In response to a request from Vette to post an article about high school football officiating and different rules of the game I thought it would be more interesting if I were to put it into a post as to what we do during a game from the pre-game conferences to the game's end. I will be doing this from the stand point of a four man crew that being referee, umpire, head linesman and line judge. In our section this is what we use all though we do go to a five man crew (back judge) for playoff games.
We do not have set crews or set positions. From week to week we may be working with different officials and working different positions. I work referee, head lines and line judge and have done back judge in playoffs. I have worked umpire at the varsity level but have not had an umpire assignment in several years. ( I guess I am to fast for the position lol)
On game day we try to car pool as much as possible to save on gas. There is a park n ride just north of Jamestown where the local officials meet to catch their rides to the game.
Our chapter asks (requires) us to be at the game site 90 minutes prior to game time. The theory being 30 minutes to dress, 30 minutes for a pre game conference and be on the field 30 minutes before the opening kick off as required by the rules. The problem with this is it never takes 30 minutes to dress and the pre game never takes 30 minutes so we usually end up climbing the walls until it is time to go out on the field.
Pre game conference: Most of the things we talk about in our pre game are obvious. The referee goes over the different responsibilities of each official in the running, passing and kicking game. These are things we should know by heart but I find them helpful. They get you thinking in a football mode and help prevent the always dangerous brain fart. We also talk about situations and conditions that may pertain to just the game we are doing. Things such as weather conditions and keeping the ball dry, is it windy out, does either team have a strong kicker so there may be a chance of a long field goal attempt. Is there bad blood between these two teams and if so stay on top of any extra pushing and shoving that could escalate. Anything else that we can think of that may come into play during the game. The last thing we do before we leave the locker room is an equipment check. Does everyone have their penalty flag, bean bag, whistle, down indicator, game card, does the head linesman have a line clip, does the referee have a coin. (A story on that: one of our refs forgot his coin once. So during the coin flip he faked it. He made a motion with his hand like he flipped a coin-asked the visiting team captain to call it-made a motion like he caught it and said you win the toss what is your choice. And no one said a word about it.)
When we get out on the field the first thing we do is talk to the head coaches. If he is out there we will talk to the home team coach first. And the first thing we ask the coaches is "are all your players legally equipped?" This is important because if we find a player participating in the game with either illegal equipment or lacking required equipment the player will be removed from the game until he gets the equipment taken care of and his head coach is assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. And if the coach gets two unsportsmanlike penalties he is ejected from the game.
Some of the other things we discuss with the coach is does he have any trick plays he wants us to be aware of, what his captains numbers are and we also have to check his game balls. Each team must supply at least one game ball and it must be approved by the referee. We also ask him if any of his players have any casts or special tape jobs that have to be looked at and approved by the umpire. One of the last hings we check is if there are any special ceremonies either prior to the start of the game or the second half that may delay either. We can then inform both coaches at what time we want the captains for the coin toss.
After the coaches conferences each official has certain duties to perform prior to the coin toss. The referee is supposed to meet with the official clock operator and make sure he understands the officials signals as far as starting and stopping the clock. The umpire checks the 3 yard line (extra point) at each end of the field to make sure it is accurate. (There is always at least one school that has one or both extra point lines at the 2 yard line) He also observes both teams as they warm up to See if any player equipment looks like it may be illegal. If we can find it before the game starts we may save the head coach a penalty. The head linesman and the line judge walk their side lines to check on yard markers to make sure they are properly marked and that the pylons are properly placed. The head linesman is also supposed to met with the chain crew with the line judge observing. The first thing he goes over with the chain crew is safety. We don't want them or any of the players hurt. So we remind them that if the play gets near them to drop the chains and move away. The second most important thing is not to move either the box (the pole with the down indicator that marks the position of the ball) or the chains to early. Make sure they get a signal from the head linesman before they move. If they move to early it can cause a mess. And we always remind them to never move the chains or box if they see a penalty flag on the field.
One other duty that has to be performed before the game is we have to address each team about sportsmanship. This is required by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. There is a printed card we can read a prepared statement from (the same statement is read to the fans over the PA system) or we can "wing it". The subject of the statement is that we will not tolerate trash talking, taunting or bating of opponents and if such actions are seen it will draw an immediate penalty flag for unsportsmanlike conduct and that this pre-game speech is their only warning. This address to each team is supposed to be done prior to each game from midget league to varsity.
Coin toss: Usually about 5 minutes before the kick off the referee and line judge will meet the home team captains in front of the home team bench and the umpire and head linesman will meed the visiting team captains in front of their bench. We try to make it a point to talk to each captain that will be speaking for his respective team before they go out for the toss. And the thing we ask them is: do you know what you will do if your team wins the toss?do you know what you will do if the other team wins the toss and they choose to defer? Now this may sound all very basic but there is a good reason for it. Many times a coach will tell his captain that if they loose the toss they want to defend this goal or that goal. Their team looses the toss, the winning team defers their choice to the second half and the captain of the loosing team thinks "we lost the toss-coach said we will defend the east goal"." Mr. Referee we will defend the east goal." So the other team gets to receive the kick off at the start of each half and when their coach finds out he goes ballistic.
When both sides are ready the four officials raise their hands and escort the captains to the center of the field. The referee brings the home team captains to the center while the line judge stops at the hash mark and the umpire brings the visiting team captains to the center and the head linesman stops at the hash mark. The referee will ask the captains to shake hands and introduce themselves to each other. The visiting team calls the toss so the referee will ask him what is his call before the coin goes up. After he makes his choice the umpire will echo what he called to make sure there is no misunderstanding. It is done this way largely because of that screw up by the ref in the NFL a few years ago when it was clear the visiting team called it different then the ref said they did. The coin is tossed-some refs catch it and some let it hit the ground. The winner has his choice of kicking off, receiving, choosing which goal to defend or defer his choice to the second half. The looser gets the remaining choice. If the winner defers his choice the referee will tap the captain on the shoulder, face the press box and make a signal like an incomplete pass indicating that he won the toss and will defer. After the choices have been made the captains will stand with their backs to the goal they will defend and the referee will indicate which team will be receiving or kicking off.
After the National Anthum the officials will meet together and remind themselves that they are the best team on the field and then break to their kickoff positons.
And thats it for the pre-game. I'll work on the game itself next week. Hope you enjoy it.
We do not have set crews or set positions. From week to week we may be working with different officials and working different positions. I work referee, head lines and line judge and have done back judge in playoffs. I have worked umpire at the varsity level but have not had an umpire assignment in several years. ( I guess I am to fast for the position lol)
On game day we try to car pool as much as possible to save on gas. There is a park n ride just north of Jamestown where the local officials meet to catch their rides to the game.
Our chapter asks (requires) us to be at the game site 90 minutes prior to game time. The theory being 30 minutes to dress, 30 minutes for a pre game conference and be on the field 30 minutes before the opening kick off as required by the rules. The problem with this is it never takes 30 minutes to dress and the pre game never takes 30 minutes so we usually end up climbing the walls until it is time to go out on the field.
Pre game conference: Most of the things we talk about in our pre game are obvious. The referee goes over the different responsibilities of each official in the running, passing and kicking game. These are things we should know by heart but I find them helpful. They get you thinking in a football mode and help prevent the always dangerous brain fart. We also talk about situations and conditions that may pertain to just the game we are doing. Things such as weather conditions and keeping the ball dry, is it windy out, does either team have a strong kicker so there may be a chance of a long field goal attempt. Is there bad blood between these two teams and if so stay on top of any extra pushing and shoving that could escalate. Anything else that we can think of that may come into play during the game. The last thing we do before we leave the locker room is an equipment check. Does everyone have their penalty flag, bean bag, whistle, down indicator, game card, does the head linesman have a line clip, does the referee have a coin. (A story on that: one of our refs forgot his coin once. So during the coin flip he faked it. He made a motion with his hand like he flipped a coin-asked the visiting team captain to call it-made a motion like he caught it and said you win the toss what is your choice. And no one said a word about it.)
When we get out on the field the first thing we do is talk to the head coaches. If he is out there we will talk to the home team coach first. And the first thing we ask the coaches is "are all your players legally equipped?" This is important because if we find a player participating in the game with either illegal equipment or lacking required equipment the player will be removed from the game until he gets the equipment taken care of and his head coach is assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. And if the coach gets two unsportsmanlike penalties he is ejected from the game.
Some of the other things we discuss with the coach is does he have any trick plays he wants us to be aware of, what his captains numbers are and we also have to check his game balls. Each team must supply at least one game ball and it must be approved by the referee. We also ask him if any of his players have any casts or special tape jobs that have to be looked at and approved by the umpire. One of the last hings we check is if there are any special ceremonies either prior to the start of the game or the second half that may delay either. We can then inform both coaches at what time we want the captains for the coin toss.
After the coaches conferences each official has certain duties to perform prior to the coin toss. The referee is supposed to meet with the official clock operator and make sure he understands the officials signals as far as starting and stopping the clock. The umpire checks the 3 yard line (extra point) at each end of the field to make sure it is accurate. (There is always at least one school that has one or both extra point lines at the 2 yard line) He also observes both teams as they warm up to See if any player equipment looks like it may be illegal. If we can find it before the game starts we may save the head coach a penalty. The head linesman and the line judge walk their side lines to check on yard markers to make sure they are properly marked and that the pylons are properly placed. The head linesman is also supposed to met with the chain crew with the line judge observing. The first thing he goes over with the chain crew is safety. We don't want them or any of the players hurt. So we remind them that if the play gets near them to drop the chains and move away. The second most important thing is not to move either the box (the pole with the down indicator that marks the position of the ball) or the chains to early. Make sure they get a signal from the head linesman before they move. If they move to early it can cause a mess. And we always remind them to never move the chains or box if they see a penalty flag on the field.
One other duty that has to be performed before the game is we have to address each team about sportsmanship. This is required by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. There is a printed card we can read a prepared statement from (the same statement is read to the fans over the PA system) or we can "wing it". The subject of the statement is that we will not tolerate trash talking, taunting or bating of opponents and if such actions are seen it will draw an immediate penalty flag for unsportsmanlike conduct and that this pre-game speech is their only warning. This address to each team is supposed to be done prior to each game from midget league to varsity.
Coin toss: Usually about 5 minutes before the kick off the referee and line judge will meet the home team captains in front of the home team bench and the umpire and head linesman will meed the visiting team captains in front of their bench. We try to make it a point to talk to each captain that will be speaking for his respective team before they go out for the toss. And the thing we ask them is: do you know what you will do if your team wins the toss?do you know what you will do if the other team wins the toss and they choose to defer? Now this may sound all very basic but there is a good reason for it. Many times a coach will tell his captain that if they loose the toss they want to defend this goal or that goal. Their team looses the toss, the winning team defers their choice to the second half and the captain of the loosing team thinks "we lost the toss-coach said we will defend the east goal"." Mr. Referee we will defend the east goal." So the other team gets to receive the kick off at the start of each half and when their coach finds out he goes ballistic.
When both sides are ready the four officials raise their hands and escort the captains to the center of the field. The referee brings the home team captains to the center while the line judge stops at the hash mark and the umpire brings the visiting team captains to the center and the head linesman stops at the hash mark. The referee will ask the captains to shake hands and introduce themselves to each other. The visiting team calls the toss so the referee will ask him what is his call before the coin goes up. After he makes his choice the umpire will echo what he called to make sure there is no misunderstanding. It is done this way largely because of that screw up by the ref in the NFL a few years ago when it was clear the visiting team called it different then the ref said they did. The coin is tossed-some refs catch it and some let it hit the ground. The winner has his choice of kicking off, receiving, choosing which goal to defend or defer his choice to the second half. The looser gets the remaining choice. If the winner defers his choice the referee will tap the captain on the shoulder, face the press box and make a signal like an incomplete pass indicating that he won the toss and will defer. After the choices have been made the captains will stand with their backs to the goal they will defend and the referee will indicate which team will be receiving or kicking off.
After the National Anthum the officials will meet together and remind themselves that they are the best team on the field and then break to their kickoff positons.
And thats it for the pre-game. I'll work on the game itself next week. Hope you enjoy it.