Referee Penalty Announcement
Here are a few suggestions for referees when announcing and signaling penalties: Think of all components of the announcement before you start (especially the down). You don’t want to be in the…
Ready For Play
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Don’t Appear Lazy or Disinterested
You may have heard the saying, “Smooth is fast.” This saying means performing tasks with calm, controlled movements is ultimately quicker and more efficient than rushing and making mistakes. Smooth, deliberate actions…
Defensive Pass Interference
Ray Lutz shared an article by Jon Bible, a veteran football official from Austin, Texas in his October 27, 2010 “Forward Progress” post. (Edited for clarity) The late Woody Hayes, whose Ohio…
Defensive Holding
Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from September 7, 2009 (Edited and amplified for clarity) It is not only the offense that uses their hands illegally. There are four major…
Incomplete Pass or Catch and Fumble
The definition of a catch in the NFHS football rules book was clarified in 2015: Rule 2-4-1 – “A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is…
When in Question
The Colorado Mechanics Manual provides multiple “When in Question” (aka “When in Doubt”) axioms that aid our judgment. Yes, we want fouls to scream, and we want the covering official to see…
Don’t Throw a Flag Unless you KNOW it was a Foul
I track a few high school football officiating social media sites. Recently, an official posted a play about a “questionable hurdle.” He said he was standing on the end line, saw it…
We Can’t Determine Who Plays
Early in my officiating career, I heard a veteran official describe an aggressive player who was on the edge of earning an unsportsmanlike conduct flag. He said he sent the player off…