How to ignore

[simpson]

First of all, you don't have to whisper your pre-snap ritual to yourself, yell it to your crew mates. On Friday nights, they can't hear you in most cases, but it helps keep your head where it belongs -- in the game. I know we all use hand signals, but verbal reinforcement is OK and the coach knows you are working. I work LJ on Friday nights, I say, "Second Down Jared (WH)" while I signal to him, then "Second Down, clock's running, Tyler" (BJ) while I'm signaling to him. Then, "We got 11," when I put my fist out to the BJ. "You're on the line," to the wideout who is on the line and then tip my cap to the HL to signal my half of the line of scrimmage has 3 guys plus the center.

I've found that works better to keep your head in the game and frankly, coaches tend to realize that between downs you actually have a job that is more than listening to him complain about a play that happened last quarter.

As for the disruptive fan, if it's too bad, you can always have game administration remove him. Once had an administrator ask me if I would tell him to remove a fan so he could tell his school board member he'd been asked to shut up or leave. The administrators are usually happy to deal with unruly fans, remember they have to hear the same jerk every week, you only get them once.

[Blue37]

Friday night, my Linesman, who is black, had a flag for a false start on the team on his sideline. According to the most recent census data, the town is 97% white and .66% black. The team is 100% white. After the penalty was administered, as I was preparing to give the ready, I heard "Go back to Africa" from the stands.

I stopped the game, went to the head coach and asked for their administrator. I explained what had occurred, indicated the area where the comment had originated, and requested she take care of it.

We did not wait for her to act, so I do not know what she did, but nothing else unclassy was heard. After the game, as we were exiting the field, one of the assistant coaches caught up to us and explained the students were not referring to him as black, but were referring to him as a "zebra".

Yeah, right coach, whatever you want to believe.

[JRutledge]

It is very easy to ignore fans when they are behind the ropes or in the stands. You just have to ignore them in those situations. Now if they start putting themselves on the field and players and coaches start responding, you have another situation. The latter are situations where you might have to directly address a fan. Now when the fan came onto the field and said something to you I suggest that you keep in professional and say no more than "Thank you." I would not engage into a long conversation with the fan or stay around for further insults and comments. Dealing with fans is just something you are going to have to do and knowing how to handle them is part of your job. Fans do not hire your or get you fired. So listening to them for more than comedy purposes is something you just have to do.

Peace

[DJ_NV]

So far I agree with everything everyone has said so far about not addressing fans. It only gets them going more. Now, that being said, if there is a fan that is being loud and a combination of vulgar, profane, threatening, etc. it is not beyond the rules to stop the game and find the game administrator and advise them that the game will not continue until the fan is either removed or silenced.

Now, please don't read this like I'm saying that we shut a game down because we can't take the heat of loud and obnoxious fans. That's not what I'm saying at all and a big part of our job out there is to simply ignore. But if I hear a fan screaming f-bombs, etc. so loudly that the other side of the stadium can hear it loud and clear (and this is possible in some of the smaller venues where it's actually quiet), it becomes a true sportsmanship issue and for the sake of the game, this must be addressed. On the average, we've had to actually eject a fan (or at least involve game management) probably once every 3-4 years, but just know that it is an option.

[bisonlj]

I had a funny one a couple weeks ago. We had several plays in the first half on one end of the field. On several occasions I heard a fan (probably standing at the fence) screaming we made a horrible spot. In most cases a runner went down and bounced or skidded forward a couple yards. I correctly marked his down where he originally hit the ground. After 3 or 4 instances I made a comment to the photographer standing near me. He laughed and said the guy was one of the judges in town. Sounds like he may not have the best judgement. I didn't hear him in the second half so he must have gone home. The photographer and I had a good laugh about it throughout the game though.

[Forksref]

"Sir, I am not a real referee, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."


"I didn't yell at you when you burnt my fries last night."


At least you can play these in your head, if you don't want to use them on the fan. If you do, the nearby fans will have a great deal of admiration for you. I think you can figure out when they might be useful.

[wisref2]

Originally Posted by Forksref

"Sir, I am not a real referee, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."


"I didn't yell at you when you burnt my fries last night."


At least you can play these in your head, if you don't want to use them on the fan. If you do, the nearby fans will have a great deal of admiration for you. I think you can figure out when they might be useful.

the fries comment is just too funny. I'll have to remember that one!

One note - as soon as the guy mentioned that he should twist your ankle, he crossed the line. I would have stopped it right there and got the game administrator to run the guy (without holding up the game). Threats of violence can't be ignored.