Sometimes it helps to go to the “little black books.” It is my understanding that, while a Region / District can make the rules stiffer, the VHSL rules set the minimum. THE VHSL Handbook and Policy Manual 2010-11, sections 27-13-6 and 27-13-7, deal with ejections. It appears to me that an ejected coach is out for the next game unless an appeal is made and is successful.
27-13-6 Players and coaches who are ejected from a contest, scrimmage, jamboree or
Benefit Game for unsportsmanlike conduct and are ineligible for the team's next scheduled
contest must be reported to the VHSL office on the form provided in the Principal's Workbook.
For engaging in fighting, biting or aggressive physical contact, a player shall be ineligible
for the team's next two scheduled contests and a coach for a minimum of the team's next
two scheduled contests. Coaches ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct will not be physically present or communicate in any way with the team at that next scheduled contest. . . .
The decision to eject and therefore suspend from the next scheduled contest(s) may be appealed by conforming
with the following procedure.
(1) The parents, guardians or coach of a suspended player or suspended coach must
request in writing that the principal review the decision to eject.
(2) The principal will review the facts utilizing available and appropriate resources and
decide whether to appeal the decision. The principal may terminate the appeal at this point
if there is insufficient merit.
(3) If, after review of the facts, including consultation with officials, the principal concludes
that the appeal is warranted, he/she shall contact the principal(s) or designee(s) of
the other schools involved and present his/her case. If, after review of the facts, all principals
or designees, together with the commissioner of the association responsible for officiating
that game, agree that the appeal had merit and that because of an error or misapplication of
the rules by the officials the ejection was not warranted, it will be sustained and the player
reinstated for the next contest. If any two of the three individuals hearing the appeal agree
that the appeal has merit but the other does not, the appellant may request a review by the
VHSL Executive Director or his designee, who may sustain or deny the appeal based upon
review of the facts using all available and appropriate resources.
(4) . . .
(5) The decision of the principal(s) or VHSL-appointed sportsmanship or games committee
shall be final.
27-13-7 Situations which must be reported to the League are listed, but not limited to
those, below:
(1) Incidents involving damage to school property, including buses or other vehicles.
(2) Physical or verbal altercations or other unsportsmanlike conduct between players,
coaches, spectators or officials.
(3) Verbal abuse by players, coaches, or spectators directed toward opposing teams,
coaches, or officials.
(4) Public criticism of officials by coaches in news media.
(5) Coach ejection from the game.
(6) Player ejection from the game.
