quote:
Originally posted by Mark Padgett on 01-20-2000 04:40 PM
The guidelines we give our officials is that if the profanity is the result of the player being mad at himself for making a bad play and he says is "under his breath" and no one in the stands hears it, usually you let it go, unless it is repeated. Anything above that is a T. ANY profanity directed at you is a flagrant T with ejection.
Mark,
I strongly disagree!!! Never judge a technical foul for profanity or obscene language 'on whether anyone besides yourself HEARD it'! If you hear the language, and its obscene .. stick the player with a technical foul .. period. By your definition, you'll allow one player to curse in a 'loud' gym, but if you're in a gym that is 'quiet', that player gets "stuck". And they both said the same thing at the same sound level. If you heard it ... another player heard it as well.
Also, not all profanity that is 'directed at you is a flagrant T with ejection'. What if you blow a call (and we do)and you KNOW you did, and the kid responds, "damn ref, I didn't touch him!" Two wrongs never make a right. If the intent of the rule was to disqualify a player for an obscenity directed at an official, it would be so stated as an absolute ejection.
The flagrant should be called when its abusive, vulgar, extreme, and/or persistent.
Personally, I wish the NF rule was the same as some of your 'rec leagues'. But until then ....
KDM