The worst a coach said to me this year

[w_sohl]

The first sideline warning I gave was because I was spending more time worrying about where coaches were in the coaches box than what was happening on the field. This happened in the first quarter. Pretty sure this is a proper use of the sideline warning. No coaches were on the field, they were just getting in my way, without contact, during a live ball. Somewhere in the second quarter a tackle that they thought was questionable I explained that from where I was at it looked legal (the tackle was on the other side of the field at the five yard line) the assistant said to me, "That is what thy all say." My response, "I don't want to hear another word out of you, you're an assistant!". Nothing happened till either late in the third or early in the fourth quarter. Another tackle they disagreed with. The coaches complained but nothing out of the ordinary so I just ignored it, till the same assistant I warned earlier decided to open his mouth again. He asked, "Are you ever going to throw a flag?". I turned, looked at him and threw a flag. My intent at first was to go with USC, but by the time I got to the middle of the field I had decided that the second sideline warning would be more appropriate and that is what I went with. Was it to the letter of the law, probably not as some of you have pointed out, but if I remember correctly the rules are not to be applied black and white but with some grey. I used that grey and it took care of the situation. I accomplished what I had hoped for, so I am happy with how I handled it.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

My intent at first was to go with USC, but by the time I got to the middle of the field I had decided that the second sideline warning would be more appropriate and that is what I went with.

Please understand what I am trying to impart. You stated, in your judgment, the coach had done nothing to deserve an USC penalty. While I might disagree with your judgment in this situation, that is not the basis of my disagreement with the way you handled it, and I totally support your right to make that judgment.

According to what you have written, he had done nothing to warrant a five yard sideline penalty, yet that was your call. Think of it this way. A player contacts an opponent above the waist in the side right as the ball carrier is being tackled. In your judgment, the contact was not late nor was it unnecessarily rough. You want to send a message to the player, however, so you call him for a block in the back. Would you do that?

That is what you have done here. The coach's conduct was not USC but you wanted to send a message, so you penalized him for something he did not do. That is not gray nor is it common sense, it is just wrong.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by w_sohl

Pretty sure this is a proper use of the sideline warning. No coaches were on the field, they were just getting in my way, without contact, during a live ball.

That is not a sideline warning. I've already said it a few times, but being in your way is not a sideline warning. You can stand out of bounds and they can put one coach directly behind you and one on each side of you.

Sideline warning - More than 3 coaches in the 6 foot area or any players between the 25 yard lines. Players are only allowed in this 6 foot area as they are entering or leaving the field.

Sideline interference - Being outside of the team box but not on the field. That means that someone is out of bounds, but has gone past the 25 yard line.

Unsportsmanlike foul - Only players allowed on the field; anyone else = USC. There are a few exceptions:

Authorized conferences (charged timeout) - Middle of the field - 1 coach allowed on field.
- Within 9 yards of sideline - Everyone can be out there.

Three attendants (water boys) allowed on field during timeouts (charged, TV, after try/field goal/safety, injury, heat/huminity) *Note that the rules do not allow coaches on the field during the timeout following a score.

Injury timeout - Coach and attendants (doctor, trainer) allowed on field to attend to player.

That is the summary of where people are allowed to stand during the game. Nowhere does it say it is a foul for getting in an official's way.

On your second flag, he didn't commit a USC foul, so you just decided to call a different foul on him. That doesn't make sense. He may or may not have deserved the USC, but he for sure did not deserve the sideline warning.