Flagrant for Words

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by slow whistle

I was only commenting to the scenario I laid out where I heard a player tell another player that and penalized based on what I heard. We can scenario play all day long and the penalty changes in each scenario, but if a player says "next trip I'm taking you out" and I tell a coach that he said that (you can be sure that he is going to ask what his player said), then there isn't a whole lot of wiggle room as far as what was said. If I didn't hear it then I am telling the coach "I didn't hear exactly what was said, but the two had words that I judged to be unsportsmanlike", or something similar and agree with you just issuing a regular tech (or double tech).

That is fine with me.

Originally Posted by slow whistle

To your question about precedent, no I am not a lawyer, but it doesn't seem like much of a leap to me if I fail to protect a kid from an explicit threat that I heard and told someone else that I heard, that I could be liable in some way. Seems more prudent in that case to disqualify and tell the coach and player "Sorry, but I can't let it play out to see if you would really act out what you threatened."

The reason I asked is because you are some how taking on a responsibility for the action of someone else. First of all I did not say I would not give a T, but to throw someone out just for that is kind of premature in my opinion. And your scenario is rather silly on so many levels. I have never heard a player ever talk to another player like that during a basketball game let alone a football game where contact is even worse. Now if I hear that I will consider the context and the situation in the game. But I am not going to live being afraid of something I did not say to a player. There are things like assault and other legal issues that are problematic for the player, not the official that just happened to be there. Of course anyone can sue you and will try, but I doubt seriously that is going to happen in your situation as it would have to be heard by many people and if I give a single T I am not writing a report on why I gave the T. You seem to be afraid of something that really is not realistic like the "boogy man" because someone told you it exists. Now that is your right to take action, but I do not go around worrying about liability of what actions a player decides to take. If I allowed someone to play with illegal equipment and they got hurt that is a different story. But a player that runs his mouth to another player, not something I am going to worry about more because someone thinks I am responsible. I will take that to court any day of the week and feel good about the situation.

Peace