How does the runner usually react when he’s been tackled? The norm in college and pro football is that runners lay patiently after they are tackled and tacklers arise in orderly fashion. That protocol is a learned response. Players at the high school level don’t always abide by that practice. In effect, they have to …
One of the oldest sports clichés is that football is “a game of inches.” When a measurement is involved, it might be a fraction of an inch. A football crew may go entire seasons without having to conduct a measurement, particularly with the abundance of turf fields and their perfectly straight lines. But because there …
No one likes to see a lot of flags thrown. They interrupt the flow of the game and can seem to make it drag on endlessly. Sometimes it’s one of those ragged games where we don’t have any choice. But often some solid, well-timed preventive officiating on our part is better than tossing a flag …
All team A players are set before a snap. Then two backs go in motion. Both are still moving just before it appears the snap is imminent. Is that a foul at that point? Does the play need to be shut down? Or should officials wait unit the ball is snapped before launching a flag? …
Before, During or After the Play When to Throw the Flag Determined by Foul Intervals Read More »
It was the championship game for the local semi-pro league with a crew of six officials. A pass was intercepted and the down ended near the sideline. The side judge promptly called for a new ball, but the ball assistants were nowhere near to be found. After what seemed an eternity, they were located behind …
The idea of a flag being waved off brings to mind an overbearing referee trumping the decision of a younger crewmate. That has happened on occasion but picking up a flag can be a prescribed mechanic and it can also be smart officiating. That’s not to say picking up a flag should be done very often, and it certainly is not a crutch to …
When to Throw Flags, When Not to (and When to Pick ’em Up) Read More »
Coaches, players and fans are allowed to panic when a play goes awry. Officials, on the other hand, must react to broken plays as if they’re routine and they saw it coming all along. However, the crew must be especially vigilant for fouls during those broken plays. Here are some examples of what to do when the play is executed in a manner …
Hey everyone, As promised, wanted to provide an update as early as possible related to trainings and camps for the year. I know folks are working on plans for the summer and fall, want to give you what we have so far. That said – THIS INFORMATION IS ALL TENTATIVE! Once these items are finalized, …
Two huge mistakes that officials can make are ball-watching and officiating air. The former means watching the runner to the exclusion of what’s happening around him. The latter means focusing on areas where nothing is going on instead of shifting our eyes to where something is happening. Both prevent us from seeing things we need to see. That problem, moreover, afflicts veterans and newer officials. At times, …
Ball-Watching Afflicts Veterans and Newer Officials Alike Read More »
By Jon Bible Iremember sitting at the breakfast table on the morning of a late-season game between two cellar-dwellers. One official, a garrulous person whose normal speaking voice could be heard in the next block, exclaimed, “How the hell did we end up with this piece of (deleted) game?” We all laughed because it pretty …
