Kick Catching Interference
One of the most misunderstood rules in the NFHS code is kick catching interference. Many officials know they are supposed to protect the receiver, but they sometimes focus only on whether the…
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Don’t Let Doubt Creep In
One of the constant challenges in officiating—at every level—is managing doubt. Not rules knowledge. Not mechanics. Doubt. And very often, that doubt doesn’t originate inside us. It creeps in from the sidelines.…
We Want to Be Performance-Obsessed
I recently heard a quote from Laurent Mekies, the Team Principal for Red Bull’s Formula One team: “We want to be performance-obsessed.” That phrase stuck with me, not because it sounded extreme,…
My Blind Spot: Contact Above the Shoulders
As a referee, I’ve trained my eyes to identify illegal helmet contact: spearing, butt blocking, and face tackling. But for me, the emphasis on how a player uses his helmet has created…
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…
The Bucket of Balls Fallacy
I’m not a good golfer. I’ve never broken 90 in my life. I’ve played enough golf to know exactly where I stand. And yet, I have vivid memories of a few truly…
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,…