Over the past couple of seasons, we have had requests regarding what constitutes assault on a sports official. Therefore, as a point of information we are providing below the language as written in the Pennsylvania crimes Code Secions 2712 and 2701. Simple assault is defined as a second degree misdemeanor, which means it carries a maximum penalty of a $5,000 fine and up to two years maximum im prisonment. Under §2712. assault of a sports official is a first degree misdemeanor and a maximum of a $10,000 fine and five years in jail. The appropriate information is as follows:

1). 18 PA. C. S.A. §2712 provides: Assault on Sports Official.
	(a)	Offense defined - A person who violates section 2701 (relating to simple assault), where the victim is a sports official who was assaulted during a sports event or was assaulted as a result of his or her official acts as a sports official, is guilty of assault on a sports official.
	(b)	Grading, - Assault on a sports official is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
	(c)	Definitions. - As used in his section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
Sports event is defined as, any interscholastic athletic activity in a junior high school, high school, college or university in this Commonwealth or any other organized athletic activity in this Commonwealth, including a professional or semi-professional event. A sports official is defined as a person at a sports event who enforces the rules of the event, such as an umpire or referee, or a person who supervises the participants, such as a coach. The term includes a trainer, team attendant, game manager, athletic director, assistant athletic director, president, dean, headmaster, principal and assistant principal of a school, college or university.
2). 18 Pa. C.S. §2701 provides: Simple assault.
	(a)	Offense defined - A person is guilty of assault if he:
		(1)	attempts to cause or intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes bodily injury to another.
		(2)	negligently causes bodily injury to another with a deadly weapon; or
		(3)	attempts by physical menace to put another in fear of imminent serious bodily injury.
	(b)	Grading- Simple assault is a misdemeanor of the second degree unless committed:
		(1)	in a fight or scuffle entered into by mutual consent, in which case it is a misdemeanor of the third degree; or
		(2)	against a child under 12 years of age by an adult 21 years of age or older, in which case it is a misdemeanor of the first degree.