What to do When a Helmet Comes Off
We had an interesting situation in a game. Opposing players went to the ground and as they stood up, one player inadvertently (no foul) dislodged…
What is a False Start in High School Football?
In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Dallas Cowboys linemen would come to the line in a two-point stance, then stand straight up and go down to…
An Active and Vocal Line Judge is an Asset to the Crew
In past articles, I’ve covered a few wing precepts. I think it’s important to focus on the line judge in this article as the LJ…
Make Sure We Make it Big!
I had dinner with my mentor Mark VanGampleare. After I complained about my online poker bad beats, our conversation shifted to the current football season.…
Everyone on the Crew Should Stop the Clock!
I’ve watched quite a bit of video in the past 2 weeks and have noticed some officials are not signaling “stop the clock” when required.…
How to Officiate the Momentum Exception
Most football officials are familiar with the term “momentum exception,” but when pressed to articulate the rule’s components, many are confounded by the nuances, both…
Understanding Clock Management: Seconds Count on the Gridiron
Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey famously described baseball as a “game of inches,” correctly observing a single inch can mean the difference between a…
How to Become a Trained High School Football Observer
About 6 months ago I stumbled upon a “Recon and Sniper Foundation” Facebook group. They provide useful precepts from a Recon/Sniper perspective, and wouldn’t you…
Poker and Football Tells: Improve Your Situational Awareness on the Field
Poker is a game of human interaction, and experienced players have learned to interpret physical and verbal behaviors to determine the strength or weakness of…
Debrief to Win: How to Improve as a Crew and Individual
Robert “Cujo” Teschner, former Air Force F-15C Eagle Fighter Weapons School Instructor and F-22 Raptor Squadron Commander authored a compelling book titled “Debrief to Win.”…