Technical Foul Policy

All questions on technical fouls and other disciplinary actions, must be addressed to Joe Heinzmann  jheinzmannesq@att.net

Joe Heinzmann can also be reached at (917) 440-2000.

In youth sports, there is a high tolerance for the normal, expected violations of rules because players are learning the game. But there is and should be far less tolerance for conduct that detracts from the positive, nurturing, and instructive environment to which the FCBL aspires. With all of this in mind, the FCBL sets forth below, our policy on technical fouls. These rules apply to all games played between FCBL teams, league and non-league.

Adults involved in the Fairfield County Basketball League will not behave in a manner that draws a technical foul call from a referee.

We are a MIDDLE SCHOOL league. Consequently, we follow the principle that it is the responsibility of the adults involved in our league to lead by example and when they feel affected by poor officiating, score or clock management errors, and bad behavior from fans, the opportunity to teach their players how to play through adversity is the best course of action. This life lesson trumps all else.

REPORTING REQUIREMENT: All technical fouls and ejections involving player, coach, or parent conduct are to be reported within 24 hours of being received. In other words, technical fouls and ejections are to be reported no later than the day after they are assessed. This includes fans who are ejected from games.

DUTY TO REPORT: The duty to report rests with the head coach. This duty remains with the head coach even if not present at the game. A program director or assistant coach may make the report, but a failure to report will be considered the head coach’s responsibility and the head coach will be subject to discipline for failure to report. All reports must be copied (not blind copied) to the coach's program director on the same email sent to the FCBL.

REPORT MADE TO FCBL DISCIPLINARY DIRECTOR: The report must be made to the FCBL Director for Discipline at the email address jheinzmannesq@att.net. The report must contain the names and uniform numbers of the individuals involved and a description of the conduct. Names are required. Full names. Not "number 22," not "Jimmy." First and last names, along with the uniform number are required. Before the game starts, fill out your scorebook with first and last names for both teams.

The mandatory report must be in writing, sent by electronic mail, and the sender will preserve a copy of the email. Email means email. A text message is not sufficient. The duty to report is on the offending program. We encourage the opposing team to also send a report to confirm the incident and so we may follow up on non-reporting or disputed issues.

AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION: Any player, coach, or parent who is ejected or receives two technical fouls in a game, league or non-league, is automatically suspended for at least the next two league contests. There are no exceptions.

A player, coach, or parent who receives three technical fouls in a season will be suspended for at least the next two league contests. Each additional technical foul will result in at least an additional two league game suspension, i.e. the fourth technical foul will result in at least two additional games. A sixth technical foul over the course of a season will result in a suspension for the remainder of the season. Suspensions will carry over to subsequent years. There are players and coaches beginning this season on suspension for events from last season.

FAILURE TO REPORT: A coach who fails to report a technical foul within the required time period is subject to suspension or other discipline. The FCBL will consider discipline after a review of the failure to report. If it is determined that the failure to report was knowing and intentional, significant discipline will be imposed and games may be forfeited.

CUMULATIVE RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED: The FCBL Director for Discipline will maintain a record of technical fouls for all active players and coaches. Records may be kept and consulted for future seasons.

ADDITIONAL SUSPENSIONS PERMITTED: The mandatory suspensions are minimums, not maximums. The FCBL may, in its sole discretion, impose longer suspensions, even for a single instance of misconduct, depending on the nature of the misconduct.

RESCINDING TECHNICAL FOULS: Under no circumstances will the FCBL rescind a technical foul. The referee’s decision on the matter is final and not subject to review.

For perspective, you want to realize that we have previously suspended adults from participating in our League for one year, two year and lifetime periods.

For teams with fans that could not adhere to our level of required decorum, we have required their teams to play with no audience attendance, and have also expelled teams out of the League strictly due to their fans' misbehavior.

If you disagree with this policy, we understand and respect that. However, if you feel that you can not abide by it, we ask that you choose to not to particpate in our League.

If you have an issue with poor game officiating, do not get yourself in a technical foul-inducing situation during the game. Instead, go home and write a note explaining the details and forward it to your Division Director. It will be, in turn, forwarded to the Program Head that hired those officials.