Sideline penalty explained

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Arnie Coones, Lely assistant coach, tugs on shirt of Stavros Giarmoustas, defensive line coach, as he shouts instructions. Giamoustas is standing in a white zone where players and coaches are not supposed to be to give referees a clear sideline to stay on top of plays. Lely was given a five-yard penalty after a warning.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Referee Bob Golliher explains to Lely coach Dave Miller why the Trojans were assessed a five-yard penalty for not keeping the white area clear for the referees to move along the sidelines as they stay on top of the action. The penalty came after a warning to a coach who, through exuberance, was in the white area much of the time until the penalty late in the third quarter.

An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called against the Lely bench on Friday night. The fans heard the call and saw the penalty marked off, but didn’t know what it meant. Most thought it was for arguing with the referees.

At Lely there is a clear white area, five yards wide from the out-of-bounds line. It runs from the two 30-yard lines. The area is supposed to be clear of coaches and players so that the referees can move up and down the sideline unimpeded. The rule was put in place years ago so that referees do not sustain an injury while looking out at the action as they move down the sideline.

Every team violates the rule frequently, if not constantly. Bernie Coones, an assistant coach, is the unofficial sideline policeman. Constantly he goes along the sideline telling players and coaches to move behind the line. He gives that warning at least 50 percent of the time plays are called, or defensive instructions are shouted out onto the field by exuberant coaches.

It is not particular to Lely, all teams violate the rule. When it becomes obvious that the coaches and team are continually violating the rule the referees gives a warning. The next time the yellow flag is thrown and the five-yard penalty issued.