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A four-person high school football chain gang was removed from the sidelines during a playoff game in the state of Virginia. The use of communication devices was the cause.
An investigation is now underway to determine potential punishment. Details to this point remain somewhat unclear as to the specifics of the wrongdoing.
Forest Park High School faced Battlefield in VHSL Class 6 Region action this week. The home team, Battlefield, provided the officiating crew.
Controversy erupted during the second half of the Bobcats’ win. Crew members are now under the spotlight.
Officials were removed from the high school football game.
An investigation is underway by the Prince William County Public Schools Student Activities Management Department regarding reports of the use of electronic devices by the chain gang working the Forest Park at Battlefield football game Friday.
In a letter written by Forest Park principal Richard Martinez and Battlefield principal Delores Lucas and sent out to both schools’ families, the two stated that the “it was reported that the volunteers working the first-down chains were inappropriately using communication devices. Once discovered, the referees asked the volunteers to remove the devices. The chain gang volunteers were asked to leave the game to mitigate any further disruptions.”
The NFHS general instructions for line-to-gain crews are clear. They specifically ban the use of certain electronic devices while on the sidelines.
The line-to-gain crew is part of the officiating crew and must remain impartial… They are not allowed to cheer, criticize the game officials, make any remarks relating to players and coaches, nor express opinions concerning any ruling or calls made by the game officials. They are not to communicate with the visiting team and may not use cell phones or other electronic devices while on the line-to-gain crew. Any problems or situations the line to-gain crew encounters while performing their job is to be brought to the Head Linesman’s attention.
It is not clear which rule the crew broke during the high school football playoff game. The guidelines bar both communication with the visiting team as well as the use of cell phones.
Clearly, someone believed those devices were distracting the chain gang from properly doing its job.
Once discovered, the crew was removed from the game. That dismissal came late in the third quarter of action with Battlefield leading 17-10.
The Bobcats would go onto win the game, 27-16.