Umpire attacked

[DG]

I already replied on whether a forfeit should have been made, but I based my comment on the assumption that it could in this situation, per Carl's suggestion.

"Could you forfeit this game because of that behavior?"

"Assume the answer is "yes.""

Now I am interested in what rule would be applied to forfeit the game. This does not appear to be a condition specifically mentioned in the rules to permit a forfeit. Any ideas?

[BellevueUMp]

DG, you make a very good point. I did some checking in the NFHS book, & here's what I came up with:

Rule 4-4-1 is written (at least the way I'm reading it) to address actions by the entire team. From that, my inference is the closest you could get would be 4-4-1(e), based on the requirement to address profanity, unsportsmanlike behavior, etc. at the plate conference. I also think that you would have some difficulties with appeals or other challenges to this.

That said, I think that 10-2-3(f,g) might actually be appropriate here. For a game forfeited under this rule, you'd need some very strong support at the state level. Probably the most effective way to do this would be for the state-level association to advise the different school divisions in some sort of a 'shot across the bow.' Specifically, this could take the form of an unequivocal message to the effect of, 'If this continues, umpires will either develop a hair-trigger for ejecting players/coaches, or schools identified as having problems with compliance will be removed from the schedule.'

For those who think that's an extreme response, I agree. Something like that shouldn't be hauled out unless it's absolutely necessary. I also believe that the above is not the only solution to the problem. I'm sure others have some great ideas on how to address this, and I look forward to reading them.

Just my $.02.

[blueskysblue]

Personally, I would be more inclined to suspend the game and defer an actual forfeiture to the State Association. They may have knowledge about similar situations / behaviors involving the same (or different) team(s) that I do not have. A suspended game can always be resumed or forfeited, while a forfeiture may be more difficult to reverse.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Rule 10-2-2 should cover it sufficiently. Plus, anyone assaulting an official here goes to jail, juvenile or adult.

[BellevueUMp]

After reading the replies by blueskyblue & SanDiegoSteve, I'd have to agree that suspension of the game would probably be the best avenue. It gets both officials out of a very volatile situation & also keeps you from being the 'bad guy' (well, at least this time!).

Thanks.

[DG]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Rule 10-2-2 should cover it sufficiently. Plus, anyone assaulting an official here goes to jail, juvenile or adult.

10-2-2 just gives sole authority to UIC to forfeit a game, but it does not say what conditions merit forfeit. Most of the reasons to forfeit are covered in 4-4-1. Without whipping out 10-3g, state another rule that specifically gives the UIC the rule he needs to call a forfeit for this situation. And while the player should go to jail, I am not aware of a rule that says that a game shall be forfeited if any game participants have been arrested.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DG

10-2-2 just gives sole authority to UIC to forfeit a game, but it does not say what conditions merit forfeit. Most of the reasons to forfeit are covered in 4-4-1. Without whipping out 10-3g, state another rule that specifically gives the UIC the rule he needs to call a forfeit for this situation. And while the player should go to jail, I am not aware of a rule that says that a game shall be forfeited if any game participants have been arrested.

Excuse me while I whip this out.........10-2-3g.

There is nothing written in the rules about a player shooting someone either, but I'm sure that would stop the game in its tracks anyway. This rule lets us rule on anything not specifically covered in the rules, so we lean on it in this case. It is the FED equivalent to 9.01(C), better known as the God rule.

Whether the game was suspended or forfieted, in no way would I have continued to umpire it.

[DG]

I asked you not to to whip out 10-3g (although I now recognize I left out the 2 as in 10-2-3g. But you knew what I was talking about and did it anyway. Nobody got shot so your example of a potential use of 10-2-3g is irrelevant. An umpire got pushed to the ground by a player already ejected. I got my answer from you. You would use 10-2-3g to forfeit the game, and I would not.

[SanDiegoSteve]

And I'm saying that, no, there is no "specific" rule covering this "exact" situation, just as there is no "specific" rule dealing with a player shooting someone. It was an example. When you don't have a specific rule to deal with something, you then have to use "common sense." I did not say that I would use this to forfeit a game, but I think you can use it to forfeit a game.

10-2-2 says that the UIC is the sole authority to forfeit a game, and has jurisdiction on anything not covered in 10-2-1, which contains a list of generic authorities he has at his disposal. If he can forfeit a game because a team is late, or willfully and persistently violates a rule, I think it is well within his scope to forfeit a game for an assault on an official, a much more serious offense.