View Full Version : Spectator Misbehavior Quiz
NCAA college game. Lots of spectators and crowd noise. A group of students down near the visiting team's goalie, in their proper place the required number of yards back from the sideline, is really giving the goalie a verbal workout. No F-Bombs, no Sexual-Orientation References, but a constant barrage of abuse.
What do you do, if anything?
NFHS high-school game. Few spectators. Little noise. Group of students adjacent to the visiting team bench but ten yards from the sideline is constantly heckling the visiting team. What steps, if any, do you take?
stegmakk
12-14-2004, 01:21 PM
I do not know the technical answers...but I would say nothing...
In college we played D1 Hockey...we belittled their goalies with many chants...wthe whole student section was behind opponent's goalie...and the whole section participated...and yes...when the whole section gets going you CAN hear through the glass...nothing was done...for 4 years I went there...
Petem0ss
12-14-2004, 02:06 PM
I have no technical examples to support my argument, only personal experience.
At Lynchburg, the students brought couches out to the field, what appeared to be the required distance off of the sidelines...the F-bombs did not commence until after warm-ups anyway & the refs were OK with the whole thing. So I'm going to say no action taken in the NCAA case.
NFHS case, I've seen kids run off for less, check your local listings.
stegmakk
12-14-2004, 02:43 PM
I have heard taunting at Football games in HS...
In lax...I never played with many spectators :)
but when I watch a few HS games now and then we seem to have decent fans that dont say too much
where would a ref draw the line? fans chanting to a goalie that its all his fault and that he isn't a goalie he's a sieve and a black hole are different than swearing AT a player and as you put it dropping the f-bomb...Is their a difference between good old heckeling, and verbally attacking?
AHSkeeper9
12-14-2004, 03:46 PM
our team played our rival last year and those guys have got some pretty aggrivating parents to say the least. I'm the goalie and for some reason the other team had cowbells and there was one parent sitting behind the goal(on my side) ringing her cowbell and yelling away. It was annoying but the refs didn't do anything. We had a parent get her to move.
also, when we were playing in the playoffs last year a group of students got out of the stands and walked over to the other side of the field and began to yell and whatnot. The refs in that case did ask them to leave because it was a distraction
our team played our rival last year and those guys have got some pretty aggrivating parents to say the least. I'm the goalie and for some reason the other team had cowbells and there was one parent sitting behind the goal(on my side) ringing her cowbell and yelling away. It was annoying but the refs didn't do anything. We had a parent get her to move.
also, when we were playing in the playoffs last year a group of students got out of the stands and walked over to the other side of the field and began to yell and whatnot. The refs in that case did ask them to leave because it was a distraction
We had a similar situation, cowbells, noise makers, whistles. The refs just warned the crowd until someone blew a loud whistle which was mistaken for an official one and it resulted in the kid with the ball getting laid out. I know the fan was escorted out, not sure what else happened. There might have been a penalty against the home team???
Laxref_36
12-14-2004, 04:59 PM
our team played our rival last year and those guys have got some pretty aggrivating parents to say the least. I'm the goalie and for some reason the other team had cowbells and there was one parent sitting behind the goal(on my side) ringing her cowbell and yelling away. It was annoying but the refs didn't do anything. We had a parent get her to move.
also, when we were playing in the playoffs last year a group of students got out of the stands and walked over to the other side of the field and began to yell and whatnot. The refs in that case did ask them to leave because it was a distraction
Regarding the NCAA fans, I don't believe the rule book address spectator behavior except for Rule 1 - Section 14. Which speaks to limit lines and cannons (AR 7). No parent/spectator is allowed behind the end lines (section b), behind the bench areas (section c) and within the limit lines (section d).
The NFHS book has the same restriction in Rule 1 section 2 Article 11 subparagraphs A, b, and c. Don't let the jargon confuse you. Remember if the field is surrounded by a stadium and permanent seating the fans and media can be there.
Snake~eyes
12-14-2004, 08:24 PM
I'm not calling any foul, around here game management would be all over it. If not I will tell them to get the fans behind the fence. They can say/do what ever they want on the otherside of the fence.
LatinBabe
12-14-2004, 08:27 PM
at the texas D2 guys state champ game last year i believe some kids were yelling at jjlax09 and one of ST. Anthony's moms' got some of the security officers to chase them off the premises. it was kinda funny. the refs had nothing to do with it, and neither did the coaches.. and the students were yellin some pretty nasty vulgar stuff i believe....
ploaref
12-15-2004, 07:55 AM
At the youth level (8th grade and under) there is now a mechanic that would allow the ref to issue a "purple card" warning in the case of abusive behavior at a lacrosse game. While the mechanics and the details of implementing the process are still being refined, essentially, the ref may terminate the game in the case of abusive behavior from fans. The ref can hold up the Purple Card and declare that the game will continue to be played under a purple card warning, which would hopefully stop the bad behaviour, and end the game if it continues after the warning. Also, if a coach sees the Purple Card issued because of fans of his team, he may decide to try to take steps to stop it so that he doesn't lose a forfeit.
Things like this can be looked at as "good clean fun" but it is my belief that it eventually feeds into an overall attitude that "anything goes" at a lacrosse game (or any sporting contest for that matter) and can only spell trouble in the long run for how people view our game. The Purple Card procedure (in the youth section in the back of the NFHS rulebook) is an attempt to address the lack of tools officials have to deal with abusive fan behavior directed at officials or players. While it only applies in U-15 games for now, it'll be interesting to see if the "upper levels" of the game see fit to adopt it in the future.
LaxRef
12-15-2004, 08:06 AM
Things like this can be looked at as "good clean fun" but it is my belief that it eventually feeds into an overall attitude that "anything goes" at a lacrosse game (or any sporting contest for that matter)
Aw, come on! If that were true, don't you think that we'd be seeing stuff like people throwing beer at NBA players and then fans and players brawling on the court and in the stands? :chuckle:
Seriously, though, I can't stand the attitude that people have a right to try to influence the outcome of the game by belittling the players, officials, or coaches at any level. That is, unless the players, fans, and coaches can come to your job and heckle you all day while you try to work. Personally, I think it all comes from small, pathetic people who try to make themselves feel important by bringing other people down.
In the case of the NCAA game cited above in the quiz, I would probably let it go. If, however, swearing/racist/sexist comments occur and persist, I would go to the game site administrator and have him/her deal with it. If it still continues, then start penalizing home team. If you look in the rulebook under the Duties of the coach in the early pages (my book is at home), one of them is to help ensure proper behaviour by players, coaches, and spectators.
In the case of the high-school game cited in the quiz, I would first try to use my personality to defuse the situation. I'd approach the group during a dead ball and get in close to them so it appears I am not putting them on the spot.
"Guys, we've got a great game going here and I need your assistance. These guys are playing hard and it's difficult for me and my partner to keep on top of things when the players are in a GOOD mood and it makes my job more difficult if they are angry over comments you are making. I'd really appreciate your help. Thanks." Or something along these lines that wins them over to your point of view.
Step Two is more heavy handed. I would stop the game and quietly talk to the game site administrator (usually head coach, but often there is an AD there) and request his help.
Step 3: If this fails, I would stop the game and tell site admin. or home coach that game will not continue until that person or group is gone from the area.
Laxref_36
12-15-2004, 03:37 PM
eme,
I had originally looked under the home coach's responsibility section and saw no reference to spectators. However, after further review, under the Coachs area Rule 2 Section 4 (NCAA) it states in the third paragraph: "Coaches shall assist the officials in keeping the game under control. It shall be their duty, upon the request of an official, to control effectively actions of spectators not in conformity with standards of proper conduct."
Interestingly enough, the NFHS has a similar but not identical paragraph (Rule 2 Section 3) to the NCAA book it states in its third paragraph: "Coaches shall assist the officials in keeping the game under control at all times. It shall be their duty, upon the request of an official, to control effectively actions of spectators not in conformity with standards of proper conduct."
So you do have recourse. I would ask the home coach to get game management involved.
azlaxref1
12-15-2004, 06:08 PM
NFHS high-school game. Few spectators. Little noise. Group of students adjacent to the visiting team bench but ten yards from the sideline is constantly heckling the visiting team. What steps, if any, do you take?
If eme's first step didn't work... i always call both coaches over and ask them to help me out...I've had a situation where a (visiting team) parent was berating his own team trying to get a penalty called against the home team for not controlling the spectators.