Sportsmanship

Rules Meeting

On the 30th August 2007 SAGOA acted on behalf of GASA to organise a rules committee and explore the issue of sportsmanhip. GASA has spent much money over the past 12 months to improve the marketability of the game in SA. As a member of the league SAGOA has undertaken research across Australian states with comments from other officials, administrators, coaches, players and spectators.
With all of this in mind SAGOA presented GASA with the comments below and some recommendations to follow up. Please read through the whole document below and best of luck for 2007/08.

30^th August 2007

Marion Sport and Community Centre, 7.00pm

Meeting open at 7.30pm

Discussion on attendance being that there was an urgent meeting held on Tuesday night by GASA which in turn could have affected this meeting.

•Unsportsmanlike Acts

•ARTICLE 1. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct or any act that interferes with orderly game administration on the part of players, substitutes, coaches, authorized attendants or any other persons subject to the rules, before the game, during the game or between periods.

•a. Specifically prohibited acts and conduct include:

•1. No player, substitute, coach or other person subject to the rules shall use abusive, threatening or obscene language or gestures, or engage in such acts that provoke ill will or are demeaning to an opponent, to game officials or to the image of the game, including but not limited to:

• (a) Pointing the finger(s), hand(s), arm(s) or ball at an opponent, or imitating the slashing of the throat.

•(b) Taunting, baiting or ridiculing an opponent verbally.

•(c) Inciting an opponent or spectators in any other way, such as simulating the firing of a weapon or placing a hand by the ear to request recognition.

•(d) Any delayed, excessive, prolonged or choreographed act by which a player (or players) attempts to focus attention upon himself (or themselves).

•(e) Obviously altering stride as an unopposed runner approaches the opponent’s goal line, or diving into the end zone when unopposed.

•(f) Removal of a player’s helmet before he is in the team area (Exceptions: Team, media or injury timeouts; equipment adjustment; through play; between periods; and during a measurement for a first down).

•(g) Punching one’s own chest or crossing one’s arms in front of the chest while standing over a prone player.

•(h) Going into the stands to interact with spectators, or bowing at the waist after a good play.

. After a score or any other play, the player in possession immediately must return the ball to an official or leave it near the dead-ball spot.

This prohibits:

•(a) Kicking, throwing, spinning or carrying (including off of the field) the ball any distance that requires an official to retrieve it.

•(b) Spiking the ball to the ground [Exception: A forward pass to conserve time (Rule 7-3-2-d)].

•(c) Throwing the ball high into the air.

•(d) Any other unsportsmanlike act or actions that delay the game.

•SECTION 32. Fighting

•ARTICLE 1. Fighting is any attempt by a player, coach or squad member in uniform to strike an opponent in a combative manner unrelated to football.

•Such acts include, but are not limited to:

–a. An attempt to strike an opponent with the arm(s), hand(s), leg(s) or foot (feet), whether or not there is contact.

–b. An unsportsmanlike act toward an opponent that causes any opponent to retaliate by fighting (Rules 9-2-1-a and 9-5-1-a-c).

The purpose of this meeting was to look at ways players could celebrate great plays and scores within the rules set down by the NCAA.

The committee spent much time going over words and how they are to be interpreted and what this would look like in a game situation. All agreed that celebration was an important part of the game but taunting and trash talk was not. It was felt that the Australian culture influenced the way that the game is played in this regard but it is not something that is allowed by rule.

The Australian Gridiron community made a conscious decision choosing NCAA rules when the game was implemented into Australia and as such follow their ideas surrounding the way the game is played. We do though need to acknowledge that Australia is a different place to play this unique game and need to also look at sporting trends through the Australian Sports Commission.

It was accepted by the group that acts that are genuine celebration within a team environment would be acceptable but those that brought attention on an individual may at times be unacceptable. Players running from a sideline to join in a celebration during a game would also be deemed unacceptable, except in cases of close wins or the end of a finals game.

Discussion centred around what is an orderly game. This was defined as having a play run and that the officials are able to reset the ball for the next play within 10 to 15 secs and then blowing in the ready for play 25 sec clock for Offence.

Illegal Delay of the Game

ARTICLE 2. a. The ball shall be declared ready for play consistently throughout the game by the referee when the officials are in position. Consuming more than 25 seconds to put the ball in play after it is declared ready for play is an illegal delay. (page 75, 2007 NCAA Rule Book)

The NCAA is moving towards a 45 sec clock like the NFL and while we don’t necessarily have the 45 secs displayed as such we train the Referees and officials to get the ball in at this regular pace of the game.

In regards of player interaction the rules to sportsmanship are quite specific about how opponents are to treat each other. The nature of the sport is to beat your opponent on the field in a combative nature. Actions that provoke or demean an opponent as a sportsperson are not a part of the game. Though some players may have a good rapport with each other this is not always knowledge to an official. The official is trained to manage this with or without a flag and that is his judgment. While some players may believe that taunting is a part of the game to mentally provoke an opponent and that it is the Australian way to do things we must also see this as a preventative method of officiating before things get out of control and the image of the game is tarnished. While players find this restrictive in managing their passions the game is also about mental toughness as well as managed physical aggression within the rules. The game is about building character and team play, as well as winning.

The rules that have been developed for sportsmanship within the USA are about respecting the game and your opponents.

Participants reaffirmed after much debate that SAGOA is currently officiating the rules correctly in accordance with NCAA policy on interpretations. This comes about after much contact with US officials via email and NCAA newsletters. Sections bolded or underlined were under discussion about interpretation.

SAGOA reaffirms it stance on sportsmanship and that GASA and the clubs help promote the styles of sportsmanship for the image of the game.

Points to ponder?

1. SAGOA suggests promotion of team celebration of those players on the field and that GASA promotes team celebrations as a means for entertainment for the game.
2. That any celebration that delays a game, is excessive and brings attention to oneself or is choreographed still be considered for USC behaviour.
3. That GASA actively support the notion of positive sportsmanship at local league level for teams. Whether this is a voting system of some sort by SAGOA officials or league officials or board members.

Regards

Grant Martin
SAGOA Training Officer

SAGOA Coordinator of Officials