Execessive Celebration

This is why you tell your players to hand the ball to the officials. He did draw some attention to himself, however not enough to draw a penalty.

We had a kid penalized for taunting while scoring in second game. I watched him run into the end zone and didn't see anything unsportsmanlike.

When I finally got the Linesman to give me an explanation (Back Judge made the call), he said the flag was because our RB had given the defender chasing him "a funny look."

The penalty did not cause them the game. It just made them have to go for 2 from the 18 yard line instead of the 3. People in the stands said that they did not have a good kicker and would have gone for 2 not matter what. The VHSL (VA High School League) has apologized for the call. This is the apology from the VHSL for the call.

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE
1642 State Farm Boulevard

Charlottesville, Virginia 22911

phone: 434-977-8475 fax: 434-977-5943







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ken Tilley
December 18, 2006





Charlottesville--In light of a controversial officiating call in the final minute of the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Division 1 State Football Championship Game between J. I. Burton and Riverheads High Schools, VHSL staff conducted a review of the events in question. School and game officials were contacted for input, and game tapes were reviewed by VHSL Assistant Director and State Football Rules Interpreter Tom Zimorski as well as several independent individuals with extensive officiating experience.



Following this thorough review, it is the opinion of VHSL staff -- as well as the officials association that was assigned the game and the official who made the call -- that the penalty for non-contact unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebration against J. I. Burton High School was incorrect in that the player's conduct did not rise to the level of an unsportsmanlike act for excessive celebration as defined in the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Book.



While the outcome of any contest cannot be altered in cases involving the real or alleged failure of contest officials to interpret or apply game rules properly or to render correct decisions in matters of judgment, the VHSL acknowledges that sometimes errors do occur. The League staff, the officials association and the official himself deeply regret that an incorrect call was made in this particular case and, coming at such a crucial time in the contest, that it might have had a bearing on the outcome of the game.



"We apologize to all parties affected by this error," said VHSL Executive Director Ken Tilley. "This play situation will be a point of emphasis in football rules clinics next year, as will be the proper steps a crew should take in reviewing a coach's request for an explanation of a play call. Furthermore, the officials association is in the process of considering measures it will take in dealing with the crew in this game and plans to strengthen its local training relative to these situations.



"It's extremely important to learn from mistakes and take steps to avoid repeating them," Tilley added. "Our constant goal is to provide a quality officiating program that serves well our student athletes, and our efforts now and in the future will focus on that objective."

Talk about a ref trying to take over a game. I have seen kids drop to their knees and point to the sky after basically spiking the ball and not have it called.

The police had to escort the refs off the field at a different exit than the one that they had entered the field on. A large group of Burton fans were waiting for the refs from where they had entered the field, so they took them off a different way. A few fans got arrested after the game for running onto the field and getting into the refs face. I think the refs thought that some of the fans were coaches and actually listened to them.

Having a team lose a chance at a state championship on a call like that is a travesty.

tvt50 said:

The penalty did not cause them the game. It just made them have to go for 2 from the 18 yard line instead of the 3. People in the stands said that they did not have a good kicker and would have gone for 2 not matter what.

I would rather go for 2 from the 3 any day over going for it from the 18! (I'm sure there is a stat somewhere to back me up there) So while no it didn't "cost" them the game it sure did put the advantage in the other teams favor.

I was pulling for JI Burton, my family is from the same county and I went to college down there. Believe me I was ticked off about the call.

I agree with oguru. you hand the ball or set it down. you do not throw it in the face of the ref. kids need to learn control, he lacked control. the fault should be placed on the coach however for failing to teach their kid how to score properly.

the ref was reaching for his flag even before the kid politely tossed him the ball. Those refs should be ashamed of themselves.

Airman-

I respectfully disagree as well. I want my kids to be excited when they doing something right. This is a game that is played with emotion. Where did this kid do something that was unsportsmanlike? The call was reviewed and deemed to be poor by the state association, why else would they have offered up an apology? This kid did not try to show anyone up, he did not draw attention to himself, he did not do anything that should have been deemed as inappropriate. Watch the video again, where is the unsportsmanlike act? He got excited that he scored a TD to give them a chance to win PERIOD. This was a horrible call.

Someone might need to flag ME for some "excessive celebration" this weekend, know what I mean???

No matter what the score of the game was or might have been, a bad call is a bad call. Period. Especially when you're dealing with a judgement call like that.

Two years ago, we played a tight, high scoring game down to the absolute wire- the score was 42-34 and we punched it with 5 seconds left in the game. The opposing defense was all over our FB (OSV dive) even after he crossed the goal line and the whistle was blown dead. He dragged 2 kids to the back of the end zone and placed the ball on the ground. They flagged him for taunting because he wouldn't let up after the whistle was blown, even though he had two kids punching at the ball. 15 yard call and we had to go for two to tie the game up; didn't happen.

I really liked the officials we had in our youth league this year; they were very committed to letting the kids play. We only had 1 problem with the officials; the guy was just being a a-hole. One of my DBs was flat out laying people out during the league title; perfect form tackling, head up, butt down, rocking people. He was hitting hard that game; audible pops everytime he hit someone. The official told me that he was going to flag and kick the kid out of the game if he didn't "lay off'. He said he was going to get the kid for a personal foul the next time he teed off on someone. At half time, I walked over to the commissioner (who had watched every tackle the kid made), told him what the official had said and got ourselves a replacement.