Now the fun begins

For anyone who has worked both High School and College Football, then I don't need to explain just how screwed-up your mind gets. I already find myself saying - oh crap, that's a HS rule. This is only my second season in the college rule book and I'm already feeling like I'm going to do something stupid.

For those who are not familiar with the 'distinctions' between the two systems, let me explain. In the Football Rule Differences 2007 book which outlines the differences between the two codes) there are 286 pages (after you exclude the index, table of contents, and other diagrams). Essentially, over 200 differences. Some are not that big of a deal - in HS you need shoes, but not socks. In NCAA you can kick barefoot but need socks otherwise. The number of panels on the ball, who can talk to the media. Simple things like that. Other rules are more complicated. In HS, no blocking below the waist except in the free block zone, but in NCAA, well this is a difference story depending upon who is doing the blocking, where it occurs on the field, and it which direction. This is blog entry in itself.

So, I paid my HS association dues ($75 bucks this year) and now have the 2007 HS books. I'm afraid to open them. I finally have what seems to be a fairly clear picture in my mind of what NCAA rules are and I'm going to cloud it all up with HS rules. The old timers tell me to not compare the two systems. But how do you avoid this?

My college mentor (who is a HS Crew Chief and a College White Hat) told me he worked HS for 15 years before he started college. When he first started college ball he said it was as if he never officiated before. It is a completely different game.

So Late

Went for a run tonight in a feeble attempt to get back into shape. I can only seem to to any running two or three times a week. Better than nothing I suppose, but not nearly enough.

10:14 PM and I'm just now getting to sitting down at the desk. Having three kids really puts a damper on how much time you can spend on preparing. I'm really sicks being so tired and trying to pull knowledge most poorly written books I've every read. The rule are confusing enough let alone having many of them written in double negatives.

Better stop procrastinating, Now it's 10:29.

Next Steps

Completed the last college summer study meeting tonight. Watched some film. Reviewed the tests questions. Made plans to meet 5:30AM in order to get to the clinic by 7:45.

We had a long discussion on one of the new rules changes related to fouls by A on free kicks out of bounds. Can B elect to take the ball at the OB spot and tack on the five yard penalty. One side felt accepting the OB spot was one the penalty options and thus wiped out the distance penalty. You could not have both. At the end of the discussion, we determined that with the new rule, B could take the ball at the OB spot and tack on five yards. I'm sure this will get screwed-up several times and there will be many a coach who want an explanation.

I also learned tonight from my HS Crew Chief I was being moved to a new crew that needs some help. The crew I am currently on is very strong and we've been together for 10 years now. This is very disappointing for me. Three of us on the crew all came-up together.

We all knew this day was coming. There just are not enough officials to fill all the games and the crew system just doesn't work when you are thin.