Fairfax County Flag Football League

MESSAGEBOARD

subject: "Censorship"

Holier than thou

Sep 16, 2009
3:14 PM

;

What is the league policy on cursing? We got a 15yd penalty last night because someone on our sideline said the F word after our team threw a pick. We are all adults in this league, do we need to be told what language is or is not allowed? I understand that is not OK to curse AT someone, or AT the refs, but just saying the word when something bad happens does NOT seem like an offense worth the refs caring about. What`s next, 15yd penalty for farting???

Compulsive Loser

Sep 16, 2009
3:18 PM


;	I believe the `spirit of the rule` is to limit the cursing on public fields where the local kids often play...again, that I believe is why the rule was put in place but it seems a little silly given that most, if not all the kids are gone by the time the first and second games get underway...that being said, we have been thumped with a couple of 15 yarders already too...the refs need to use discretion...at least give a warning.

Holier than thou

Sep 16, 2009
3:26 PM


;	I just looked it up in the official rules and in Rule 9, Section 1, Article 2 it states: Prohibited Acts ARTICLE 2. There shall be no unsportsmanlike conduct by players, substitutes, coaches or others subject to the rules. a. Using any act of unsportsmanlike conduct including: 1. Abusive or insulting language. Is the act of saying a curse word, not directed at anyone, abusive or insulting?? The rules DO NOT say that it is illegal to say OFFENSIVE words. Saying the F word in frustration after throwing a pick is not abusing anyone or insulting anyone. Agreed?

really

Sep 16, 2009
3:34 PM


;	Are you really arguing the fact that you think it is ok to loudly speak foul language. I`d agree that the refs could use some discretion but ultimately...do you really need to yell ****?

to ^

Sep 16, 2009
3:36 PM


;	Let me clear this up for you. During the spring Tom got a complaint from a kids ****** that was at an field next to one of our fields watching her son. She said that she heard too much cussing and that why you get a 15 yard penalty when you cuss it make the League as a whole look bad. So the refs flag when they hear it period.

yes really

Sep 16, 2009
3:39 PM


;	It is not the Refs job to police morality, what in the world does a player cursing on the sideline have to do with the game?

Soccer mom rules?

Sep 16, 2009
3:42 PM


;	To be honest, I have not once seen anybody else at the fields at 9 or 10pm but players, refs, and friends/wifes of players. Oh, and the rules do not state that cursing is a 15yd penalty. Why are the refs enforcing a rule that a soccer mom made up and is not in the rule books?

New Rule

Sep 16, 2009
3:44 PM


;	I propose than no player be allowed to wear Doo-Rags, or Baggy shorts because it makes them look like gangsta rappers and could scare/influence the little kiddies that are hanging out at the fields at 10pm

also

Sep 16, 2009
4:07 PM


;	remember the fields are made for the kids not adults acting like kids. its simple dont cuss

Its not consistent

Sep 16, 2009
4:11 PM


;	I got nailed for cussing in the spring which I understand, i broke the rules i get the 15 yards. Last night in my game one of the opponents cussed right in front of the ref and when I asked him he basically said he didnt care. I know they were cracking down on it in the spring they may have laxed up a little bit since. Bottom line - dont cuss, you may get a 15 yarder

some

Sep 16, 2009
4:15 PM


;	People just don`t have hometraining.

Bottom Line

Sep 16, 2009
4:22 PM


;	If you scream F&$!! at the top of your lungs you deserve a penaly for looking like a complete dueschbag. Some people have wives, girlfriends, kids, etc. watch them play, and at the early games there are youngsters still romping around after their practices. We cuss a good amount but we keep our voices down and don`t blatantly sound like an ahole. If you do this, you will not get a penalty, the refs don`t care. But if you scream fck loud enough to where everyone at the field can hear it, then you deserve a penalty for being a prick.

Bottom Line

Sep 16, 2009
4:33 PM


;	There is no rule in the rule book prohibiting cursing! BOTTOM LINE. Acting like a douchebag is not a penalty according to the rule books. That`s my only point. And this ref was really looking out for anyone even cursing under their breath. He warned someone for saying "what the HELL happened"

Bottom Line

Sep 16, 2009
4:47 PM


;	Well that`s f*cking lame of him, especially in any game after 8. And I agree with you, if its not a rule it should not be a penalty for commiting the act. However, I am willing to zip my lips for the sake of this league because I love this league more than I love cussing.

Helltown Rosebuds #83
Helltown Rosebuds
coach

Sep 16, 2009
4:50 PM


;	We almost lost our field permit this past Spring and the league had to promise to penalize people for cursing. We were told that the first offense is a 15 yeard penalty, second offense the person is thrown out, third offense the game is over. You will not find this rule in the book it was delivered via email to the coaches.

Thats ridiculous

Sep 16, 2009
4:55 PM


;	One why little **ing soccer mom caused all that? That *** needs to get laid.

Football > Cussing

Sep 16, 2009
4:56 PM


;	I started this to bring attention to the inconsistency. A 15yd penalty could possibly influence the outcome of a game. I`m not defending cursing, but if there is no rule prohibiting it, and if each ref calls it differently, then it brings a strike against the integrity of the rules overall. What if one week we draw a ref who has no issue with cursing, and doesn`t mention it. Then the next week we get Mr. Word police who tacks on 15 yds when someone uses the lords name in vain? That`s micky mouse stuff right there. You shoulda seen this ref when he called the penalty. He yelled "F Bomb" really loud and threw his flag 30yds in the air blew his whistle and yelled "15YD F WORD!!" It was really funny, like he was super happy he had the opportunity to adjust our morality.

Helltown

Sep 16, 2009
5:02 PM


;	Please copy and paste that email. If the league wants to make it a rule, put it in the books. Simple as that! There were several amendments listed in the rule book, none of which had to do with cursing. The problem is that after every game changing play, I guarantee someone will curse one team or the other. How many times do you hear "good S*" or "damn" or "F*" after a pick? If it is indeed made an official rule, we would need a list of the exact words we cannot say.

Question

Sep 16, 2009
5:24 PM


;	was it the fat older white dude? he rang me up for 15 yards for cussing once and i thought he creamed his pants he was so happy

LOLOLOL

Sep 16, 2009
5:29 PM


;	Yeah, that`s him, older fat white dude with gray hair. He was in heaven while making that call.

its really simple

Sep 16, 2009
11:32 PM


;	despite the rule not being in the book, its pretty plain and simple. Watch your mouth. If you throw a pick, or something bad happens, watch your language. Swear under your breath, so the only one that hears you is you. call it an interpretation of abusive or insulting language. Play the game, keep your mouth out of it, and don`t get a 15 yard penalty. simple

SO

Sep 16, 2009
11:58 PM


;	You`re saying we should start having rules enforced that are not in the book, and that Refs are permitted to "interpret" the rules in line with what offends them? One ref used to be a DE and thinks QB`s get too much protection, the next week we get a ref that used to be a QB and throws roughing the passer flags whenever lay a finger on the QB. It`s not about the cursing, it`s about the principal of it. And it`s just creepy when the ref takes obvious joy in penalizing a team.

TOM
league commissioner

Sep 17, 2009
7:09 AM


;	had this posted in the Spring, will add it to the Fall for those teams that didn`t play in the Spring, NO FOUL LANGUAGE AT THE FIELDS (from April 2009) I got this from the County today: "I received a barrage of email from parents and the lacrosse commissioner about the F-bombs and other foul language being constantly used within earshot of kids at the park. Some parents are very irate about the behavior of the men" Our (FCFFL) comments: Preserving our field space is more important to us as a league than any one player (or players) self-control. We`re going to instruct officials to assess a 15 yard unsportmanlike penalty for any profanity that they hear, and a game ejection + additional game suspension for a second occurance from the same player. I can`t stress how important this issue is to us. I know its hard to keep some things in check in the heat of the moment, so every coach and player should make it a point to remind all teammates of this policy early and often.

TOM
league commissioner

Sep 17, 2009
7:18 AM


;	Our policy is zero tolerance. While in some cases (i.e. 10:00 at Lake Fairfax) there are no children around, we cannot have a policy for that exception because that would require the officials to ascertain 100% that there is no one who would be offended. This has nothing to do with censorship, just self-control given the environment. If you were playing in a church picnic softball game and dropped the ball would you drop a loud f-bomb? What about if you were at your own child`s sporting event and your child`s team was scored on, would you control your vocabulary and volume? Of course you would. Would you drop an F-bomb at Thanksgiving dinner because you didn`t like a particular item on the table? My point is that 99% of us can control our vocabulary given the environment.

Thanks

Sep 17, 2009
11:09 AM


;	Thank you Tom for the clarification on this league policy. I would recommend that the policy actually be listed in the rules so that there is no confusion. Also could you please clarify even more about what words are considered too offensive to say and will draw a penalty. A list of the banned words would be helpful. Like I said, we got warned for saying the word "hell".

Really?

Sep 17, 2009
12:57 PM


;	You need a listing of banned words? Come on man. This really isn`t that difficult to understand. This very subject was send out to coaches. It`s then the coaches responsiblity to relay to the players. Bottom line, have some humility out there and realize it`s not all about "you". (Please note, I`m Speaking to everyone in general, not one particular poster or player)

Yes REALLY!!

Sep 17, 2009
1:04 PM


;	So you agree that we could get a penalty for saying the phrase "hell of a play guys"??!??!?!?!? I got a warning for saying that very phrase. Having a list of penalized words would take the "interpretation" out of the equation. It`s all well and good to have a ZERO tolerance policy. But NOT to have said policy defined can be difficult to understand. As the "Policy" is now, what exactly is Zero Tolerated? Words that one ref finds offensive? I don`t think "hell" is an offensive word.

you`re

Sep 17, 2009
1:21 PM


;	an idiot

Did

Sep 17, 2009
1:22 PM


;	you get a penalty for it? No. Just kill this thread already if morons don`t already get it they never will. DONT CUSS. Plain and simple and stop btching to Tom *****.

15 yard PENTALTY!!

Sep 17, 2009
1:34 PM


;	You just said the "B" word!! 15yd penalty and a 1 game suspension!

oh my god

Sep 17, 2009
1:52 PM


;	are you guys serious?? cuss if u wanna cuss and get the penalty or dont cuss, its that simple, you guys need to get some hobbies or something besides debating a flag football cursing rule.

15yd PENALTY!

Sep 17, 2009
2:35 PM


;	You look the lords name in vain and broke one of the 10 commandments!! I am so offended!!! 15YD PENALTY!!!!

word

Sep 17, 2009
3:37 PM


;	ya dogg, that aint right slim. I said booty when dem boys pull my flags and shorts off.

gimme a break

Sep 19, 2009
11:59 PM


;	pretty funny that this all got caused by some parents worried about their kids hearing a few bad words at a field. just further proof that the next generation is in big trouble... yeah, like these kids don`t talk that way with their friends...

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