You make the call, part whatever

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

You may want to read HFHS rule 4-18-2 some time---"Fighting includes but is not limited to combative acts such as an attempt to instigate a fight by committing an unsporting act towards an opponent that causes an opponent to retaliate by fighting." Also see casebook play 4.18.2. If this isn't a textbook case of that concept, I don't know what is. Red 5 kicks 10 Gold to start it. !0 Gold retaliates with a punch.

My ruling is that Gold retaliated (to Red's kick) with the face push. Gold's act of the fist punch is a seperate act, and not instigated by the kick. Gold 10 took the time to pause and then had time to prepare and launch her fist to Red's face.

The [wimpy] kick was not to start a fight. It was likely because she (Red 5) thought she was fouled on the play by Gold 10. Gold's fist punch to the face is not in the same ballpark as a wimpy kick.