Post Game Hand Shake

[ploaref]

Our local high school coaches association, which has "run" lacrosse in these parts for decades, has asked one of our two area chapters to stay after the game has ended and "observe" the post-game handshake. While we have requested clarification of exactly what they expect of us, i was wondering if anyone else out there has input about this situation.

MOST of the reasoning seems to be that they believe our presence on the field at this point will deter post-game problems of sportsmanship. We have been told that some college officials do this by standing at the far-side wing line and watching until the handshakes are completed. They only "take numbers" and administer ejection fouls for unsportsmanlike behavior IF such activity occurs. What else could occur in the post-game handshake that might be called? Not much, right?

I apologize for not having time to search the message boards for any background or previous threads that might have discussed this. Does anybody know if NFHS mandates such a mechanic in any other sport? It has been suggested that soccer requires officials to stay at the field thru the final handshake in our state (PA)...

Our chapter board seemed to be very much against this idea, feeling it ought to be either done by coaches, AD's, field managers, etc...that "getting out of Dodge" quickly is what we should be doing...the other regional chapter, however, has agreed to do it, so we have some issues of consistency across our region to consider...

Any input would be appreciated...

[LaxRef]

For college games, we watch the teams cross to their benches from the far sideline, then get out of dodge. We are told not to wait for the handshake.

[BlueJaysLaxFan]

We are told to get off of the field as soon as the game ends. There are a lot of good reasons for this including:
1. The coaches or players cannot run up to you after the game to possibly berate you.
2. The fan(atic)s cannot catch up to you outside of the field easily.

If you stay on the field for the handshake, the officials still have authority over the game and thus anything that happens. I personally would not want to stick around unless I had a locker room to run into after the game and had a significant escort from the field. But, I think that the ADs and coaches have proper channels to complain about any post-game issues through their state associations, and this precludes the need for officials to stay after the game.

[Shorelax]

For college games, we watch the teams cross to their benches from the far sideline, then get out of dodge. We are told not to wait for the handshake.

College games - we do as LR says above...he is missing one small point though. Trail picks up the jackets from the table!!


HS games - our association wants us to stay until the handshake is over as a deterrent to unsportsmanlike behavior. Honestly, I have never administered a penalty during the handshake.

I really don't see the harm. Is there something I'm missing?

I agree with Beacher - the presence of authority helps at a potentially volatile time.

[Beacher]

FWIW up here in Canada referees supervise all the handshakes in every league I know about. I've only had to deal with 1 incident in 9 seasons of reffing. A presence of authority goes along way in keeping people polite. Generally we set up with one ref on each side of the line, about 10 feet back from where they meet. If anything happens take down numbers and try to separate the players involved if possible. Then write up an incident report on the back of the gamesheet. Though technically (in field) the referee doesn't have any jurisdiction after the final whistle, the leagues still do. It'll usually net the players involved a few games off.
It's probably a result of box lacrosse rules, where by rule referees have control of the game until both teams enter their dressing rooms after the game. And I would guess this is because playing in arenas the teams are in much closer quarters after the game, and so there needs to be some disciplinary mechanism in place. Naturally enough, that mechanic carries over to field since most referees officiate both versions of the game.

[flagman]

The fact that we didn't stay to observe the post game handshake was actually a surprise to me when I first started officiating lacrosse. I also ref hockey and it is explicit that we are to observe the post game festivities and are to be the last ones off the ice. We now do stay on the field and observe for HS games here, but we "get out of dodge" and do not stay to observe in college games. It sounds like we have some inconsistency in practice.

[ploaref]

Thanks, guys, good stuff. Again, probably due to laziness (or more accurately, being INCREDIBLY busy at this point in the season) i have not been able to peruse the NFHS rulebook for any language that addresses this situation. Someone mentioned above the thought that the officials' jurisdiction ends after the last goal is scored...can you provide a cite?

Also, so far at least, i can't find language in the inimitable 2008 MDOC Training Manual that talks about this post-game stuff, beyond a discussion of doing a post-game with your partner and attempting to 'de-compress"... Can anyone find reference in that excellent resource that i am missing that talks about observing teams after the game??

[Woodenstick]

NFHS 2-6 - "The officials' authority ...ends when they leave the field of play." The NFHS rules give the officials the authority to observe the handshake, as long as it is not from the parking lot.

[Snake~eyes]

Read these threads:
http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=40164
http://forum.officiating.com/showthread.php?t=41448

They are for basketball but it appears Mass has a similar policy.

All I can say is that it can be unsafe for officials to stick around in certain games. I personally, would refuse to stick around without a police escort. And why do they put it in our hands after the game is over when we basically have "no authority" (yes, I know we technically have authority)?

[Shorelax]

All I can say is that it can be unsafe for officials to stick around in certain games. I personally, would refuse to stick around without a police escort. And why do they put it in our hands after the game is over when we basically have "no authority" (yes, I know we technically have authority)?

Police escort?? Are you kidding??

Question - How often do you fear for your saftey??

[scott68111]

Police escort?? Are you kidding??

Here in SC we have not progressed to that point with lax but in football the police pick us up from the local hotel we change/have our pregame at and take us to the field (some with lights and siren blaring). Then after the game, the same police officers meet us on the field, escort us to police cars and take us back to the hotel to change. Makes for some pretty hair raising trips to/from the game sites. Also we do not have to sit in traffic either.

Personnally not a big fan of sticking around to watch the post game theatrics, sometimes we have to because certain teams pay us directly after the game but you can bet we are not focusing on what is going on on the field.

[Snake~eyes]

Police escort?? Are you kidding??

Question - How often do you fear for your saftey??
No, I'm not kidding. I really haven't feared for my safety, but I don't wait around either. If they don't want to provide a police escort (which is fine if they don't) I'm not waiting around. Should I cite the number of referee incidents involving physical abuse from fans and even coaches? Something to think about.

[cali feeder]

From a player's prospective: I can't recall a single high-school game I've played in where I haven't heard/seen crap between players during the handshake, and I play with/against some pretty respectable coaches and players. Everything from a blatant "(Explicative) you!", a kid who refuses to shake another kid's hand, a punch in the stomach, everything. A LOT of stuff happens, and sometimes carries over into rematches between the two teams.

[3rdPersonPlural]

From a player's prospective: I can't recall a single high-school game I've played in where I haven't heard/seen crap between players during the handshake,

Conejo is still disappointingly townie at times.

[manup5183]

No matter how crazy the game went, my team always takes off helmet and gloves and attempts to shake our opponents hand. Not saying the other team always does this though.

[cali feeder]

Not to hijack, but...

Is it proper conduct to take off your helmets and gloves? We've been told to leave everything on until you leave the field. Two schools of correct thought? Or nay?

[Wallace9645]

In Football and Lacrosse, I have my players keep there helmets on. Not much some idiot can do to you if you have your helmet on!

[Beacher]

Again referencing what I see up here in Ontario and Quebec: referees always supervise, confrontation or anything less polite than "good game" is rare (perhaps as a result of the supervision?). Gloves off, since you are shaking hands after all, and helmets on, from the hockey custom to avoid leaving yourself open to a punch.

[NewRefInGA]

I agree with what scott68111 said. In football, our authority ends when the game ends, so there is no reason to hang around. In fact not a lot of good can come from remaining on the field.

We also have police escorts (though only from the dressing room to the field before the game, and from the field to our cars afterward). The escort has really only been necessary once or twice in 9yrs of officiating- usually so that we can beat the traffic out of the stadium, though I did have a coach chase me off the field once. And it was for a call that I didn't even make.

I do know, however that things go on in the handshake line.I've not had problems with player, but in the youth football league I work, the CHEERLEADERS are no longer alllowed to shake hands. It seems that a couple of years ago, one squad of 10 yr old girls spit in their hands before shaking hands with the other squad. Now the cheerleaders walk by each other with their hands behind their backs and can only say "Good Job". If anything else is said they are suspended. Team moms and park reps supervise this.

Though I don't have a lot of experience with Lacrosse, I would tend to foolow the same procedure as in football- the game ends, get out.

[tomtom]

Not to hijack, but...

Is it proper conduct to take off your helmets and gloves? We've been told to leave everything on until you leave the field. Two schools of correct thought? Or nay?

Ive always taken my helmet off, left my stick in my gloved left hand, and slip my right glove off so its held on by the wrist guard. I feel it shows respect towards the opposition- something the handshake is intended to do.