The first game of the 2009 NCFL season ended much like most of last season's games -- a one-sided contest which was essentially over before the end of the first quarter. This was very disappointing. If you look at the box scores, this was the moost lopsided game this week. It is difficult to remain focused during a game like this.
There were three Safety's during the game all against the losing team. I don't believe I ever worked a game with three Safety's. I can go an entire season and never see a Safety. Unfortunately for the losing team, they spent most of the game on their half of the field.
As a crew we found using the NFL/NCAA rules a bit challenging, but there were never any serious issues where a rule conflict caused a problem. A few on the crew a primarily high school officials, so these rules are even more challenging. We make a few mistakes, but no one noticed.
For example, during a play, 3rd and three as I recall, the offense gained four yards for a 1st down. The defense was offside. Since the offense made a first down, we just assumed the offense would decline. We should have gone previous spot, marched off the five. We shorted them a yard. Not a big deal - this team ended-up winning 63-6. So, a big whatever.
We had a holding call on a play that ended with a pass to the sideline. We did not get the information whether the holding occurred before the pass was completed or after. We (White hat and I) didn't ask either. We marched off ten yards from the flag. This mistake short changed the losing team since this would have push the offense back maybe six more yards. Again, I am assuming the holding occured before the completion of the pass and not after. If it was after, then we did it right.
As for my performance, I threw two holding fouls against winning team - a take-down and the second was arms outside the frame with a twist. There were a few other occasions where I may have had a holding, but these were often not at the point of attack, or they did not bust open the run. I'd love to see these on film.
I also threw and Illegal Player Downfield. This is a NFL rule. During a Scrimmage Kick (punt) only the two outside players can go downfield before the ball is kicked. The long snapper for the losing team streaked down the field after snapping the ball.
Player behavior was improved over last season. If this was a high school or college game, there would be some more flags on the ground for Unsportsmanlike, but overall, not too bad. There were some of the typical 'whiners', but every game, at every level I've worked, has crybabies.
As of this writing, I am not scheduled to work next week, but I'll have a posting.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Minor League Football 2009 Clinic
This Saturday, I'll work my first Minor League Football game for the 2009 season. There are high expectations for the league and I intend to do my part to make good things happen. For those who were following along last season, you will recall I worked three separate Semi-pro leagues. Each used College rules with some slight variations between them (some used down-by-contact and others didn't. Don't ask me which one used which rules.) Two of the leagues are now defunct and the NCFL has taken their place.
The NCFL (Northern California Football League) league is going to use NFL rules. More or less.
As I mentioned, the Semi-Pro games (we now use the term Minor League) used College rules with a few High School rules thrown in for safety. Now, we are using NFL rules with some College rules thrown in - I assume for simplicity.
The good news - The NFL rules are closer to College rules, than High School are to College. The bad news - many of the officials I will be working with have never worked a College game. And we did not get the rules we will using until last Saturday. This will be interesting.
Here are some of the non-College things we will have to remember:
During the clinic we had a representative from the NFL give a presentation and the NCFL commissioner has some big ideas for the league. More on this next post.
The NCFL (Northern California Football League) league is going to use NFL rules. More or less.
As I mentioned, the Semi-Pro games (we now use the term Minor League) used College rules with a few High School rules thrown in for safety. Now, we are using NFL rules with some College rules thrown in - I assume for simplicity.
The good news - The NFL rules are closer to College rules, than High School are to College. The bad news - many of the officials I will be working with have never worked a College game. And we did not get the rules we will using until last Saturday. This will be interesting.
Here are some of the non-College things we will have to remember:
- Offensive Pass Interference is only 10 yards, instead of 15 yards
- Defensive Pass Interference is a spot foul. No yardage penalty.
- College Chop-Block rule (meaning, not allowed)
- College block below he waist rules (they will regret allowing this one)
- Don't kill the clock on a 1st down
- The defense cannot score on a Try (extra point)
- Two feet in-bounds, not one
- Only the outside gunners can leave until the ball is kicked
- Overtime will be like College
During the clinic we had a representative from the NFL give a presentation and the NCFL commissioner has some big ideas for the league. More on this next post.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Minor League Update
The Minor League Football (or Semi-Pro Football) season begins on March 14th and I'm getting impatient . (See ncflfootball.com). The anticipation of getting back on the field is odd and hard to describe. What kind of person really looks forward to spending the bulk a Saturday running around, getting yelled at by coaches and cry-baby players? The feeling of anticpation is like looking forward to seeing an old friend you have not seen in years. Or when you were a kid two days before Christmas. Whatever that word is, that's the feeling. Let's get this thing started already.
Next Saturday we are supposed to have an officials clinic somewhere in the Bay area. What happens at a clinic? Generally, we go over league rules, how we plan on officiating the games, what the coaches want to see from us, what the league commissioner expects from us, and maybe a speaker from the NFL or NCAA D1. Then we do some field work and get to see some snaps. It's usually a long day and most of the information is useful.
I'll know more next week.
Next Saturday we are supposed to have an officials clinic somewhere in the Bay area. What happens at a clinic? Generally, we go over league rules, how we plan on officiating the games, what the coaches want to see from us, what the league commissioner expects from us, and maybe a speaker from the NFL or NCAA D1. Then we do some field work and get to see some snaps. It's usually a long day and most of the information is useful.
I'll know more next week.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Semi-Pro Around the Corner
It's been forever and a day since my last post, but semi-pro ball will be starting again in February, so there will be plenty of Pigskinref coming your way. The Semi-pro arena has changed quite a bit since last season. More on this as we get closer.
Since the last report, I did work a High School playoff game in the Open Division between the fourth and fifth seeded teams. The Open Division has the big, powerhouse teams. What is relevant is this game did not have the best teams, but has two evenly matched teams. Around here, they pit the team seeded #1 against the #8 team, #2 against #7, etc. Generally, these games with high seeded teams are not evenly matched games, and in my opinion, do not require the best officials. It's these middle seeded games which are typically evenly matched and make me earn my money.
Unfortunately, one team pounded on the other, so there goes my theory. The team that really should have won did not come to play. They lost rather than the other team winning.
I also worked the All-Star game... again. (see 2007 All-Star post, 2006 All-Star post). As with last year, this was a clean game, but a very close contest. Click here to read the game report in the newspaper. It was a good, back and forth game. As it should.
Since the last report, I did work a High School playoff game in the Open Division between the fourth and fifth seeded teams. The Open Division has the big, powerhouse teams. What is relevant is this game did not have the best teams, but has two evenly matched teams. Around here, they pit the team seeded #1 against the #8 team, #2 against #7, etc. Generally, these games with high seeded teams are not evenly matched games, and in my opinion, do not require the best officials. It's these middle seeded games which are typically evenly matched and make me earn my money.
Unfortunately, one team pounded on the other, so there goes my theory. The team that really should have won did not come to play. They lost rather than the other team winning.
I also worked the All-Star game... again. (see 2007 All-Star post, 2006 All-Star post). As with last year, this was a clean game, but a very close contest. Click here to read the game report in the newspaper. It was a good, back and forth game. As it should.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Rain Game
The college game this weekend was the first rain game I worked in several seasons. But, rain games on synthetic fields take something away from the experience. Rain, mud, and slick fields used to be a neutralizer and made the playing field even. Game changing turnovers used to make for some exciting upsets.
This is not to say the there were no fumbles. There were plenty. It just wasn't the same. If we're going to be wet and miserable we might as well be nostalgic and have a mud bath as well.
The real difficulty with this game was keeping the ball dry. I held the ball under a towel between downs and had to scramble backwards to get into my spot.
I don't have a lot to report because my game card was useless in the rain (Game cards are basically pre-printed 3x5 cards. The card just fell apart in the rain.) I don't even remember the score. I didn't throw many flags.
Now, if you are interested in learning a bit more about the position I work during college games, the following newspaper article is very informative.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081101/SPORTS/711019787&SearchID=73335636808831
And yes, I was knocked down on the first play of tonight game.
This is not to say the there were no fumbles. There were plenty. It just wasn't the same. If we're going to be wet and miserable we might as well be nostalgic and have a mud bath as well.
The real difficulty with this game was keeping the ball dry. I held the ball under a towel between downs and had to scramble backwards to get into my spot.
I don't have a lot to report because my game card was useless in the rain (Game cards are basically pre-printed 3x5 cards. The card just fell apart in the rain.) I don't even remember the score. I didn't throw many flags.
Now, if you are interested in learning a bit more about the position I work during college games, the following newspaper article is very informative.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081101/SPORTS/711019787&SearchID=73335636808831
And yes, I was knocked down on the first play of tonight game.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Another Varsity White Hat
I worked three games this weekend each with a little drama.
JV
I don't even remember the final score of this game because I slept through most of it. It was lopsided and dull and the five spectators in the stands sucked all the energy from the stadium. Ok, it was Halloween night, but don't these boys have parents to watch them play?
I ran into a coach on my sideline more than once. I should be throwing flags for this -- sideline interference, but they were in the coaches box and this field was poorly marked. No excuse and I should not let them get away with it, but I didn't feel like killing these guys. They were getting murdered on the field.
Late in the forth quarter they finally did score a touchdown. Number 58 was illegally down-field. We didn't penalize them.
Then close to the end of the game, there was a pass in the end zone to my sideline. A great pass, a great leaping catch... the receiver landed with both feet on the sideline. I ruled TD anyway... the heals of his feet hit inbounds first... or so I said. Whatever, they still lost by 30 points.
Varsity
This was my second 11-man Varsity White Hat of the season. I was told before the game this was Senior Night since this was the last home game for the Seniors. So, they did that thing where all the Seniors meet their parents on the field and give them flowers. This took forever.
The game started out as a fairly close contest, but quickly turned into another one-sided affair. At half-time the score was 28-0. Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter. Then, in the 4th, things got interesting.
At 6:50 in the 4th the losing team scores. Now it's 28-7. We decided to move-up to cover an on-side kick. Good thing we did, because that is exactly what they did and they recovered the ball. At 5:28, they scored again. Now it's 28-14. They on-side kick again, but do not recover. But they smell blood.
The winning team now has the ball around midfield, but the Quarterback is sacked three times and they need to punt. The losing team is fired-up. This is an important defensive stand. They have the momentum. This is like a frickin movie.
Then it happens. While the punter is kicking the ball the defender creams the kicker. A huge roughing the kicker foul. The ball went a mile straight-up in the air. The potential blocker said "I touched the ball". No way. Even my Umpire said the ball went between his hands. The coach wants a conference with me. "Didn't he touch the ball?" I retort, "I did not see him touch the ball." "Ok", he replies. He must have seen in my eyes I was absolutely confident I was right.
Well, this completely took the wind out of their sails. This is a 15-yard, automatic first down penalty. Three plays later the offense scored making the final score 35-14.
As far as running the game there were no issues and I felt comfortable. I think I am ready to become the next Crew Chief.
The college game report will be in the next post.
JV
I don't even remember the final score of this game because I slept through most of it. It was lopsided and dull and the five spectators in the stands sucked all the energy from the stadium. Ok, it was Halloween night, but don't these boys have parents to watch them play?
I ran into a coach on my sideline more than once. I should be throwing flags for this -- sideline interference, but they were in the coaches box and this field was poorly marked. No excuse and I should not let them get away with it, but I didn't feel like killing these guys. They were getting murdered on the field.
Late in the forth quarter they finally did score a touchdown. Number 58 was illegally down-field. We didn't penalize them.
Then close to the end of the game, there was a pass in the end zone to my sideline. A great pass, a great leaping catch... the receiver landed with both feet on the sideline. I ruled TD anyway... the heals of his feet hit inbounds first... or so I said. Whatever, they still lost by 30 points.
Varsity
This was my second 11-man Varsity White Hat of the season. I was told before the game this was Senior Night since this was the last home game for the Seniors. So, they did that thing where all the Seniors meet their parents on the field and give them flowers. This took forever.
The game started out as a fairly close contest, but quickly turned into another one-sided affair. At half-time the score was 28-0. Neither team scored in the 3rd quarter. Then, in the 4th, things got interesting.
At 6:50 in the 4th the losing team scores. Now it's 28-7. We decided to move-up to cover an on-side kick. Good thing we did, because that is exactly what they did and they recovered the ball. At 5:28, they scored again. Now it's 28-14. They on-side kick again, but do not recover. But they smell blood.
The winning team now has the ball around midfield, but the Quarterback is sacked three times and they need to punt. The losing team is fired-up. This is an important defensive stand. They have the momentum. This is like a frickin movie.
Then it happens. While the punter is kicking the ball the defender creams the kicker. A huge roughing the kicker foul. The ball went a mile straight-up in the air. The potential blocker said "I touched the ball". No way. Even my Umpire said the ball went between his hands. The coach wants a conference with me. "Didn't he touch the ball?" I retort, "I did not see him touch the ball." "Ok", he replies. He must have seen in my eyes I was absolutely confident I was right.
Well, this completely took the wind out of their sails. This is a 15-yard, automatic first down penalty. Three plays later the offense scored making the final score 35-14.
As far as running the game there were no issues and I felt comfortable. I think I am ready to become the next Crew Chief.
The college game report will be in the next post.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Triple Header - Part III
The college game on Oct 11 pitted a top twenty ranked team against a team who hasn't seen the rankings in years.
From a game management point many of the same old problems persisted. Scrambling for a chain crew, the 25-second play clock was not working, and the clock operator was terrible. On top of that, the new stadium lights are not installed, so they were using portable lighting. It made for a swell time.
We only threw eight fouls all game, so this was pretty dull. I was run into several times by linebackers. The running backs were very adept at using me as a shield. I often get scolded by the players running into me. I frequently hear, "you gotsta get out of my way". To which I reply, "you can see me but I don't see you, so deal with it". They don't really like it when I say that.
I saw several potential holding situations, but the defender was never really struggling to get away. One of the criteria we use to call holding is whether the player being 'held' is being put at a disadvantage. Often a guy is being held, but he is not fighting it. If he is not fighting it, how is he being put at a disadvantage?
As I hinted last post we had a female official on the crew. I had never worked with her before, but she has a reputation for not being a good official. My opinion was she understood the basic mechanics of her position, but does not have a full understanding of the rules. Overall, she did alright, but was not doing a great job on the whistle. We never could hear her blow the damn thing.
I did not have a college game on Oct 18th, but had two high school games the night before. A short post on that 55-7 blowout next time.
From a game management point many of the same old problems persisted. Scrambling for a chain crew, the 25-second play clock was not working, and the clock operator was terrible. On top of that, the new stadium lights are not installed, so they were using portable lighting. It made for a swell time.
We only threw eight fouls all game, so this was pretty dull. I was run into several times by linebackers. The running backs were very adept at using me as a shield. I often get scolded by the players running into me. I frequently hear, "you gotsta get out of my way". To which I reply, "you can see me but I don't see you, so deal with it". They don't really like it when I say that.
I saw several potential holding situations, but the defender was never really struggling to get away. One of the criteria we use to call holding is whether the player being 'held' is being put at a disadvantage. Often a guy is being held, but he is not fighting it. If he is not fighting it, how is he being put at a disadvantage?
As I hinted last post we had a female official on the crew. I had never worked with her before, but she has a reputation for not being a good official. My opinion was she understood the basic mechanics of her position, but does not have a full understanding of the rules. Overall, she did alright, but was not doing a great job on the whistle. We never could hear her blow the damn thing.
I did not have a college game on Oct 18th, but had two high school games the night before. A short post on that 55-7 blowout next time.
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