Penalty Enforcement Is a Geometry Problem
(Yes, this is a longer-than-normal article; please stick with me as I unpack the concept.) An official recently emailed me with a question that I suspect many officials have asked themselves at…
Rules
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Helping the Runner
Every year the NFHS identifies a handful of rules that deserve additional emphasis. One of this year’s Points of Emphasis is Helping the Runner, a rule that officials rarely enforce because the…
Sideline Management and Control
Every year the NFHS identifies a handful of topics that deserve additional emphasis. This year, Sideline Control and Management made the list for good reason. It seems that over the past decade,…
The “Editorial” Change That Changed Penalty Enforcement: Rule 8-2 and the Succeeding Spot
In the world of officiating, we are taught that every word in the rulebook matters. For the 2026 season, a seemingly minor “editorial” change was made to Rule 8-2 (Articles 2, 3,…
Sliding Runner
Rule 2-32-16f says a defenseless player is one who is on the ground, including a runner who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet-first. Officials may struggle with how to…
Blocking in the Back
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from August 29, 2008 (Edited for clarity) The play missed most overall by officials is probably the block in the back. When I say…
Rules Knowledge is Perishable
Rules knowledge is like mastering a second language. When you’re immersed, hearing and speaking it every day, the words come naturally. When you step away, even for a short time, your vocabulary…
Know Rule Components
Some fouls “scream,” but most times we deal with calls that aren’t obvious and require discernment. We call that “judgment.” Precise rules knowledge underpins good judgment. If we don’t know the rules,…