gOOD SiDeLiNe mANAgemeNt - Inland Football Officials Association

2012
CFOA
KiCKOFF
OFFiCiAL puBLiCAtiON OF tHe CALiFORNiA FOOtBALL OFFiCiALS ASSOCiAtiON
gOOD SiDeLiNe mANAgemeNt
F
ootball officiating is complex
because it is part art, part science.
Interacting with coaches and players is
an art form. It is a skill that is learned
through education and experience.
We need to constantly re-evaluate
and adjust our approach in order
to ensure effective sideline/player
communication. Examples of officiating
science would pertain to the application
of keys and mechanics.
Sideline control requires rules
knowledge, which equals confidence, as
well as emotional intelligence.
What is emotional intelligence?
It is self-awareness, impulsivity
control, the ability to adapt to complex
demands and the ability to interact with
confidence.
In all phases of officiating, know
that appearance counts. The first
impression people make is based
on your fitness. In close order, that
is followed by your uniform. Is it
clean and free of wrinkles? Are your
shoes shined? As unfair as may seem,
perception is reality when it comes to
appearance.
Body language is critical, especially
when dealing with sideline personnel.
Check your posture. Are you standing
up straight? Do you make eye contact
when you interact? How about your
facial expressions? Does your demeanor
exude confidence, haughtiness,
openness, timidity or anger?
Body language encompasses
all non-verbal communication. It is
believed that 75 to 90 percent of our
communication is non-verbal. Many
cues are very subtle, but they are visual
cues that coaches, players and fans pick
up on. Among the negative cues are
folded arms, hands on hips or hands in
pockets when the ball is not in play.
Some officials want to dominate
the conversation. Instead, don’t be
afraid to listen. And remember that
hearing, listening and understanding
are not the same thing. Acknowledge
a coach’s statement or question if
appropriate. Show empathy when
appropriate, such as, “I understand
what you are saying, coach.” Avoid
the appearance of arrogance or
indifference. Treat coaches/players
like a business associate, client or a
customer. At all times be cognizant of
your voice intonation and inflexion/use
a conversational tone.
Instead of having the coach serve as
an interrogator, turn the conversation
around and ask the questions. Examples
include:
“What do you have, coach?”
“Which player was it, coach?”
“What number, coach?”
Another suggestion is to make a
statement showing interest. Examples
include:
“Let me find out for you.”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
“I’ll ask (or talk to) my crewmate
about it.”
Remember that part of your job
is to explain and educate. Complex
issues, such as complicated penalty
enforcement or unusual situations,
require prompt and thorough attention.
See “SiDeLiNe” p. 7
major manual modifications
T
he following changes have been
made to the 2012 CFOA Football
Officiating Mechanics Manual. Consult
the book for details.
ALL OFFiCiALS
Umpires spot the ball facing the
offense.
Uniform requirements modified.
“Wind-the-clock” signal eliminated
when a play ends inbounds near a
sideline but a first down has been
achieved.
Procedure for obtaining second-half
choices modified.
CReW OF Five
Signal when 5 seconds remain in the
25-second count. Back judge responsible
for game timing.
The 3 minute halftime warm up
kept by the back judge and the game
clock.
Umpire and linesman count team K
on free kicks; line judge counts team R.
Starting position on free kicks
modified.
Free kick coverage modified.
Onside kick and scoring kick
following fair catch coverage modified.
CReW OF FOuR
Referee and umpire count team A
and team K. Linesman and line judge
count team B and team R.
Free kick starting positions
modified.
Positioning and coverage on scoring
kicks on or inside team R’s 15 yard line
modified. n
PUBLISHED BY REFEREE ENTERPRISES, INC. IN COOPERATION WITH THE CFOA
2012
CFOA
Kickoff
2012 NFHS Football Rule Changes
Reference(s)
Change
Comment
1-2-3h, 1-2-3l
Corporate advertising and markings on
the field allowed.
Corporate advertising and/or commercial markings are now allowed on the
field of play. Note, however, those markings may not obstruct required field
markings (i.e. the yard lines, hash marks or numbers).
1-5-2b
Gloves.
Gloves that were legal last year are legal this year. Starting next season,
gloves must meet NOCSAE standards.
1-5-3c(8)
Play cards may only be worn on the
wrist.
Play cards may not be worn attached to the belt or in any manner other
than on the wrist.
2-3-7
Blocking below the waist interpretation
changed.
It is a foul for a player to block below the waist if the hand(s) of the
opponent are first contacted below the waist. Under a previous
interpretation, such a block was legal.
2-4-1
Catch definition modified.
Previously, an airborne player with the ball in his grasp who was prevented
from coming down inbounds due to contact by the opponent was awarded
a catch. Under the change, in order to make a catch, a player must
establish possession of the ball and contact the ground inbounds while
maintaining possession of the ball.
3-5-10d
Player must sit out if helmet comes off
during the down.
If a player’s helmet comes completely off during the down and it’s not due
to a foul, the player must sit out one down (unless halftime or an overtime
intermission occurs). A charged team timeout cannot be used to keep the
player in the game.
9-3-8
Blocking on free kicks modified.
Team K players may not block or initiate contact until the ball has (a)
touched the ground, and (b) gone 10 yards. Note that (a) and (b) can
happen in any order.
9-4-3h
Illegal personal contact penalty has been
revised.
In addition to grasping an opponent’s facemask, chin strap or helmet opening, it
is a foul to grasp a tooth and mouth protector that is attached to the helmet.
9-4-3k
Horse-collar rule altered.
The rule was clarified to note that the horse-collar is a live-ball foul, and it
occurs even if the runner loses possession of the ball.
LOD Foul: No Extension
I
2 CFOA | Kickoff 2012
MechaniGram®
HOME
TIME
VISITOR
QUARTER: 1
DOWN: 2 TO GO: 4
QUARTER NOT EXTENDED
FOR UNTIMED DOWN
B3
ILLEGAL
FORWARD PASS
2
n most cases, when the penalty for
a foul that occurs on the last timed
down of a period is accepted, the
period is extended for an untimed
down. But there is an exception to
that rule.
One of the exceptions involves a
foul for which the penalty includes
a loss of down (3-3-3a, 3-3-4b3). Such a play is depicted in the
MechaniGram.
The clock for the first quarter
expires during a play on which team
A is penalized for an illegal forward
pass. The teams will move to the
other end of the field and the second
quarter will begin with team A in
possession. It will be third and 15
from team B’s 15 yardline. n
A1
B3
A1
pregame Conference
T
he purpose of a pregame
conference is for all officials to
review how everyone is going to
work the game that day. It is also
a way for everyone to get out of
their everyday world, traffic and
problems with family and on the job,
and focus on the task at hand for the
next several hours. A good pregame
meeting can prevent significant
problems from arising during the
game.
Every referee has his own style
of pregame. Some referees like to
talk a lot, and some like to share
the conversation. The officials cover
their basic mechanics. It is not rocket
science, just basic mechanics. Ask
questions and make sure all situations
are covered.
Sometimes, pregame conferences
are less than thorough. It is
important, however, that you know
certain things about how you and
your fellow officials are going to do
things before you go out on that field.
That will help you stay out of trouble
during the course of the game and
help you be more successful during
the game.
Following are some questions
that relate to officials by position.
You need to know the answers to
the questions before you leave the
locker room. If the referee does not
review at least most of the questions,
you need to ask the referee for a
few minutes in the pregame so
you can get your questions asked
and answered. Referees might
assume that everyone knows their
mechanics and that he does not have
to go into detail before every game.
That is unwise, even if you are
working with the same crew every
week.
umpiRe
How is the ball going to be placed
on the ground. Referee? Umpire?
Others?
How far does the umpire go from
sideline to sideline? Ball mechanics?
How far do the flanks come in to
give a spot? When it is close?
How does it work on the goalline?
What info or signal does the umpire
give?
What does the umpire do to help
on pass plays?
Which linemen do the umpire
watch on regular plays? Where does
he need help?
LiNeSmAN, LiNe JuDge,
ReFeRee
Dead ball coverage
FLANKS
How to talk to coaches and
players
Signals?
How to cover sidelines on
running plays? Passing plays?
How to cover pass plays when the
sideline or end line is threatened?
Who moves behind the line after
the ball is snapped?
Who rules backward or forward
pass when the pass is thrown
immediately? How do they rule?
Help on intentional grounding?
How to give progress? Close
to first down? Goalline? Reverse
goalline?
Progress across the field
Dead ball coverage
BACK JuDge, FLANKS
Who covers whom? Keys?
Different formations?
Pass coverage? Sidelines, end line
threatened? Goalline?
Timing?
Punt coverage? Coffin corner
Goalline and fair catch signaler
Dead ball coverage
Remember, a good pregame
reviews assignments on the field, and
it can prevent problems on the field
during the game. n
Are You Coachable?
J
immy’s team was down by two
touchdowns to start the second
half. The coach had just finished
explaining to that he needed to wait
for his blocking to form before he
began to advance upfield after he
caught the second-kickoff. After
receiving the ball, Jimmy promptly
sprinted past the phalanx of blockers.
It took very little time for the
coach to find a substitute for him.
Coachable? Not particularly at that
time. Jimmy heard what had been
said, but didn’t listen.
Officiating is no different. When
you are working a game, if an
assigner or someone farther up the
food chain has made a request of how
to manage a certain situation or make
a certain call, it is in your best interest
to consider doing as they say.
If you irritate the right people
(i.e. commissioners, assigners,
supervisors or observers) while you
are on the field, you can expect to
get “benched.” You can pretty much
plan on mediocre assignments for
your upcoming season with that type
of attitude. No good assigner wants
to accommodate an uncooperative
official or even put him on the field
at all.
It is time for a little selfassessment. Have you acquired the
skill of taking criticism and becoming
a student of the game?
We live in a greedy society. Many
people want instant gratification in
whatever they set out to accomplish.
If they can’t have it now, well,
forget about it. Many officials find
themselves frustrated year after year
for not reaching the goal that they
set out to achieve. For some officials,
that goal is to work in their respective
state tournament. You jump through
all the hoops to make sure you are
fully qualified for the tournament
only to receive news that you won’t
be going … again. For others, it’s
moving up a level (i.e. from junior
high to high school junior varsity to
varsity).
There are plenty of opportunities
that allow for self-improvement in
See “COACHABLe” p. 9
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
3
2012
CFOA
Kickoff
Flashback:
2011 NFHS Football Rule Changes
H
ere is a review of the rules
changes approved by the NFHS
Football Rules Committee in 2011.
Reference(s)
1-1-8
1-5-1c-3
1-5-3c
2-3-8
2-6-1, 2-6-2
3-5-8
3-5-10b
9-4-3k
9-4 Penalty
9-6-2
9-8-1g-4
Change
Officials’ may file paperwork,
reports, etc., even if game is
terminated before end of fourth
quarter or overtime.
Thigh guard specifications
removed.
Eye shade must be single solid
stroke below and no wider than the
eye socket and not extend below the
cheek bone. Eye shade or non-glare
strips must not contain symbols,
logos, numbers or other markings.
Chop block redefined. Any high/
low combination block, with or
without delay, against an opponent
other than the runner is a chop block.
Authorized team conferences
redefined. Outside nine-yard mark
conference consists of one or more
team members and one or more
coaches in front of the team box and
between the sideline and the nineyard marks (numbers). Between nineyard mark conference consists of one
coach and no more than 11 players
with meeting on the field between
the hash marks.
When an official’s time-out is
taken for an injured player, teams
may only use the outside nine-yard
mark conference.
Player who exhibits concussion
symptoms must be removed for
one down unless the halftime or an
overtime intermission occurs.
Horse-collar is a live-ball foul.
Enforcement spot for roughing
the passer altered.
4 CFOA | Kickoff 2012
Illegal participation expanded to
include a player who intentionally
goes out of bounds, remains out
of bounds and touches the ball,
influences the play or otherwise
participates.
Unsportsmanlike conduct penalty
charged to the head coach if his team
fails to comply with rules regarding
the coin toss.
Comment
Clarifies there is a difference
between “officials’ authority” and
“officials’ jurisdiction” when it
comes to filing necessary reports.
For instance, if the officials need
to confer after the game regarding
ejections, etc., they are not restricted
because their jurisdiction has ended.
Manufacturers have developed
thigh guards that may be safer than
what the rules previously called
for. As a result, specifications for
thickness, compression resistance,
etc., have been eliminated. Note:
Thigh guards remain required
equipment.
Eye shade is intended to aid
vision. It is not to extend below
or wider than the eye socket. The
change prohibits face painting or
excessive paint or grease on the face.
“Low” is defined as at or below
the knee. Low/low block, which
previously was a chop block, now
legal. Low blocks must occur in the
free-blocking zone while the freeblocking zone exists.
Clarifies the two styles of
conference that may occur during
an authorized conference. Note
there is no change to the rule that
only one type of conference may
be used during a single authorized
conference.
Keeping teams outside the nineyard marks allows medical personnel
the room they need to attend to the
injured player. If the injured player is
outside the nine-yard marks in front
of the team box, the conference must
still take place outside the nine-yard
marks, but away from the injured
player.
Adds potentially concussed
player as one for whom an official’s
time-out is taken. Also prevents a
team using a charged team timeout to “buy” potentially concussed
player back into the game because
appropriate health care professional
gave clearance during the time-out.
Prevents a situation in which a
horse-collar called on fourth down
short of the line to gain would
allow Team B to gain possession for
a new series after enforcement of
the penalty. If an act that meets the
definition of a horse-collar occurs
after the ball is dead, it is a personal
foul, not a horse-collar.
If, after catching a pass on a play
on which the passer is roughed,
the runner fumbles but Team A
maintains possession, the penalty is
enforced from the spot of the fumble.
In the past, the penalty was enforced
from the end of the last run. Note
that if team possession changes
during the down, the penalty is still
enforced from the previous spot.
Expands rule to include
situations not previously covered.
Examples: A Team B player
intentionally runs out of bounds and
bats down a pass or grabs or trips
a runner. Or, a Team A player runs
beyond the endline, leaps and while
airborne bats pass to teammate in the
end zone. Note that the player does
not have to be standing on out-ofbounds territory to be considered out
of bounds.
Only four captains (team
members in game uniforms) are
allowed to be on the field for
the coin toss. Remaining team
personnel must be off the field.
By interpretation, the change also
clarifies that a dignitary, game
sponsor or similar non-playing
personnel could be involved in the
coin toss and not count as one of
the participants involved in the coin
toss. n
Lessons from the NFL playoffs
A
lthough in most cases NFL rules are
vastly different than high school
rules, amateur officials can learn from
three plays from last season’s NFL
playoffs.
Green Bay at Philadelphia. The
Eagles punted on fourth and one from
their 23 yardline. Philadelphia punter
Sav Rocca kicked 36 yards to the
Green Bay 41 yardline. The ball struck
the Packers’ Brandon Underwood
on the foot and was recovered by
Philadelphia’s Omar Gaither.
Underwood was deemed to have
touched the ball because he was not
“passive” when he was overpowered
into the ball by a Philadelphia player.
Passive is defined as standing in the
area of the ball without blocking an
opponent. If a player is passive and
is knocked into the ball, he is deemed
not to have touched the ball. Since
Underwood was blocking, he was
responsible for the touch.
In high school, Underwood would
have been the victim of forced touching
(6-2-4) and deemed to not have touched
the ball. The ball would have been
awarded to Green Bay. As it turned out,
the Eagles did not score on the new
series. David Akers missed a 41-yard
field goal.
With 4:02 to play in the game, the
Eagles scored a touchdown to trail,
21-16, and went for a two-point try.
Quarterback Michael Vick completed
a pass in the back of the end zone to
Brent Celek, but Celek had stepped on
the endline before catching the pass. He
was flagged for an illegal touch. Initially
referee Pete Morelli announced the try
was not successful; however, at least one
of the officiating crew members stepped
up and reminded Morelli that the
penalty for an illegal touch is not a loss
of down. Since Celek caught the ball for
what would have been a successful try,
the Packers had to accept the penalty to
negate the score. The Eagles got a re-try
from the seven yardline. The replayed
try was unsuccessful.
Under NFHS rules, Celek’s foul
would be illegal participation. Celek
voluntarily went out of bounds and
returned (9-6-1). The 15-yard penalty
would be enforced under the all-but-one
principle from the previous spot and
the try would be replayed from the 18
yardline.
Baltimore at Kansas City. Chiefs
quarterback Matt Cassel went back
to pass and was hit by Baltimore’s
Lardarius Webb while he was
attempting to pull the ball back. The
ruling on the field was that Cassel
fumbled and the ball was recovered by
the Ravens. Kansas City challenged and
the call was reversed to an incomplete
pass.
That is the infamous NFL “tuck”
rule. Once a player moves his arm
forward to pass the ball, he is considered
to be in the act of passing until he totally
tucks back to his body. Under NFHS
rules, that is a fumble. Cassel was not
attempting to pass the ball and his arm
was not moving forward when the ball
came loose (2-31-2 Note).
New York Jets at Indianapolis.
The Jets trailed, 16-14, but had the ball
first and 10 at their 46 yardline with
53 seconds to play. Mark Sanchez
completed a pass to Braylon Edwards,
who was tackled by Jacob Lacey. The
ball came loose as a result of the hit with
Edwards falling on the ball. Incomplete
or a catch and a fumble? It was ruled
the latter and the review confirmed the
ruling.
To make a catch, possession must be
maintained while going to the ground.
On that play, the receiver maintained
an upright position while making the
catch; it was the subsequent tackle that
took him to the ground. Edwards got
both feet down and was not going to
the ground. The contact by the defender
knocked the ball loose. The play should
be called exactly the same way under
NFHS rules: a catch and a fumble.
Earlier there had been a critical call
involving contact with a kicker. The
Jets led, 14-13, with 3:02 to play in the
game. Indianapolis’ Taj Smith ran into
New York punter Steve Weatherford
and was flagged for running into the
kicker. Although it was only a five-yard
penalty, it gave the Jets a first down.
The issue was whether or not Smith
was blocked into Weatherford. The
ruling was that Smith was not blocked
into the kicker. He regained his balance
after he was pushed, and he could have
avoided Weatherford.
In NFHS, if blocking the defender
into the kicker or holder is the sole
reason for the contact, there is no foul
(9-4-5d). n
Crowd Control
F
or one ESPN sports news cycle, the
cheerleader got as much airtime
as the point guard. Sportscenter clips
showed the dunk that appeared to
seal the win and the cheerleader
grabbing the ball to start the celebration.
Unfortunately, there was half a
second left and the guys in stripes
assessed a technical foul against the
cheerleader’s team. It all turned out to
be an academic exercise when two free
throws narrowed the lead, but a missed
halfcourt shot saved the cheerleader
from what would have been even more
humiliation on a national level.
A cheerleader interfering with a
football game would be extremely
rare. Nonetheless, the incident is
worth thinking about in terms of what
authority referees have when it comes
to dealing with fans. The intrusion of a
cheerleader or fan into the game itself
is not a problem any of us deal with
on a regular basis. Our more common
problem is figuring out what to do with
the obnoxious fan who never stops
screaming. Sometimes it’s at the players
and sometimes it’s at the officials. Most
of the time it’s just part of the game, but
there is a point at which it crosses the
line. It’s mainly a problem for officials at
the high school level, where they may
have or may not have police present,
probably have a school administrator
around, but never have the ubiquitous
security found in D-I and pro venues.
It’s even more of an issue in junior high
and youth league games.
The line between a fan being just
See “CROWD CONtROL” p. 6
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
5
2012
CFOA
Kickoff
Get’em Back on the Field
W
hen play is to resume after a
charged team timeout or other
stoppage, the appropriate officials
must be assertive in getting teams to
return to break up their conference.
Failing to do so may result in
controversy, as it did in a high
school playoff game last season.
Team B delayed its return and
the officials improperly allowed
team A to run a play without
the defense on the field. There is
disagreement as to whether the
wing official on team B’s side of
the field made enough of an effort
to encourage team B to end its
conference.
To prevent such a situation, the
appropriate official should enter
the team’s conference, as shown in
the PlayPic. The coach should not
be interrupted, but the official must
make eye contact. When the coach
CROWD CONTROL
CFOA | Kickoff 2012
pauses, the official can then say,
“Coach, the timeout is over. We’re
ready to play ball.” There is no need
to shout or exhibit anger, but it
should be firm. The official should
then indicate to the referee the team
has been properly advised.
If the tardy team still refuses to
break its huddle, NFHS rules allow
for a five-yard penalty for delay of
game. If the team fails to resume play
two minutes after being ordered to do
so by the referee, the game is forfeited
(3-6-2f, 3-6-3). n
continued from p. 5
part of the game and causing enough
of a problem to warrant our attention
depends on the level of game and
venue. A fan sitting in the middle of
packed bleachers in a deafening high
school playoff can probably get away
with more than one standing near the
baseline during a JV game played in
front of a handful of parents. Some
behavior may be more or less acceptable
simply because of local standards. What
passes in Los Angeles might not be
palatable in Pasadena.
As a result, it is very difficult to
articulate a specific standard that fits
all situations. The rulebook tells us
that unsporting behavior can involve
relationships between spectators,
coaches, players and officials. The
NFHS rulebook also clarifies that
profanity by a player or coach is
unsporting, although it does not
mention spectators (or officials) in that
regard.
The rule does give us the authority
to penalize a team if its fans interfere
in the proper conduct of the game.
6 PlayPic®
(That certainly seems to cover the
cheerleader issue.) However even as the
rulebook gives us the authority to flag
a team because of its fans, the casebook
gives us all the reasons we shouldn’t
and warns us to use that power only
rarely and with “extreme caution and
discretion.”
So, you know that you can only
penalize a team for the action of its fans
when those actions interfere with the
proper conduct of the game. You have
all heard someone say that they didn’t
want to “take the game away from the
kids” in explaining why they passed on
flagging a coach. That concept fits even
better when it comes to dealing with
fans. If you can’t put up with the idiot
in the stands and you are sure you’re
not suffering from a case of rabbit ears,
the better course is to stop the game
until he or she behaves or leaves.
You’ve probably heard many
referees talk about how they “threw a
fan out.” You’ve probably even heard
a referee tell a fan to shut up or he
would throw the fan out. Be careful in
what you say and who you say it to.
First of all, with the possible exception
of ejecting a player or coach, you don’t
have the authority to throw anyone out.
You have the authority to stop the game
until the unsporting spectator is gone.
Whether or not that happens is up to
game management. The casebooks and
rulebooks make it clear that the proper
procedure is to identify the offending
fan, advise game management and let
them deal with the fan. But once we
start the process, we must be willing to
see it through. If management refuses
to remove the offender, the game (or at
least your involvement with it) is over.
Dealing with fans requires you
to use your best judgment and
interpersonal skills. It is never a good
idea to confront or argue with a fan.
Most officials understand that, but even
some very experienced referees let their
sense of self get the best of them. For
example, the fact that a student ignored
a request to lower a megaphone doesn’t
justify grabbing the megaphone and
Continued on next page
throwing it over a fence. That the
official was motivated by his concern
for player safety won’t help if the
student tugged back and there was
a physical confrontation, injury and
lawsuit. Similarly, it won’t make any
difference that the official made the
right call if, during the next time out
he gets into an argument with a fan
in the stands, starts trading personal
insults and ends up in principal’s
office apologizing.
While it’s easy (and fair) to blame
that kind of poor judgment on the
officials, it may also be that you need
to do a better job of emphasizing
the proper way to interact with fans
and deal with fan misconduct. First,
don’t even think about arguing with
a fan. Second, if a fan has to go,
communicate with game management
and game management only. Don’t
warn or otherwise engage the fan. If
you keep the high ground you’ll stay
out of the news cycle and serve the
game and the kids. n
SiDeLiNe
CONtiNueD FROm p. 1
When it comes to fouls, obvious
infractions need not be explained,
but be sure the coach at least gets the
number of the fouling player. Give as
much information as needed, but don’t
say too much. State only what you
know. Don’t guess!
Address coaches and sideline
personnel professionally. Save the jokes
for later; this is serious business. Speak
in conversational tones and avoid anger
or fear. Make conversation relevant.
Do not bother coaches or initiate idle
conversation. Do not allow yourself to
get drawn into an argument. Always
maintain your poise and control. We are
competitive people too, but keep the
emotion out of it. Do not attempt to get
the coach to agree with the call.
Lastly, remember to treat assistants,
ball boys/ball girls, chain crew, security
personnel, timers, trainers and everyone
you meet with utmost respect. You are
the conference’s diplomat. Use the word
“work” with coaches, teams, chain crew,
etc. Manage the sideline by example
and repetition. n
6 Classic movie Lines that
Can improve Your Officiating
G
reat movie lines can make you
laugh and cry. They can inspire
you and have you leaving the theater
repeating them over and over again.
But can you learn from them? Better
yet, can they make you a better
official? Here are six classics that can
help make you a star on the field and
court.
1. “YOu CAN’t HANDLe
tHe tRutH!” (A FeW gOOD
meN).
It’s not easy to handle the
truth, especially if it impacts you
negatively. Keep that in mind
related to coaches and players. Good
officials understand where coaches
and players are coming from in
order to deal with them properly.
Coaches and players aren’t always
going to be accepting of your calls,
and that’s OK. Officials can’t let
negative reactions impact their
confidence in their calls or their
game will be negatively affected.
Expect complaints, expect whining
and deal with it appropriately. Often
doing nothing is the correct reaction.
In other words, don’t overreact to
those who “can’t handle the truth.”
If, however, players and coaches
cross the line, the truth is they need
to be flagged and/or ejected.
2. “mAY tHe FORCe Be
WitH YOu.” (StAR WARS).
Some officials brag about the
lack of unsportsmanlike flags they
have thrown or about the fact that
they have never ejected a player or
coach. That “distinguished honor”
they see as a sign of solid game
management. However, it’s often a
sign of weakness or fear. The force is
with you. You have penalties at your
disposal per the rules of the game.
Ignoring them when they are needed
is ignoring your duty as an official.
A good game manager uses all the
weapons available when necessary.
That doesn’t mean you’re looking
for trouble that isn’t there. It means
you’re not ignoring it if it is there.
3. “LiFe iS LiKe A BOx OF
CHOCOLAteS; YOu NeveR
KNOW WHAt YOu’Re
gONNA get.” (FORReSt
gump).
Game preparation and team
preparation is important for officials.
Know whether the two teams have
bad blood between them. Know if
the conference title is on the line.
Understand what you’re likely in
for when you await that first serve.
While preparation is critical, it’s
also important to be prepared for
anything. You might think you
know the two teams, but something
totally unexpected happens. If
you’re prepared through solid rules
knowledge, an informative pregame
and the ability to adjust, you’ll be
able to manage any situation, even
the unexpected ones.
4. “YOu COmpLete me.”
(JeRRY mCguiRe).
Don’t worry, we’re not heading
for sappy romance here; it’s OK to
read on. You need crewmates who
will complete you — complete the
officiating team. Crewmates need
to be able work together and that
starts with a solid pregame and
ends with a postgame. Crewmates
also need to be able to communicate
during a game. They need to be
comfortable enough with each other
to bring up an error a partner may
have committed to fix it, if the game
allows. Crewmates need to trust each
other rather than look in another
partner’s area to “make sure” he or
she gets it right. Build a relationship
with your fellow officials and your
game will end happily ever after.
mOvie LiNeS
CONtiNueD ON p. 12
Copyright © 2011 by Referee Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved,
except as provided for by licensing agreement with the CFOA. Not to
be reproduced in any medium without written permission of Referee
Enterprises, Inc., 2017 Lathrop Ave, Racine, Wis. 53405. Telephone:
262-632-8855. Fax: 262-632-5460. E-mail: [email protected].
Written by Jeffrey Stern, Referee senior editor. Graphics by Rob
VanKammen, Referee Graphic Designer.
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
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2012
CFOA
KiCKOFF
Don’t pull the punch too Soon
T
B7
B3
A4
B6
PRESS BOX
he “punch” signal — one arm
extended at shoulder level
and pointed toward the offensive
backfield, as seen in the PlayPic — is
used to indicate a pass was thrown
backward.
In NFHS, the signal is usually
given by the wing official on the
side of the field to which the pass is
being thrown. In college mechanics,
the line judge is primary unless the
pass is thrown to the linesman’s side
shortly after the snap. The signal
helps prevent a situation in which,
if the ball hits the ground, another
official blows the play dead because
he thought the pass was forward.
If the backward pass is complete,
the arm can be dropped soon after
the ball is caught. But if it hits the
ground, the official should consider
maintaining the signal for a few extra
seconds. In the MechaniGram, the
A3
A2
backward pass is not caught and
other officials are screened or are
observing players. If the off officials
now turn their attention toward the
ball, not knowing how it got on the
B9
A1
A5
R
ground, they might instinctively blow
their whistles. But if the line judge
has maintained the punch signal, the
other officials know he’s aware of the
status of the ball. n
may the Force Be With You
T
he opening kickoff sails into the
end zone. The ball is muffed in
flight by the receiver and rolls away
from him. The covering official blows
his whistle. What’s the ruling?
One crew’s pregame discussion
was extended for 30 minutes because
one official had difficulty accepting
the notion that play results in a
touchback, not a safety.
The key to determining whether
the result of a play is a safety or
touchback is the force that caused the
ball to go from the field of play into
the end zone. Force is the energy that
causes movement of the ball.
Force is of significance only when
the ball crosses the goalline and only
when it goes from the field of play
into the end zone.
The initial force results from a
carry, fumble, kick, pass or snap. A
new force cannot be imparted to a
ball in flight, but once it is grounded
a new force may result from a bat,
illegal kick or muff. Merely touching,
deflecting or being struck by a ball
does not provide a new force. When
8
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
the ball is at rest or nearly at rest,
almost any contact will cause a new
force. When a player pushes or blocks
an opponent into the ball, the force is
attributed to the player who pushed
or blocked. For grounded balls, the
covering official must decide whether
the ball would have gone into the end
zone without the subsequent contact.
For a safety to occur, a team must
put the ball into its own end zone.
A touchback can occur when a team
puts the ball into its opponent’s end
zone.
A safety scores two points for
the opponents and the team whose
goalline is involved must then put
the ball in play on its 20 yardline by
a free kick. The most common way to
incur a safety is for a runner to carry
the ball across his goalline where
it becomes dead while still in his
team’s possession. By definition, the
dead-ball spot is the spot under the
foremost point of the ball, but there is
one exception.
Play 1: Second and 15 on team A’s
two yardline. A2 receives a handoff in
his end zone and is tackled with the
foremost point of the ball six inches
beyond his goalline and the rear part
of the ball on the goalline. Ruling 1:
Score a safety for team B. If any part
of the ball is touching the goalline
when it becomes dead, the ball is
in the end zone, even though its
foremost point is beyond the goalline.
In the following play, although
team R changes the direction of the
ball, the initial force is not changed
because the ball was in flight when
team R contacted it.
Play 2: Fourth and 10 on team
K’s five yardline. K1’s punt from his
end zone is muffed in flight by R8 at
team K’s 10 yardline and rebounds
into team K’s end zone where it is
recovered by a prone K9. Ruling 2:
Safety. The force that put the ball in
the end zone was K1’s kick. A new
force cannot be imparted to a ball in
flight.
If the enforcement spot is in
the offending team’s end zone, the
penalty results in a safety.
CONtiNueD ON Next pAge
Play 3: First and 10 on team A’s
four yardline. A1 completes a pass to
A2 at his 20 yardline. A7 is flagged
for holding in his end zone. Ruling
3: Since the foul occurred in the end
zone, the penalty yields a safety.
In the preceding play, all-but-one
enforcement applies. The foul by A7
occurred behind the basic spot and is
enforced from the spot of the foul.
It is illegal touching if an
originally ineligible receiver touches
a legal forward pass behind, in or
beyond the neutral zone before it is
touched by an opponent. Touching
by an ineligible does not excuse
intentional grounding. Here’s how a
safety could result.
Play 4: Third and 10 on team A’s
six yardline. A1 drops back to pass.
From deep in his end zone, he throws
a forward pass to ineligible A7, who
muffs the ball in the end zone. The
pass falls incomplete. Ruling 4: Illegal
touching. The enforcement spot is
where A7 muffed the ball. The result
is a safety.
The momentum rule is an
exception to force and a team may be
excused from a safety. When a team
B or team R player secures a loose
ball inside his five yardline and his
momentum takes him into his own
end zone, and the ball becomes dead
there, the ball is returned to the spot
where possession was gained. n
aside for the good of the game. Bad
partners are inevitable but don’t
ostracize them. That makes not only
them look bad but it makes you
look worse for not managing them
properly. It’s not all about you out
there. If your partner(s) look bad,
you look bad too and that doesn’t go
unnoticed by the people assigning
you games.
a chip on your shoulder, chances are
your body language indicates that to
everyone.
COACHABLe CONtiNueD FROm p. 3
officiating through clinics,
scrimmages, camps and educational
meetings. Those forums are often
filled with clinicians and “higher
powers” that are ready to help you in
your endeavor. The following tips can
help you maximize your time at those
various gatherings of officials.
Be AppROACHABLe
Is there any worse trait an official
can have than being unapproachable?
If you sign up to attend a clinic, it is
simply an understood fact that you
are there to get better. Therefore, you
are going to get feedback. Be ready
for it. When a clinician or assigner
points out something that you can
do better, “I will work on it” is a far
better response than “Yeah, I know”
or disputing any and all advice.
ASK QueStiONS
Make a concerted effort to find
the information you are looking for.
Veteran officials appreciate when
you tap their officiating knowledge.
Chances are, especially in a camp
setting, if you have a question about
a particular play, call or mechanic,
that you aren’t the only one who
is curious about it. Be bold and be
articulate.
Be A teAm pLAYeR
It certainly is not always the
easiest to get along with every
official. Each official has his or his
own unique way of doing things,
their own quirks. However, it is
imperative to set personal differences
OBtAiN AND mAiNtAiN A
pOSitive AttituDe
You get feedback and more
feedback from fellow officials. You
get screamed at by ignorant fans
and unruly coaches. You owe it to
yourself to have some fun. A positive
attitude when receiving feedback will
show interest in what you are doing.
There will come a time when you
know (or think you know) more than
the individual giving you feedback.
Degrading them by bringing that to
light is a great way to make enemies
really fast in this industry. If you feel
a frustrating situation coming on,
remind yourself why you officiate. If
“fun” isn’t on that list of reasons, then
maybe it is time to consider a new
avocation.
LeAve it ON tHe FieLD
Every game is a new one. There is
no need to walk into a given contest
with preconceived notions about your
partner(s) or the coaches. Don’t carry
your baggage from the bad game you
had last week onto the field. It’s a
new game and it should be treated as
such. When you officiate a game with
ADmit YOuR miStAKeS
Humility is such an important
part of officiating, but gets
overshadowed all too often by
egos that are too big to fit through
the locker room door. If you were
wrong, admit it and move on. Don’t
try to blame other people for what
happened. Video does not lie. It’s
better for you to make note of the
mistake and why it happened rather
than your assigner discovering it via
the officiating grapevine a few days
later. Then you have to forget about
it. Too often officials let mistakes
linger and it affects the way they
officiate from that point on.
WORK HARD
You are not above any assignment
that you have accepted. You were
offered all of your games for a reason.
Always give 100 percent. Perception
is everything. If you don’t feel like
you are working very hard, it’s likely
that you aren’t the only one who is
thinking that way.
It took Jimmy a while to regain
the trust of his coach. Mistakes will
happen. Misjudgments will occur.
Officiating mentors, assigners,
commissioners, clinicians etc. (read:
coaches) are there to help us along
and make sure we don’t make the
same mistake twice. Make yourself
open to criticism and never stop
learning. n
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
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practice, Focus On Basics if You’re
New or getting Sloppy With Signals
W
ikipedia describes a signal
as “a discrete part of
communication.” That may be true
for things like traffic lights, beacons,
economics or distress, but not
necessarily for sports officials. In fact,
signals should stand out, be clear,
concise, crisp and effective.
There are times, however, when
an experienced official’s signals can
get sloppy. Maybe you’ve signaled
an incomplete pass or holding foul
for what seems like the millionth
time. Before you know it you’re not
standing straight or you’re making
lackadaisical movements. Are you
getting lazy, trying to save yourself
the “energy” that you know it takes
to make a good signal? If you find
yourself falling into that rut — and
you know if you are — get out of it.
Do you really want to be that official?
Same thing if you’re a newer
official. You owe it to yourself, your
crew and everyone involved with
a particular game to take the right
approach and mind-set for signals
from the get-go. It is an important
part of officiating and one of the
factors that separate average-to-good
officials and good-to-great officials.
Whether you’re getting lazy
or bored or new, whatever the
case, review the basics of signaling
frequently to help you communicate
much more effectively to the table or
coaches in your next match.
PlayPic®
PlayPic®
PlayPic®
A
B
C
miRROR imAge
What are your signals really
like? Stand in front of the mirror,
preferably the full-length kind, when
practicing and take a good look at
yourself. Sure, it’s a little awkward
but very effective. Try to make a habit
of practicing different signals a few
times a week and your signals will
soon reflect that practice on the field
or court.
get teSteD
SeeK ADviCe
Ask officials whose signals you
admire or clinicians at a camp or
clinic to watch you as you make your
signals. They may see something
that you can improve on and/or
offer a better technique to convey a
violation. If possible, watch video
of yourself making signals with
someone that you feel can help you.
On top of that, watch others and take
notes on how top collegiate officials
present themselves on television or
while you attend a match in person.
What do they do before making a
signal?
While you are practicing in front
of a mirror, recruit a family member
or friend to read off different signals
from your mechanics manual. That
will help you to remember the correct
signal a little more quickly without
having to “think” about the mechanic
before making the motions.
eYe CONtACt
SLOW DOWN
Be sure to keep your arms up at
least at chest level while conveying
a signal.
By practicing the basics of
signaling on a regular basis, you will
be the official with the great signals
instead of that official. n
Sometimes signals can appear to
be sloppy simply because officials
hurry through them. Keep it simple.
The ball is dead anyway. It may seem
like it’s taking forever to transmit a
signal, but announcers and teams will
appreciate it.
Just as it is important to focus on
your primary coverage area, do the
same when making a signal. When
signaling a penalty, pick a certain
area in the stands and focus on that
area while making the signal.
DON’t HiDe YOuR SigNALS
Solid body language when signaling is an aid to selling calls and in conveying proper messages to the timer. One signal often done incorrectly is
the signal for incomplete pass. When done properly (PlayPic A), the official stands erect. The arms are crossed in front of the body, then thrust to
the sides. If the pass falls incomplete in plain view, make the signal once. If a call needs to be sold, additional repetitions are appropriate. Avoid
bending at the waist or signaling with “alligator arms” (arms not extended), as seen in PlayPics B and C.
10
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
Judgment and the inadvertent Whistle
T
he rules regarding inadvertent
whistles are just as unfair as the
whistle itself. There simply is no good
way to correct for the stoppage of a
play in mid-stream.
The method of handling
inadvertent whistles depends on
the type of play and the status of
the ball. Those can be divided into
three categories: During a snap, legal
forward pass or legal kick; a ball in
player possession; and a loose ball
following a backward pass, fumble,
illegal forward pass or illegal kick.
SNAp, pASS OR KiCK
Whenever an inadvertent whistle
sounds during a snap, kick or a legal
forward pass, the ball is returned to
the previous spot and the down is
replayed. Neither team has an option
and rightfully so. There is no practical
alternative to that rule.
Play 1: A punt is in flight or
rolling along the ground when an
official inadvertently sounds his
whistle. Ruling 1: The ball is dead
immediately and returned to the
previous spot. Replay the down.
How far would the ball have
rolled? Could a player of the
receiving team have picked up the
ball and advanced it? How far could
he have run? Those are all questions
that cannot be answered. Unless there
was an accepted penalty during the
above play which in effect negates the
play, there is no viable option other
than doing it over.
pLAYeR pOSSeSSiON
If an official blows his whistle
while a player has possession of the
ball, the team in possession has one
of two options. It may take the ball
where it was blown dead, or replay the
down at the previous spot.
Play 2: Second and eight on team
A’s 25 yardline. A2 gains five yards
to team A’s 30 yardline and is still
running when the whistle blows.
Ruling 2: Team A may put the ball in
play, third and three at team A’s 30
yardline, or replay the down, second
and eight from team A’s 25 yardline.
Again, there is no other practical
way to handle that unfortunate
situation. No one will ever know how
far A2 could have advanced.
LOOSe BALL
When the whistle is blown while
the ball is loose following a backward
pass, fumble, illegal forward pass or
illegal kick, the fumbling or passing
team has the option of taking the ball
where the player lost possession or
replaying the down at the previous
spot.
Play 3: On second and seven, A2
carries the ball for a four-yard gain, is
hit by several defenders and fumbles.
The whistle is blown by an official
who does not see the ball. The ball is
then recovered by a defensive player.
Ruling 3: Team A has the option of
taking the ball where it was fumbled
(four yards beyond the neutral zone)
for third down and three or replaying
the down, second and seven at the
previous spot.
Invoking the inadvertent rule in
that scenario is patently unfair to the
defense. First, the defense loses the
opportunity to get a ball it almost
certainly rightfully recovered. Players
do not immediately react to the
whistle, and a player who is viewing
a loose ball would rarely refrain from
proceeding to make an attempt to
recover it because of the whistle.
Secondly, the rule allows the
team that made the mistake — the
fumble, a chance to do it over. In
that situation, if it can be in any way
justified by the circumstances and the
timing of the whistle, an inadvertent
whistle should not be declared.
Instead, the ruling should be that
the whistle was blown because the
runner’s forward progress was
stopped. There is no ethical way to
award the ball to the defense, but
at least the offense is denied the
undeserved advantage of replaying
the down.
In the actual occurrence of play
three, the referee declared the play
ended with the stopping of the
runner’s forward progress, albeit it
was not as a result of the above. n
preventing iWs
I
nadvertent whistles are primarily the result of hasty judgments. While there
is a safety value in the timely blowing of the whistle, it is not an acceptable
excuse for a premature toot. No statistics are available on the causes of
inadvertent whistles, but here are the major contributors: blowing the whistle
when you can not see the ball (or not knowing where it is); blowing the
whistle before you are certain the player has complete and secure possession
of the ball; blowing the whistle before you are certain the runner is down by
rule; and not understanding dead-ball rules i.e., not all balls that enter the end
zone are dead by rule.
Mental alertness is the best defense against inadvertent whistles. Do not
hurry. Stick to your assigned coverage and do not blow a whistle on a play
for which you are not responsible. If that means on some plays there will be
no whistle or a very late whistle, it’s acceptable.
One sure way to avoid blowing the whistle at the wrong time is to
keep the whistle out of your mouth while the ball is live. It is necessary for
basketball officials to have the whistle in their mouths during play, but is
prone to cause problems in football.
The referee should discuss whistle responsibilities in every pregame. One
approach that works well is to have the wings only blow the whistle when
the play ends in their coverage zone. It has long been advocated that umpires
not blow their whistle, even if the play ends at their feet. That’s because the
wings have the best view as to when forward progress is stopped.
CFOA | KiCKOFF 2012
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2012
CFOA
Kickoff
Momentum, No Exception
Movie lines
ne of the conditions that must
be present for the momentum
exception to apply is that, when the
ball becomes dead in team B’s or
team R’s end zone, it is in team B’s
or team R’s possession (NFHS 8-5-2a
Exc; NCAA 8-5-1b Exc). That is not
the case in the MechaniGram.
Although the team B player
intercepted a pass inside his own five
yardline and his original momentum
carried him into his own end
zone, he fumbled and the ball was
recovered by team A. The result is a
touchdown for team A. n
5. “I’ll be back.”
(Terminator).
O
FUMBLE
B2
B2
MOMENTUM
INTERCEPTION
PASS
SPOT OF SNAP
A1
Literally Lateral
S
ports commentators, coaches,
players and fans often use the
term “lateral” when referring to a
specific play in a game. As all good
football officials will tell you, there
is no such thing as a lateral; the
correct term is backward pass.
The word lateral (in terms of
a thrown ball) does not appear in
either rulebook. Every ball thrown
in a game is either thrown forward
or backward, period, despite the
dictionary definition of lateral. Thus
the misnomer for a backward or
forward pass that is approximately
parallel with the line of scrimmage.
The cry for a forward or backward
lateral is something that most
officials will hear sometime in their
career.
Officials have to make a
determination as to whether a
pass had been thrown forward or
backward. If backward, the covering
official signals by punching his arm
toward the offensive team’s goal.
The determination whether the pass
was forward or backward is based
on where the ball left the thrower’s
hand and where it was first touched
by a player, offensive or defensive,
the ground or an official.
That is extremely important
and can be a game-changer. If the
ball hits the ground, whether it
12 CFOA | Kickoff 2012
was touched by either an offensive
or a defensive player and it was
determined to have been thrown
forward, the ball is declared dead
and ruled an incomplete pass. If it
has been determined to have been
originally thrown backward, the ball
remains live and in play. A player
from either team may pick up the
ball and run with it.
Wing officials have to be in
position and ready to rule on
whether a pass is forward or
backward on every pass play.
While some pass plays that are
forward or backward are very
obvious, a problem can occur when
the quarterback turns and throws
quickly toward a sideline. Such a
pass may be thrown laterally in the
dictionary sense, but for football
situations, it’s going to be ruled
either forward or backward.
Some teams drop a tackle into
the backfield and throw a screen
pass to him. If the pass is ruled
forward, it’s illegal touching. If
it’s backward, since all players are
eligible to receive a backward pass,
the play is legal. We may never see a
day on which announcers, coaches,
players and others cease referring
to backward passes as laterals. But
officials can certainly work hard at
getting the calls correct. n
continued from p. 7
Some games don’t have such
a rosy ending (or beginning and
middle). Officials can leave the
contest feelingFUMBLE
defeated and ready
AT REST
for early retirement. When that
happens to you, channel your inner
“Schwarzenegger” and get ready
for the next one. No matter how
poor of a game (whether you miss a
crucial call or deal with a lopsided
snoozer), you need to learn from
the experience and come back
stronger and better next time. A lot
of your comeback spirit will hinge
on your attitude. A positive attitude
can get you through a rough patch.
Sometimes it takes more rules study
or guidance from a mentor after a
game. Sometimes it just takes the
knowledge that you’ll have plenty
of good games in the future as well.
Whatever it takes, fight through
and know that you’ll be back.
6. “There’s no place
like home.” (Wizard of
Oz).
Don’t get so caught up in
officiating that you forget about
your priorities, such as your
family. No matter how rough the
match ends up being, your family
is always there for you. In order
to officiate your best, you need to
balance your home and officiating.
If you officiate three or four games
a week, not only will your family
feel neglected, you’ll get burned
out. Schedule time off in the middle
of the season, so you can take off
your officiating shoes and spend
time away from the avocation.
You’ll return a lot fresher and be a
better official in the last half of the
season.
So, you really can learn a thing
or two from Hollywood. Keep that
in mind when you go to the theater
to watch your next movie — just
don’t skip your local association
meeting to do it. n