Coach, that is a great question.

 

1. I think you should know the rules as they are written and be able to teach them to the kids as football fundamentals. I think you should take the NFHS Part 1 Rules Exam and then teach and test your student athletes on the rules of the game they play. Smart players win football games and make coaches famous.

 

Not trying to sound like a smart-aleck, but this is exact example of a situation where knowing "the rules as they are written" isn't good enough.

 

I DO teach our kids the rules as they are written -- that's the problem...I've done that in the past and have gotten totally different INTERPRETATIONS of the SAME RULE two different weeks. That ends up making the kids think I don't know the rules...ESPECIALLY when I've taken the time to teach them the rules "as they are written."

 

There are two different posts in this single thread by two different officials that point out some rules (in this case, jamming receivers...but also what is actually "holding" at the OL and what is not) aren't even "known" (or better said, "applied" or "interpreted") in the same way from one crew to the next.

 

And your point about teaching kids to understand "judgment" is part of the game is well-taken...and I DO teach that. However, 'jamming the receiver' and 'holding on the OL' are not cases of JUDGMENT on the part of the official. "Judgment" discrepancies usually deal with the DEGREE of an action DURING the game meriting a flag or not. Here, we're talking about what seems to be a general difference-of-opinion as to the interpretation of a rule BEFORE the game even begins.

 

I agree with FBRULES...there needs to be 1) IDENTIFICATION of specific rules like this that have been inconsistently applied and or interpreted, 2) more STANDARDIZATION between the different officiating crews in the state on those rules (especially considering we always get a crew from OUTSIDE our region in our most important games of the year -- the playoffs), and 3) better COMMUNICATION from officials to coaches as to how these "open-for-interpretation" rules are handled from crew to crew (for instance, if my region's crews say that as a group they believe it's fine for an OL to grab a D-Lineman's jersey all game long as the hands are in the frame of the body and receivers crossing the middle are always 'potential blockers' and thus fair game for contact before the ball is thrown, then let all the coaches in that region know that at the beginning of the season rules meeting.

 

I understand there's not time to discuss EVERY rule in the book, but I'm sure that if we work TOGETHER we could come up with the top 5-10 rules that have some "interpretation inconsistencies" in the state.

In a perfect world every coach would be undefeated and would never have to argue a call. But how much fun would that be?

I have read and agree with many statements. We have a very limited amount of officials in all sports and all levels. This means we have different rules interps and philosophies. I am sure if I and I will state mine, will differ from the officials above and others that will follow.

 

1. no 5 yard buffer, we watch too much and listen to too much commentators at the upper levels. A receiver is a receiver once a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone. Of course barring this receiver was elgible. That player can be contacted until he passes B. Now, we judge the amount of contact...... My fellow officials above stated and no use of repeating.

2. Holding, there's never holding going to be called if your player is doubled up! We allow players to use their hands but not to the point where they actually control that player. Officials should only throw a flag if holding is at the point of attack and not far away from the field. Some officials throw a flag on the right side when the ball is completely on the other side fo the field. If a defender grabs A to allow teammate B to get through the line, flag. I have given lectures to teams in the pre-season about my philosophy but if you do not have me you may get a crew that is totally different.

3. Changing routes, as long as there is not any physical contact, holding etc, no problem, B has as much right to that spot than A. Now I am sure that will lead to a conversation. It's like those pick plays that coaches throw in their playbook because it really is a hard thing to pick up with five offiicals, but coaches would not intentionally do that.

4. I guess we could just go straight by the rules book and call it all and make the game last for four hours. Oh yea, all means 3 in the box and no one on the grass coach. You cannot pick and choose but we all do. I am not sure which area you are coming from as you point out crews but you are going to get that most places throughout the state.

 

I do know and have attended for a couple of times that NKY does annual training and they invite other regions to attend. But when only a select few do, no one is going to buy into the changes. The problem, we have too many who think they are too good to adjust. I have been to camps acrosse the country, my philosophy is what they teach from the NFL to high school.

 

I truly believe a high percentage of officials need to read and understand the rules as they apply to game situations. We need to commnicate better with coaches on the wings and need to explain fouls when asked. A mutual respect and I truly believe that coaches really lack in this aspect. I am not pointing out this coach and I applaud him being on here, he wants to improve. You can also use nfhs site for further words of wisdom from the stipes....

I think that as long as we have 12 regions of officials and probably 500+ officials this will always be a challenge especially in regular season games. I think it would be helpful if we had more statewide interpretations, communications, and an embrace of technology to illustrate those points. My understanding is that it should be coming, hopefully sooner than later.

 

I can only speak of how the training in our own region is based. The is we are working, the very best we can, on information supplied by the federation and the state high school athletic association. Even then, there are no guarantees. I can promise you I call the game much different in the 17th year of officiating than the 3rd year. Thankfully! But, here's the rub. All of the training stuff is a freebie. If you want to do it right, it takes countless hours of putting together film, writing up rules helps for folks, and hashing out mechanics. Plus, you must make room for people to learn from their mistakes. That's hard in a business where you are expected to be perfect and then get better. Are all the areas doing it? Should they? Is this valuable enough to raise pay? Pay the trainers? Train the trainers? Right now, it's work for free, altruistically, and hope for the best.

 

It's not like there is a line of people waiting to get to varsity football or that assigners have a list of 40 qualified people ready to take the place of those who aren't cutting it. And, that leads to some complacency as well.

 

The game is always going to have interpretation and judgement, hopefully more judgement than interpretation. Hopefully, officials have a keen sense of what illegally gains and advantage and what doesn't.

 

And, sometimes fouls have to called (I hate to say that) even when a team doesn't get an advantage. For example, I think there should be a rule change that if an offensive unit only have 10 players on the field and only 6 on the line (the rule requires 7), then that should not be a foul. How does that make any difference? It would not bother me if we happened to miss that one.

 

The better we can call what really matters and let the other stuff go the better off we are. Or, as I like to say, let's don't major in the minors. Of course, there are going to be some times when we say we disagree on what's major and what's minor. It would be easy to say call everything if it violates the rule. Where should we start? 5 yards any time a mouthpiece is out, 15 yards for the 3rd and subsequent time more than three, and I mean three coaches, are in the coach's box? Automatic unsportsmanlike conduct whenever a coach steps on the field illegally (that would be anytime, by the way, except for an injury time out or a charged team time out)?

 

This is an excellent post and I agree with many of your points. Here is my perspective on some of your suggestions:

 

As far as officials go, YES, to all of the above. Increase training at the local association level, and pay for the trainer if need be. I know other sports do this without paying the trainer(s), I don't see how the most popular sport in the state should be any different. In other sports I have seen that the state makes "Points of emphasis" each year, and relays said points to officials at a REQUIRED meeting. If there is a misinterpretation, or misapplication, of a rule on a consistent basis can we not get a ruling from the KHSAA and make it a point of emphasis the following year? How hard is that? I know for a fact that this is exactly how it is handled in other sports.

 

I agree wholeheartedly in the "less is more" approach. I think many of our newer officials think it is a bad night if they don't see their flag at least once a night. :lol: The major problem that I see is that games are being changed or decided due to incorrect rules applications. This should never, ever, happen IMO. Coaches are getting smarter about this too. They see that they have crew X, and know that crew X won't call OPI on the "pick" play. Guess what goes in the gameplan that week?

 

I guess I'd just like to see more uniformity across the board. I know that other sports having been moving this way for some time.

 

The best officials are the ones you never notice.......

If it has a direct effect on the play, gives someone an unfair advantage or will get someone hurt call it. Other than that let 'em play ball.

True, some officials work the game adv. disadv and does it effect the play, no, pass on the penalty. If it does, flag it, and be ready to give the explanation. Your going to get games called differently, that will never change unless you coach in the NFL and at times it can be somewhat different.

 

The one thing I would hope is consistent is flags on unsporting behavior. OK, we work high school games and you hear a kid curse, so what! The books says penalyze this act. Some officials do but most don't. We normally just tell them to calm it down. If we hear a remark that is a racist remark, yes the hankie will come out. At the lower level games, we do penalyze the language, we want to teach these kids but it just don't make it to the high school level.

 

The biggest complaint that I hear among my zebra pals is that we will tolerate the head coach. A lot of times these asst. coaches do nothing but complain all the time. Then the players on the sideline will begin to work their jaw bone.

 

You mention our annual meeting, these point of interest are sent down by the NFHS and khsaa just stresses the message. I tell you, officials leave those meetings and do nothing but complain what a waste of time. A very few really pull stuff from them and apply them on the field. We just have too many officials that do not want to adjust their philosophy in officiating.

So, which is easier to tolerate...jawing from the head man, or from the assistants. I personally have taken the approach of letting my assistants doing the complaining, and reeling them in when it was too far.

The issue is, many high school teams has an asst. coach all over the place, many of them. Much of the time, not even school employers, fathers, recent former players who already think we cheat, and I have to say, head coach wannabees....

 

I much rather listen to the head coach. He's the one whose neck is on the line if they get beat. It all boils down to good communication and mutual respect. Coaches jumping up in the air, screaming, insighting the crowd to create an unsporting environment, not good for the game. I will tell you, coaches who do not do this, tend to get much more respect from the zebra community. We talk just like coaches do about officials. I do not like the reeling them in style, take the responsibility for just asking a question. Hopefully you have a mature officials who knows what they are talking about to help understand why.....

True, some officials work the game adv. disadv and does it effect the play, no, pass on the penalty. If it does, flag it, and be ready to give the explanation. Your going to get games called differently, that will never change unless you coach in the NFL and at times it can be somewhat different.

 

The one thing I would hope is consistent is flags on unsporting behavior. OK, we work high school games and you hear a kid curse, so what! The books says penalyze this act. Some officials do but most don't. We normally just tell them to calm it down. If we hear a remark that is a racist remark, yes the hankie will come out. At the lower level games, we do penalyze the language, we want to teach these kids but it just don't make it to the high school level.

 

The biggest complaint that I hear among my zebra pals is that we will tolerate the head coach. A lot of times these asst. coaches do nothing but complain all the time. Then the players on the sideline will begin to work their jaw bone.

 

You mention our annual meeting, these point of interest are sent down by the NFHS and khsaa just stresses the message. I tell you, officials leave those meetings and do nothing but complain what a waste of time. A very few really pull stuff from them and apply them on the field. We just have too many officials that do not want to adjust their philosophy in officiating.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!! The best part is that these guys actually attend the meeting, but refuse to take anything away from it......I guess that would really be a colossal waste of time.

 

What is amazing is the exact opposite approach is being taken in other sports. This has nothing to do with interpreting the rule correctly, and everything to do with the ego of a small percentage of officials. And to think that these guys signed up to help kids.........sad.

The issue is, many high school teams has an asst. coach all over the place, many of them. Much of the time, not even school employers, fathers, recent former players who already think we cheat, and I have to say, head coach wannabees....

 

I much rather listen to the head coach. He's the one whose neck is on the line if they get beat. It all boils down to good communication and mutual respect. Coaches jumping up in the air, screaming, insighting the crowd to create an unsporting environment, not good for the game. I will tell you, coaches who do not do this, tend to get much more respect from the zebra community. We talk just like coaches do about officials. I do not like the reeling them in style, take the responsibility for just asking a question. Hopefully you have a mature officials who knows what they are talking about to help understand why.....

 

:thumb: Absolutely. Give respect and get respect.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!! The best part is that these guys actually attend the meeting, but refuse to take anything away from it......I guess that would really be a colossal waste of time.

 

What is amazing is the exact opposite approach is being taken in other sports. This has nothing to do with interpreting the rule correctly, and everything to do with the ego of a small percentage of officials. And to think that these guys signed up to help kids.........sad.

 

I attend and take away. Also, your coaches attend these meetings and not sure how much they listen as you often hear. Practiciing too early, longer, and a lot that I hear on this site. Other things that I am not going to mention but it's not just coaches so the comment, they do it for the kids, look at others as well. I did not like that statement, knowingly it is not toward me but a lot of officials, good or bad really do a lot for the kids.

Back to the original post....

Rule 9-2-3a...A defensive player shall not contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker.

 

From the case book...

9.2.3 SITUATION A: End A1 sprints from the line then cuts sharply toward the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues and pushes A1 from the side using his open hands. Contact is on A1's upper arm before the pass is thrown. RULING: Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight. The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use his hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a potential blocker on B1.

 

Two key things to understand about this interpretation from the Case Book.

1. It must be obvious that A1 is not a potential blocker on B1.

2. If A1 is not a potential blocker on B1, he still may be a potential blocker on B2, or any other B player. If A1 gets past B1, but then runs toward B2, B1 may not legally contact A1, but B2 may.

 

My examples above a technically correct, but I did omit the "potential" blocker part. My apologies.

I'm not going to go on and on about it. I disagree agree with the case book just because A1 could still potentially block for the runner like I illustrated above. What matters is the rule book though, not what I think, and how it has been interpreted in Kentucky.

 

I know what the case book says. I've read it 100 times, too. All I can tell you is check in with the state on this one. The rule book always supersedes the case book.

 

Any time we are calling something "technically" we are on thin ice.

I attend and take away. Also, your coaches attend these meetings and not sure how much they listen as you often hear. Practiciing too early, longer, and a lot that I hear on this site. Other things that I am not going to mention but it's not just coaches so the comment, they do it for the kids, look at others as well. I did not like that statement, knowingly it is not toward me but a lot of officials, good or bad really do a lot for the kids.

 

Sorry, I wasn't in any way implying that you were a part of this. In my experience there are entirely too many closed minded, set in their ways individuals for my taste. They know the rules and could care less about what your darn rule book says. Coaches that have a disregard for the rules are in the same group IMO. But saying that coaches do wrong is in no way a satisfactory reason for any offical to disregard the rules.

 

Do things to the best of your ability. If you make mistakes, it is OK, but learn and improve from those mistakes. Seek out answers, learn from others, never compromise your integrity. I think those are the qualities that make a great official. Sorry for any confusion, this issue just gets my goat a little bit........

 

On a side note one of the best officials I know, Sam Holbrook (baseball) gave me this gem a while back: "I've never called a perfect game. But I've never given up on doing it either."

^Reminds me of a philosophy of mine: "I am never perfect, but I always strive for perfection".