Sideline Interference

[prab]

At a recent association meeting, the topic of sideline interference and resulting penalty options was discussed.  There arose differences of opinion as to whether anything short of actual contact between an official and someone who should not be in the restricted area could result in skipping the official warning (no previous warnings or penalties for sideline interference) and going straight to a 5 yard penalty or a 15 yard penalty.

For example, play to HL side.  HL has to advance along the sideline and sees a coach in the restricted area in time to avoid contact by going around the coach.  However, in doing so HL is no longer in position to accurately observe and rule on the play.  Again, assuming that there were no previous warnings or penalties for sideline interference, can a 5 yard penalty or a 15 yard penalty be enforced?

[zoom]

By rule, without contact, you can only give a warning.  There is no rules provision to skip the warning and go right to the 5 yard penalty.  If you judge the coach's actions to be "flagrant" you can give a 15 yard penalty, but I don't see how a coach merely standing in the restricted area should be guilty of a flagrant foul.  You must follow the 9-8-1-k PENALTY progression, and can only give the warning if no previous warning has been given. 

[HLinNC]

Your association might want to take a gander at the case book.  Its fairly on point.

Rule: 9.4.8

9.4.8 SITUATION B:

A1 throws a forward pass that is intercepted by B1 on B's 30-yard line and returned 70 yards along the B sideline for a B touchdown. During B1's run, the covering official is forced to change his course to run around an assistant team B coach who is in B's restricted area. The covering official drops his flag near B's restricted area. Later during the return, B12, a nonplayer, leaves the team box and runs alongside (yet out of bounds) B1 all the way to the goal line. B12 never enters the field of play during the down. The referee flags B12 for a nonplayer foul.

RULING: Team B has committed two separate nonplayer fouls during this play, which cannot be combined to create a multiple foul. Team B's assistant coach has committed a violation of 9-8-3 for being in the restricted area while the ball is live while B12 has violated 9-8-1k and 9-8-3 by being outside his team box. Both fouls are administered. The first foul results in a sideline warning. The second violation is a 5-yard sideline interference foul for which the offended team may take the penalty on the try or the subsequent kickoff. (8-2-4; 9-8-1k; 9-8-3; 10-2-4; 10-2-5)

[riffraft]

Not sure if it is an Arizona interpretation or the general interpretation, but in Arizona we consider not clearing the box as something different than running into someone in the box.

Not clearing the box, 1st - warning, 2nd - 5 yard, 3rd - 15 yard, 4th - 15 yards head coach gone.

Hit someone 1st - 15 yards, 2nd - 15 yards head coach gone.

Both are separate sequences.

[Rulesman]

Not sure if it is an Arizona interpretation or the general interpretation, but in Arizona we consider not clearing the box as something different than running into someone in the box.

Not clearing the box, 1st - warning, 2nd - 5 yard, 3rd - 15 yard, 4th - 15 yards head coach gone.

Hit someone 1st - 15 yards, 2nd - 15 yards head coach gone.

Both are separate sequences.

Fed interpretation.

[VALJ]

Same here.  A sideline warning is for situations where there's no contact. If there's contact between the official and a coach a non-player, 15 yards.

[ilyazhito]

What if a coach contacts a player while illegally in the white?

[Ralph Damren]

What if a coach contacts a player while illegally in the white?

I assume you mean an opposing player. Often with plays near/on the sidelines a player may end up OOB and should he contact a coach in the 'moat', it's sideline interference with the first being a warning.

Guys, we should make the warning official by  and signal #15. Just yelling : "COACH GIT OUTA' THERE" doesn't cut  it unless a flag and signal follow. Remember to record it as we do with USC fouls.

[HLinNC]

Ralph, wouldn't that fall under IP- 9-6-3: "No replaced player, sub, coach, AT, or other attendant shall hinder an opponent......."?

[Ralph Damren]

Ralph, wouldn't that fall under IP- 9-6-3: "No replaced player, sub, coach, AT, or other attendant shall hinder an opponent......."?

IMHO, where the player was OOB, he wasn't being hindered unless intentional by the coach.

[ElvisLives]

IMHO, where the player was OOB, he wasn't being hindered unless intentional by the coach.

All all levels of football, there needs to be a soft barrier at the back of the restricted area, behind which all team personnel must be while the ball is in play, and along the limit lines, behind which all persons outside the teams areas (other than officials' assistants) must remain at all times (including ALL media personnel, especially live-TV videographers). Such barriers could be some sort of spring loaded pad, say 36" high, that are vertical in their 'normal' condition, but that folds down easily upon contact. That would provide a distinct barrier for team personnel to remain behind; one that would make it quite obvious when someone is NOT behind that barrier while the ball is in play.
During my collegiate intramural days, when we umpired rec softball games, for "big games," when we expected large crowds (we had fields without bleachers), we knew painted or chalked lines would be ineffective at keeping spectators off the playing field. So we got tug-of-war ropes and simply laid them on the ground at the boundaries. Worked quite well. Amazing how such a small, but three-dimensional element worked. Now, I wouldn't expect a rope or other small element to inhibit coaches. But, something 1) they would have to go to some effort to get past, and 2) that would so clearly show that they were outside of their authorized areas would pretty well put an end to folks getting in the way of players and officials.

[ilyazhito]

I assume you mean an opposing player. Often with plays near/on the sidelines a player may end up OOB and should he contact a coach in the 'moat', it's sideline interference with the first being a warning.

Guys, we should make the warning official by  and signal #15. Just yelling : "COACH GIT OUTA' THERE" doesn't cut  it unless a flag and signal follow. Remember to record it as we do with USC fouls.

That makes sense. In my example, the player is running  inbounds along the sideline when the coach contacts him.

[dammitbobby]

If the opposing player is inbounds, and the contact from the coach in the white materially impacts him, I'd think that the discussion would now be less sideline interference and more unfair acts.  Would depend on the result of the play.

[Ralph Damren]

As I recall, Ohio State's Woody Hayes had one of those 'unfair acts'  once upon a time ...

[Etref]

I like the idea of an electronic fence like you do for your dog. Cross the line they get a zap!

[HLinNC]

I like the idea of an electronic fence like you do for your dog. Cross the line they get a zap!

As I head down the rabbit hole; back when I was a parole officer, I often suggested we use the same system for folks on elec. house arrest.   I also frequently pointed out that electronic fences were way cheaper retail than what the state was paying our equipment vendor on contract.  My first boss took it in stride.  I scared the second one constantly.

[AlUpstateNY]

I assume you mean an opposing player. Often with plays near/on the sidelines a player may end up OOB and should he contact a coach in the 'moat', it's sideline interference with the first being a warning.

Guys, we should make the warning official by  and signal #15. Just yelling : "COACH GIT OUTA' THERE" doesn't cut  it unless a flag and signal follow. Remember to record it as we do with USC fouls.

Agreed, when the behavior merits a warning, the "warning" should begin with a flag.  However, you might consider, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (sometimes). Preventable behaviors NOT necessitating an official "warning"; i.e. coaches drifting further than appropriate, towards the sideline (BUT NOT getting in anyone's way ) a gentle suggestion, "Coach, give me the line....thanks" is something you can repeat, as often as YOU considerer necessary, without an official "WARNING", helps set a cooperative tone.

Often one, or even a couple, such suggestions sends a message that hopefully eliminates/erduces (unintentional) bad behavior and avoids the necessity of starting the "Warning sequence".  It's entirely YOUR choice if, or how many such suggestions, YOU choose to give, BUT if they're ignored and YOU conclude an "OFFICIAL" (Penalty Cycle) WARNING subsequently becomes necessary, you can always add, "I tried warning you" should whining/complaining begin.

[Ralph Damren]

Ma' hunting dawg is a lady lab named Mercedes (my wife wanted a Mercedes and a dawg is much cheaper than a car). Mercedes soon learned that there was a boy dawg that lived across the road. "NO" didn't always work in keeping Mercedes on the right side of the road. A zap collar to go along with the "NO" did. Now only the "NO" is needed. 

If anyone has CIA contacts, a 'coach's collar' could be developed, with the wing officials carrying the remote zapper. After a few games, and a singed neck, the coach may then be able to respond to "STAY BACK,COACJH" better. 

[Ralph Damren]

Agreed, when the behavior merits a warning, the "warning" should begin with a flag.  However, you might consider, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (sometimes). Preventable behaviors NOT necessitating an official "warning"; i.e. coaches drifting further than appropriate, towards the sideline (BUT NOT getting in anyone's way ) a gentle suggestion, "Coach, give me the line....thanks" is something you can repeat, as often as YOU considerer necessary, without an official "WARNING", helps set a cooperative tone.

Often one, or even a couple, such suggestions sends a message that hopefully eliminates/erduces (unintentional) bad behavior and avoids the necessity of starting the "Warning sequence".  It's entirely YOUR choice if, or how many such suggestions, YOU choose to give, BUT if they're ignored and YOU conclude an "OFFICIAL" (Penalty Cycle) WARNING subsequently becomes necessary, you can always add, "I tried warning you" should whining/complaining begin.

Al, you are much gentler and kinder than most Yankee fans that I know.  We  police the sidelines but that doesn't mean we should do it in a gruff way. Many underuse the three powerful words : "PLEASE, & THANK YOU" . "Coach, please move back. Thank you" will make for an easier game than : " COACH, GIT BACK OR I'LL FLAG YA' .

[AlUpstateNY]

Al, you are much gentler and kinder than most Yankee fans that I know.  We  police the sidelines but that doesn't mean we should do it in a gruff way. Many underuse the three powerful words : "PLEASE, & THANK YOU" . "Coach, please move back. Thank you" will make for an easier game than : " COACH, GIT BACK OR I'LL FLAG YA' .

Once again, Mom was right, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar", but she always had a bottle of vinegar close at hand, just in case she might need it, for a really stubborn fly.

[WhatsTheCall]

Agreed, when the behavior merits a warning, the "warning" should begin with a flag.  However, you might consider, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure (sometimes). Preventable behaviors NOT necessitating an official "warning"; i.e. coaches drifting further than appropriate, towards the sideline (BUT NOT getting in anyone's way ) a gentle suggestion, "Coach, give me the line....thanks" is something you can repeat, as often as YOU considerer necessary, without an official "WARNING", helps set a cooperative tone.

Often one, or even a couple, such suggestions sends a message that hopefully eliminates/erduces (unintentional) bad behavior and avoids the necessity of starting the "Warning sequence".  It's entirely YOUR choice if, or how many such suggestions, YOU choose to give, BUT if they're ignored and YOU conclude an "OFFICIAL" (Penalty Cycle) WARNING subsequently becomes necessary, you can always add, "I tried warning you" should whining/complaining begin.

This is the way to go, IMHO. Be it coaches or players (I do try and take into account the various sideline setups; as some HS sidelines have no obvious “box”, even just painted) unless absolutely blatant and/or hindering: “Coach this is the verbal sideline warning and the next one WILL be a flag, thank you.”
Usually they think the flag is going to be a penalty (and I have seen refs do this for small things) but I typically abide by first flag is a warning but if you drop that flag after the warning its pretty much a 98% success rate of the HC finding an assistant to be the “get back” coach and being sure the players or other coaches know they just received a “dumb, avoidable penalty”. Especially on a return or something to that extent where the coach may think that they’re about to lose points/yards/momentum for a first flag warning.