Safety Safety Player, Spectator, and Officials Presented by John Mantica South Gulf Football Officials Association FHSAA Leadership Conference St. Petersburg, FL June 20-21, ©

Objectives   Understanding your liability   The playing area (and beyond)   Dealing with non players   What to say (and not to say)   Entering/Exiting the playing area   Locker rooms, parking lots, and the media   Handling fights, injuries, and ejections 2014 ©

Reason for officials What is the most important reason for officials at the contest? A. A.To ensure that the game is played fairly B. B.Promote good sportsmanship C. C.Enforce all the rules D. D.Player safety 2014 ©

The games have evolved!   Players are bigger, faster, and stronger.   Equipment has gotten better.   Violence at sporting events continues to increase each year 2014 ©

The Football Field 2014 ©

The Basketball Court 2014 ©

Stuff on the “edges” 2014 © Rule 1, Section 2, Article 2… “Yard-line markers, constructed of soft, pliable materials, if place on the ground, should be no closer than 5 yards to the sideline.”

Stuff on the “edges” 2014 ©

Stuff on the “edges” 2014 ©

Stuff on the “edges 2014 ©

Stuff on the “edges” 2014 ©

The playing surface 2014 ©

Clear the “edges!” 2014 ©

Cheer for the home team! 2014 ©

190 lbs vs 45 lbs 2014 ©

Medic, Medic, Medic! 2014 ©

Dealing with irate fans What should you do in the event a spectator interferes with the conduct of a game or cause you to become distracted through continual, unrelenting verbal abuse?   immediately stop the action   report the spectator to the home team administration or the nearest uniformed security officer and ask that they be restrained or removed from the facility.   If the home team administration or uniformed security is unwilling or unable to comply and you don’t believe the game can be safely continued, you must declare the game ended at that point.   Under no circumstance should you ever confront, challenge, rebuke, or threaten a spectator, or make gestures of any kind toward a spectator before, during, or after a game ©

Dealing with irate fans 2014 © Do not attempt to “catch” or tackle an irate fan that runs into the playing area.

Injured Athlete 2014 ©

Injured Athlete   Your only role in dealing with athletic injuries is to stop play as soon as possible so that the injured athlete can receive attention as soon as possible.   Coaches and medical personnel should be allowed to enter the field and   You should be given unlimited time to evaluate an injury and give emergency care. (I verbally tell the trainer, “Take all the time you need.”)   Do not request that coaches move an injured athlete.   Do not offer medical advice or take any action to manage or treat any injury ©

Disqualifying a Player   Call timeout. Stop play.   Do not hurry. Be professional, courteous and assertive.   Request the athlete to accompany you to his team bench.   Go directly to the head coach and clearly notify him that the player is ejected.   Provide both the athlete and the head coach with a statement of explanation as to why the athlete is disqualified.   Do not, however, debate the issue with either the athlete or the coach.   Go to the opposing head coach and notify him that the athlete has been disqualified and provide him with the exact same statement of explanation.   Resume the contest.   After the game, report the disqualification to the FHSAA ©

Weather   If a severe thunderstorm or electrical storm occurs in the area prior to the start of or during any outdoor contest, you must immediately contact the site administrator to determine if the contest should be played as scheduled, delayed, suspended or postponed.  YOU MUST  If the administrator of either of the teams involved requests that the contest be interrupted or postponed, YOU MUST immediately honor such request.  In no case may you deny a request  Safety is Paramount. The safety and welfare of all concerned is of paramount importance. In no case may you deny a request by a site administrator, to delay, suspend or postpone an outdoor contest due to inclement weather or imply that the contest will be forfeited as a result of such a request ©

Weather

Making comments to players…   “#38, watch the body checking!”   “Hey #22, no more slashing. I don’t want to see that again.” 2014 ©

Presence often helps calm When a small skirmish begins, simply getting between the players will stop inappropriate behavior ©

Bench Clearing Brawl 2014 ©

Bench Clearing Brawl 2014 ©

Off the Playing area Be careful and always aware of your surroundings off the field.   What you say   What others say   Where you stand   Game conditions   Who is present   Whistle lanyard 2014 ©

Off the Playing area 2014 ©

Media – Social and News 2014 ©

Media – Social and News 2014 ©

Water Breaks Referee must call an uncharged one-minute time out at the first clock stoppage after the 5:30 minute mark of each quarter.   PLAY: While the clock is running with 5:15 remaining in the quarter, Team A head coach calls a time out. Can this be used as the water break?   NO. The next clock stoppage that is not a requested team timeout becomes the water break. (FHSAA Officials Guidebook (4)) 2014 ©

Sarasota ©

When worse comes to worse… 2014 ©

John Mantica (239) © Questions/Comments?