Editor's Note: We changed the title of the thread to be more descriptive. Original title was "Mallard Creek DQ." Here is an article about the DQ: http://charlotteobserver.com/s...
Here is a new video showing what the runner in question did earlier in the meet after winning the 300 hurdles. The official claim she warned him after that win even though what he did in that win seems fine: https://x.com/Sheena_Marie3/st...
Here is the relevant part. Rule 4-6-1: Unsporting Conduct ARTICLE 1. Unsporting conduct is a serious violation of meet rules and applies to all coaches, contestants, and other team/school personnel. Unsporting conduct includes, but is not limited to: NFHS.org Use of profanity or a physical/verbal act of disrespect directed toward someone.
Rule 4-6-2: Unacceptable Conduct ARTICLE 2. Unacceptable conduct by a competitor includes, but is not limited to: NFHS.org +2 Willful failure to follow the direction of a meet official. Using profanity that is not directed at someone. Any action which would bring discredit to the individual or his/her school.
AI could not provide me the specific example about someone celebrating early under unsportsmanlike conduct, that I put in a previous post with 15 down votes.
The athlete likely used profanity at the finish of the race. I would bet that is why they were DQd. Way too many kids shouting f words and n words and other profanities at meets.
The athlete likely used profanity at the finish of the race. I would bet that is why they were DQd. Way too many kids shouting f words and n words and other profanities at meets.
crazy thing to assume when there are countless examples of athletes being DQ'd for minor celebrations by power tripping officials
Just looking at post on social media - looks like all sorts of runners were doing some sort of celebration before the finish. If you're going to call it, call it consistently.
If by “consistently”, you mean a warning first and then a DQ on second violation, what other example(s) can you provide?
It is a shame for medals and championships to be decided by non-athletic components of the sport, especially for the team members who were not involved with the on-track celebrations. When the “No on track celebrations” was stressed at the coaches meeting, we made sure our athletes were aware of the emphasis. It’s unfortunate that not all coaches paid attention.
If you can reference all other athletes who received a “warning” for the same behavior, and what rule was broken in the 300mH that you claim was brought up in the coaches meeting, then maybe you have a sliver of argument here. However since you can’t, you’re just grasping at straws. Unfortunate that people with your state of mind seemingly have real bearing on the results of the sport.
If by “consistently”, you mean a warning first and then a DQ on second violation, what other example(s) can you provide?
It is a shame for medals and championships to be decided by non-athletic components of the sport, especially for the team members who were not involved with the on-track celebrations. When the “No on track celebrations” was stressed at the coaches meeting, we made sure our athletes were aware of the emphasis. It’s unfortunate that not all coaches paid attention.
If you can reference all other athletes who received a “warning” for the same behavior, and what rule was broken in the 300mH that you claim was brought up in the coaches meeting, then maybe you have a sliver of argument here. However since you can’t, you’re just grasping at straws. Unfortunate that people with your state of mind seemingly have real bearing on the results of the sport.
During the coaches meeting, coaches were given explicit warning against on track celebrations. Phrases like “Act like you’ve been there before.” and (paraphrasing) “Save the celebrations for off the track.” I wasn’t monitoring celebrations as I had athletes to coach. I learned about the Mallard Creek 300mH warning after the meet and was pleased the officials used discretion. Mallard Creek ignored the coaches meeting instructions and the athlete ignored an individual warning, yet you’re placing blame on “corrupt officials” rather than accepting accountability for the athlete’s actions.
Earlier today, at the NCHSAA 8A State Championships, Mallard Creek won the 4x400m relay, and was subsequently disqualified for “taunting”. Allegedly Nyan Brown, NC State commit and the winner of the 300mH earlier in the day, was issued a warning following his 300mH victory, and one official hastily decided to disqualify their relay team after he held up five fingers over the last few meters of the race. To add insult to injury, Mallard Creek was two points behind Jordan High School in the team competition prior to the 4x400, and ended up finishing second as a team due to the disqualification revoking the points that would have won them the meet. It is difficult to see where there was cause for a warning following the 300mH, and the Mallard Creek boys coach said that there was no notice to coaches of any official warning being issued. The video posted by MilesplitCarolinas showing the finishes to the 300mH and the 4x400m relay is linked below. MilesplitCarolinas Video
I watched the video and that wasn't taunting at all. I watched numerous DI conference meets on ESPN and after half of the races the kids did so much more celebrating and taunting. Seems like folks are mad that Mallard Creek is the dominant team in North Carolina.
If you can reference all other athletes who received a “warning” for the same behavior, and what rule was broken in the 300mH that you claim was brought up in the coaches meeting, then maybe you have a sliver of argument here. However since you can’t, you’re just grasping at straws. Unfortunate that people with your state of mind seemingly have real bearing on the results of the sport.
During the coaches meeting, coaches were given explicit warning against on track celebrations. Phrases like “Act like you’ve been there before.” and (paraphrasing) “Save the celebrations for off the track.” I wasn’t monitoring celebrations as I had athletes to coach. I learned about the Mallard Creek 300mH warning after the meet and was pleased the officials used discretion. Mallard Creek ignored the coaches meeting instructions and the athlete ignored an individual warning, yet you’re placing blame on “corrupt officials” rather than accepting accountability for the athlete’s actions.
Kids should be allowed to celebrate in the moment. Of course that can cross a line and officials are there to make sure that doesn't happen. The only person(s) who crossed a line here were the loser officials
Watching the video, I can understand why a warning was issued after the 300m hurdles. However, I can't understand how the 4x400 resulted in a disqualification even after a warning. There's no equivalency in what happened at the end of the two races.
The linked story references a third warning which was given to all 4x400 teams. “And then, Bailey said, an official did warn all the teams en masse before the 4x400 not to celebrate prematurely.”
In my opinion, three warnings is a great example of preventative officiating. If the 3 warnings were ignored then the blame belongs elsewhere.
The linked story references a third warning which was given to all 4x400 teams. “And then, Bailey said, an official did warn all the teams en masse before the 4x400 not to celebrate prematurely.”
In my opinion, three warnings is a great example of preventative officiating. If the 3 warnings were ignored then the blame belongs elsewhere.
yet again you are completely missing the point. Why is this something they are trying to prevent? I completely get a rule being in place to stop aggressive taunting of another athlete or a celebration that is actually over the top like chucking the baton into the stands.
But why all the warnings? Why is what this kid did during any of his races something this sport is trying to prevent?
If this specific kid was warned for on track celebrations previously in the meet, its a no brainer. This was a pretty mild celebration, Ill say that, and its pretty ticky tack, but if thats the standard they want to uphold, it feels like he was given fair warning.
the problem here is from other comments it feels like this standard was not upheld at that level throughout the meet (other athletes celebrated). If thats true, the officials then have a major problem
yet again you are completely missing the point. Why is this something they are trying to prevent? I completely get a rule being in place to stop aggressive taunting of another athlete or a celebration that is actually over the top like chucking the baton into the stands.
But why all the warnings? Why is what this kid did during any of his races something this sport is trying to prevent?
There are some things that you can define in such a way to remove the discretion of an official and make it very clear. Throw the baton and you get a DQ. Taunting or "aggressive taunting" can be a little harder to define. You don't want to list every single behavior that will be called taunting. Instead, you make some simple rules that are easy to understand and follow. No celebrating before the finish. That is not hard to understand. It is not hard to follow. It does not require any significant judgement from an official.
I assume they didn't simply put their arms up in excitement. I assume there was some sort of taunting another athlete or showboating to the crowd. Generally those are the typically lines you don't cross in high school athletics in any sport.
The athlete likely used profanity at the finish of the race. I would bet that is why they were DQd. Way too many kids shouting f words and n words and other profanities at meets.
crazy thing to assume when there are countless examples of athletes being DQ'd for minor celebrations by power tripping officials
I don't think it is crazy to assume at all. I have been to hundreds of track meets over the years, and I have never seen officials DQ athletes for no reason. I hear people claim that they do it, but they are typically parents or coaches of the athlete that was DQed. I have however, seen many athletes use profanities and be disrespectful to officials and coaches. And the vast majority were not disqualified when they probably should have been. So, I believe that it is way more likely that the athlete deserved to be disqualified than not.
yet again you are completely missing the point. Why is this something they are trying to prevent? I completely get a rule being in place to stop aggressive taunting of another athlete or a celebration that is actually over the top like chucking the baton into the stands.
But why all the warnings? Why is what this kid did during any of his races something this sport is trying to prevent?
There are some things that you can define in such a way to remove the discretion of an official and make it very clear. Throw the baton and you get a DQ. Taunting or "aggressive taunting" can be a little harder to define. You don't want to list every single behavior that will be called taunting. Instead, you make some simple rules that are easy to understand and follow. No celebrating before the finish. That is not hard to understand. It is not hard to follow. It does not require any significant judgement from an official.
except it apparently isn't easy for the officials because people celebrate before the line all the time, including in that very same meet, and didn't receive warnings or DQ's.
This is just grown adults who like to feel powerful and important holding teenagers to higher standards than collegians and professional athletes are held to. You're apparently allowed to show more emotion in golf than in track and field.
crazy thing to assume when there are countless examples of athletes being DQ'd for minor celebrations by power tripping officials
I don't think it is crazy to assume at all. I have been to hundreds of track meets over the years, and I have never seen officials DQ athletes for no reason. I hear people claim that they do it, but they are typically parents or coaches of the athlete that was DQed. I have however, seen many athletes use profanities and be disrespectful to officials and coaches. And the vast majority were not disqualified when they probably should have been. So, I believe that it is way more likely that the athlete deserved to be disqualified than not.
that's an awful lot of assumptions for no reason. This kid likely used a profanity just because you've seen it before? This had nothing to do with directing anything at an official he was DQ'd immediately based on his reaction. This was an official watching him like a hawk looking for an excuse to DQ him. I hope this official gets nowhere near another track meet again.
There are some things that you can define in such a way to remove the discretion of an official and make it very clear. Throw the baton and you get a DQ. Taunting or "aggressive taunting" can be a little harder to define. You don't want to list every single behavior that will be called taunting. Instead, you make some simple rules that are easy to understand and follow. No celebrating before the finish. That is not hard to understand. It is not hard to follow. It does not require any significant judgement from an official.
except it apparently isn't easy for the officials because people celebrate before the line all the time, including in that very same meet, and didn't receive warnings or DQ's.
This is just grown adults who like to feel powerful and important holding teenagers to higher standards than collegians and professional athletes are held to. You're apparently allowed to show more emotion in golf than in track and field.
Nope. It was easy for the officials to know it was wrong. They were trying to be nice. They didn't want to DQ anyone. They gave lots of warnings, including to all 4x4 teams just prior to the race. At some point you actually have to enforce it or no one will follow it.
You can still celebrate in track. If he raised his hand AFTER crossing the finish line he would not have been DQ'd. That's all he had to do. Go a few more meters and then show your five fingers. That is not a standard that is too hard to follow. I tell my kids to run hard through the line every single time. Every coach I have ever had has said the same. No one has ever said, "you know, if you are about to win state, it is ok to slow down before the finish and raise your hand to show how many titles you've won in a row. Got to look good for the cameras."
except it apparently isn't easy for the officials because people celebrate before the line all the time, including in that very same meet, and didn't receive warnings or DQ's.
This is just grown adults who like to feel powerful and important holding teenagers to higher standards than collegians and professional athletes are held to. You're apparently allowed to show more emotion in golf than in track and field.
Nope. It was easy for the officials to know it was wrong. They were trying to be nice. They didn't want to DQ anyone. They gave lots of warnings, including to all 4x4 teams just prior to the race. At some point you actually have to enforce it or no one will follow it.
You can still celebrate in track. If he raised his hand AFTER crossing the finish line he would not have been DQ'd. That's all he had to do. Go a few more meters and then show your five fingers. That is not a standard that is too hard to follow. I tell my kids to run hard through the line every single time. Every coach I have ever had has said the same. No one has ever said, "you know, if you are about to win state, it is ok to slow down before the finish and raise your hand to show how many titles you've won in a row. Got to look good for the cameras."
he was given a warning after the 300 hurdles for exactly what you are asking him to do. He waited until he finished and then showed emotion. He still received a warning despite not doing the thing you seem to care about and not breaking any other rules. There was no taunting or anything crazy.
And nobody still has answered the question of why is this something they are warning athletes before races to not do? Why? What is the harm in what this kid did that means he and his whole team deserve to lose their state titles?