Scenario: A Division I men's dual match. The doubles are completed as well as four of the singles matches.
Following his singles match, player A went into the stands and punched one of the fans in the face. No official saw the event take place but one of the officials who already completed their match was called into the stands. During a conversation with the player the official said that he admitted striking the fan.
The official then came to the referee and said that he should default the highest singles match still playing since the player had committed a defaultable offense. When the referee questioned the offending player, he denied ever striking the fan.
What would you do?
1. Default the highest singles match still in progress since the player had committed a defaultable offense.
2. Call the conference office to determine the best course of action. This would have impossible in this situation since it was a night match and the offices were closed.
3. Do nothing since no official had actually observed the offense.
We would welcome your comments on this real life situation...
3 comments:
#3. Since no official observed the behavior, it can't be coded. This is an old event. You handled it correctly!
Now that's a tough one. Especially, any current penalty assessment. Since the player has clearly left the court area and is now in the stands, and no official clearly witnessed this incident, it would be an after-the-fact assessment. There is no comments from the offended 'fan' about how this incident came up. What actually precipitated it. Definitely a report to school & conference has to be written. Any current penalty is on hold awaiting more info.
No see, no code! Admissions. Denials. Who among us is a trained investigator? Where's the aggrieved party with the sore face? Filing a police report? Heading to the car for his pistola? Preparing a lawsuit? Do nothing. If you know the alledged, perpetrator's coach, call the coach aside after the match and discuss it. Maybe alert your fellow officials that the guy is a potential problem.
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