Physical contact on a referee

[Dribble]

Nick, sounds like if the calling official thought it was accidental, then like others have said already, there's not much to do. You could always ask the coaches to tell their players to be more careful in the future, but that has its time and place.

If the calling official's partner(s) saw the play and thought the act was intentional, then immediate ejection...I'd wait a split second to see if the bumped official will do it him/herself otherwise I'd step in.

[Texas Aggie]

Obviously, as the non-calling official you must keep your eyes on the players. Sometimes that precludes you from seeing everything surrounding your partner, but you need to work hard to keep an eye on his back for this specific reason.

I had a game a number of years ago where I was the trail over on the sideline and the ball came out of bounds near me. Several players were around going for the ball, when one kid drops his shoulder and puts a hit on me like a fullback would on a linebacker. He knocked me into the seats! Pretty good hit, though it didn't really hurt. I was *near* the ball, but I was convinced then and now he took me out intentionally. However, since I was so close to the play I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. When I asked my co-official about it, he said he didn't think the kid did it intentionally. And when I say I think he did, I honestly have to conceed that when thinking it over, I'm not sure the kid was sharp enough to figure out that quickly he could get a free shot on me.

[Dan_ref]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Obviously, as the non-calling official you must keep your eyes on the players. Sometimes that precludes you from seeing everything surrounding your partner, but you need to work hard to keep an eye on his back for this specific reason.

I had a game a number of years ago where I was the trail over on the sideline and the ball came out of bounds near me. Several players were around going for the ball, when one kid drops his shoulder and puts a hit on me like a fullback would on a linebacker. He knocked me into the seats! Pretty good hit, though it didn't really hurt. I was *near* the ball, but I was convinced then and now he took me out intentionally. However, since I was so close to the play I had to give him the benefit of the doubt. When I asked my co-official about it, he said he didn't think the kid did it intentionally. And when I say I think he did, I honestly have to conceed that when thinking it over, I'm not sure the kid was sharp enough to figure out that quickly he could get a free shot on me.

What did the kid say to you afterwards? I ask because it is generally my experience that a player will apologize after he makes contact, no matter how small, once he realizes he's bumped an official. Your case was much more than a bump, I'm wondering what his reaction was after.

[Mark Padgett]

If a player intentionally makes contact with me in that manner, not only do I eject the player, I make him run with scissors.

[26 Year Gap]

Originally Posted by Mark Padgett

If a player intentionally makes contact with me in that manner, not only do I eject the player, I make him run with scissors.

And you have 'rock'

[NICK]

Ref-Dan, I was not involved in this incident but was told about it. The officials were an 18 and a 17 year old refereeing an under 23 game. I was told that the player who nudged the official has apologised, but has been cited for his actions and will have to attend a hearing. My guess is that the free official might not have seen the action of the player. I am conducting a "back to basics" clinic for the youngsters next week and will discuss the incident (without mentioning any names naturally) and why the free official should freeze and observe the actions of the players amongst other things. Cheers.

[Ref_ Fred]

My guess is that the free official might not have seen the action of the player. I am conducting a "back to basics" clinic for the youngsters next week and will discuss the incident (without mentioning any names naturally) and why the free official should freeze and observe the actions of the players amongst other things

I believe that you quoted the free officials, you meant the other official who was not reporting the foul or the call to the table?

In my 6 years of oficiating, it is my primary focus to keep all players in my sight in the event that a fight or pushing/scuffle doesn't break out. Obviously the referee's were fairly young 18 and 17, had little experience and my have not kept an eye on the players. So he may have not seen if the player intentionally meant to bump the official.

[Mark Padgett]

Originally Posted by 26 Year Gap

And you have 'rock'

There was a cartoon in the paper just today that showed The Thing from the Fantastic Four, Edward Scissorhands and Captain Hook. The Captain was saying, "OK, we'll play rock, scissors and hook".