Hundreds of feet stomp on the metal bleachers, and a wave of hands shoot up around the stadium. The ball is kicked off and the game is officially in action. The opposing team begins to run the ball but is shut down by the defensive linemen sporting bowie colors. The crowd erupts in a roar but the cheers are quickly interrupted by a shrill tweet and a red flag floats down to the ground. The star linebacker is disqualified and forced to step off the field for the remainder of the game.

Friday night lights have always been the best way to destress and let loose after a long school week, but these games can quickly take a turn for the worst when players are forced to take off their helmets and sideline.

“Players have to maintain a certain level of sportsmanship in order to avoid disqualification, if you break the rules or basic standards you are kicked out of the game which can cause a lot of stress and negative feelings,” junior football player Zack Smith said.

It’s all about following basic expectations and guidelines.

“The main thing you have to do is avoid fights and trash talking, this can sometimes be difficult in the heat of the moment especially when the opposing team is trying to aggravate you,” Smith said.

But keeping your temper in check isn’t the only thing players have to be mindful about, paying attention to detail when it comes to the technical aspect of the game is just as important.

“You can also be ejected for cheap shots like hitting another player head on, sometimes it’s hard to completely avoid helmet on helmet contact but it’s important to do your best because it can cause serious injury,” sophomore Trinidad Sanders said.

Coaches do their best to ensure disqualification doesn’t happen.

“It is addressed to the team as a whole the majority of the time but if an individual needs a little more advising or instruction it will definitely be addressed and presented,” Coach Howard Thomson said.

Although it doesn’t happen often, when it does happen disqualification comes with some consequences.

“When you’re disqualified you’re forced to just sit and watch the game, your ability to contribute to the team’s success is taken away, and depending on what you’re disqualified for you face being looked down on by your team,” Smith said.

For the most part players are able to get around being disqualified by simply concentrating on the task at hand.

“Everyone is just too focused to let others get in their head, if you’re on the field you normally have a goal or things you intend on accomplishing, getting disqualified isn’t one of those things,” Sanders said.

But sometimes you need a little more than just your individual efforts to keep your head on right.

“Along with staying focused yourself it’s important to keep your team focused. It’s always helpful to be reminded that your actions affect the whole team, sometimes being reminded of that is the push you need,” Sanders said.

Although there aren’t many, the players who do struggle to avoid getting disqualified don’t go unnoticed.

“Coaches and teammates take note of who is being overly aggressive and we try to remind them of what they’re gambling by doing those things,” Smith said.

Being disqualified or having a team member get disqualified isn’t always completely avoidable.

“When it does happen it’s always a bit upsetting, but all you can do is move on and do your best to play without them,” Smith said.

Most players who are disqualified are later faced with unsettling emotions and consequences from coaches.

“When you get disqualified you always are left to battle with emotions within yourself, a lot of times players get angry at themselves or referees, and on top of that you have to run later on,” Sanders said.

Overall most players find that the sparked up feelings are just in the heat of the moment and soon pass.

“You get ramped up and heated for about thirty seconds and you have to make a quick decision on what to do with that anger,” Smith said. “It’s a mind game, but in the end you can use that anger to benefit the team rather than knock them down.”

Whether disqualification is a large part of a player’s game or not, in the end it all comes back to the sport itself.  

“It’s all about loving the game, and finding it within yourself to put all those emotions towards doing good, rather than doing bad,” Sanders said.