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From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@aol.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 14:29:46
This will be a short bulletin, as I have a Thursday night game and will
be out of town until the end of the week. The following are issues
that have been brought up by coaches.
R-Please establish a tempo and flow to the game. Put the ball in play
in a constant manner. Do not let teams control the tempo, even if they
go no-huddle.
Along with the previous point, the 25-second clock must be used on each
play. Coaches are reporting violations that are not being called.
Coaches are reporting a lack of communication from flanks and Rs who
never bother to discuss situations with them. We will make mistakes, but
there is no excuse for a lack of communication with the coaches and
other officials.
Illegal uniforms continue to be an issue. Coaches are reporting that
some officials are enforcing uniform violations, and others are not. We
must be consistent. Review Rule 1 and be familiar with uniform
requirements. One crew last week, in the 45 minutes prior to the game,
decided to create a list of equipment issues and gave it to the equipment
manager to resolve. This is a great idea.
SJ/FJ-When ruling on kicks near the pylon you must be on or behind the
pylon.
Ball mechanics has been a issue with many crews. Some of you are using
a modified version of the one in the SCCFOA mechanics manual. I will
publish a version next week that might be helpful. The current mechanic
is the one used by Div I officials. I am well aware that this mechanic
might not be working on our level due to untrained ball boys and lack
of footballs.
All-Remember, when a runners helmet comes completely off, the play is
to be shut down immediately, with the ball dead at the spot. This is
one of the few instances in which our whistle should be used to kill the
ball. Clock is not to be stopped for the loss of the helmet. It is to
be treated as if the runner was down at that spot.
Finally, from the "use common sense" file: Last Saturday, R puts the
ball in play with 15 seconds to go in the half. Both teams decide to
let the clock run out, and begin walking off the field. As both teams
are walking away, an A player is flagged for taking off his helmet.
Although it is not an incorrect call by the rules, officiating is not just
about the rulebook. As officials, we must have some common sense.
-Rich Kollen
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