When the line gets crossed... Players, coach attack referee

[WoodysGirl]

Coaches and players violently attack youth football referee

By Cameron Smith

In one of the most disturbing youth sports incidents in recent years, coaches of a Sarasota, Fla., youth football team instigated a brawl with a referee which eventually led to the coaching staff and a player violently attacking the referee in question during a massive brawl which embroiled both teams.

As reported by Sarasota Patch, quickly followed by a variety of Tampa Bay news outlets, details of the incident were first gleaned from an amateur video of a game involving the Sarasota Gators and North Port Huskies on Saturday.

The video was eventually turned over to the Sarasota Sheriff's office, which has since opened up a full criminal investigation into the proceedings from the game. While it's unknown whether charges will be filed against the coaches and player who attacked the referee, battery against a game official is classified as a felony in the state of Florida.

Read the rest and see the video: http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/...ntly-attack-youth-footb?urn=highschool-wp5326

 

[WoodysGirl]

As a fellow official, I worry most about this kinda stuff in high school games. They don't pay officials enough money for that kinda abuse.

 

[Hoofbite]

I'd ban every person who can be identified as being involved.

Done. For good.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I saw this on the news this morning. I believe everyone was kicked out of the league and they said something about adults involved could get years in prison for the assault.

I know if you attack a train conductor in NY, you can get up to seven years in prison. They don't tolerate that here.

Notice it's Florida? That state is a train-wreck. (not that others are not)

 

[Khartun]

I'd ban every person who can be identified as being involved.

Done. For good.

and file criminal assault charges against the kid the tackled him and anyone else that touched him.

 

[Eric_Boyer]

the comments at that link are down right disgusting!

 

[joseephuss]

Punish the whole team by not allowing them to play anymore this season and punish the individuals involved with jail time.

 

[Doomsday101]

As a fellow official, I worry most about this kinda stuff in high school games. They don't pay officials enough money for that kinda abuse.

Nor should you, the coaches need to be fired and charges pressed aginst those who attacked the ref and the football program should be shut down for the year.

This can't be tolerated.

 

[joseephuss]

the comments at that link are down right disgusting!

You're right. I just glanced at a few and it was depressing.

 

[Hostile]

I'd ban every person who can be identified as being involved.

Done. For good.

They have been.

 

[WoodysGirl]

the comments at that link are down right disgusting!

Yeah, I saw those. I was pretty disgusted. I was trying to ignore it.

 

[Hostile]

the comments at that link are down right disgusting!

Ah man, I wish I hadn't looked.

 

[zrinkill]

the comments at that link are down right disgusting!

Yup.

The video was showing one form of racism ..... the comments another.

We still have a long way to go ...... 2 steps forward one step back.

 

[joseephuss]

The video was showing one form of stupidity ..... the comments another.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Amazing that #6 actually jumped up and taunted the ref... Yeah, you blindsided a ref who had no idea he was about to be hit... What a bad-a you are...

 

[Dallas]

Yup.

The video was showing one form of racism ..... the comments another.

We still have a long way to go ...... 2 steps forward one step back.

Zrin!! Why are your PM's off? Seriously? People stalk you here at the zone? I had some legit questions to ask you.

 

[dargonking999]

Ah man, I wish I hadn't looked.

I should took that as a warning, but nooo I had to go look. I'm almost embarrassed to be a person right now.

 

[tupperware]

I should took that as a warning, but nooo I had to go look. I'm almost embarrassed to be a person right now.

This isn't anything new, just go check about any video on youtube, no matter what it is. In almost every one, you've got people flying off the handle at each other in the comments area about something that is in almost no way related to the video, a lot of times.

I wish they would just remove comments completely from youtube.

 

[zrinkill]

Zrin!! Why are your PM's off? Seriously? People stalk you here at the zone? I had some legit questions to ask you.

Try again

 

[WoodysGirl]

Yup.

The video was showing one form of racism ..... the comments another.

We still have a long way to go ...... 2 steps forward one step back.

Gotta say, I don't think the actions displayed in the vid were really a form a racism. Just plain and simple ignorance. Passionate, but ignorant people can make for a long day for an official.

Refs are universally hated when they're doing these games and alot of times the only people who have your back are the other officials. Just watching the vid, the ref did what he could to diffuse the situation by walking away, but clearly the guy wasn't to be reasoned with.

I've been boo'd by whole gyms. I've had parents come up to me and call me the worst official. I've had coaches stick their finger in my face and cuss me out. I've had little old ladies come up to me and say "Call it both ways." I've had security escort me out of the gym more than a few times...and it didn't matter the predominant race in the gym.