This article describes unsportsmanlike conduct in relation to its use in professional sports. For the sports blog that shares the same name, see Unsportsmanlike Conduct (Blog).
Unsportsmanlike conduct (or unsporting behaviour, or ungentlemanly conduct) is a term used in many professional sports to refer to a particular player or team who have acted inappropriately and/or unprofessionally in the context of the game. Such behaviour is not necessarily illegal according to the sport in question's rules, but is frowned upon by the vast majority of both players and spectators. The term is distinct from cheating in that it also includes conduct meant to incite others. The official rules of many sports include a catch-all provision whereby a competitor may be penalised or otherwise cited for unsportmanlike conduct. This provision allows sports officials to sanction a competitor for offenses which do not violate a specific rule, but are not considered to be in the spirit of the competition.
In American Football Unsportsmanlike Conduct is a 15 yard penalty assessed after the completion of a play.[1] 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.
In Association Football, unsporting behaviour is punishable by a caution under law 12 of the laws of the game.[2]
In American basketball, such misconduct is penalized 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.
See also
Notes
- ^ National Football League, "NFL Rules Digest: Summary of Penalties", retrieved 11 February 2009.
- ^ Fédération Internationale de Football Association, "Laws of the Game 2008/2009", p.35.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
