Legal Issues in Officiating—2009 Rights, Responsibilities and Risk Management Bill Robers

Disclaimer THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE!!! NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP ARISES FROM THIS TALK I am an attorney, but not yours! That said, if you have ANY legal problems during the season, please let me know. I will help, or will do my best to help you find someone to help you.

LEGAL ISSUES IN OFFICIATING ATTORNEY’S NUMBER 1 QUESTION: “CAN I GET SUED IF ______________?” YES

How to Protect Yourself from Liability  Know the Rules Safety first  Watch behavior issues and keep them from escalating  USE COMMON SENSE  Carry liability insurance (NASO) ($97 per year, but me at and I will get you $10 off your membership)

Pregame Duties  Do not give the appearance of impropriety  Know the rules  Be on the field at the required time  Inspect the field  Inspect equipment  Weather  Coin Toss

Pregame Duties cont. (Flanks)  Headlinesman Properly instruct your chain crew Make sure the chain crew works OUTSIDE the sideline  Line Judge Properly instruct your ball boys/girls Make sure they know NOT to go on the field unless instructed Never let a play start with a ball boy/girl on field  Both KEEP THE SIDELINES CLEAR!!! (Midwest Employers Casualty Company v. Harpole, Texas App. Ct., 2009)

Rules and Safety  Bad officiating  anti-social behavior  injuries  lawsuits  Penalize anything that might engender ill will  DO NOT warn a player that “next time, that will get a flag” Tells the world that you let one go

Game Control  Mechanics Keep all 22 players under observation  Anticipate Problems Watch players after a score, hard hit, boundary plays, etc.  Keep Control Let players know you are there—use your voice Go with players out of bounds Keep sidelines clear Referee—always have someone with you when speaking to a coach (have a witness)

Injuries  Treat them all as serious  Do not fail to stop play and do not resume too soon  Supervise both teams  DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TREAT AN INJURY  Do not allow teammates to attempt to move a player  Do not discuss the injury or its cause with anyone  If “apparently unconscious,” do not allow to return without doctor’s note (MUST BE DOCTOR) Keep the written authorization

Postgame Mechanics  Immediately take the lanyard off your neck  Never leave a man behind  Do not get detained by anyone on your way out  Do not make comments about the game with anyone except your crew  File postgame reports quickly, if necessary Do not give commentary Indicate that officials followed proper mechanics and enforced the letter and spirit of the rules Stick to the facts

Legal Issues Questions?