Be in the Correct Position to Rule on a “Photo Finish”
Photo Finish: “A race or finish in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them as they cross the finish line has to…
“The Credit Belongs to the Man [or Woman] who is Actually in the Arena”
In 1995 I served as the Fourth-Class Training Director at the United States Air Force Academy. In that role, I was the editor for Contrails,…
How officiating high school football is like working in a successful restaurant
One of my guilty pleasures is watching cooking shows. If I could go back in a time machine, I might consider attending culinary school and…
Pregame Topic: Scrimmage Kick Surprises
It’s interesting how we can sometimes review a play’s description on paper and quickly and confidently decide how we’d officiate the action, but when we…
The Importance of Connected Wings on the Field
Aristotle’s quote, “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts” is fitting when describing wing “connectedness.” If wings do not communicate and connect,…
How to Provide Clear Chain Crew Instructions
The general instructions for football line-to-gain crews is in the Game Resources section. This document provides good foundational information to brief the chain crews. There…
Should Football Officials Act as Penalty Police?
I dislike the axiom, “What we permit, we promote.” That saying implies officiating is a binary endeavor. It suggests if we allow a player to…
Timing Matters When Determining Penalty Enforcement
K12 free kicks the ball from the K-40. The HL throws a flag at the R-20 when R10 blocks K55 below the waist. R33 picks…
Interacting with Players: They’re Teenagers!
Remember, we’re interacting with teenagers on the football field. We can’t expect them to exhibit the same self-control as fully-developed adults. They may not know…
How to Interact with Coaches: “What is Your Concern?”
Dealing with coaches is one of the most essential officiating abilities. I had the privilege of observing one of my mentors, Mark VanGampleare, expertly communicate…