The disappearing ejection and other ethical choices

ome of the most difficult rules to administer are those whose penalty provisions require the umpire to deprive a player or coach of further participation in the game. Those rules can vary between a provision that demands the simple removal of a player from the game for something as innocuous as an untimely offensive visit by the coach to the colorful "Big Finger" ejection of a participant for some flagrant breach of discipline, such as fighting or the use of audible profanity to an official. The rules requiring ejection are often patently clear, but an ethical dilemma arises when the strict application of those rules can have consequences far beyond what was originally intended.

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