Having a recent opportunity to observe a high school basketball game (on a rare night off) I found myself amazed at the very aggressive attitude and behavior of  adults in the stands, directed toward players AND officials. 

So you're saying ... "where have you been the last 20 years?"  Well, I guess at some point you finally realize that enough is enough.  While state associations, local conferences, and rule governing bodies have implemented policies and procedures to deal with unruly fans, it seems as though (in general and overall) a crowd can be very difficult to keep in control as compared to the players on the court, regardless of what guidelines you put in place.

In this week's "60 Seconds on Officiating" we will look at some situations and the best practices designed to keep an over zealous fan base from crossing over the line of proper decorum. 

It may be time for us ALL to step up our enforcement on abusive fans.

NFHS Rule 2-8-1, Official's Additional Duties, provide the following guideline to address unsporting conduct by a player, coach, substitute, team attendant, or follower. 

• Home management (or game committee) is RESPONSIBLE for SPECTATOR behavior.
• REASONABLE control is expected.
• Officials MAY RULE (key words, MAY RULE) technical fouls on either TEAM if its spectators "INTERFERE with the PROPER CONDUCT of the game."
• DISCRETION must be used when ruling such a foul.
• Teams should not be UNJUSTLY punished (either side) for ruling a foul, or lack of ruling.

The following are recommended procedures (via NFHS) Rules Committee if team supporters become UNRULY or INTERFERE with the game:

• STOP the game.
• Request HOST MANAGEMENT to resolve the situation.
• Do NOT RESUME the game until management has resolved (or is resolving) the situation and game can resume in an orderly manner.
  
• Keep player SAFETY (and your crew's safety) as the key concern at all times.

Here are some key best practices to consider PRIOR and DURING each game.

• Identify (and remember) WHO is the designated school REPRESENTATIVE that will be present if problems occur.
• If no representative is available, the HEAD COACH will serve as host management.
• Never ADDRESS a FAN directly.  Summon the school representative to deal with any issues.
• Always respond when a FAN'S unsporting comments, which are directed at a PLAYER, start interfering with the game.  Never let fans berate a player to the point it interrupts the game and the player reacts to such commentary.  Use your calming techniques with the player and have administration deal with the fan directly and have them removed.
  
• If a fan PURPOSELY INTERFERES with the game by blowing a whistle in the stands or running on the court to stop a fast break, make sure to penalize these acts (via a Technical Foul) and not place the offended team at a disadvantage.
• It is always a technical foul if the HEAD COACH INCITES undesirable crowd reactions by encouraging or suggesting fans to"gang up" on the officiating crew or the opposing team.
• Unsportsmanlike conduct from ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF and other bench personnel should never be tolerated - and can be dealt with directly by the referee by ruling a technical foul.
  

As we transition into the 2nd half of our season, keep in mind these items and hopefully you can deal with abusive fans in a professional manner to keep your game running smoothly.