 5 second look at the offender will take care of it without any of that….

 

Basketball 55, welcome. Good posts, glad to have you !

So for my first scenario about teams leaving the bench during free throws, how can it be a game management issue if there is not a rule? If a ref tells my team to get back on the bench and I say "No" what happens?

So for my first scenario about teams leaving the bench during free throws' date=' how can it be a game management issue if there is not a rule? If a ref tells my team to get back on the bench and I say "No" what happens?[/quote']

 

Whacked

Whacked

 

But how can you give me a technical for a rule that does not exist? If taking my own team to my own locker room while a FT shooter is shooting free throws with no time on the clock is not against the rules, then how could I get whacked with a T.