How to Handle Fights During a Basketball Game

While basketball is not considered a contact sport, fights sometimes break out at games. Players may get into an altercation after a collision on the court, or unruly fans may provoke players. Whether it's a high school, college or professional basketball game, the players involved in a fight will be penalized, usually by being ejected from that game. Professional athletes will also face fines.

Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Remain in the bench area if a fight breaks out during a game in which you are playing. Players can be ejected or suspended for simply leaving this area when a fight is taking place, even if they don't participate in the altercation, according to Section 23 of the NCAA Basketball 2010 and 2011 Men's and Women's Rules, and rules adopted by the NBA starting in the 1994/95 season. If you are a spectator, remain in your seat.

    • 2

      The head coach should leave the bench area to separate the players fighting and to prevent the situation from escalating. Both NCAA and NBA rules allow head coaches to leave the bench area during a fight. Assistant coaches should remind all other players to stay in the bench area to prevent additional players from being ejected or suspended. The assistant coaches may want to stand between the players and the area where the fight is taking place.

    • 3

      Let the officials determine if a fight has taken place. NCAA rules in Section 26 define fighting as a confrontation when an individual strikes or attempts to strike someone else. Players do not have to throw a punch or make physical contact for officials to consider it a fight. Using unsportsmanlike conduct to provoke another person to retaliate by fighting can result in the officials ruling that both individuals were involved in the fight. The penalty is usually immediate ejection from the game, but players may also be suspended from future games, and professional athletes fined. Players who engage in unsportsmanlike conduct that does not provoke a fight can still be penalized with a technical foul.

    • 4

      The officials will inform the offenders, the coaches and the official scorer that a fight has taken place and what penalties were assessed. Under NCAA rules in Appendix I: Fight-Reporting Procedures, the officials will report the fight to the conference commissioner and/or the team's athletic director.

    • 5

      Coaches and officials should provide first aid to players or spectators injured during a fight and call for paramedics if anyone suffered a serious injury or cut that requires stitches.