Fighting result in postseason ban

[BktBallRef]

The NCHSAA provides a playoff ban for teams that have 6 ejections for any reason or 3 ejections for fighting within the same season. During the regular season, 3 teams were banned from playoff eligibility for having at least 3 ejections for fighting.

Well, it's happened again.

This past Friday in the 2nd round of the playoffs, a team that was up by 4 TDs had 3 players ejected for fighting. Today, that team was removed from the playoffs and their 3rd round opponent was awarded a forfeit.

Just curious, do other states have a similiar polciy regarding ejections and losing playoff eligiblilty?

[jjb]

PA does not have this policy but I wish we did. 3 ejections in one game for fighting tells methe Head Coach does not have control of his team.

[bisonlj]

Indiana has an all-in tournament and to my knowledge has never banned anyone from participating. There was an incident in a playoff game this year though and the losing team may face a playoff ban next year.

[Texas Aggie]

Sounds like a step in the right direction, but I'd like to think my crew can keep better control of a game than what would end up with 3 fighting ejections -- assuming you mean 3 different instances. Even with 3 players in one instance, that's nuts.

Of course, some situations happen and there's little the officials can do. Perhaps that was applicable here.

[JRutledge]

I do not know of any specific policy, but players can and will be suspended. I am sure coaches could be too. My state did remove a team from the post season for an unrelated issue, so I am sure it is in their power to do so. But I know of nothing that changes the penalties just because there is a fight.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

Sounds like a step in the right direction, but I'd like to think my crew can keep better control of a game than what would end up with 3 fighting ejections -- assuming you mean 3 different instances. Even with 3 players in one instance, that's nuts.

Of course, some situations happen and there's little the officials can do. Perhaps that was applicable here.

Personally, I don't think we as officials have much control f what players do. We can try to talk to them or throw flags but in the long run, they couldn't care less what we say or do. Only coaches have any real control over their players. And then, there's only enough control to pull them off the field when they see a red flag.

For example, during week two of the season, a fight broke out after a kickoff when an opponent went after the kicker. Coaches and players from both bench came onto the field. The asst. coaches were able to keep some players on the bench but 4 more players fought. 3 were ejected from each team.

This game happened within our local association. The fight broke out with 4 minutes to play in the second qtr. with the home team leading 45-7. They had just gone for 2 and then kicked and onside kick.. Our crew had already thrown 5 USC and 3 PF flags prior to the fight.

The second situation occurred with 3 players from one team and 2 players from the opposing team being ejected after subs from both side came onto the field during week 7 of the regular season. This was a different local association.

The third situation occurred during the second week of the playoffs with the same results as the second situation above, 3 and 2 ejections. A third local association worked that game.

Prior to these three situations this year, this rule has never come into play before.

Again, I don't think there's much officials can do in these types of situations. See the Finnegan-Johnson fight yesterday?

[rockyroad]

Bktballref - does this rule mean three separate situations involving ejections for fighting? Or three kids get ejected from one fight and the school is done?

If it's the first, I think it's a great rule. If it's the second, it seems like overkill. If I - as a Coach - have a team that gets into three separate fights during the year, then we have a problem and deserve whatever the State hands down. If it's one incident and three (or more) of my players get involved, then those players need to be dealt with, but don't penalize the entire team.