The play described below is provided for your review and discussion. The rulings given are based on NFHS rules. NCAA rulings may be different.
A-1 and B-1 tie up the ball for a held ball. After the whistle sounds, they fall to the floor. A-1 winds up on the bottom of the pile and comes up swinging at B-1 who fights back. The head coach for B-1 rushes onto the court to pull B-1 away from A-1. B-6, B-7 and B-8 follow their head coach onto the court. They do not participate in the fight. The officials rule flagrant fouls on A-1, B-1, B-6, B-7 and B-8. They award Team A 6 free throws and the ball at the division line opposite the table for a throw-in. Were the officials correct?
The officials were NOT correct. It is true that the head coach may come onto the court in this situation to attempt to prevent the situation from escalating. It is true that all 5 players receive flagrant technical fouls. A-1 and B-1 receive theirs for fighting during a dead ball. Their actions result in a double technical foul. The double foul results in no free throws. B-6, B-7 and B-8 receive theirs for entering the court during a fight. However, although there are multiple technical fouls for entering the court, only one technical foul penalty is imposed since they did not participate in the fight. The Team B head coach receives one indirect technical foul for their actions and loses the right to use the coaching box. Play is resumed with two free throws by Team A followed by a throw-in from the division line opposite the table by Team A. (References: Rule 4-19-8b, 4-19-4, 4-18, 10-5-5, 10 Penalties 8b1)
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