Officials,
Thanks to those that attended the meeting last night.
Special thanks to Pete Schiavone, Mike Eaves and Amy Boscolo (AD at Edwardsville) for talking and giving insight to everyone in attendance. Their emails are up top.
I forgot a few things: lowest crew score to earn a Round 1 game: 94 and Round 2 game: 126.
I have been getting calls from people putting in their applications to be an IHSA clinician and it is hard to stick my neck out too far when I haven’t seen you present. If you are interested in presenting at a meeting, please let me know and I’ll get you on the docket for next year.
Crews trying to get better, please reach out to veteran officials outside your crew to get a different perspective. January-June is a great time frame to get feedback from other crews. It can be in person by breaking down your film or remotely. Please reach out if I can help you and your crew in any way.
Good luck to you all this weekend and in the postseason. Remember: SUPER BOWL Calls, NOVEMBER fouls, MIBT (Make It Be There) Nothing technical. Above all else always display your integrity, courage, and poise and keep hustling.
Now time for the newsletter,
It is hard to believe the regular season is already over and many of you are preparing for the playoffs. Regardless of the number of games (Rounds) you or your crew have been assigned, use this time to study and be prepared for whatever is thrown at you on the field.
This past Sunday night we (The IHSA) conducted what has become our “Playoff Primer” to prepare those assigned to a playoff game as to what is expected of them. There were 375 officials who logged into the Primer to listen to Sam Knox, Jeff Conrad, Mike Dobson and myself cover the following topics. The topics covered were the kickoff, the passing and running game and penalty enforcement, with emphasis on following/using the IHSA Officials Manual as your guide. Some crews are not following what has been adopted by the IHSA as a proper mechanic. The mechanics in the manual were developed to place each position in the best possible spot to make the correct call. Follow the Manual and make yourself and your crew look good by making the correct call.
Play #1:
The play I am going to show you below involves a team’s linemen shifting from a position with their hands on their knees. The quarterback starts to call signals, and the linemen rise from their hands on their knees to a standing position and turn their shoulder and head in one movement to their sideline. They do not move their feet when shifting. Some of the time only two of the linemen shift as described above (i.e., usually the tackles).
The position of the IHSA in officiating this action has been determined to officiate this action in the following manner. If the linemen do not drop a foot backwards or the line does not shift sideways (which we have seen), we are considering the “Dallas Cowboy” shift as a legal action. Players are allowed to shift.
Not to confuse the IHSA position, as an official you are going to observe what the linemen have done to determine if their actions are legal or not. Just because the defense would encroach does not make the offense’s actions an infraction. It is incumbent on the defensive line to watch the ball and not their opponent. Keep in mind that should the offense change their snap count and the defense jumps offsides, we would not call a foul on them for intending to draw them offside. Was the intent of the offense to draw them offsides, yes! Was it an infraction? No.
Play #2:
A1 takes the snap at A’s 40-yard line and runs around his right end where he is hit by B32 at A’s 42-yard line, fumbling the ball back behind the line of scrimmage where A22 picks up the loose-ball and throws and completes a forward pass to A 88 B’s 45-yard line. Is this a legal play? If not, where would you enforce the penalty from?
ANSWER:
This is a legal pass as it was thrown from in or behind the line of scrimmage. Rule 7-5-1 states, “It is a legal forward pass, if during a scrimmage down and before team possession has changed, a player of A throws the ball with both feet of the passer in or behind the neutral zone when the ball is released. Only one forward pass may be thrown during the down.
Closing Comment:
I have received several inquiries regarding assignments, Power Points and attendance at clinics.
Most of the questions involve Power Points ratings. This area is only a portion of your individual/crew’s determination for assignment. Do not get me wrong, Power Points are important, but not the sole determining factor in assignment. Obviously, clinic attendance is taken into consideration. Your crew’s overall rating X, R or C are a part of the determining factor. An area that is misunderstood is your attendance at many of the on-field training functions, i.e., All-Star games and game observations conducted by the IHSA. These areas are important as you get immediate feedback from on-field certified clinicians. I have had several crews state they were of the impression that by participating in one of the events they were hand selected for their crew would automatically begin receiving more playoff assignments.
Moving up the state tournament series is a process of continued/demonstrated improvement over a period of time. I have mentioned numerous times in the newsletter that some crews were not following the IHSA Officials Manuals mechanics. This manual was written to assist officials in being in the proper location to observe the play, and to make the correct call. Demonstrate your commitment to officiating the IHSA way! We are still going to miss calls, but at least we were in the correct position.
Once again, I want to thank all of you for your commitment to the schools, coaches and particularly the players for your efforts. In a few short months many local associations will begin conducting off-season training sessions. Take the time to attend as many meetings as you can and meet with your crew to develop a plan to continue your football knowledge.
Next season will be here before you know it.