Warning Question

[LaJou]

So the rules marked with “(X)”can be assessed only after the player that has broken said rule has been warned of the infraction and then commits the same infraction again. I believe I understand this correctly. Now the question, how often does the player get to be warned? In other words if at the beginning of the tournament the whole playing group got together and went over the rules as a whole, allowed questions and agreed to the rules would that be considered the “Warning” or would they still have a in game warning. If there is still an in game warning is this warning required every game, maybe once a day, once a tournament how often? Hope and think this is a quick answer. Thank you for your assistance.

[xDKx]

To my understanding, it is discretionary on the part of the ref, and can be taken to committee if there is a real problem.

[LaJou]

Is that to say that the warning itself is discretionary or when the warning is given is discretionary? IMO this should be static a Universal Rule and I think we are missing something here that does define this. Additionally two other questions popped into my head as I was reading these again.


1. The Glossary of Terms and Symbols says emphasis mine:
“(X) Penalties marked with an X may be imposed upon a player once they have been notified as described in the Laserforce Tournament Referees code of conduct.

This symbol means before a player can be penalized more than once for the same offense, he must be warned.”

And “(X*) mean a player can be penalized without complaint by the opposition but must be warned before he can be penalized more than once.”

So for both of these what I think is being said is that a player can be penalized on ether of these types of infractions but no more than once unless a warning has been given. Ex. Player Y broke some rule 6 times. Scenario A: Player Y was never warned for breaking the rule so he can be penalized one time provided there was a ref to call it and a complaint made as needed. Scenario B: Player Y was warned after the 4th infraction of the rule. All six were seen and complained about as needed in this case Player Y would receive one penalty for the first four infractions and then one for each of the remaining two after he was warned.

For the above lets leave unsportsmanlike like conduct and the like out of it we can get into that another time and place if someone needs it.

2. On penalties marked with “(X)” can a ref warn a player without the opposing team complaining or does the opposing team have to make a complaint for the ref to warn the player? I believe the ref is able to make a warning without the complaint and then each complaint that is made and is supported by a ref would then be penalized.

[xDKx]

I'll obviously defer to Tragedy, Nite Owl, or Than on this one because they have a lot more experience in the matter than I do, but I have taken the above to mean that if, say, a player had backtracked and someone came in and didn't see that he had, he has to be warned before he can be given more than one penalty for chasing (which, conceivably, can be penalized for every time he targeted the backtracked player). If he is warned and still does it, multiple chase penalties can be given for the same offense.

Insofar as the rest, if I'm understanding you correctly, I think it is proper for the ref to issue a warning if he sees the rules be infringed, but I'm not sure what the "procedure" is, and I'm under the impression that there is a system of something like common law (tradition + precedent) governing the conduct of refs that may not be explicit (and perhaps should be) in the rules. Again, I'll defer to someone who has actually reffed more than two serious competitions on this point.

[LaJou]

The Chasing rule would not follow under this category as it does not have the (X) but I see what you are saying. Thanks and here is to hoping for Than, Tragedy, or Night Owl.

[tragedy]

(X) Penalties marked with an X may be imposed upon a player once they have been notified as described in the Laserforce Tournament Referees code of conduct.

This symbol means before a player can be penalised more than once for the same offense, he must be warned. After he is warned, he can be penalised every time the opposing team and any referee agree the offense is committed hence. Only one warning is necessary. Penalties marked (X*) mean a player can be penalised without complaint by the opposition but must be warned before he can be penalised more than once.

You've only quoted part of the explanation of the rule, so I've quoted the full text.
Both of your scenarios are correct.
There is no discrection about giving warnings. If the rule requires a player to be warned about an offense, it needs to be done ASAP and quietly, certainly not in front of an opponent. The reason for this is that for a player to make a complaint after the game, he has to believe the opponent breached the rules. If he doesn't have a problem, the refs shouldn't help create one.

Now the question, how often does the player get to be warned?

One warning per game is all that's required. A "warning" during a rules briefing is not sufficient. You can refer to Unsportsmanlike Conduct for repeated breaches of rules.

[LaJou]

Thank you. I just wanted to make sure I had it correct.