Sportmanship--What can officials do?

[gsf23]

I’m sure most of you have heard of the running back from Matewan High who ran for 658 yards in a 64-0 win. Matewan was playing a team that hadn’t scored a TD against them in seven years and barely had enough players to field a team. During the second half, Matewan played their starters, ran a no-huddle offense and on defense refused to return punts, allowing the ball to roll backwards so that RB McCoy could have more yards to gain. It was a calculated effort to break the record.

Now, I have seen a few reporters who have commented on this story and have asked the question if the officials could have done anything to stop it. They point to Section 9, Article 3 of the NFHS rulebook. “Neither team shall commit any act, which in the opinion of the referee, tends to make a travesty of the game.” Violations for this can be “any penalty the referee considers equitable.”

Would any of you consider using this rule to do something in a situation like this?

“Records are sometimes worth pursuing, sportsmanship be damned.”
Yogi Kinder, Matewan High School Coach

[Jim D]

I would not do anything specific because that is not part of my job as an official. I would not let much go if it were against the winning team - I'd cut them no slack.

Keeping the score down or protecting the ego of the less talented team would not be something we as officials should do.

[ML99]

In Austria (we play NCAA rules) we have an additional rule called the "Mercy Rule". This rule applies only in 2nd half if one of the team is leading with 35 or more than 35 points difference. When Mercy-Rule applies we always have a running clock. It only stops with team time outs, scores, injury time out ...

If the score difference gets fewer than 35points ... the clock doesn't go back to normal. It keeps running.

That's how we keep teams from running up the score. Normally they send out the backup players if there is too much difference on the score.

[dokeeffe]

I'm amazed that this post didn't open a can of worms. As officials it is our responsibility to ensure, at the high school level, that the integrity of the game is protected and that, as much as possible, the experience is positive for the participants. Kinder's conduct and comments, if reported accuractly, should be actionable by the state authority.

I do not know of any rule that forces a punt return; so there isn't any room there. On the other hand, the rule book does not stipulate that a hold or illegal use of hands MUST affect the play in order to be flaged. We, as officials, simply use common sense in that area, aided by a mechanics manual. It's the rare High School play that doesn't have something happen on the field that could be flaged. A blockers hands slightly ourside the frame? Flagable! A back twitching ever so slightly before the snap? Flagable! The center moving the ball forward ever so slightly as opposed to simply tilting the ball? Flagable! As a Referee, after it becomes apparent what the winning team is doing in a case like presented in the post, my crew and I are getting together to very briefly review when flags are to be thrown. Make up the foul? OF COURSE NOT. But call everything we see, everywhere on the field - you bet! Problem probably solved. If my crew gets scratched from that school next year, GOOD! It would be hard for me to forget that quote from the coach - even a year later.

[simpson]

I would not recommend getting together to discuss what fouls are called and then calling every ticky-tack foul. That would look as unprofessional as the coach. Maybe at half-time you can discuss it. Surely in pregame, these officials knew this would be a blowout.

If I recall from the story, a 70-something yard TD was called back in that game. I wonder if this was an example of what you're proposing.

I think officials should maybe call the game a little tighter, but don't go overboard. I would recommend trying to keep the clock running. Player is hit near sideline and goes OB, maybe you saw his forward progress end on the field of play. These guys were running a hurry-up offense - slow down the officiating pace. Hold of on the RFP for a few seconds whenever the clock is running. Take your time getting the ball from the spot to the U to set it down. There are lots of things that can be done to make it harder to run up the score without having to throw phantom flags. Remember, you still have an obligation to call it the same both ways.

We have a coach in the area that is notorious for throwing the ball late in the 4th quarter when up by 50 or 60 points. My crew's solution is to never take a game that they play in. I know it doesn't solve the problem, but we refuse to work their games. All of the crews in the area that are worth their salt do the same thing. The coach doesn't see a good officiating crew until the playoffs, and by then he's usually more evenly matched with his opponents.

[JugglingReferee]

Had a game with a team losing 0-40 mid way thru the 4th. Losing team ends up marching down to B's 3 yard line on 3rd down.

Then they fumble.

Then A player is kinda going for the ball, team B player kinda knocks him outta the way to get the ball. I decide to flag for interference on a loose ball. Penalty: A 1D @ PF. It was a bit of a stretch of a call, and I knew it.

They ended up scoring. Winning team scored one more time. Final score: 47-6. No harm done, team A was happy to score a TD.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

Had a game with a team losing 0-40 mid way thru the 4th. Losing team ends up marching down to B's 3 yard line on 3rd down.

Then they fumble.

Then A player is kinda going for the ball, team B player kinda knocks him outta the way to get the ball. I decide to flag for interference on a loose ball. Penalty: A 1D @ PF. It was a bit of a stretch of a call, and I knew it.

They ended up scoring. Winning team scored one more time. Final score: 47-6. No harm done, team A was happy to score a TD.

As said earlier we can't stretch the rules and impose on our integrality. As hard as it may seem we just have to stand by and watch this travesty of a game and a coach that has no business working with kids. It is our job to enforce sportsmanship within the framework of the rules given to us by the NFHS and our own state. This has generated a lot a discussion around the country and hopefully the next coach that decides to do something like this thinks twice.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

As said earlier we can't stretch the rules and impose on our integrality. As hard as it may seem we just have to stand by and watch this travesty of a game and a coach that has no business working with kids. It is our job to enforce sportsmanship within the framework of the rules given to us by the NFHS and our own state. This has generated a lot a discussion around the country and hopefully the next coach that decides to do something like this thinks twice.

It seems like you disagree.

Are you telling me that you call a hold the same for 19 year old vs. 10 year olds? I didn't think so. I merely decided that in this game, that loose ball contact is a foul. Another game it likely won't be. If the loosing team came back to score 42 unanswered points in less than 6 minutes, then my call that I could have flagged/could have not flagged is the least of the other team's worries.

I don't condone making up fouls, but geesh mister Goodwill, where's your goodwill?

Are you saying running up the score is a travesty? I don't agree with your statement that the coach does not having any business working with kids. What if the disparity between the teams is such that even with the winning team having their 2nd/3rd stringers in, they still score points. Do you want to tell the 3rd stringers to not try their hardest to score points? Don't we afford these players the chance to learn, expand their skill, and try their hardest?

[OverAndBack]

“Records are sometimes worth pursuing, sportsmanship be damned.”

Did the guy really say that?

Sportsmanship should never, never, never, never never be damned. Ever. It was true with the "Florida Flop" of 1971 and it's true today.

Some guys need to be b!tchslapped.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

“Records are sometimes worth pursuing, sportsmanship be damned.”

Did the guy really say that?

Sportsmanship should never, never, never, never never be damned. Ever. It was true with the "Florida Flop" of 1971 and it's true today.

Some guys need to be b!tchslapped.

More than some!

[gsf23]

Originally Posted by OverAndBack

“Records are sometimes worth pursuing, sportsmanship be damned.”

Did the guy really say that?

Sportsmanship should never, never, never, never never be damned. Ever. It was true with the "Florida Flop" of 1971 and it's true today.

Some guys need to be b!tchslapped.

Yes he did say that when asked if all the calls and emails and grief he has taken over all this was worth it.

[HawkeyeCubP]

[QUOTE=JugglingReferee]Then A player is kinda going for the ball, team B player kinda knocks him outta the way to get the ball. I decide to flag for interference on a loose ball. Penalty: A 1D @ PF. It was a bit of a stretch of a call, and I knew it.QUOTE]

A bit of a stretch? The only kind of interference I know of can only be called during a legal forward pass, which no fumble could ever meet the definition of. How was this explained to the coach? And was it received well?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by HawkeyeCubP

A bit of a stretch? The only kind of interference I know of can only be called during a legal forward pass, which no fumble could ever meet the definition of. How was this explained to the coach? And was it received well?

Maybe you didn't know that I'm Canadian. We have a rule that says when the ball is loose, playing an opponent and not the ball is a loose ball interference foul if the foul is against an opponent directly making a play to recover the ball. The penalty it AFD at PF for the non-offending team.

It did not have to be explained to the coach, and he received it well.

[GBFBUmp]

Our BJ has decided to do something off the field. He started a non-profit Org. called Team Sports in WI. His plan is to be asked to be a speaker at schools, typically in conjunction with the mandatory athletic meetings, but could be at any time. His discussions will key on what good sportsmanship is, relating to players, parents, coaches, etc. in all sports.

Our State athletic association distributes data related to ejections in our annual required officials/coaches sports meetings. Football had been on the increase but has leveled off, but some other sports such as soccer are continuing to increase in ejections of players and coaches. Maybe our BJ can help out in this area.

I have yet to attend a presentation of his (he's only been in it for about 3 months), but I intend to, and will keep you posted on results. One of our officials is a principal at a local HS and did invite BJ in, and said it was well received by all (parents, coaches, players).