Is That Even A Rule??!!

I had just made a "5 Seconds Violation" call against the Home Team when I heard a frustrated fan holler out to the surrounding fans, "5 Seconds? Is that even a Rule?"

Referees hear the most interesting Rule interpretations from fans, players & Coaches......and I often wish I had some sort of communication device to explain things to some fans as the game progresses.

If I did, I could have said to that confused fan....

"The High School 5 Seconds Violation is VERY simple- If an Offensive Player is holding the ball, or dribbling the ball, while a Defensive Player is within 6', CONTINUOUSLY, for 5 seconds it is a Violation- just like Traveling or throwing the ball out of bounds.

The Defensive Player dos not even have to be making any attempt to guard the Offensive Player or steal the ball. Just be standing with one foot within 6' of the Offensive Player's foot closest to the Defender's Foot. Even if both players are just standing there staring at each other!

Photo by The Brand via Flickr

All the Referee does is watch to see if the 6' gap is closed and starts making a Visible Count with the Ref's hand. When the Ref hits 5 seconds, the whistle is sounded and the Ref sticks a hand in front of him/ her with the fingers & thumb extended and says loudly, "5 Seconds" and then points which way the ball will be going when In-bounded." (Most Referees, wanting to be sure they do not rush the count, will wait another 1/2-1 seconds AFTER hitting 5 seconds....just to be sure their count is not too fast. We DO try not to make mistakes if possible!!)

So......when a Referee hears a fan cry out "Is that even a Rule?" Or some such thing, the Referee pretty much knows there's gonna be more craziness hollered out from the stands before the game is over....including, likely THAT fan, hollering the Ref doesn't know the Rules......

So, YES, "5 Seconds" IS a Rule and I DO call it!

And hearing crazy fans comments from the stands is part of what makes Refereeing so interesting and fun!!