I have found that fans are quick to criticize officials but they are usually not very well informed about the rules of the game or how the game is officiated.

 

Maybe our referee friends here at BGP's can explain to us who is responsible for what?

 

For instance what is each official called and what is each one's primary duty during the game?

Hey guess what Officials are not always right!!!!!

There are good officials, not so good officials, bad officials, and not so bad officials.

Some officials know the rules and some don't.

I feel there is nothing wrong with criticizing officials. It is part of the game.

I feel there is nothing wrong with praising officials. It is part of the game.

Someone can correct me if I am wrong, but there seems to be alot of newer officials. This is a good thing because I believe that in Kentucky we have had lower numbers of officials than we have had in the past. I hope there are enough experienced officials to go around.

There are so many rules officials have to keep up with and they are different depending on the organization the officials are woking for for a particular game. There is no substitute for experience when it comes to officiating.

I have found that fans are quick to criticize officials but they are usually not very well informed about the rules of the game or how the game is officiated.

 

Maybe our referee friends here at BGP's can explain to us who is responsible for what?

 

For instance what is each official called and what is each one's primary duty during the game?

Nice thread idea....

I would like to add some questions?.....

 

How are these responsibilities different than in NCAA and NFL football?

Are there not more refs at those levels?

Does that mean we are expecting too much from our HS refs?

I have found that fans are quick to criticize officials but they are usually not very well informed about the rules of the game or how the game is officiated.

 

Maybe our referee friends here at BGP's can explain to us who is responsible for what?

 

For instance what is each official called and what is each one's primary duty during the game?

 

Generally here are some of the responsibilities. The full description is under the sport football on the http://www.khsaa.org site and Go to the coaches/official info. There is a document called the first and ten that formed the basis for the football mechanics. Many of the mechanics have changed but George Sonny Mercker put those together for the state to use a while back.

 

Referee-white hat behind offense- head official, roughing passer, punter/kicker

Umpire- positioned behind defensive line-Watches line play and illegal pass and

Line Judge- ON home team sideline- 7 men on O's line and encroachment

Head Linesman- On Visitor's sideline with yard to gain chains

Back Judge- behind Safety -25 second clock, pass interference

The full description is under the sport football on the http://www.khsaa.org site and Go to the coaches/official info. There is a document called the first and ten that formed the basis for the football mechanics.

 

That link wouldn't open for me.

 

Who is the Side Judge? Is there a Field Judge?

I think for the most part the ref's do a good job. Obviously, there are times when we all feel as if we have been given the short end, but I truly believe that they try to do their best. Coaches and players are the same, they are trying to do their best..... However, I feel Refs should call what they see, dont anticipate anything, just call what you see ( I must say that you cant see something if your not looking..... be in the right position to make the calls and call what you see....) and be very knowledgeable of the rules... the last point cannot be over emphasized...

That link wouldn't open for me.

 

Who is the Side Judge? Is there a Field Judge?

 

In high school you use 4 man crew for Freshmen and JV ( without a back judge)and 5 man crew for varsity. In college (and NFL) we use a 7 man crew with an additional Side judge and Field judge that handles the two deep outside thirds of the defensive backfield. In the 7 man mechanic, typically the side judge or field judge will take the call on the outside receiver on their side and the back judge will take the inside receiver or tight end. There are different responsibilities for different formations and these are covered in the pregame. For example, the receiver will run a 15 yard out pattern catching the ball close to the side line. Typically the line judge/ linesman on the line behind the catch will take the feet coming down inbounds and the side/field judge will take if it was bobbled.

 

On a side note, I noticed a female working back judge for the Bowling Green St X game. I mean no disrespect when I say 5 man because those are the labels applied to that number of officials. I have to say that I was impressed with her mechanics and game management and furthermore why wouldn't I be impressed? If her assigner thought that she was good enough for that game, then she must be good.

Nice thread idea....

I would like to add some questions?.....

 

How are these responsibilities different than in NCAA and NFL football?

Are there not more refs at those levels?

Does that mean we are expecting too much from our HS refs?

 

To give you all of the responsibilities, I have to point out that the typical high school federation rulebook is about 65-70 pages and the NCAA is about 185 pages the last year I worked college ball. The NFL rulebook is larger than the NCAA.

 

There used to be a document on http://www.KHSAA.org detailing the differences between the high school rules and college rules. As Sonny Mercker mentioned a number of times though, you learn the high school rules and you learn the college rules, you don't learn the differences.

 

As to do we expect too much of the officials? Yes, it is a hard profession with little gratitude. Coaches and parents make it difficult because they only see their biased point of view. But with the short number of officials trying to cover games, remember that he/she is giving their best and know that we are blessed with a number of top officials working in the top leagues including the NFL to learn how to do their job better.

 

As to more officials at the top levels, it is very tough to move into those positions and very tough on the personal lives to be gone that much. Let me tell you that a certain SEC ref worked the Tennessee-Florida game on national TV before 106,000 people on Saturday and got screamed at on the next day at St. Rita doing a CSAA game in Louisvile " ...that's why you do grade school, because you sucK!!" That's the last grade school game he worked. So to ask an official to work a Thursday freshmen game, then a Friday night game until 10:00, shower and go home, leave the next morning ( or after the high school game) to do a college game and then come back and do Sunday leagues and Monday JV games is a lot of personal sacrifice.

 

But there is nothing like stepping on a field with a full stadium, bands playing, fans cheering, teams going at it, to get a reminder of why that referee is on the field or court. To be a part of the game, for the game is much more important than individual achievement. To come off the field and have the combatants tell you "good game, ref", means alot to the men and women in stripes.

In high school you use 4 man crew for Freshmen and JV ( without a back judge)and 5 man crew for varsity. In college (and NFL) we use a 7 man crew with an additional Side judge and Field judge that handles the two deep outside thirds of the defensive backfield. In the 7 man mechanic, typically the side judge or field judge will take the call on the outside receiver on their side and the back judge will take the inside receiver or tight end. There are different responsibilities for different formations and these are covered in the pregame. For example, the receiver will run a 15 yard out pattern catching the ball close to the side line. Typically the line judge/ linesman on the line behind the catch will take the feet coming down inbounds and the side/field judge will take if it was bobbled.

 

On a side note, I noticed a female working back judge for the Bowling Green St X game. I mean no disrespect when I say 5 man because those are the labels applied to that number of officials. I have to say that I was impressed with her mechanics and game management and furthermore why wouldn't I be impressed? If her assigner thought that she was good enough for that game, then she must be good.

 

Thank you for the info.

Thanks Jimmy....I've stepped in as a basketball ref and a football ref in scrimmage games....it was tough.....You start to understand how hard it is when it is up to you..to make the call...in a split second..

 

How many refs are on a NFL and a NCAA field compared to HS?

Imo a person can tell if the ref's are doing a good job if NO ONE notices them. In other words if they call the game the way it should be while still letting it be all about the kids. I have seen a couple of the ref's in my area try and make the show all about them :irked: ! Well they sucseed in that, the ones I am talking about are usually the worst ones out there. Most ref's do a very good job and I do not envy their job, it is a tough one. To all our bgp member referees in h.s. sports.......Thank You.:thumb:

I have found that fans are quick to criticize officials but they are usually not very well informed about the rules of the game or how the game is officiated.

 

Maybe our referee friends here at BGP's can explain to us who is responsible for what?

 

For instance what is each official called and what is each one's primary duty during the game?

 

Referee: aka White Hat. The head official

Umpire: Stands behind the defensive line and under the goal post on a field goal try

Linejudge: Marks all out-of-bounds spots on his side. Spots the ball also does pass interference, off sides and false starts.

Head Linesman: On the chains, and the same as the linejudge

Backjudge: Pass interference, under the goal post on a field goal try and back end-zone line

Here is a GREAT site for referees and football fans. Every position and play type is on here. http://football.refs.org/mechanics/index5.html

 

Check it out.

Referee: aka White Hat. The head official

Umpire: Stands behind the defensive line and under the goal post on a field goal try

Linejudge: Marks all out-of-bounds spots on his side. Spots the ball also does pass interference, off sides and false starts.

Head Linesman: On the chains, and the same as the linejudge

Backjudge: Pass interference, under the goal post on a field goal try and back end-zone line

I dont believe the Umpire does goal post, I think that is the Linejudge or it use to be ....I think IMO 1 misconception from a fan is that is not his call but if an official sees a penalty he should call it...Lack of hustle, not being where they are suppose to be and NOT knowing the rules are the things that bother me....

I dont believe the Umpire does goal post, I think that is the Linejudge....I think IMO 1 misconception from a fan is that is not his call but if an official sees a penalty he should call it...Lack of hustle, not being where they are suppose to be and NOT knowing the rules are the things that bother me....

My bad. And you would think with my avatar, I would know that.