Game called due to fighting

[umpjim]

I don't do football. How does FED rule when game is called with 2:09 left due to "fighting"? Score is 30 to 16. Or NCAA if that's what they use in TX.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by umpjim

I don't do football. How does FED rule when game is called with 2:09 left due to "fighting"? Score is 30 to 16. Or NCAA if that's what they use in TX.

The TX HS athletic ass'n uses NCAA, while TX Pop Warner uses Fed.

NCAA's rule book actually has a section, "Fighting". However, there's no obvious provision therein for a game to be "called". So you'd have to construct a scenario whereby enough players would be disqualified that nobody'd be left to play the game. Trouble is, technically that makes it a double forfeit; they have those in chess, not sure about football.

The rule in most codes is that if one team forfeits while they're behind, the score at that point stands. But forfeiture would appear not to be the case here. In adult team sports of any kind, usually if enough fighting breaks out, the game is called for practical reasons. So then unless it's a league where scores figure as a standings tiebreaker, you'd have to ask the bookies. I think most of them would take the score as final. Go by the standard of baseball, where half the game makes it official, and less than half is a push.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

The TX HS athletic ass'n uses NCAA, while TX Pop Warner uses Fed.

I won't say you're incorrect but I will say I've never seen or heard of a youth football organization in Texas use NFHS rules. Can you provide reference to one in particular that does?

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I won't say you're incorrect but I will say I've never seen or heard of a youth football organization in Texas use NFHS rules. Can you provide reference to one in particular that does?

Pop Warner (but not AYF) dictates the rules nationally, and their rules set is contemporary Fed with a few alterations. They say it's difficult for officials in Texas & Mass. Keep in mind that most youth leagues aren't nationally affiliated, so this applies to only a minority of them in TX.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I won't say you're incorrect but I will say I've never seen or heard of a youth football organization in Texas use NFHS rules. Can you provide reference to one in particular that does?

Gah, I had it backward, as I see from a thread at DumCoach. Pop Warner used to use Fed, but now they go by state HS ass'n as their base. AYF affiliates are allowed to use any rules, but in playoffs Fed. So it's not a problem for officials in Pop Warner, but can be in Tex. & Mass. for AYF.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

The TX HS athletic ass'n uses NCAA, while TX Pop Warner uses Fed.

Pop Warner uses Pop Warner rules. No youth league I've ever been associated with used FED as the basis for their rules. It was always NCAA (with 2 exceptions using NFL) rules with modifications.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by umpjim

I don't do football. How does FED rule when game is called with 2:09 left due to "fighting"? Score is 30 to 16. Or NCAA if that's what they use in TX.

They do use NCAA rules in Texas.

Even so, that's an issue the state association would have to address, not something the officials would have any involvement in.

[maven]

Originally Posted by umpjim

How does FED rule when game is called with 2:09 left due to "fighting"?

To answer just this part: if the coaches and referee agree, the game can be terminated. NFHS 3-1-3

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by umpjim

I don't do football. How does FED rule when game is called with 2:09 left due to "fighting"? Score is 30 to 16. Or NCAA if that's what they use in TX.

Give us the context of this game. Was it a high school game? Junior High? Youth League?

I can't imagine ending a Varsity game due to fighting. I CAN imagine ejecting so many players that a team has to forfeit (especially smaller schools), but if we're done adjudicating the fight and there are players left to play, we're playing.

That said ... at youth or sub-V I might give a very different answer.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

Give us the context of this game. Was it a high school game? Junior High? Youth League?

I can't imagine ending a Varsity game due to fighting. I CAN imagine ejecting so many players that a team has to forfeit (especially smaller schools), but if we're done adjudicating the fight and there are players left to play, we're playing.

That said ... at youth or sub-V I might give a very different answer.

5A varsity: Welcome to EaglePassSportsCentral

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by umpjim

5A varsity: Welcome to EaglePassSportsCentral

Other than saying, "This guy writes for a living and has 30 experience doing so ... and still writes like this?!?!?!?!" my only comment is...

Wow.

[Welpe]

If his statement that the benches cleared is accurate then they probably made the right call.

[MD Longhorn]

Benches have cleared before. I've never heard of giving up over it though. I wonder how their supervisors feel about it. I wonder if the officials themselves felt threatened (which makes more sense than just calling it over what's in this story).

This makes for a horrible precedent. If there are no consequences, then the next time some team is up by 2 scores late but doesn't trust its defense ... just clear the benches and you win. I'm hating everything about this story (at least the parts we know right now).

Seems to me if it got so bad the officials had to call it, it should be a double-forfeit.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

if we're done adjudicating the fight

You judge boxing too? What if you're at a boxing match & a football game breaks out?

[w_sohl]

Originally Posted by umpjim

I don't do football. How does FED rule when game is called with 2:09 left due to "fighting"? Score is 30 to 16. Or NCAA if that's what they use in TX.

Happened in Indiana this year. IHSAA ruled a forefit for both teams.