Penalty Enforcement (Spot Comparison)
In the previous Ready for Play article, we defined “Basic Spot” and identified seven basic spot possibilities: If you’ve officiated for more than 2 years, you’ll recall the “All but One” principle.…
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Penalty Enforcement (Basic Spot)
Penalty enforcement can sometimes be overwhelming. When explaining penalty enforcement tenets, we sometimes take too big a bite and examine too many components in one sitting. In the next few articles, we’ll…
Humble, Credible, Approachable
My youngest brother is a retired Air Force fighter pilot and Weapons Officer (think Maverick and Iceman in “Top Gun”). The US Air Force’s Weapons School’s motto is “humble, credible, approachable.” As…
Numbering Exceptions (Rule 7-2-5)
In 2007, two California high school football coaches developed the “A-11 offense,” which exploited a Rules Book loophole regarding the scrimmage kick formation. On each down, up to 10 Team A players…
Comprehend the “Why”
Comprehending the “why” behind a rule is often helpful when studying the Rules Book. It’s hard to memorize every word in the Book, so understanding why the rule exists may help us…
What To Do When (Part 6)
What to do when an official observes action that may result in a potential ejection? (Note: In this discussion, assume the ejection deliberation is not for a possible fighting ejection. We’ll publish…
What To Do When (Part 5)
What to do when opposing players are talking to each other after a play, and you can’t hear what is being said? Your physical presence is essential. Move toward the players and…
What To Do When (Part 4)
What to do when a player complains about being fouled? Sometimes, players complain about being fouled after they are beat on a play. It’s not uncommon for a player to blame the…