1 / 11

Legal Issues in Officiating—2009

Legal Issues in Officiating—2009. Rights, Responsibilities and Risk Management. Bill Robers. THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE!!! NO ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP ARISES FROM THIS TALK

cosima
Download Presentation

Legal Issues in Officiating—2009

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

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

  2. 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. Disclaimer

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

  4. 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 email me at wrobers@hotmail.com, and I will get you $10 off your membership)

  5. 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

  6. 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)

  7. 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

  8. 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)

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. Legal Issues Questions?

More Related