Unsportsmanlike conduct
Encyclopedia
Unsportsmanlike conduct is a foul
or offense in many sports
that is not necessarily a violation of the respective sport's rules of play, but violates the sport's generally accepted rules of sportsmanship
and/or participant conduct. Examples include taunting an opponent, an excessive celebration following a scoring play, or feigning injury. The official rules of many sports include a catch-all provision whereby participants or an entire team may be penalised or otherwise sanctioned for unsportsmanlike conduct.
unsportsmanlike conduct results in a 15-yard penalty
, assessed after the completion of a play. When it occurs after a scoring play the 15 yards are assessed on the kickoff. Situations that can incur such a penalty include excessive celebrations after plays, often involving props or multiple players or engaging in taunting against an opponent. Referees can also call unsportsmanlike conduct if a player purposely removes his helmet anywhere in the field of play during or in between plays. Unsportsmanlike conduct can also lead to players being disqualified and ejected from the game. The referee signals unsportsmanlike conduct by holding his arms outstretched with palms facing downward.
In association football, unsporting behaviour is punishable by a caution under law 12 of the laws of the game. Popular examples include extravagant celebration (such as covering one's head with one's jersey or removing it over the head) and simulating actions intended to deceive the referee, also known as diving
.
In American basketball
, such misconduct is penalised by a technical foul as opposed to a personal foul. The technical foul is akin to a caution in that two such fouls results in an expulsion, although egregious conduct will be immediately assessed two consecutive technical fouls.
In tennis
, such conduct is categorized as a "code violation". Examples include racket abuse (intentionally throwing a racket or using it to strike an object other than the ball), ball abuse (intentionally hitting or throwing the ball into the stands outside of normal play), or intentionally shouting during a point in order to distract an opponent. Penalties vary based on the organizers of the match and/or tournament and usually start with a verbal warning for a first violation, and forfeiture of a point, game, or a match for additional violations.
In cricket
, such behavior is considered to be violating the "spirit of the game". The preamble to the "Laws of Cricket" state certain actions which may violate the spirit of cricket. A more detailed list (along with appropriate sanctions) is given in the ICC Player's Code of Conduct.
Foul (sports)
In sports, a foul is an inappropriate or unfair act by a player as deemed by a referee. A foul may be intentional or accidental, and often results in a penalty....
or offense in many sports
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
that is not necessarily a violation of the respective sport's rules of play, but violates the sport's generally accepted rules of sportsmanship
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...
and/or participant conduct. Examples include taunting an opponent, an excessive celebration following a scoring play, or feigning injury. The official rules of many sports include a catch-all provision whereby participants or an entire team may be penalised or otherwise sanctioned for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Examples
In American footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
unsportsmanlike conduct results in a 15-yard penalty
Penalty (American football)
In American football and Canadian football, a penalty is a sanction called against a team for a violation of the rules, called a foul. Officials initially signal penalties by tossing a bright yellow or orange colored "penalty flag" onto the field toward or at the spot of a foul...
, assessed after the completion of a play. When it occurs after a scoring play the 15 yards are assessed on the kickoff. Situations that can incur such a penalty include excessive celebrations after plays, often involving props or multiple players or engaging in taunting against an opponent. Referees can also call unsportsmanlike conduct if a player purposely removes his helmet anywhere in the field of play during or in between plays. Unsportsmanlike conduct can also lead to players being disqualified and ejected from the game. The referee signals unsportsmanlike conduct by holding his arms outstretched with palms facing downward.
In association football, unsporting behaviour is punishable by a caution under law 12 of the laws of the game. Popular examples include extravagant celebration (such as covering one's head with one's jersey or removing it over the head) and simulating actions intended to deceive the referee, also known as diving
Diving (football)
In association football, diving is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by diving to the ground and possibly feigning an injury, to appear as if a foul has been committed. Dives are often used to exaggerate the amount of contact present in a challenge...
.
In American basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, such misconduct is penalised by a technical foul as opposed to a personal foul. The technical foul is akin to a caution in that two such fouls results in an expulsion, although egregious conduct will be immediately assessed two consecutive technical fouls.
In tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, such conduct is categorized as a "code violation". Examples include racket abuse (intentionally throwing a racket or using it to strike an object other than the ball), ball abuse (intentionally hitting or throwing the ball into the stands outside of normal play), or intentionally shouting during a point in order to distract an opponent. Penalties vary based on the organizers of the match and/or tournament and usually start with a verbal warning for a first violation, and forfeiture of a point, game, or a match for additional violations.
In cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, such behavior is considered to be violating the "spirit of the game". The preamble to the "Laws of Cricket" state certain actions which may violate the spirit of cricket. A more detailed list (along with appropriate sanctions) is given in the ICC Player's Code of Conduct.