Coaches Yelling Onto the Field
Coaches sometimes get upset with a call or no-call from the middle officials (referee, umpire, or back judge) and, in frustration, yell onto the field at those officials. In these moments, the…
Coaches sometimes get upset with a call or no-call from the middle officials (referee, umpire, or back judge) and, in frustration, yell onto the field at those officials. In these moments, the…
One of the most important aspects of officiating is how we communicate with coaches. Too often, officials fall into the trap of trying to convince a coach that they are right. That’s…
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,…
With only five sets of eyeballs looking at 22 players on the field, we can’t give the same attention to every matchup. That’s why looking at the flow of colors helps us…
In high school football, we work with either a 25-second or 40-second play clock. Late in a half, when the game clock is winding down, coaches will sometimes ask the referee to…
Braveheart, with Mel Gibson as William Wallace, is one of my favorite movies. One of the most gripping scenes comes when the English and Scottish forces sprint toward each other and collide…
While on active duty in the Air Force, I served two years at Yongsan Army Garrison in Seoul, South Korea, as the Joint Staff’s Theater Missile Defense Officer. One of the radars…
I officiated basketball for 4 years starting in 2011. It’s a different ball and a different surface—but I’ve found a lot of basketball officiating principles apply to football. There are numerous examples;…