Angle, Proximity, and Movement
If you’ve officiated basketball, you know the importance of moving to achieve the proper angle: 1) to get the correct view through player matchups and 2) to avoid being straight-lined. You’ll hear…
Ready For Play
Read MoreAngle, Proximity, and Movement
Pregame Meeting with Coaches
The pregame meeting with the coaches is the only chance to make a positive first impression. Your state’s mechanics manual should provide pregame meeting instructions. In Colorado, the referee decides which officials…
Make Super Bowl Calls
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from August 14, 2007 (Edited for clarity) The Colorado Football Officials Association held its 2007 state-wide clinic on the last Saturday of July. Jerry…
Double Action
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from October 31, 2008 (Edited for clarity) One of the glaring errors we as officials have consistently made over the years involved the “double…
Everyone Stop the Clock!
I mentioned in a previous Ready for Play article I watch a lot of Hudl video during the week. One mechanics issue I see in every game is multiple officials fail to…
NFHS – NCAA Rules Differences
In 2022, there were 534 rules differences between the NFL and NCAA and 263 rules differences between the NCAA and NFHS. Coaches and spectators often complain about a decision we make based…
Quarter Change
Swapping ends of the field and moving the chains at the end of the first and third quarters is not just a head linesman’s responsibility. As with penalty enforcement, the entire crew…
Appreciation
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from August 31, 2009 (edited for clarity). Let us remember without players, coaches, administrators, and parents, we would not have a game to officiate. …