Austin Staats suspension was for two games, not one like first thought

Austin Staats, San Diego Seals (Photo: Jaclyn McKee)

While specifics on San Diego Seals forward Austin Staats’ recent suspension were never shared, the length of his discipline appears to have been for two games, not just one like many around the league were under the impression he had received.

On November 22, the league posted the following on their official transaction page, “The San Diego Seals have placed Austin Staats on the Suspended List from the Active Roster.”

The Lax Mag had previously reported that Staats received a single-game suspension for violating Rules 42 & 41.3, but have now learned discipline for those infractions carry a two-game suspension.

The league’s rulebook states:

RULE 42: DEFINITION OF GROSS MISCONDUCT PENALTY

The referee may impose a “Gross Misconduct” penalty on any player who is guilty of a gross misconduct of any kind. Any player incurring a “gross misconduct” penalty shall be assessed a match penalty and shall be subject to fine and/or suspension from the League Office. Violation for non-playing personnel will result in a bench minor penalty and game misconduct penalty, and the offender being removed from the game and subject to fine and/or suspension from the League Office.

For all gross misconducts regardless of when imposed, a total of ten (10) minutes shall be charged in the records of the offending player. The in-home shall serve the match penalty.

The following list of infractions, but not limited to, can result in a gross misconduct being assessed:

• Interfering with or striking a spectator
• Racial, gender, religious, sexual orientation taunts and/or slurs
• Spitting on or at an opponent, spectator or referee

41.3 MATCH PENALTY ASSESSED IN TEAMS LAST GAME

- If a player receives a match penalty in their team’s last game, they shall receive an additional one (1) game suspension at the start of the next regular season.

The Lax Mag has also learned that Staats was assessed a fine for a spearing incident in the Seal’s heated preseason game against the Halifax Thunderbirds on November 12:

64.3 GAME MISCONDUCT - The referee, at his discretion, may assess a major penalty and game misconduct, based on the degree of violence of the spear, to a player who illegally spears an opponent.

The Seals, who have won both of their games during Staats’ two-game suspension, next play on December 30 in Calgary against the Roughnecks (9pm ET). Staats will be available for that game.

Suspensions in the NLL have generally been on the decline in recent seasons. No players were suspended during the 2021-22 season, while Dane Dobbie & Jordan Durston were the only players suspended during the league’s incomplete 2019-20 campaign.