Final Season Game

Earlier in the season I did not even know if I would have a season. In August, I was still working 100 miles from home, never came home until the weekends, and never saw my family. I had planned on dropping High School football. I was kinda ok with this since I worked the CCS Division IV Championship game and have pretty much accomplished all the big ticket items one can do in High School officiating. My wife convinced me attend the required meetings and at least qualify, just in case another job pans out. Which it did. I’m glad I listened to her and stuck it out because this season I once again I worked the CCS Division IV Championship this year and it was a great game.

Carmel was ahead 11-25 at halftime, but by the end of the game they lost the lead 39-32. I never worked a game with this large of a momentum change. Click on this link to read about the game in the local paper.

Clock Problems

One very annoying problem that occurred more than once was the scoreboard went blank several times during the 1st half. The first time we waited 10 minutes trying to get the thing started again.

I actually cannot find anything specifically in the rule book or the mechanics book about the clock when it malfunctions. We always say we will track the time on the field if this occurs, but I don't see the procedure on how this is done. We did track the time on the field.

Rule 1-3-6 (Game Equipment) says “A timing device referred to as “the game clock” or “the clock” shall be provided by the game management. The operator(s) shall be approved by the referee.” There has been many a game where we ‘fired’ the clock operator. (There are several examples of this on the blog.) During this game the issue was with the scoreboard itself and not the operator. Rule 3-4-7 says “The referee shall have the authority to correct obvious errors in timing if discovery is prior to the second live ball following the error, unless the period has officially ended.” Which we did do several times when the clock did come back on-line.

During the last rounds of the playoffs the chain crew is comprised of football officials, so one of them kept the clock on the field. The press box also was also keeping the time, so after the 3^rd time, when the clock came back on-line, it matched the time we had on the field perfectly. It was disappointing this occurred so often and was a momentum killer for the teams.

Defensive Holding

One unusual situation I think I missed was related to defensive holding on the line of scrimmage. The foul is called Illegal Use of the Hands. Typically, the defensive lineman will restrict (otherwise known as holding) the offensive lineman so the linebacker can blitz into the backfield. Can’t do that. That’s not what happened. Untypically, this defensive lineman was typing to hold his opponent on sweeps. The defender was trying to hold the offensive tackle. As umpire, the tackles are not one of my keys to watch, but depending upon the play, such as a sweep, I can change my focus and pick up the tackle and help out. On this particular plays the “hey, that looks funny” light went on. And then the, “did I just see what I thought I saw” bell went off.

The defender had his arms outside the frame of the defender (a clue, but not holding) and was outsized by about 6 inches and 50lbs (a clue – if he’s beat he’ll cheat) and is trying to control the offensive play (another clue). What the heck is going on? So, I ask my self - does this have a bearing on the play? Is the defender trying to get to the ball carrier? If he is, he may “Push, pull or ward off an opponent in an actual attempt to get to the runner or a loose ball…” Rule 2-3-5-b. This play is near the sideline and these two players are near the hash marks. No linebackers to be found. So, who cares since all the action was 10 yards away. Then the defender falls and attempts to grab the offensive player around the ankles. What is this kid thinking?

So, he does a crappy job actually ‘holding’ the guy, but he does (inhibit) slow him down. I’m thinking, this isn’t right, but not at the point of attach, not a ‘take down’ and seems to have no bearing on the play. If the offensive guy was put at a disadvantage, it may have been simply not being able to go downfield to make a block. So, I don’t throw a flag. I see the same action again later in the quarter, but just can’t bring myself to throw a flag in a game where we what ‘make them big’ fouls.

Still bugs me. Let me know what you think.

Can I Inspect Your Balls... Footballs

This week I worked a high school, open division, regional semi-final playoff game. To be honest, it wasn't much of a game. The visitors dominated at the game was over by half-time.

There was huge collision where two players ended their seasons. One of the two players was strapped to a stretcher and sent to the hospital. I have learned from someone who knows the family that the young man is ok.

Special Balls

Following the first score by the visitors, I place the ball on the 3 yard line for the Try. The ball boy brings me a football and says this is the 'kicking ball'. I inform him the ball cannot be changed and send him back to the sideline. The Try is attempted and blocked by the defenders.

Was I right in not allowing the 'kicking ball' to be used? Sort of.

This is an interesting exercise of understanding the English language and the understanding of the rule. However; in this case there is no 'foul' if the rule is broken. Rule 1-3-2 says "Each team shall provide at least one legal game ball to the referee at the time the game officials assume authority for the contest. Only legal game balls approved by the referee may be used during the contest..." (there is a part 2 to this rule)

Let's stop here. I would bet if you ask 100 high school officials how many footballs can be used by a team during a high school game, 99 of them would tell you they can only use one ball during the game. I don't know where misconception comes from, but most officials I know believe this. Let's go on.

Rule 1-3-3 says "The referee shall decide whether the ball meets specifications. If the field is wet, the referee may order the ball changed between downs." So, if you wanted to be picky, if the team did not provide more than one ball for the referee to inspect, and the snapper, or in our case the ball boy, requests a new ball to be used, the Referee could deny the requests. No right minded Referee would do this during a rainy game, but there is a point here I hope you can see.

And to make another point, the book says REFEREE, not UMPIRE. Good luck getting the White Hat to deal with this. Since I touch the ball every play this is placed, and I think rightly so, on my shoulders.

Anyway, let's get back to the 'part 2' I refereed to previously. Part 2 of Rule 1-31 says "... Each team may use any referee approved ball of its choice to free kick or start a new series of downs. If a touchdown occurs following a change of possession and the scoring team did not put the ball in play, ANY referee-approved ball may be used for the try."

So, if you read carefully, the team can have a 'kicking ball' -- any approved ball may be used for free kicks. Also, ANY approved ball can be used following, for example sake, an interception which is run back for a score. The scoring team can use the same "kicking ball" they use for kickoffs on this particular Try.

But, and this is where you must be a good reader, is where things get interesting -- each team may use any referee approved ball of its choice to... start a new series..." So, the question becomes, is the Try following the touchdown, a new series, or a continuation of the same series? It is.

You will not find anything in the book that says you must use the same ball, or even better, cannot change the ball during a series of downs. That would be simply too easy to understand. Instead, we get the mumbo-jumbo in rules 1-3-2 and 1-3-3.

And compounding the issue with playoff games is teams are required to only use Rawlings footballs during the game.

So, I suppose you could penalize the head coach for unsportsmanlike conduct for allowing an non-referee ball to be brought into the game, but I would never do that. Just kick the ball out an get the 'right' one. You could instead call a delay of game foul, but again, just kick the ball out. These would be ticky-tack fouls for sure.

Did either team offer myself or the referee more than one ball to inspect? No.

Wrap-up

Our area has two teams with the high seed position going to the finals. Last year I was fortunate to work one of the final games, and ironically, one of these two teams is the again in the finals. I don't know if this excludes me from consideration or not. I'll let you know.