Angle, Proximity, and Movement
If you’ve officiated basketball, you know the importance of moving to achieve the proper angle: 1) to get the correct view through player matchups and 2) to avoid being straight-lined. You’ll hear…
Mechanics
Read MoreAngle, Proximity, and Movement
Pregame Meeting with Coaches
The pregame meeting with the coaches is the only chance to make a positive first impression. Your state’s mechanics manual should provide pregame meeting instructions. In Colorado, the referee decides which officials…
Everyone Stop the Clock!
I mentioned in a previous Ready for Play article I watch a lot of Hudl video during the week. One mechanics issue I see in every game is multiple officials fail to…
Quarter Change
Swapping ends of the field and moving the chains at the end of the first and third quarters is not just a head linesman’s responsibility. As with penalty enforcement, the entire crew…
Counting
Counting players is one of the most essential pre-snap routine components. We need to verify the correct number of players are on the field at the snap. Here are a few counting…
Preventative officiating
Preventative officiating involves communicating essential information to players and coaches to help facilitate the game. Sharing critical information with coaches helps them understand game nuances and removes communication barriers. It helps ensure…
Umpires Moving Up to the Line of Scrimmage
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from September 3, 2008 (Edited for clarity) Here is the rule: Rule 7, Section 5, ART. 12 . . . Ineligible A players may…
Umpire Love (Part 2)
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from August 15, 2008 (Edited for clarity) An experienced umpire who is at ease with the position understands about moving obliquely forward (executed by…