This is a two part post for me rolled into one.
Its been ages since I translated a full text like this from Turkish but here goes:
The following is a direct translation from this news piece: https://basketfaul.com/haber?haber=107537
First the video:
Location: Elazığ. A TKBL playoff match. Minute 27
The visiting team, having come from behind, is now leading by 12 points. They won the first match as well.
If the team coming from behind loses this match, their season will end there.
The player who received the blow had been on the court for 23 minutes and was the top scorer of the game with 22 points.
After taking the direct hit to the face in mid-air, the player was forced to leave the game due to trauma. They were taken to the hospital for examination after the match.
The player who struck the blow is not inexperienced.
31 years old. Married. Moreover, their spouse is also working as a coach in the basketball sector.
When you watch the footage more than once, you can see that the blow was made directly to the face, not to the ball.
It was not an involuntary or uncontrollable move.
Far beyond the definition of an Unsportsmanlike Foul. In legal terms, it is an aggravated assault.
For those not familiar with legal jargon, to briefly define aggravated assault.
aggravated assault: is an action that causes physical harm to someone, damages their physical integrity and health, harms their mental predisposition, and requires punishment.
Let me also note; I am not giving names on purpose.
Tomorrow, this blow could be made by any other player to another player.
Everyone is at risk.
After watching the position a few times, it is understood that:
After the first half, the trailing team’s locker room discussion emphasized the importance and necessity of stopping (!) the player who received the blow.
It might be possible. It may be within the rules of the sport.
If you can stop them within the rules on the court, then do it. Let’s all watch together. Applaud.
However, here we have a “strike to kill” situation.
What saddened me the most was that the experienced 31-year-old player who struck the blow did not even look back at the “younger brother” writhing on the ground, who was 10 years younger.
Not only this season, but in the weeks since the playoffs began.
For a long time in the TKBL, especially in matches played outside major cities, we have seen referees struggle to maintain control of the matches.
In the past, I wrote about this issue, emphasizing the importance and necessity of assigning experienced referees to critical matches, and my warning was published here.
A fracture in facial bones or a brain trauma could have occurred after such a mid-air blow.
I had said that referees should control the game;
Often, it is not possible. Flops are not understood. Blows are missed.
The main reason for this is that the players on the court are much more experienced than the referees.
In this position, the home team player who directly struck the opponent’s face, causing them to leave the game, was penalized with an unsportsmanlike foul by the referees.
However, the common opinion of experienced referees I shared the footage with and asked for their evaluations was that, due to the deliberate targeting of the face, a direct disqualification decision should have been made.
There is consensus that the TBF Disciplinary Board should open a file ex officio. I share the same opinion.
It is evident;
Situations where control is occasionally lost on the court are frequently experienced.
If Turkey’s basketball regulatory and supervisory boards do not assert their authority and remain silent on such actions, we may face much more severe consequences in unexpected matches in the future.
TBF officials are well aware of the different problems that TKBL urgently needs to resolve and
prevent from spreading further.
If these different problems combine with the aggravated assault. discussed in this article, we may reach a point where those in authority today will not easily escape responsibility for future incidents.
—
now my take on the matter!
The Importance of Mental Preparation and Sportsmanship in Basketball
As a basketball scout and player development advisor, I’ve witnessed countless games and worked with a myriad of talented athletes. However, I’ve also seen unfortunate incidents that stem from a lack of mental preparation and poor sportsmanship. In this blog post, I want to address a recent situation that highlights the need for better mental preparation, both for players and referees, and share my thoughts on how we can improve in this area.
Recently, I came across a distressing incident that took place in a TKBL playoff match in Elazığ. A player committed an aggravated assault on their opponent, causing severe injury and forcing them to leave the game. The player who struck the blow was experienced, and the attack was deliberate, far beyond the definition of an unsportsmanlike foul. This incident left me concerned about the mental preparation of the players and the inability of the referees to manage such situations effectively.
In my experience, similar yet less troubling fouling incidents have occurred in Dutch Basketball competitions at lower levels it really does happen due to the whole refeeree system being very unusually run by the clubs and the competitions of the NBB, often due to inconsistent officiating and the subjective nature of inexperienced referees. Home or away, if a player also has to do referee work and blow whistles on a game day the same day he has to play, the mental capacity asked of such people is at a point of integrity that deteriorates and this is simply overlooked. As a professional it is my duty to question why on earth still in this day and age a federation can not create a totally unbias pool of referees to call games is beyond me! Not everything is about money! It can’t be.
It is evident that both players and referees must be better prepared mentally to handle high-pressure situations. But never are.
As a player development advisor, I believe there are three key areas we should focus on to improve mental preparation for basketball:
Emotional Management: Coaches should incorporate emotional management techniques into their training regimens. Players should learn to recognize and manage their emotions effectively, preventing them from reacting negatively during high-pressure situations. Techniques such as deep breathing, visualization, and mindfulness practices can help players stay composed on the court.
Emphasize Sportsmanship: Coaches should instill the importance of sportsmanship and fair play in their players. Regular discussions about handling pressure and the consequences of unsportsmanlike actions should be an integral part of a player’s development. Drills that promote self-control and respect for opponents should be incorporated into practice sessions.
Enhance Referee Training: The governing bodies of basketball should provide better training and resources for referees, especially in amateur competitions where consistency is often lacking. This can include mentorship programs, workshops, and ongoing education to help referees improve their skills and maintain control of games more effectively.
While the incident in Elazığ was extreme, it serves as a reminder of the importance of mental preparation in basketball. We must work together – players, coaches, and governing bodies – to create an environment of sportsmanship, fair play, and respect. By focusing on emotional management, emphasizing sportsmanship, and enhancing referee training, we can ensure that players are better prepared mentally for the challenges they face on the court and help prevent future unfortunate outcomes.