Illegal Participation (Stepping Out of Bounds)
Rule 9-6 addresses illegal participation. This article will focus on a player who steps out of bounds, either purposefully or accidentally without being blocked out of bounds. Note: Rule 9-6-1 says if…
Ready For Play
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Efficient On-Field Pregame
Keep our hands out of our pockets! (Sorry, it’s a pet peeve.) The Field and Markings. Depending on the level of play, officials may find multiple issues with initial equipment placement. The…
Ball Person Instructions
A good ball person is essential to keeping the game in a good rhythm or flow. Introduce yourself and write down the ball person(s) name(s). Tell the ball person(s) they are an…
Don’t Bounce
Thanks to Dan Munroe who shared notes from a football officiating clinic he attended. Superbowl line of scrimmage official Pat Holt and NFL line of scrimmage official Robin DeLorenzo provided this information…
The Momentum Exception
The momentum exception is an exception to the rule describing action that results in a Safety (other than by penalty) (8-5-2a). The NFHS rule book stipulates if a ball becomes dead in…
Use Their Names
Wings will work with at least one ball runner during the game, and the head linesman will work with three or four additional people on the chain crew. I mention this many…
Ball Handling
In my fourth year I was the line judge on a game with four officials who were arguably the top officials in the association at their respective positions. I was super excited…
See the Ball!
When I began officiating in 2007, our association began each meeting by having everyone stand, raise their right hands, and recite, “I will not blow my whistle unless I can see the…