coachgirl wrote:
They knew the rules, and often, the starter will tell them ahead of time. It is in the rulebook, so it is a legal DQ. If they hadn't been the winning team and gotten DQed, I am sure no one would have complained at all. Sometimes you just have to follow the rules. And if you don't like them, get involved in the high school association and get them changed.
Is this parsed out in the rule book? In other words, are examples such as fist pumps, fingers to the sky, thumbs up, and smiling, or putting hands together in a prayer motion suggested as "excessive celebration"? If so, then what in that list constitutes an "acceptable celebration"?
If not, then to simply leave it at "excessive celebration" leaves the rule wide open to the arbitrary interpretation of the officials. As in any sport, the officials are there to protect the integrity of the competition, not to steal a victory from the clear winners of the race.
People joining the high school association will NOT help the young guys who deserved this win get that moment back. It's gone forever, and in my opinion the officials should be ashamed.