Two Entire Rosters Suspended

[Rich]

I'll try to prevent a fight, but I won't try to break one up. Once players come off the bench, I have other, more-pressing duties.

[deecee]

Originally Posted by Rich

I'll try to prevent a fight, but I won't try to break one up. Once players come off the bench, I have other, more-pressing duties.

What I would probably do. On the bright side the officials got to go home early

[Rufus]

We're instructed to do two things in the event of a fight:

1. Motion the coaching staff(s) onto the floor to break it up
2. Monitor the nearest bench to see which players come onto the floor

We are definitely not instructed to advance toward the scrum or try and break it up.

[MD Longhorn]

"The fight occurred when a whistle led to a skirmish"... really? the WHISTLE lead to the skirmish? Seems to me the foul led to the skirmish...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Rufus

We're instructed to do two things in the event of a fight:

1. Motion the coaching staff(s) onto the floor to break it up
2. Monitor the nearest bench to see which players come onto the floor

We are definitely not instructed to advance toward the scrum or try and break it up.

Head coaches can come on the floor. Pretty awkward having the rest of the staff come onto the floor and then assess them the technical fouls that they get, by rule.

[chapmaja]

In this case, once it becomes a group incident, instead of a couple players, I'm standing back watching the action and calling for the head coaches to come on the floor. along with security if it is present.

I am not trying to break up a group fight. The last thing I (or 99.9% of us) need is to become injured in a fight. I will stand back, take names and numbers, and deal with it as it needs to be dealt with.


Also, the idea that the officials "at least got to go home early" is likely very untrue.

In Michigan, if we have a fight like this, the officials are required to file an officials report. There is one officials report per ejection, plus reports of concern filed in this case because of non-game participants also being involved (people from the stands). As a crew, we need to have all the information straight as to who saw what before we file those reports. I suspect that Pennsylvania is similar. Not to mention, a situation like this normally also gets the legal authorities involved which means interviews with the police for the officials as well. It makes for a very long day/night.

Thankfully I never had a brawl during an HS event I officiated. I did however have one during college IM Flag football. The QB, after throwing a long TD pass, sprinted down the field and WWE dropped kicked a guy standing in the endzone. The police ended up coming in to break it up. I ended up having to testify in court about the incident because they charged the QB with several crimes (including pot possession, he had it in his shorts during the game).

[twocentsworth]

Here's a thought: in a "rivalry" game...BLOW THE WHISTLE!

If the preceding game action was officiated with the same "slow" whistle that this jump ball situation was, it's no wonder the game ended like it did. This game didn't "erupt" into chaos suddenly...the fuse was already lit and had been "smoldering" for a while.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

Here's a thought: in a "rivalry" game...BLOW THE WHISTLE!

If the preceding game action was officiated with the same "slow" whistle that this jump ball situation was, it's no wonder the game ended like it did. This game didn't "erupt" into chaos suddenly...the fuse was already lit and had been "smoldering" for a while.

To be brutally honest: Your two cents is not worth a wooden nickel.

MTD, Sr.

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by twocentsworth

Here's a thought: in a "rivalry" game...BLOW THE WHISTLE!

If the preceding game action was officiated with the same "slow" whistle that this jump ball situation was, it's no wonder the game ended like it did. This game didn't "erupt" into chaos suddenly...the fuse was already lit and had been "smoldering" for a while.

You came out of your hiding three months early, fanboy.
You can take your two cents with you and hit the road.

And I will never, ever grab a player to try and break up a fight. If I can get between two players I will, but once the melee starts I'm simply observing.