Video Review: SAIT Basketball-Conner

2019-20 Season 

November 7, 2019 

Facts:

SAIT has requested a supplemental ruling based on video footage of an incident that took place during a multi-player incident immediately following the conclusion of a Men’s Basketball game against AMB on November 1, 2019 in which SAIT’s Charlie Conner (#1) received a disqualifying foul. SAIT’s position is that the disqualifying foul was not deserved as Mr. Conner was merely trying to extricate a teammate from the scrum.

Ruling:

Article II Section 3 Rule 1.2 of the ACAC Operating Code reads as follows:

1.2. Request for Supplemental Ruling/Videotape: An athletic director may submit videotape to the ACAC Commissioner to receive an extraordinary ruling. An infraction must have been called by the game official, a serious act of misconduct have occurred, or a major injury have resulted from the incident. The request including a videotape of the incident, or additional information pertinent to the incident, must be submitted to the ACAC Office within 72 hours of the incident and a $250.00 non-refundable fee is to be paid. (Amended Oct, 2013)

SAIT has undertaken to pay the requisite fee of $250 outlined in Rule 1.2 and has also provided the attached video footage of the incident in question. I have also had the opportunity to seek input regarding this incident from the ACAC Basketball Convenor, the ACAC CEO and the ABOA Basketball Assignor.

The original video provided by SAIT, while helpful in showing the incident from a unique angle, has been edited and fails to show the entire incident as it pertains to Mr. Conner’s actions. Upon reviewing the attached video footage of the incident in its totality (also provided by SAIT), it is clear that although Mr. Conner ultimately did, in fact, successfully remove his teammate from the scrum, his initial actions justified the disqualifying foul that was issued to him. At the outset of the incident, Mr. Conner sprinted into the fray, engaging with AMB opponents as an aggressor. Later on, he tried to act as a peacemaker; however, based on his initial actions, I am not in a position to interfere with the referee’s discretion in assessing a disqualifying foul.

Based on the above, Mr. Conner is hereby suspended for one (1) game, to be served on November 8, 2019 vs. MHC.

Sincerely,

Bill Hendsbee

ACAC Commissioner