Acting Class is in Session

[GoodScout]

Had an interesting situation during a 7th grade game Saturday.

Had a long 55-yard breakaway score. I was trailing the play and suddenly one of the defenders literally hurls himself off his feet as if struck from behind. Mind you, there's no one within 20 yards of this 13-year-old. He comes to his feet and looks at me with the "where's the flag" gesture with both hands.

At the time, I just looked at this kid and said "No. 55, there was no one within 20 yards of you. You're a terrible actor so stop trying." Then I laughed about it and told my white hat after the PAT.

But the more I thought about it afterwards, it was clear to me that this was a coached action, and I started getting a little ticked off about it. The result of this kid doing this would either be a) a newbie official might throw a flag thinking he'd missed something, or b) it might get the fans mad at the crew, thinking we missed something.

Clearly it's not USC, but would anyone have done anything beyond what I did?

[JugglingReferee]

At the 7th and 8th grade levels, I would definitely have no problem with mentioning it to the coach that I believe his player was acting, trying to garnish a flag in an unsporting way.

[Adam]

Wouldn't this be an unsporting foul? I'm clueless on fb rules, but it's an easy technical in a basketball game.

[BigGref]

I could definetly see USC being called on this, had a very similar thing just last night; I'm R in 4 man, the kicker punts the ball and a couple of players end up about 2 yards from his feet, but he ends up on the ground after very poor acting job, I simply tell him "get up Matt Damon" he says, "its worth a try, my coach told me to do that," I didn;t think about it much, but it definetly put a bad taste in my mouth now that I think about it. If it happened again or at a higher level I probably would flag it.

[jeepinchad]

I had something sort of along the lines happen. 7th grade game... B67 is pass rushing. As soon as A63 engaged him, B67 throws his hands in the air and starts shouting "He's holding me, he's holding me". Mind you, A63 had a good legal block going, as I watched the entire play unfold.


I calmly walked A63 to the sidelines, informed the coach what happened, and told him, I see that again, it's 15 yards USC.

[ajmc]

Sadly sometimes "boys will be boys", even long after they pass beyond puberty. Walking the lad over to his coach and explaing, to both, the potential consequences sounds like "preventive officiating" for both player and coach at it's highest level.

However, NF:9.8.1.b "attempting to influence a decision by an official" although listed as an example of USC by a "non-player" would also apply to behavior of players.

[Jim D]

I had a team once that, on a long break away run by the other team, would try to fake a clip. If they were following behind the runner and couldn't catch him, they would look to find an offensive player running parallel to them. They would then dive/swerve in front of him looking for a clip or block in the back call.

I didn't call a USC, but in thinking back on it, if they dove in front of him, we could call an illegal block on B.

[daggo66]

Originally Posted by jeepinchad

I had something sort of along the lines happen. 7th grade game... B67 is pass rushing. As soon as A63 engaged him, B67 throws his hands in the air and starts shouting "He's holding me, he's holding me". Mind you, A63 had a good legal block going, as I watched the entire play unfold.


I calmly walked A63 to the sidelines, informed the coach what happened, and told him, I see that again, it's 15 yards USC.

I had a similar situation in a JV game. The only difference was the tackle was in fact holding the end, who completely stopped threw his arms up and said he was being held. Unfortunately by stopping and giving up the tackle was no longer restraining his opponent. I only had to tell the coach once.