Game Ejection

[Wettstein]

Okay coach here, NFHS rules.  Over past 20 something years, I've seen a few ejections, mostly for fighting or stuff like that.  Saw one today that I have never seen before - maybe some of you can shed some light on the matter for me.

Game of 12 & 13 year olds.  Close game 8-0 early and remained that way.  Not too many penalties,  Couple of holding, offside, etc.  No fighting or anything like that in game, no cheap shots accused by either side.  In fourth quarter, team runs off tackle left. team B linebacker charges, team A blocking back lowers his shoulder and plants it right in gut of linebacker.  At line of scrimmage, within 5 yards or less of player with ball.  Linebacker lays on ground with wind knocked out of him.  Head judge calls hitting defenseless player and ejects blocking player from game.

One, I didn't see it as blocking a defenseless player, it was a blocking back taking on a charging linebacker head on.  No side hit or anything.  But aside from that, I can handle a 15 yd penalty and a difference of opinion from the ref but what gets me is the ejection.  This is not an automatic ejection penalty nor was it vicious.

Can anyone share their thoughts and rules that may support this?  I understand the refs need authority to protect players, but this was not anything like that.  The game was in control, no out of control coaches, no loud parents - nothing like that.  The worst is behavior at the game was the opposing coaching and some of the words they yelled.  But we told our kids to ignore that and continue playing.

Comments?

[Rulesman]

Was A's initial contact made by the shoulder pad or the crown of his helmet?

[Wettstein]

corner of shoulder pad..but for argument's sake, I'd like to hear both of your thoughts; if hit with shoulder then x, if hit with crown, then y.  Thanks.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

If the hit is with the crown of the helmet, then you have a clear spearing call. If the hit is considered flagrant, that is grounds for ejection. This is the easy one.

If the hit is with the shoulder, it sounds like a clean block. However...

... 'round here, we've been shown some videos that look an awful lot like "just football" that the state wants called as unnecessary roughness. In particular, if a potential tackler is focused on the ball carrier and doesn't see the blocker coming AND the blocker lights the defender up when he didn't need to, this is to be flagged as a PF. Key items to consider are (a) did the blocker lead with the hands or with the shoulder and (b) could the blocker have made the play just by getting in the defender's way instead of making the big hit?

NONE of the examples we were shown were on a basic run off-tackle - mostly kick returns, reverses, and crackbacks by a WR. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen, though.

In short, as with most plays, this is a have-to-see-it - but, while it's unlikely in my opinion to have a flagrant PF on this, it's not completely beyond the pale.

[Rulesman]

What he said. It would be helpful if you could post the film for a more definitive answer.

[Wettstein]

I will try to get a clip.  The only clip I have is blocked by the lineman.  I will see if the opposing team has a better clip of it.

I understand the comment about spearing or hitting with the crown of the helmet, but to be honest, I rarely if ever even see those penalties thrown.  There is always a bunch of helmet to something hits in every game.  I wish we would clamp down on it but there doesn't appear to be a league that wishes to make these calls.  The NFL starting trying a couple of years ago nut college, high school, rec doesn't seem to want to address this.  Granted, most of it is incidental and officials do not want to call incidental hits.

Nonetheless - even with this, I have not seen an ejection for this in at least twenty probably more years.  I see ejections for fighting, for cheap shots (stomping on guys), for aggressively contacting an official, etc.  But not for unnecessary roughness, leading with the head, hitting a defenseless player, etc.  Have you guys seen this?

[Rulesman]

Look at the POEs for the last 3 years. The Fed wants it cleaned up.

[AlUpstateNY]

The decision to disqualify a player is essentially dependent on 3 major factors;  The action being observes, The language of the rule being considered and, The judgment of the covering official..  Some 2016 rule definitions that may assist you in understanding those judgments are:

NFHS: 9-4-3-g: "Make any other contact with an opponent, including a defenseless player, which is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness."

NFHS: 2-32-16: " A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position  and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury..

NFHS: 2-16-2-c: "Flagrant" - A foul so severe or extreme that it places an opponent in danger of serious injury, and/or involves violations that are extremely or persistently vulgar or abusive conduct".

NFHS: 2-20-2: "Targeting" is an act by any player who takes aim and initiates contact against an opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders."

The PENALTY authorization Sections for NFHS 9-4 (Illegal Contact), 9-5 (Non-Contact Unsportsmanlike Conduct by Players) and 9-6 (Non-Contact Unsportsmanlike Conduct by NON-Players) each specify actions for required specific disqualification (ejection) but each share the warning, "Any single foul judged by the game official to be flagrant is disqualification."