Author Topic: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"  (Read 588 times)

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Offline NVFOA_Ump

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Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« on: September 29, 2025, 01:13:32 PM »
After an unacceptable penalty in a recent game where an ejection was mandated by rule, a few questions came up.  In the state where I usually work the procedure has always been:


1. Calling official flags foul and immediately, without delay, escorts the offending player to his sideline and explains to the head coach the foul and reason for ejection.
2. Review the call with the R, if an official other than the R has the call, with all of the specific details.
3. Document the details on your game card in detail (team, player #, quarter, game clock time, foul) and make sure that R has that same information.
4. Postgame @ site - confer with AD or assigned site administrator the details documented in 3 above.
5. Follow-up with the state "form" in detail documenting for the record the events that led to ejection.


What's the procedures in your state for a player ejection and the follow-up?
It's easy to get the players, getting 'em to play together, that's the hard part. - Casey Stengel

Offline dammitbobby

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2025, 01:41:03 PM »
Obviously I am in Texas, and this is NFHS section, but, given the nature of the question, thought it would be permissible to share what our process is, in contrast to the stated procedure. Obviously it can vary depending on what egregious foul occurred, but this is generally how it would go:

1.  Calling official flags foul, continues to officiate, and them dead ball officiate, until he is able to have a conversation with R and rest of crew to discuss. Player may be escorted to sideline first depending on circumstances, but I'm not talking to the coach until I talk to my R and possibly rest of the crew; they may have more information that could change/impact the flag and ensuing result, such as more players involved timeline of what happened, sequence of events, etc.).

2. Discuss with R and possibly other crew members who have information, tell him what I have/what I saw, what the outcome of that would/should be by rule

3. Calling official and R inform the player's coach as to what is happening, player is cleared from field if not done already, R announces the ejection, and then a (very) brief explanation to opposite coach if necessary by the closest official on that side (usually wing/deep wing)

4. ALL crew members document the situation and all relevant details

5. Postgame - within 24 hours, complete state incident report.

There could be a step similar to your #4 but really would depend on what happened. We don't have any involvement in punishment outside of the ejection so maybe would, maybe wouldn't talk to game admin, just depends on what happened.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2025, 07:23:05 PM by dammitbobby »

Offline refjeff

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2025, 05:33:54 PM »
Ohio wants the officials to confer and a unanimous agreement before the player is DQ'd.

Then walk the player to the sideline.

Notify AD/school administration and fill out the state report on DragonFly.

Offline bama_stripes

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2025, 07:39:54 AM »
Alabama forbids any “escort”.  Apparently that would be too damaging to the little darlin’s ego.

We also forbid announcing the player number on fouls, although that’s routinely done by the PA announcer in basketball, and obvious to all in baseball when a batter strikes out or a fielder commits an error. hEaDbAnG

Offline Tom.OH

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2025, 01:57:51 PM »
Alabama forbids any “escort”.  Apparently that would be too damaging to the little darlin’s ego.

We also forbid announcing the player number on fouls, although that’s routinely done by the PA announcer in basketball, and obvious to all in baseball when a batter strikes out or a fielder commits an error. hEaDbAnG

When I was in high school the basketball player who fouled had to raise his/her hand. They all survived the humiliation...
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Offline Fatso

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2025, 03:50:45 PM »
When I was in high school the basketball player who fouled had to raise his/her hand. They all survived the humiliation...

Back in the days of no instant replay or cameras everywhere.  If a star was in foul trouble, a sub would raise his hand and try to take one for the team....   ;D

Offline lawdog

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2025, 04:52:09 PM »
In Basketball the fouling player is relevant info because you can foul out.  By contrast you could have 22 offsides penalties and it doesn't matter.

Online zebrastripes

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2025, 07:41:21 PM »
In Basketball the fouling player is relevant info because you can foul out.  By contrast you could have 22 offsides penalties and it doesn't matter.
It’s relevant info in football too. Was the foul on a back, a lineman, etc? Which player/coach has a counter for UNS? Coaches ask for numbers when their team fouls – announce it if you have a microphone then you don’t have to listen to the coach scream “WHO WAS IT???” It adds credibility to foul announcements.

The “embarrassment” factor has always been the dumbest reason ever for states to forbid announcing the numbers.

Offline ilyazhito

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #8 on: October 03, 2025, 06:20:53 AM »
I agree. When the Referee announces the penalty in an NCAA game over the PA system, it makes it very clear after the play who did what. At the NCAA level, a referee field microphone is mandatory.  I understand that a field mic cannot be mandated at the NFHS level, because it might be costly for some of the schools, but when the option is there, I would be remiss not to use it.

Offline GoodScout

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Re: Player Ejection - "Mechanics"
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2025, 08:31:51 AM »
In our state, the referee and calling official(s) meet to discuss the foul and concur that an ejection is justified.
There's no escort, but referee reports to the head coach that the player has been ejected and cannot return.
Referee has to submit written report to assignor within 12 hours. Most file it that night. Our assignor usually calls to discuss with referee and sends report to the state high school association.
After that, we're done. For a while, our assignors and rules interpreter were trying to get involved in debates with the state association about the justification of various ejections. The state wanted our association to be a "court of appeals" for all ejections so they didn't have to be heavy. Our board of directors shut that down and directed the assignors just to pass on the information and let the state decide what to do.