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From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@aol.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Fri, 21 Oct 2005 15:04:48
Most of you are doing a terrific job on the field. However, there have
been a number of problems reported recently. Many of them are off the
field. Last week was not good for our professionalism.
SCCFOA has come so far in such a short time and this year many new
officials have joined the college ranks, partially in response to the move
to seven officials. This is a great opportunity for these new
officials. As a point of reference, I did not work a HS Varsity game until my
fifth year, and community college games came after ten years and two
CIF finals. I'm not sure that new college officials appreciate this
level as much as officials in the past. With this wonderful opportunity
comes responsibility and accountability.
The following situations occurred last week-
An official obtained his own replacement for a game. Compounding the
problem, the sub arranged for a sub. All of this was arranged without
calling an assignment coordinator. If you are forced to miss a game,
call an assignment coordinator first.
We had an official using smokeless tobacco during the pre-game in the
college locker room and taking it on the field. There is no excuse for
this. I ask each of you to review Rule 1-4-11. Officials should use
common sense and refrain from doing something that, if done by a player,
would result in his disqualification.
An AD called to report that a crew was seen yelling at each other
before a game. You are not expected like every official with whom you work.
The Referee's job is to conduct a pre-game conference and get everyone
mentality ready to officiate. Lecturing and criticizing past
performance is no way to get a crew ready to work.
I encourage each of you (especially newer officials) to attend games
and observe different crews. If you do so, and are on the sideline, act
professionally. DO NOT TALK TO THE OFFICIALS DURING THE GAME. NEVER
OFFER YOUR OPINION DURING THE GAME TO OFFICIALS OR TEAM PERSONNEL. IF
YOU MUST TALK, WATCH THE GAME FROM THE STANDS.
Officials continue to arrive late. This is unacceptable. We have all
lived in Southern California long enough to know the unpredictability
of traffic. Do not offer any excuses for being late, as none are
acceptable.
As for on-the-field concerns:
Another inadvertent whistle was blown that canceled a touchdown. See
the ball before you blow your whistle and maintain concentration on
every play. No view of the ball? No whistle!
BJ, you are desperately needed to assist with cleaning up after a down.
You must get into the side zones and help with dead ball officiating.
On plays ending out of bounds, BJs must get to the sideline.
Most of our colleges have a computerized system to create game stats.
I receive at least one call a week from sports information directors
regarding wrong penalty enforcements. If a play starts at the 16 yd.
line and there is a 15 yd. Penalty, the computer records the next snap at
the 31 yd. line. When officials put it at the 32 or 30 yd. line the
computer must be reset to override the mistake. LJ and HL, please help U
get this correct. If the computers can correctly add 16 and 15, we can
be expected to do the same.
Discuss false starts at the next pre-game. If B jumps into the neutral
zone, and a threatened A lineman reacts, we penalize the defense for
being offside. A crew missed that last week, calling a false start
instead.
Don't let these bulletins mislead you. For the most part, the
officiating has been outstanding. Remember, if we concentrate on every play,
mistakes decline dramatically. Concentrate on each down, and get
yourself mentally ready to officiate each play. When we lose focus, we make
mistakes, and unfortunately, everyone in the stadium ends up seeing
them.
Best of luck this week.
-Rich Kollen
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