Fighting

[Buc_em_up]

Unfortunately, I think the fighting situation is getting worse. I had no fights in my first eight years of officiating. I had one in a JV game in my eighth year. In my 10th year I had three (one JV, one V, one MCLA).

Not that i'm condoning fighting, and I think it is the worst way to resolve a situation, but that might be a good sign for lacrosse. More kids playing, so with the larger pool comes more kids who are willing to drop gloves. Also if kids are fighting that probably means that they are more passionate about the game and are taking it more seriously.

I guess that is just wishfull thinking, but but it might have a grain of truth to it. Although I can't see a couple of JV kids getting into it because they love the game but maybe lacrosse is just drawing in more kids? hopefully at least.

[laxfan25]

First of all, from 38 years of experience in the game - fights are fortunately few and far between - I can count them on one hand. In almost all cases they quickly devolve into a wrestling match.
Now the THEORY is - if a fight breaks out the trail official is supposed to turn towards the bench and yell FREEZE!! Anyone then proceeding onto the field is subject to ejection. It's a nice concept. It's also a nice concept that the guy getting hit first just stands there with his hands at his side - I've never seen that either.

Reality says that as soon as the first punch is thrown, the official is doing a double-take - "did I just see that?" and before he can get a whistle to his mouth players are streaming towards the scene of the battle, from on the field and often from the benches. Some are jumping in, others are supposedly trying to play peacemaker, but it can be very difficult for the officials AND the players to determine the motivation for their actions and sometimes misinterpret them.

If players or coaches try to pull anyone out, it would be best that they only do it with their own players, but even that can be problematic. It really is best to treat it like a hockey fight - let the original two roll around and the others stay back.

About all the refs can do is blow their whistles loud and often. That is our only weapon, while these other yahoos have helmets, gloves and sticks!!
There is a much greater liability issue if they get hurt, rather than the players that are fighting. It is not in our charter to plunge in and break up the fight.

This year in Michigan the MHSAA has made it a point of emphasis that the coaches are supposed to turn and freeze their benches, and if they do come onto the field, only handle their own players. Meh, we'll see.

The other challenge as an official is that anyone joining into a fight is supposed to be ejected. They tell us to stand there and write down numbers. Riiight. Again, if you're doing that, you don't know if he is joining the fight or trying to break it up, and there are usually so many people involved it becomes impossible to record them. If I can get to the original two - they're gone, along with any other flagrant participants. (In a playoff game a couple years ago I had the goalie come from the far end all the way to the other attack box just to throw a punch in an existing melee. He was gone.)

Fights are ugly situations. I find it best to try to keep a game well controlled and stay on top of the actions that might precipitate a brawl. Not always possible, but fights are very rare in my games.

Ironically, the biggest one I had was back in '99 or '00. A skirmish broke out, and before I knew it both benches were totally involved. This was one case where I actually got into the middle of the pile trying to calm it down. That was the only time I tried that - it didn't work. After getting things settled down (which took a good while) I just said "Game Over!" and left the field. It was in the 4th quarter. Didn't even try to figure out which of the 40 guys had started it - I was disgusted with both teams.

[LaxRef]

Oooh, somebody missed the post about not referring to teams by name.

The other challenge as an official is that anyone joining into a fight is supposed to be ejected. They tell us to stand there and write down numbers.

The easier call is anyone leaving the bench area and coming onto the field. Don't do it: immediate ejection and suspension for the next game.

[laxfan25]

Oooh, somebody missed the post about not referring to teams by name.

I figured after 8 years the statute of limitations had expired, along with one of the teams no longer being in existence!

The easier call is anyone leaving the bench area and coming onto the field. Don't do it: immediate ejection and suspension for the next game.

The problem is that your attention is rarely focused on the bench when the fight breaks out! As I say, the concept is good...

[LaxRef]

Oooh, somebody missed the post about not referring to teams by name.

I figured after 8 years the statute of limitations had expired, along with one of the teams no longer being in existence!

The easier call is anyone leaving the bench area and coming onto the field. Don't do it: immediate ejection and suspension for the next game.

The problem is that your attention is rarely focused on the bench when the fight breaks out! As I say, the concept is good...

Well, but the "off" official (not the trail, by the way: the "on" official takes the fight and the "off" official freezes the bench) has to come over, freeze the benches, and write down numbers of anyone who comes on the field. The off official should be able to recognize there's a fight going on and turn to the bench in time to see players running on.

[TexOle]

I had a fight in a MS State Championship game. I went in to break up the fight as the far side official since it was on my goal. I touched one player, and he swung a stick at me. I was done with that fight. It ended up being 7 ejections.