Sportmanship--What can officials do?

[jontheref]

In Connecticut we have the so called 50 point rule but that has done little to keep scores down. We do not have a Mercy Rule...however we as R's have been known to run the clock when we shouldn't which basically means the "old timing rules". But, no we don't get together and try to figure out what fouls we should call. The idea is survival...to get everyone out healthy and the like. There is nothing good that is going to happen the longer we are on the field.

[sloth]

This may not be in the same vein as some of the other post, but it has to deal with sportsmanship and my game last night. I'm the LJ. Ball is on my hash. Incomplete screen pass with a defender hitting the reciever (team on other side of the field) a fraction of a second after the ball was incomplete...I have no penalty. Reciever, respectfully, ask me why there was no penalty on the late hit. As I try to explain it to him I hear from an assistant behind me (maybe 5 yards away) "go back to your sidelines cry-baby"...not believeing what I just heard I turn around and see this assistant leaning over and rubbing his eyes in the cry baby sort of sign saying "wa, wa". I know the opponent player say and hear this as he was right by me.

Without a second thought flag was out and we asses a 15 USC on the coach. Later, at the half, the white hat suggested that the best way to handle that is to talk to the head coach and if it doesn't get better then you flag it. I've thought on it since then and have come to the conclusion that I did the right thing and I'd do it again in a second if the same thing happened.

I'm in my third full year as a varsity official (all as LJ). I've been insulted, called names and had my judgement questioned more time that I can count. I've never had an USC on a coach. I have very thick skin and I'm willing to allow a coach some room to vent. I will use preventative officiating in those instances and allow the HC to take care of assistants. But I draw the line at a coach taunting opposing players. Thats one of those things that in my book, gets no warning and no second chances. I'm glad I did what I did despite the objections of the rest of my crew.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by sloth

This may not be in the same vein as some of the other post, but it has to deal with sportsmanship and my game last night. I'm the LJ. Ball is on my hash. Incomplete screen pass with a defender hitting the reciever (team on other side of the field) a fraction of a second after the ball was incomplete...I have no penalty. Reciever, respectfully, ask me why there was no penalty on the late hit. As I try to explain it to him I hear from an assistant behind me (maybe 5 yards away) "go back to your sidelines cry-baby"...not believeing what I just heard I turn around and see this assistant leaning over and rubbing his eyes in the cry baby sort of sign saying "wa, wa". I know the opponent player say and hear this as he was right by me.

Without a second thought flag was out and we asses a 15 USC on the coach. Later, at the half, the white hat suggested that the best way to handle that is to talk to the head coach and if it doesn't get better then you flag it. I've thought on it since then and have come to the conclusion that I did the right thing and I'd do it again in a second if the same thing happened.

I'm in my third full year as a varsity official (all as LJ). I've been insulted, called names and had my judgement questioned more time that I can count. I've never had an USC on a coach. I have very thick skin and I'm willing to allow a coach some room to vent. I will use preventative officiating in those instances and allow the HC to take care of assistants. But I draw the line at a coach taunting opposing players. Thats one of those things that in my book, gets no warning and no second chances. I'm glad I did what I did despite the objections of the rest of my crew.

You are, without a doubt, correct. This is a very appropriate flag for USC. If a player did this, it would be taunting and a USC -- should we hold coaches to LOWER standards?

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Wow. Just... wow. I've met some sorry coaches in my day (and some damn fine ones, too). But that is a new low. Not only would I have flagged this coach, but he's done in my game - I don't care what level it is, crap like that doesn't belong on the football field at all, and from a coach it's inexcusable.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by The Roamin' Umpire

Wow. Just... wow. I've met some sorry coaches in my day (and some damn fine ones, too). But that is a new low. Not only would I have flagged this coach, but he's done in my game - I don't care what level it is, crap like that doesn't belong on the football field at all, and from a coach it's inexcusable.

And what exactly would you flag the coach for? Do you have a case book cite that calls for a foul against a team for being too good?

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by parepat

And what exactly would you flag the coach for? Do you have a case book cite that calls for a foul against a team for being too good?

I suspect we're talking about different things - I was referring to sloth's post in which the coach called an opposing player a "cry baby." I suspect you're talking about the original, running-up-the-score scenario.

[parepat]

Originally Posted by The Roamin' Umpire

I suspect we're talking about different things - I was referring to sloth's post in which the coach called an opposing player a "cry baby." I suspect you're talking about the original, running-up-the-score scenario.

You are exactly right. I am wrong. My apologies.

[OverAndBack]

Had a game tonight get out of hand, freshman A game, second game of a doubleheader on a cold night, last game of the season for both teams.

Home team was on us (I was on their sideline) from the get-go. Wanted me to call a clip all the way on the other side of the field (of course it was "right in front of me," like anything 53 yards away is), wanted this, wanted that, wanted a late hit on a shove on the sideline that didn't even send the runner to the ground, wanted a face guarding call on a pass downfield on the opposite side, yadda yadda yadda.

Anyway, they were losing 35-0 in the fourth, they finally score and a kid on their team drops an f-bomb in the direction of an opponent. By that point, with only a few minutes left in the game, I was going to pretend I didn't hear it just for the good of the order and to get us out of there, but the WH heard it and flagged it, which, of course, incensed the home sideline even more.

First play after the kickoff goes to the other side, and two kids completely behind the play and out of range of everything get to wrasslin' and take each other down, I go over to break it up and one kid grabs the other's facemask. The WH's flag comes in before I can get mine out, but the assistant coach on my side cops an attitude (don't know why, we got the flag).

Now, I'm trying to get better at sideline decorum, so I don't bark at the guy, but I just look at him, and that sets him off: "I haven't given you any crap all night, why are you staring me down?"

So shortly thereafter, visiting team gets a first down on a run on 4th and 1 and the play's over and all of a sudden I hear a fracas and two kids are into it. I didn't see it start, just the fight as they're already into it. I'm trying to make sure people don't come in off the bench on my side to make it worse (and, this being the first fight I've had in three years, I forget to beanbag the spot, which I should have). We end up throwing the instigator out (home team player) and the other kid from the other team (I shudder to think of what might have happened if it hadn't been even).

The last 3 minutes plus just would not end, despite the fact the winning team did nothing but run up the middle. We got the hell out of there.

Anyway, it's odd that some teams that know they're not as good as the team they're playing will be calm enough on the sidelines when they're getting pounded, and others seem to find us an easy target. You just never know what you're going to get. I've even had some teams that were winning big who just wouldn't let stuff go.

I honestly don't think we had that bad a game, certainly no worse than any other 42-8 game you've ever seen, and there were only three of us (two wings and a referee) so what are you going to do?

Couple of lessons learned, though - the kid who instigated the fight was ticked off a few minutes prior on a touchdown play that just broke the plane, and the WH had to talk to him. In retrospect, we probably should have told the coach that for the good of the order, maybe #48 should sit out a series to cool out.

And I learned to remember to beanbag the spot before you go in to break up a fight.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by sloth

I've thought on it since then and have come to the conclusion that I did the right thing and I'd do it again in a second if the same thing happened.

Good flag. One thing that burns me is when you do throw this type of flag and it's suggested that you should warn the coach or player first. My opinion is that they try this crap because they expect to get off with a warning because that's how someone else handled it in the past.

Throw that flag and consider that the warning for next week.