Lesson #23: Unsporting conduct penalties

by Stephen Lorimor / Axis of Stevil

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Last updated: January 9, 2019

4.3 - Unsporting Conduct

  • This penalty type involves significant officiating discretion, and is not limited to actions listed on this handout.

  • Unsporting conduct penalties can be elevated to expulsion for egregious or repeated offenses depending on the context.

  • Unsporting conduct penalties and their verbal cues

    • “Misconduct” (basic cue) - Undermining the legitimacy of the sport or displaying a lack of respect for the sport, its execution, or those that contribute to it.

      • Abusive or obscene language or gestures directed at a non-official

  • (no call or warning) Minor slights inaudible to the audience addressed to a teammate or opponent

  • (expulsion) Long strings of profanity or losing one’s temper

    • Impersonating an official

    • Hiding an active helmet cover during a jam

    • Reckless or negligent penalty box entry

    • Attempting to deceive a referee into issuing a penalty

    • Blocking outside the acceptable range of the sport

  • Positional blocking preventing a downed skater from standing

  • Blocking while airborne

    • Non-forceful / unintentional contact with significant impact

    • Intentional contact regardless of impact

  • (expulsion) Intentionally falling on a prone or down skater

  • (expulsion) Pulling a helmet cover off an opponent

    • Failing to abide by governing body policies during the game

  • Example: fielding too many team staff

    • Intentionally blocking a skater into a downed skater

    • An ejected skater that interferes with subsequent gameplay

  • Penalty to captain, skater is banished to the locker room

    • (expulsion) Intentional, reasonably avoidable, and forceful contact to an official

    • “Insubordination” - Willfully or neglectfully failing to comply with the instructions of an official, or wrongful or improper behavior motivated by intentional disregard for the rules.

      • Abusive or obscene language or gestures directed at an official

  • Not every slight warrants a penalty

    • Willfully failing to follow the instructions of an official

  • This includes immediately leaving the track in response to a penalty

    • A skater must exit the track relative to where they were issued the penalty.

    • A bit ahead or behind this area has no impact.

    • A lot ahead or behind has impact.

    • Exiting is also subject to having a safe and legal opportunity to exit the track.

      • Failure to leave the track after repeatedly being directed to do so