NCAA putting renewed emphasis on sportsmanship in women's hoops after technical fouls soar last year
FILE -Notre Dame's Sonia Citron (11) high fives a teammate during the second half of a second-round college basketball game against Mississippi State in the NCAA Tournament, Sunday, March 19, 2023, in South Bend, Ind. After a season that saw over a 33% increase in technical fouls, women's college basketball is putting a renewed emphasis on sportsmanship this year. Credit: AP/Michael Caterina
After a season that saw over a 33% increase in technical fouls, women's college basketball is putting a renewed emphasis on sportsmanship this year.
Last season, there were 830 total technical fouls called, up from 606 the season before, according to the NCAA. That included a 77% increase on techs given to head coaches and a whopping 193% increase on technical fouls assessed to personnel on the bench.
Fighting was also a problem last year, including incidents in a game between George Washington and TCU as well one between Georgia and VCU. There was a 400% increase in bench personnel ejections as a result.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of an email sent out to coaches, officials and coordinators last week that reiterates longstanding rules on bench decorum and the coaching box rule.
“We have a mutual responsibility to serve as leaders and role models in this regard. Basketball is a competitive game, which, by its very nature, may lead to adversarial relationships between opponents," Women's Basketball Oversight Committee chairman David Harris wrote . "However, the relationship should not foster a negative interaction. Individuals should employ a behavior that respects the opponent and should not create an atmosphere that negatively influences the attitude of the game.”
All coaches were required to watch an hour-long video in the offseason that included a segment on sportsmanship. This isn't anything new as the NCAA has put out memos in the past on sportsmanship and coaches always need to watch the video in the offseason.
Coaches have complained that rules are enforced in the regular season don't seem to be called in the NCAA Tournament. For example, LSU coach Kim Mulkey was seen far outside the coaching box many times in the championship game against Iowa last season as well as making contact with an official. She didn't receive a warning or a technical foul for either infraction.
FILE -Florida's Tatyana Wyche (2), far right, is held by teammate Faith Dut (25) during a scuffle with Kentucky players in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game during the Southeastern Conference women's tournament in Greenville, S.C., Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Several players from both teams were ejected from the game. After a season that saw over a 33% increase in technical fouls, women's college basketball is putting a renewed emphasis on sportsmanship this year. Credit: AP/Mic Smith
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