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The football season is three weeks old and you’ve already seen plays that you feel should have been flagged and just the opposite, plays that you feel should not have been flagged. Stadium seats are the best place to officiate a game, you see it all and from an above angle, or so it seems.
I was at Arrowhead Stadium two years ago in the nose-bleed seats and a fan was screaming “Holding!” so I know they are the place to call from. In the past, I’ve been sitting in the stadium and yelling with the best of them, until I got my stripes. But MSHSAA hasn’t sanctioned us to call the games from rows G, H, and R yet. Not to say that an official can’t make a mistake, we can, and do at times. But usually, there are valid, reasons for a call or a no-call per the rule book.
We are trained to know the rules and infractions, with the foremost thought of, “Is he gaining advantage?” Of course, the safety of all players is also on the forefront of our minds at all times. Right behind those thoughts is the term “intent” which we apply to the rule as well. Oh, and then, toss in “judgment” because many calls are at the judgment of the official.
How many times have you heard coaches and fans scream “12 men in the huddle?” Last week the ball was on about the 10-yard line on the far hash mark across the field. Team A had a substitute, and the replaced player was sprinting off the field and had passed me by the time of the snap. I was watching the line and didn’t turn away to see if the player was off, my main responsibility was with the other 22 players.
By the reaction of the four or five guys from Team B standing near the end zone, he didn’t make it and they felt I should have thrown a flag. I didn’t, I didn’t look behind me to see if he was on or off, I couldn’t due to the snap and I wouldn’t due to the intent of the rule. It was my judgment that he was far away from the action, his team received no advantage and there was no intention of deception by Team A.
The football season is three weeks old and you’ve already seen plays that you feel should have been flagged and just the opposite, plays that you feel should not have been flagged. Stadium seats are the best place to officiate a game, you see it all and from an above angle, or so it seems.
I was at Arrowhead Stadium two years ago in the nose-bleed seats and a fan was screaming “Holding!” so I know they are the place to call from. In the past, I’ve been sitting in the stadium and yelling with the best of them, until I got my stripes. But MSHSAA hasn’t sanctioned us to call the games from rows G, H, and R yet. Not to say that an official can’t make a mistake, we can, and do at times. But usually, there are valid, reasons for a call or a no-call per the rule book.
We are trained to know the rules and infractions, with the foremost thought of, “Is he gaining advantage?” Of course, the safety of all players is also on the forefront of our minds at all times. Right behind those thoughts is the term “intent” which we apply to the rule as well. Oh, and then, toss in “judgment” because many calls are at the judgment of the official.
How many times have you heard coaches and fans scream “12 men in the huddle?” Last week the ball was on about the 10-yard line on the far hash mark across the field. Team A had a substitute, and the replaced player was sprinting off the field and had passed me by the time of the snap. I was watching the line and didn’t turn away to see if the player was off, my main responsibility was with the other 22 players.
By the reaction of the four or five guys from Team B standing near the end zone, he didn’t make it and they felt I should have thrown a flag. I didn’t, I didn’t look behind me to see if he was on or off, I couldn’t due to the snap and I wouldn’t due to the intent of the rule. It was my judgment that he was far away from the action, his team received no advantage and there was no intention of deception by Team A.
Of course, the following few plays I was told I wasn’t paying attention, I was blind, and I couldn’t count past 11!
There is NO penalty for 12 men in the huddle, as most everyone, including some coaches believe. The rule states it is an illegal participation foul if the official judges a team is using a replaced player or substitute in a substitution or pretended substitution to deceive the opponents. With the spread offense many teams are using today, this is a common situation. Key point here: the replaced player is to leave the field immediately and in such a manner that it does not confuse or deceive the opponents. Without judgment calls and interpretation of the rule, we could flag every single play. The game would never end and you would miss cartoons on Saturday morning, and none of us want to do that!!
Watch for the above example, you will see it this year if you haven’t already, you may see it flagged or you may not, it is up to the judgment of the official to observe the intent of the substitution.
