Is this an intentional act or an accident?

[FLbackjudge]

Please take a look at this video http://gif.mocksession.com/2013/12/umpire-crush/ and tell me what you think.   I wish this clip had started several seconds earlier so we could see where everyone was positioned prior to the play, but this is all I was sent.   One of my former crew mates (the U) believes #6 should be penalized and arrested for intentionally contacting the Umpire.  I think it was accidental contact (even though #6's left forearm makes contact, I believe it was a defensive reaction).  What's the consensus?

[fencewire]

Looks like U moves slightly into his path at the last second.  That sux.

[JasonTX]

Supposing it was intentional.  I would hate to think a player, without any reason in his own mind, would go after an official like that.  Was there anything earlier in the game that may have led up to that?

[Rulesman]

Hard to tell from a clip that you can't analyze frame by frame. I can see both sides of the argument from what's been provided.

[Aussie-Zebra]

what game was that ?

[FLbackjudge]

I don't know who the teams were, and neither does the U who sent me the clip. All I can say is its on a Mountain West field.

[bama_stripes]

Accidental.

#6 is moving toward the play, as evidenced  by the fact that he was in on the tackle a second later.  Had the U stood his ground (rather than taking a premature step toward the pile), #6 probably wouldn't have made contact.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Accidental.

#6 is moving toward the play, as evidenced  by the fact that he was in on the tackle a second later.  Had the U stood his ground (rather than taking a premature step toward the pile), #6 probably wouldn't have made contact.

I've got to agree.  Player is focused on making the play here and U steps up early anticipating the end of the play?  My experience says to stay put until the play is over or it goes by - far less unwanted contact that way.

[James]

Coming in late to this discussion, but I also don't see this as being intentional. The D player really seems to be tracking the ball carrier and did not make a B-line for the U (as we have seen in some other videos with obvious intent).

[busman]

Happens all the time.  If I tried to prosecute everytime a DB or outside LB or receiver ran into me I'd be in court all the time.  Just like a QB, you've got to learn to "feel pressure" from the backside. Usually the response is "Are you OK", but sometimes it's "You got in my way". That is worth a response back as "Just like you, I have an assignment also. If i am in your way, go around."

[Johnponz]

A comment like Busman suggests is not needed.  It stinks and hurts, but the player has every right to run through an official to make the play.  Our job is to not get in the way of the players.  If we get in their way, we are effecting the play the same as is we miss a foul or call one that is not there.  The players "job" is to play the game.  One of our jobs is to assure that they play it without us effecting it.

In the incident case the player's assignment is more important than ours.  If the player "goes around," he could miss a tackle and the other team end up with an unearned TD. 

[busman]

He's going to have a better chance making the play going around me then trying to run through me. And with my back to him, I am not going to turn around and look for him OR try to guess where he is going. He can see me, so he can make the adjustment.

I will work with people behind me on my initial positioning, but once the play starts, just like they do, I have keys to follow.