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…
Officiating Mechanics: When Wings Wind
Officials give the “wind the clock” clock signal to inform the clock operator to 1) start the clock or 2) keep the clock running. For…
Correct Penalty Enforcement Procedures to Keep the Crew Out of Trouble
If you ask a veteran official to name the top three penalty enforcement principles, I’d bet a dollar one of the three would be “slow…
Officiating Imperatives: Keep a Cushion!
Maintaining a 3-5 yard cushion between officials and players is an important officiating precept, especially for the wings. Some circumstances require us to close down…
When the Ball is on the Ground: How to Officiate a Fumble
Before examining specific fumble mechanics, it’s worth reviewing two “When in Doubt” axioms. When in doubt, the runner was down by rule and did not…
Involve your Ball Person for a Smoother Game
One of our most important tasks as football officials is game management. A “subset” of this duty is to facilitate spotting the ball to allow…