Irony of "degrees" of unsportsmanlike conduct

[HumblePie]

NFHS  4-4-1e

"A game shall be forfeited to the offended team by the umpire when a team:

e.  willfully and persistently violates any of the rules after being warned by the umpire."

 

Does anyone find it ironic that FED goes through such extreme lengths to explain and enumerate the procedures and penalties for persistently sending players into the game with illegal bats?  With no enumerated limit???

1.  Batter is out, restrict coach

2. Batter is out, eject coach

3. Batter is out, eject acting coach

4. Batter is out, eject newer acting coach

5. Batter is out, eject dad who stepped in as newest acting coach

6. Batter is out, eject mom who stepped in as newest newest acting coach

7. Batter is out, eject school librarian/phonix teacher who stepped in as newest newest newest acting coach

 

Several questions on the study guide and test are devoted to handling repeated violations of the illegal bat rule.  I've never, in 26 years, had two instances of an illegal bat in the same game.  The head coach, if he's worth his salt, is gonna tell his team, "The next one of you who uses an illegal bat, you're running laps for the next 7 days."

I have a tool (namely 4-4-1e), that after the second instance of an illegal bat, I will call the player out, eject the coach, and warn the acting coach,

"The first may have been accidental ... I don't care if the second one was intentional or accidental, it's GROSS CARELESSNESS either way.  One more illegal bat, and the game is forfeited."

I would rather have a root canal than have a reputation for having forfeited a Varsity game, but come on ... what is a more blatant act of cheating and "willfully and persistently violating the rules"???

 

[The Man in Blue]

Phonics.  That's your warning.

 

Carry on.

 

 

[flyingron]

On 1/19/2026 at 10:06 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Phonics.  That's your warning.

You got me hooked.

[HumblePie]

I realize this topic gained zero traction, but we discussed this at length on a Zoom call with our Association last night, and I think it's worth divulging what my trainer explained.  (I'm in Georgia.)

GHSA does not want games forfeited because of illegal bats.  I understand this is a Federation rule, but that was interesting to me. 

Since there are very specific guidelines for this very specific violation, FED wants us to eject the coach(es) on the second and ensuing violation(s) of an illegal bat. 

Rule 4-4-1e shall apply to any situation where there is not already a specific penalty listed in the rule book.

[BigBlue4u]

3 hours ago, HumblePie said:

GHSA does not want games forfeited because of illegal bats.  I understand this is a Federation rule, but that was interesting to me. 

Since there are very specific guidelines for this very specific violation, FED wants us to eject the coach(es) on the second and ensuing violation(s) of an illegal bat. 

Rule 4-4-1e shall apply to any situation where there is not already a specific penalty listed in the rule book.

I totally agree.  After the second violation, we are no longer dealing with illegal bats, we are dealing with 4-4-1-e.