Adapted from a CrownRefs Facebook article, February 14, 2026. I’ve adapted some of the wording, replacing basketball-specific terminology and positions with their football equivalents.
Here a reminder to stay respectful with the players, even when they’re being disrespectful to you or the game.
I recently saw a situation where a player was arguing a call and an official responded by saying, “Shut your mouth.” Now the player immediately reacted and said, “I’m not even “effing” talking to you!” Another official then stepped in and heard that and threw a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. And that was the correct decision, because we can’t ignore profanity or unsporting behavior from the players regardless of how the interaction started.
That being said, this entire situation could’ve been prevented. A more respectful response from the first official, one that didn’t escalate the moment, likely would’ve stopped the situation from spiraling. Instead, the tone invited a reaction, which forced the crew into enforcement mode.
This is a bigger lesson: don’t allow frustration to pull you out of your character. When officials respond emotionally, we give away control. Don’t let any part of the game make you angry or upset.
And I’ll take it one step further: if there are a lot of things that are making you angry off the field, there’s a good chance that it’s showing up on the field too. These two are connected.
Here’s the truth. You cannot control the game if you’re not in control of your emotions.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.
3/3 from the B-42 with 35 seconds remaining in the game. A23 runs for a first down. During the run, the linesman tosses a flag after moving onto the field to avoid multiple Team B players in the restricted area while the ball was live. This is the first time a nonplayer or coach has violated the restricted-area requirement.
- The game clock will start on the ready for play
- Team A has the option to start the game clock on the snap
Review Rules 3-4-7, 9-8-3, and 9-8-3 Penalty