Wayne, I agree...I don't think there should be an excuse for profanity on the field, and young people ARE capable of controlling their words as well as their actions. I think players SHOULD be addressed whenever they use profanity on the field or on the bench. That's why I think the rules should allow more than just an all-or-nothing means to control this infraction so that there would be no reason to "just let it go" to keep from dramatically changing the outcome of the game (and possibly the next one or two) for a single slip. Kickman's analogy is extreme, yes, but a pretty accurate comparison. It's more productive from a law enforcement point of view to ticket someone for speeding than it is to let them go untouched just to keep from shooting them. It's more productive from a rules enforcement point of view to issue a caution with some time on the bench than it is to "not hear" the infraction to keep from red-carding a player, forcing his team to play short, and keeping him out of additional contests. I think an official should have some leeway to determine whether a profanity violation is flagrant, intentional, and/or malicious as opposed to incidental due to high stress, frustration, and/or pain, the same way an official can determine whether a physical foul is flagrant, intentional, and/or malicious as opposed to incidental due to playing hard for the ball.
