Good morning,
Thanks to all that attended last night. The sign in sheet had 47 names on it, which is my best turnout for an in-season meeting, non-playoff meeting. I hope everyone learned something new last night, a new rule, a new official, new mechanic, or new place to eat. Thanks for a great turnout. This letter was not geared towards us, but I have felt Rick’s frustration from time to time.
I did forget to announce last night but Mike Eaves has been the SAOA’s nomination for IHSA Official of the Year. Congrats Mike!!!
Next SAOA meeting is 10/25 at Boogies in Maryville at 6:30PM. I hope to do 2 training tapes via Hudl for the next 2 week.
Week #7 is upon us. The season has moved along very quickly. During the past three months most of you have attended clinics, local association meetings, or both. My clinic and association observations concern me, attendance at both events has been falling off. I know that virtual meetings for both events have some effect, however they should not become the norm. Discussion/interaction in person with fellow officials is often where our greatest learning takes place, not watching a computer screen! Sadly, most of you find the time to attend the Part 1 test to ensure you get your 100 score but are never to be seen or heard from at another meeting. Why not attend an association meeting, contribute, and have some fun with fellow officials?
I speak from experience when I say, what I would have given to have the video and group discussions that now take place at our training events. I also know from attending the bi-monthly CIFOA association meetings we can count on the same 15 or so attendees. What is sad is we have some very good football training conversations covering rules, mechanics, and unusual plays. I know firsthand the video and rule discussion are second to none. Hell, you would think the free pizza and soda would entice a few more of you to attend and participate.
We know officiating is fun. It is even more enjoyable when you work a game and know the proper mechanics and rules. Knowing when you walk off the field know you have called a good game individually, and as a crew. Often the coaches and even fans walk up to you and thank you for the nice job you did. I am encouraging all of you to call a fellow crew member to attend your next association meeting(s). Pick-up not only your fellow crew member(s), encourage other new and older officials to attend the meeting with you. I am sure they will enjoy the experience and meeting.
PLAY #1: Mechanic Question Regarding When to Signal a TD
K kicks off. R receives the ball cleanly at their own 5-yardline and begins to return it. R is hit and fumbles the ball back towards R’s goal line. Multiple players from R and K dive at the ball and knock it into R’s endzone near the sideline (the force is the fumble).
Here is a mechanics question(s) raised by the referee: Being the closest official to the pile I (referee) move in to see who has recovered the ball when a K player jumps out of the pile with the ball. As the covering official, I do not hear a whistle or see anything out of the ordinary, and as such I signal touchdown.
After giving the touchdown signal one of the sideline officials comes in and says while the R and K players were diving for the ball in the end zone, a K player landed out of bounds and reached back in bounds and made contact with the ball!
The Referee’s Question/Concern: How long should I have waited before signaling touchdown?
Answer: This is a crew communication breakdown leaving the referee hanging. Why do I say that? As soon as the wing official saw the K player out-of-bounds reach onto the field of play and touch the ball he should have been blowing his whistle killing the play. This would have avoided the referee from having to take the touchdown away from K and explaining his actions to the affected head coach. As far as the question regarding how long should he have waited before signaling, he should wait until after he has spoken with his wing official(s) to make certain of his call. There is no time frame on how long you should wait before signaling. Just make certain your call is correct. Once again, the kicking game is always a good topic for your pregame meeting. Another consideration during your crew’s pregame warm-up is to watch the kicker(s) to see how far they are kicking the ball during warm-ups. You can make your crew’s adjustments (how deep the wings need to be) while watching the teams warm-up. Use this warm-up period to your advantage.
PLAY # 2: (Defenseless Player – Receiver, 2-32-16)
I encourage you to open the attached video clip below. It will help you understand the play. This is an interesting pass play (resulting in an interception) you may have to rule on during one of your games. Do we have a “defenseless player,” DPI, or nothing in this play? Keep in mind the definition of a defenseless player which is: Rule 2-32-16 which states, “A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury. A player who initiates contact against a defenseless player is responsible for making legal contact. When in question, a player is defenseless.” Examples of defenseless player include, but are not limited to: b) A receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner; c) The intended receiver of a pass in the action during and immediately following an interception or potential interception; d) A receiver in (b) and (c) including the person intercepting the pass, who is forcefully contacted by an opponent and that contact is not: 1) Incidental contact as a result of making a play on the ball; 2) Initiated with open hands; or 3) An attempt to tackle by wrapping arm(s) around the receiver.
ANSWER: Does the defensive player in this video clip play the ball? If he gets there early, you could rule DPI. This is clearly a football play and I do not believe the contact warrants a flag as the defender played the ball as described in the rule (2-32-16d (1).
Play #3: Force (8-5-1)
I keep receiving a number of questions regarding plays involving force. The definition for force once again is 8-5-1 which states,
“Responsibility for forcing the ball from the field of play across a goal line is attributed to the player who carries, snaps, passes, fumbles or kicks the ball, unless a NEW FORCE IS APPLIED TO A GROUNDED BACKWARD PASS, KICK OR FUMBLE.
(a) The muffing or batting of a pass, kick or fumble in flight is not considered a new force and
(b) The accidental touching of a loose ball by a player who was blocked into the ball is ignored and does not constitute a new force or first touching. Do not over complicate this rule. When making a ruling know what force put the ball across the goal line.”
Slow yourself down and reflect on what you just observed. If necessary, have a quick discussion with the referee or another covering official, and then make the appropriate signal.
Play #4: (9-8-3 Disqualification Following Sideline infractions)
Team A’s coach has used his sideline warning, received a 5-yard penalty, and had a 15-yard penalty for being in in the restricted area (9-8-3) in the first half. The crew is concerned about the second half being more of the same. There question is, what happens if the head coach is disqualified, and an assistant takes over. How many fouls for violation of the restricted area is he allowed before being disqualified?
Answer: I spoke with Sam regarding this situation as the rule book does not specifically address how we would proceed with the assistant coach taking over after the head coach had been disqualified for restricted area violations. The explanation/guidance I was provided with was the assistant coach would only be afforded two 15-yard penalties for the restricted area (9-8-3) violations. The warning and 5-yard penalties are considered team violations and the two against the head coach are specific violations against him.
Sam and I both discussed concerns regarding keeping the restricted areas clear during live-ball situations. The state final assignments are just around the corner, and this will be expected of each crew.
Be professional when dealing with the coaches regarding this issue but take care of business.
Play #5: (UNS Fouls at the End of the Half)
At the end of the second quarter, A runs a pass play. During the play as the line judge turns to move downfield one of B’s assistant coaches unintentionally contacts the Line judge in the restricted area. The line judge throws a flag on B’s assistant coach. Time expires to end the second quarter during the play. Immediately after the pass falls incomplete, B16 calls A5 an unsavory name and the back judge throws a flag for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
Question: How do you handle this penalty enforcement?
Answer: What you have is two UNS fouls on B that are treated as dead-ball fouls. Both are unsportsmanlike penalties and enforced separately.
Rule: 3-3-4…A period shall not be extended by an untimed down if one of the following occurred during a down in which time expires:
b. There was a foul by either team and the penalty is accepted for:
1. unsportsmanlike fouls
2. nonplayer fouls
Rule: 3-3-6…if a dead-ball foul occurs after time expires for any period, the penalty shall be measured from the succeeding spot unless 8-2-5 applies.
The penalties are enforced on the succeeding spot (second half kickoff). The penalties are recorded (they don’t go away on the head coach & B16). As previously stated, the unintentional contact (9-4-8) with the assistant coach is assessed to the head coach. Should you later have a number of restricted area fouls gravitating to the first 15-yard penalty against the head coach it is not combined with the earlier unintentional contact foul to disqualify the head coach (Read 9.8.1 Situation D). These are separate infractions which could lead up to disqualification. 9.4.8 Situation A & C, 9-4-8, 9.8.1 Situation D, 9-8-1k
Rule: 10-2-5a… Enforcement of penalties for unsportsmanlike, nonplayer or dead-ball fouls:
(a) Penalties for dead-ball fouls, other than when both teams commit unsportsmanlike, nonplayer or dead-ball personal fouls prior to the completion of penalty administration for those fouls, are administered separately and in the order of occurrence. A dead-ball foul is not coupled with a live-ball foul or another dead-ball foul to create a double foul situation or multiple fouls.
The short answer is you administer both UNS penalties to start the second half.
CLOSING:
Overall, we have had an enjoyable season. Unfortunately, it is almost over. Finish your season on a high note by being prepared for your upcoming games. In the next week or so, the 2023 state final assignments will be coming out. Good luck to all of you and use the next three weeks to prepare for future assignments. How you finish this year will have an impact on next year’s power points and future assignments.
Have fun and a great game this week.
Rick Karhliker
IHSA Head Football Clinician