After extensive consultation with the basketball community, Basketball Victoria has implemented an additional penalty for behavioural technical fouls in the 2018/19 Melbourne United Victorian Junior Basketball League (MUVJBL) season.
So far it is already proving to be very successful. The MUVJBL has already received plenty of positive feedback and support from associations, who are now following the MUVJBL lead and putting into place this process for their junior domestic competitions.
Brought in to support our Victorian refereeing community, the behaviour technical foul penalty discourages repeated antagonistic or hostile behaviour from coaches, assistant coaches, bench staff and players.
Anyone who receives three behavioural technical fouls during the MUVJBL season will be suspended for one game and from there any further indiscretions will result in the suspensions increasing dramatically.
Across the 2018/19 MUVJBL season so far, 9.3 per cent (1397) of the league’s 15,000 participants received a behaviour technical foul. From those the 1397 participants, only 39 (2.79%) have received three behavioural technical fouls, and just 7 (0.5%) participants have received four.
MUVJBL General Manager John Hilton said attitudes within Victorian junior basketball are shifting with the introduction of the new rule.
“It has been less than a season, but already this penalty is changing attitudes and culture within MUVJBL teams and their associations,” Hilton said. “These penalties are creating conversations between associations and their coaches and players as the penalty for missing games – especially approaching MUVJBL finals – is significant.
“We’re pleased with the feedback received from officials regarding this change as this rule has already started educating our community on acceptable behaviour within basketball.
“The MUVJBL wants to see behaviour technical fouls decrease in upcoming season and we believe this penalty will help facilitate this change.”
Basketball Victoria’s Technical Officials Commission chairperson Rod Bush said the refereeing community is set to see the positive flow-on effects from this rule change.
“The new rule regarding behavioural technical foul penalties is working to change attitudes throughout Victorian junior basketball,” Bush said. “There is no room in our game for negative behaviour and anyone who reaches three behavioural technical fouls will start to miss games.
“This change in approach within the MUVJBL helps direct an important message to coaches, staff and especially junior players – negative attitudes towards our officials or anyone involved in our games will not be tolerated.”
