The rule is as follows:
<i>
Unfair Acts:
Art 1 . . . A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by an unfair act which has no specific rules coverage.

Art 2 . . . No team shall repeatedly commit fouls which halve the distance to the goal line.

Art 3 . . . Neither team shall commit any act which, in the opinion of the referee, tends to make a travesty of the game.</i>


Has anyone here ever invoked one of these rules? What was the situation? How did you handle it? I'm looking for answers from Pee-Wee up to NCAA.

Thought it would be fun to find out MORE about this set of rules.

Not me!
 

REPLY: In 24 years, Mike, I've never seen any of those three applied.

Reffing a game in Mexico (HS level but using NCAA rules) and had a team (the defense) on an extra point who kept going offsides to clobber the other guys. They knew we could barely move the ball any closer to the goal line. After the 2d incident I warned them that a repeat was going to result in ejections. They immediately proceeded to do it one more time. I ejected everyone who went offsides. The subs came in and we had a penalty free try.

This is certainly an excellent example of Article 2. Thanks TXMike. Good information to add to the memory bank.

Not in the game but I was there.
 

In reference to 9-9-1.

This is a NF example.

In the second round of playoffs this year a visiting team known as the engineers had a train whistle attached to the stands on their side. Everytime they scored a fan would blow the whistle. Later in the game with the game well out of hand they started blowing the whistle every time the opossing offense came to the line and started calling their signals. The R informed the coach it would not be tolerated, coach took no action. The next time the R flagged for UC, head coach. An assistant immediately went into the stands and requested they not continue. The next play same thing. The R went to inform the HC he was ejected, discussion, the HC went into the stands and physically removed the whistle. Team penalized for UC but coach not ejected.

No more whistle, though.

Shawn

Big Ump,

what was the reason for the USC penalty? Is there a rule I don't know of that says the fans can't blow a train whistle? if this is the case I would think every college and nfl game would be stopped and coaches flagged for USC of their fans.I understand it was a classless act by the teams fans but is there a penalty here? In a youth league game I think you could get the fans to stop but high school players should be able to play through it.

Hey TX, did you tell them like this?

¡Le dije! ¿Usted me pensó bromeaba con usted? Ahora usted se sienta! Adios!

[Edited by ABoselli on Jan 28th, 2003 at 07:28 PM]

HighSchoolWhiteHat
 

Highschool,

I never talked to the crew but was told the R referenced 9-9-1 as quoted above.

Re: Not in the game but I was there.
 

REPLY: Shawn, I agree with HSWH that this should not be categorized as USC. USC in Federation rules only covers acts by players, substitutes, coaches, trainers, and team attendants. USC cannot be assessed against persons not covered by the rules. NCAA has a multi-step procedure to follow when the offensive team is unable to communicate its signals properly. But the worst it results in is a TO charged against the defense, or a five yard penalty if the defense has no more TOs remaining. However, in the case you cite, it worked!!

I believe that the words "persons not subject to the rules in 9-9-1 could be construed as being people other than on the sideline, ie; fans.

I had a hard time with this at first but the more I thought the more I felt it was the right decision and could be supported by rule.

This actually happened in a game I did years ago when I first
worked HS Varsity ball-------
visiting team runner breaks away and runs toward the goal line
for a TD--
a FAN of the home team runs under a "restraining rope"
goes onto the field and tackles the runner short of the goal line !
I was dumbfounded-- did not throw any flag, but went to the
white hat to tell him what happened---- he awarded a TD to the
visitors and the home team management took care of the
over zealous fan !!
Amazing !!