Florida Law-
 

Hey all,
Sad to watch that video! I did a quick google search on Florida law pertaining to assault on a sports official and here is what I found.

Fl. Stat. § 784. 081

Assault or battery against a sports official actively participating in an athletic contest or immediately after and the actor knows or has reason to know the victim’s identity, position, or employment

When the underlying crime is:

• Aggravated battery: 1st degree felony—up to 30 years in prison, up to $ 10,000 fine, or both

• Aggravated assault: 2nd degree felony—up to 15 years in prison, up to $ 10,000 fine, or both

• Battery: 3rd degree felony—up to five years in prison, up to $ 5,000 fine, or both

• Assault: 1st degree misdemeanor—up to one year in prison, up to $ 1,000 fine, or both

Referee, umpire, linesman, or similar official known by another title, registered or a member of a local, state, regional, or national organization that educates and trains sports officials

Here in Southern California the player who is ejected must be suspended for their team's next scheduled contest. California Penal Code 243.8 states that the sentence for assaulting a sports official is either a fine not to exceed $2,000 or 1 year in county jail or both.

I would hope that the school suspends him for the remainder of this season and all of the next one if he has eligibility remaining.

If assaulting a game official is not making "a travesty of the game", which is the grounds for forfeit, then I don't know what would be.

Game over, 100 times out of 100.

I'm a pretty forgiving guy but IMHO his scholastic playing career should be OVER. Regardless of how many years of eligibility he has left.

I'm fine with the intentional on the first push, then a flagrant technical when he pushed the defender after the first whistle. It's a non-basketball play and kid obviously is an escalator and is just a big problem, dump him. I don't see the need to pile on more flagrant T's, the player is disqualified after the first one. There is no need for any indirects if you don't pile on the extras when he's already dq'd. As for ending the game, he!! nah! That punk ain't getting away with taking the game away from the rest of the players, fans, etc...get his a$$ outta there, regain your composure and play on. (assuming this was an isolated incident of course). ;)

You would not issue at least one technical foul for assaulting the official? I find that to be rather interesting.

I understand where you're coming from, but you've given a flagrant, he's gone. Let the law deal with him on assault, you've done what you can, you tossed him. I doubt anyone would have a problem with your technicals, but I just don't really see their point. There is nothing in high school that says you can't assess additional penalties after a player is thrown. In the NBA, you've got a flagrant 1 (basically the same as a hs intentional) on the first foul, then a flagrant T. Nothing else could be assessed after he's ejected. High school doesn't say you can't, neither does it say you should. ;)

I would. I've issued a flagrant to an already DQ'd player before. And in this case, you wouldn't have to worry about any indirects because all the action occurred before the player could be notified he was DQd.

The more I think about this, there's no way I'd continue this game under any circumstance. There's a police report to fill out.

Assuming for a moment that you're going to continue the game...

Would it benefit the game to assess additional Ts? I don't see how it would. Would the other team feel unfairly treated if you don't? I don't think they would. Would an indirect to the coach really be warranted, or useful? I don't think so.

What happened after the T was not only clearly outside the spirit and intent of the rules, but also outside the scope of the rules. There will be additional penalties, but they will come from authorities whose scope includes the kid's behavior.

Bottom line, IMHO if you're going to continue the game, administer what has been assessed and move on.

My first thought was no, you should just suspend the game at that point. My second thought however was no, Scrapper is 114% right. That act does merit a forfeit for that player's team. A mere suspension where that player's team could still win the game doesn't reflect the seriousness and severity of the act.

My first year officiating in 2007, at the end of the game for some reason I look back at a member of the losing team (I think I was looking for my partner cant remember), so the kid looks at me and says "WTF are you looking at" and throws his hands up. I had this grin/smirk on my face, thinking to myself is this young man serious, or perhaps it was because I never thought something like this would happen.

The coach was nearby, so I told him what went on and to handle the situation.

Not sure what my reaction would be if what happened in the video were to happen to me? Scary thought though and hope I am never in that situation.

With that being said if a player or parent approaches me outside in the parking lot, its on.

Totally agree with that. You don't know until you live it.

Disagree completely. You're letting that player get away with some of his vile actions. You're not formally penalizing him in any way for assaulting an official. Having said that, there's also no need imo to pile on any FT's. Call the game, get the hell outa there before anything else happens and take the score book into the dressing room with you. Detail what happened step-by-step on the score sheet and your reasons for forfeiting. Put down the score and time of the forfeit. If the league wants to continue on with that game later, hey, that's their decision. That one has to be a discussion between them and whomever you report to. You and your partners should also put in a full written report of the incident to your association/governing body. No doubt you'll be involved with police reports also, so get some facts on paper while they're still fresh in your mind.

And ask for a police escort when you're ready to leave.

It's nice to have balls, but it's also nice to know when you should use 'em. Leave the macho stuff to the kids.

JMO.

I remember a day when teachers were not afraid of the students or afraid of what might happen if they touched them...touch? Heck, Whack the he!! out of them with big ol paddles if their hands weren't enough.

I'm not saying those were "good ol' days"...but, somewhere between there and where we are now seems more reasonable.

I guess that's one of the reasons I got out of teaching, after just one year, at the age of 23.

Rocky sounds like he has a story (or two)...well, I have one I will share.

Once upon a time...there was this young 23 year old P.E. teacher/coach coming in from track practice with his Middle School kids. Some H.S. kids were milling around the outside Locker Room entrance. (The High School and Middle School were on the same grounds, as this was a small rural school in southern Idaho.)

Well, as the young teacher was getting ready to enter the building, a H.S. kid says, "Hey dude, what's up?"...and preceded to knock the baseball cap off the young teacher's head.

Young teacher saw red...grabbed the H.S. kid by the back of his collar and not very gently at all put his head on the pavement. The H.S. kid was then directed to "pick up my hat". After some time of feeling around on the ground for the hat...his cheek was against the pavement...he found it and handed the hat over to the young teacher. The young teacher must have still been seeing red because as soon as the young teacher had hat in hand, he gave the H.S. kid a good shove against a nearby car.

Probably not the best way to handle it...and for sure this young teacher had not been taught that in his College Education Methods class...but, you know what? That H.S. troublemaker (I guess he had a rep) was a perfect gentleman every time that young teacher saw him after that. It was Mr. this and Mr. that.

I know that story could have had all kinds of bad endings...but, lucky for this young teacher...nothing came of it.

Soooo, that young teacher could have been fired...Well, this ol' basketball offical might get fired if he thinks he is in physical danger and reacts accordingly. i.e. defending one's self.

Arrested?...we'll work it out in the courts.

In this situation, you should SUSPEND the game and let the powers that be decide on a forfeit. A suspension is 100% reasonable -- for many reasons -- but a forfeit can be second guessed. I'm not saying you run away from tough situations, but when there's an easy, reasonable solution that accomplishes the same thing, do it.

There's no way we are continuing this game if I'm on that crew.

To me, "suspend" vs. "forfeit" is semantics. Either way, the league/state can decide to continue the game. Either way, the league/state can decide to let it stand as is.