Saturday's game was another interesting contest where the clock ran the entire second half and the game lasted a brief 2:15. Easy money.
The game did not start out this way. Each team scored on their first position and by the end of the first quarter the score was 21-6. I though we were in for a long day. But then there were the turnovers. The losing team had no business passing the ball. Three interceptions if I recall correctly.
From an officiating point of view this was a pretty boring game. I threw one false start flag. We may have had five flags the entire game. Unlike many of the other games I've reported on, the clocked worked, the chain crew was good, there were not personal fouls or unsportsmanlike. I could complain the ball boy took too long to bring the ball out - but, since he was only nine years old I guess I can cut him some slack.
The one place I did make a mistake was while we were in goalline. I forgot to cover the line of scrimmage. I do this because the two wings break to goalline. I have to come-up and rule on ineligible downfield and illegal forward pass. While the pass was in the air I realize my mistake. No one would even notice this besides me and a good evaluator. Hopefully, no one sees this. It's not a huge mistake, and when the score is 40-6, not that big a deal, but still a mistake.
So, an easy game to work, but not much to report on.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Minor League Football - Week 5.
This week's game was an odd one.
First, I worked the same home team I worked last week. Not the end of the world, but not ideal. Then, I'm working as the Field Judge. I've never worked Field Judge before. For those who do not know, the FJ is one of the deep officials who primarily cover passes. Your key is the outside receiver. Or two outside receivers. Or three outside... basically, you have the outside receivers.
You start 20 yards off the ball and back peddle the entire game. On plays outside the 15 or so, you typically have the goalline. Inside the 15, we tend to go to the endline. Not something an Umpire typically does.
The visiting team shows up with a handful of players. "The others are on their way, but stuck in traffic." Whatever. We're starting the game at 7:00. This team was so short players, the coach suited-up. The 51 year old coach.
So, the Visitors start the game with 18 players. Home team has something like 50 players.
The games goes like this. Home gets the ball. Scores. Visitors get the ball and go four and out. Home gets the ball and scores. Visitors get a first down and then four and out. They apparently have no punter.
Now the odd part begins. At 9:39 in the 2nd quarter there is a big hit on the far sideline. Turns out, the ball carrier for the Visitors broke his leg. He's right on the sideline so we cannot continue play.
After 10 minutes or so the meat wagon shows up. I guess his is busted pretty bad because it took forever.
The visiting coach finally asks if we can have a running clock. Of course. But he doesn't mean during the game, he mean right now. Run the clock off now. Ok, if that's what you want. When we ask the home team coach he say "sure, but hell we haven't even thrown a pass tonight". They were up 28-0 already.
So, while the 9:39 is burning off, the home coach asks if this delay can be halftime and we start the third quarter as soon as the ambulance takes off. Sure thing coach.
During the burning of the 9:39 one of the visiting players says, "I'm getting too old for this game". When we asked how old he was he said, "forty-eight". What! He wasn't the only player on that team with gray hair.
We ran the entire 2nd half with a running clock. I think the entire game we threw maybe five flags. All false start or offside. A pretty boring game over all. We were done in 90 minutes. I can't even get a Freshman game done that quickly.
Oh well, seventy bucks is seventy bucks.
First, I worked the same home team I worked last week. Not the end of the world, but not ideal. Then, I'm working as the Field Judge. I've never worked Field Judge before. For those who do not know, the FJ is one of the deep officials who primarily cover passes. Your key is the outside receiver. Or two outside receivers. Or three outside... basically, you have the outside receivers.
You start 20 yards off the ball and back peddle the entire game. On plays outside the 15 or so, you typically have the goalline. Inside the 15, we tend to go to the endline. Not something an Umpire typically does.
The visiting team shows up with a handful of players. "The others are on their way, but stuck in traffic." Whatever. We're starting the game at 7:00. This team was so short players, the coach suited-up. The 51 year old coach.
So, the Visitors start the game with 18 players. Home team has something like 50 players.
The games goes like this. Home gets the ball. Scores. Visitors get the ball and go four and out. Home gets the ball and scores. Visitors get a first down and then four and out. They apparently have no punter.
Now the odd part begins. At 9:39 in the 2nd quarter there is a big hit on the far sideline. Turns out, the ball carrier for the Visitors broke his leg. He's right on the sideline so we cannot continue play.
After 10 minutes or so the meat wagon shows up. I guess his is busted pretty bad because it took forever.
The visiting coach finally asks if we can have a running clock. Of course. But he doesn't mean during the game, he mean right now. Run the clock off now. Ok, if that's what you want. When we ask the home team coach he say "sure, but hell we haven't even thrown a pass tonight". They were up 28-0 already.
So, while the 9:39 is burning off, the home coach asks if this delay can be halftime and we start the third quarter as soon as the ambulance takes off. Sure thing coach.
During the burning of the 9:39 one of the visiting players says, "I'm getting too old for this game". When we asked how old he was he said, "forty-eight". What! He wasn't the only player on that team with gray hair.
We ran the entire 2nd half with a running clock. I think the entire game we threw maybe five flags. All false start or offside. A pretty boring game over all. We were done in 90 minutes. I can't even get a Freshman game done that quickly.
Oh well, seventy bucks is seventy bucks.
Minor League Football - If I only had a Brain - Part 1A
If you read the last post you'll recall this was not my best game. Most spectators would never know the difference, but as someone once said, the camera never lies. And apparently someone (no, a different someone) was filming last week's game. I was offered a DVD of the game -- I accepted. Let me review the film and see how bad things really were. If I can cut out a piece of the film, I'll add it the web so you can see what I see.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Minor League Football - If I only had a Brain - Part 1
There was a strange duplicity in this week's game. There was the game I worked; and then there is the game that everyone else saw.
The game everyone saw was outstanding. A classic back-and-forth contest where the better team won, and the losing team was last years Champs. Coaches misused time-outs, turnovers came at inopportune times, and a failed hail-mary in the closing seconds made this game a good candidate for the year-end highlight reel. But overall, a very well played contest with a final score of 28-21.
Game management was excellent. We had a clock (a first this season) a chain crew, ball people. You may think this is trivial, but trust me, when these things don't go well, it makes for a long night.
This was a game I would take my young son to. There was good sportsmanship all around, players helping one another off the ground, etc. Enough foul language to remind you this was a football game, and way more than would be tolerated in a High School or College game, but overall not too bad.
That's the game everyone else saw. I, on the other hand, am not really sure what game I saw because I left my brain in the car. Or at home. I'm not really sure because I lost it.
It starts early in the first quarter with a pass about 15 yards down the middle of the field. As Umpire, I'm supposed to turn on these passes and watch the reception. On these short passing routes in the middle of the field the receivers back it typically towards the deep officials. In other words, the deep officials cannot see the ball. I'm the one with the best view on trapped balls.
So, I read pass, see the QB is going to throw, and I lock on the intended receiver ... I at least I tried. The QB had a cannon for an arm. The receiver dives back towards the LOS, sticks an arm out and...
I don't know for sure if he actually caught it, but it wasn't clear he didn't either. My head was not stationary, the ball was zipped, and the receiver was moving back towards me. It was one of those close ones. Luckily, I didn't blow my whistle (Minor League Football uses down-by-contact rule). Not because I ruled a completed pass. No, I didn't blow it dead because I didn't know. I didn't know because I did think what it takes to make a reception a 'catch'. I just thinking " gee, I don't know and it's too late now, so.... " So, the receiver is just laying there on the ground. No one touched him. He is still just laying there. It's like everything just stopped. It seems like he is sitting there for 10 seconds. Still no whistle.
Now, this should be a clue to me that the guy knew he didn't catch the ball, right? Of yea, STILL NO WHISTLE. So, he finally gets up and runs... and runs... and runs... and scores. During the run back there was a flag. Thrown by me. This is a story by itself which I will include in the next post.
But the real issue with all this is I did not know it was a catch, yet I ruled it was. As I replay it in my mind, I don't know if the ground aided the receiver or not. I 'think' his hand was under ball when it bounced-up and hit his chest. He was far enough away that I could not be certain. So, although this was one of those 'it can go either way' kind of calls, I think I was wrong. When in doubt, it is NOT a catch should be the rule of the day.
But you need to bring your brain to the game.
There are a lot more interesting (i.e. Brainless) things about this game I'll share in the next post.
The game everyone saw was outstanding. A classic back-and-forth contest where the better team won, and the losing team was last years Champs. Coaches misused time-outs, turnovers came at inopportune times, and a failed hail-mary in the closing seconds made this game a good candidate for the year-end highlight reel. But overall, a very well played contest with a final score of 28-21.
Game management was excellent. We had a clock (a first this season) a chain crew, ball people. You may think this is trivial, but trust me, when these things don't go well, it makes for a long night.
This was a game I would take my young son to. There was good sportsmanship all around, players helping one another off the ground, etc. Enough foul language to remind you this was a football game, and way more than would be tolerated in a High School or College game, but overall not too bad.
That's the game everyone else saw. I, on the other hand, am not really sure what game I saw because I left my brain in the car. Or at home. I'm not really sure because I lost it.
It starts early in the first quarter with a pass about 15 yards down the middle of the field. As Umpire, I'm supposed to turn on these passes and watch the reception. On these short passing routes in the middle of the field the receivers back it typically towards the deep officials. In other words, the deep officials cannot see the ball. I'm the one with the best view on trapped balls.
So, I read pass, see the QB is going to throw, and I lock on the intended receiver ... I at least I tried. The QB had a cannon for an arm. The receiver dives back towards the LOS, sticks an arm out and...
I don't know for sure if he actually caught it, but it wasn't clear he didn't either. My head was not stationary, the ball was zipped, and the receiver was moving back towards me. It was one of those close ones. Luckily, I didn't blow my whistle (Minor League Football uses down-by-contact rule). Not because I ruled a completed pass. No, I didn't blow it dead because I didn't know. I didn't know because I did think what it takes to make a reception a 'catch'. I just thinking " gee, I don't know and it's too late now, so.... " So, the receiver is just laying there on the ground. No one touched him. He is still just laying there. It's like everything just stopped. It seems like he is sitting there for 10 seconds. Still no whistle.
Now, this should be a clue to me that the guy knew he didn't catch the ball, right? Of yea, STILL NO WHISTLE. So, he finally gets up and runs... and runs... and runs... and scores. During the run back there was a flag. Thrown by me. This is a story by itself which I will include in the next post.
But the real issue with all this is I did not know it was a catch, yet I ruled it was. As I replay it in my mind, I don't know if the ground aided the receiver or not. I 'think' his hand was under ball when it bounced-up and hit his chest. He was far enough away that I could not be certain. So, although this was one of those 'it can go either way' kind of calls, I think I was wrong. When in doubt, it is NOT a catch should be the rule of the day.
But you need to bring your brain to the game.
There are a lot more interesting (i.e. Brainless) things about this game I'll share in the next post.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Minor League Football - zzzzzzzzzzzzz
No game this week. In fact, I still do not know the remainder of my schedule save on lone game in May. We were promised six games. Next week is week four already. This league is so weird.
Speaking of weird; and complete stupidity, I agreed to work the All-Star game again. The game is not until late June, so I still have time to come to my senses.
Speaking of weird; and complete stupidity, I agreed to work the All-Star game again. The game is not until late June, so I still have time to come to my senses.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Minor Leage Football - So far, an ugly game
This weeks Minor League game was hosted at the same venue as last weeks gridiron travesty. A few players were there to play Football and played well. Most are what I call -- crybabies. These whiners are act like teenagers boys who still haven't figured out that life is not fair. I spend most of my time during the contest focusing on these juveniles acting out their frustrations. It is hard to believe these are adults. The Junior College kids don't even act this way.
We threw two Unsportsmanlike flags for players removing their helmets on the field. Sounds benign, but the helmets came off after something happened... who the hell knows what it was, but this "offended" player just had to jump up-and-down, scream and yell, and throw a tantrum my four year old son would be proud of. And this was on the team that ended-up winning 49-12.
Things began to all apart before the game even started. Again, only two (myself and the White Hat) of us had any CCFOA experience (college). Before the game even started, things started off bad.
The home team owner typically gives us our game fee prior to the game starting, and prior to us beginning our respective position duties. This week, she approached to us ten minutes before the game started. She said she did not have the money with her, but so-and-so had the cash and we needed to see him. The White Hat simply stated that we preferred if so-and-so brought the money to us as we are preparing for the game. She stomps off. Five minutes later so-and-so arrives with the money and a bone to pick with the White Hat. He says something to the effect of "I hear we have an attitude problem." The White Hat says something to effect of, "No attitude problem. We are working, give us our money... and you can leave now." The White Hat was more professional than my paraphrase, but he basically told him to take his attitude and shove it.
Then, we have a kickoff. No big deal. But no chain crew. So we had to wait for five minutes to get this put together. Same thing happened following halftime. And once again, no game clock
. Mr. so-and-so with the attitude needs to do his friggin job before he starts waving fingers at us.
Everyone seemed to have an attitude Saturday. We flagged one player for two personal fouls on the same play. There was some long run or punt return, I don't recall, but around mid-field a good twenty yards from the ball, #45 blocks a guy in the back... now bear in mind, #45 is on defense, then he races down to where the tackle being made and after the whistle, knocks the crap put of someone. Another flag. This is the same a-hole I threw flags on last week. It was so stupid because the end of the run was at the 16, so we did half distance, half distance and put the ball on the four. I could have, and now looking back should have, nailed the guy for hitting a defenseless player... which would have been an ejection.
I threw an Illegal Forward Pass, a few False Starts, and a huge Holding. #55 was so pissed at me for calling it on him, but he took the guy down. He said "I rode him to the ground." Ah, yea, by the shoulder pads. Friggin whiners.
I could go on, but as I relieve these preschool playground antics, I'm getting depressed.
I still don't know what games I have for the season, so who knows what fun is in store next Saturday.
We threw two Unsportsmanlike flags for players removing their helmets on the field. Sounds benign, but the helmets came off after something happened... who the hell knows what it was, but this "offended" player just had to jump up-and-down, scream and yell, and throw a tantrum my four year old son would be proud of. And this was on the team that ended-up winning 49-12.
Things began to all apart before the game even started. Again, only two (myself and the White Hat) of us had any CCFOA experience (college). Before the game even started, things started off bad.
The home team owner typically gives us our game fee prior to the game starting, and prior to us beginning our respective position duties. This week, she approached to us ten minutes before the game started. She said she did not have the money with her, but so-and-so had the cash and we needed to see him. The White Hat simply stated that we preferred if so-and-so brought the money to us as we are preparing for the game. She stomps off. Five minutes later so-and-so arrives with the money and a bone to pick with the White Hat. He says something to the effect of "I hear we have an attitude problem." The White Hat says something to effect of, "No attitude problem. We are working, give us our money... and you can leave now." The White Hat was more professional than my paraphrase, but he basically told him to take his attitude and shove it.
Then, we have a kickoff. No big deal. But no chain crew. So we had to wait for five minutes to get this put together. Same thing happened following halftime. And once again, no game clock
. Mr. so-and-so with the attitude needs to do his friggin job before he starts waving fingers at us.
Everyone seemed to have an attitude Saturday. We flagged one player for two personal fouls on the same play. There was some long run or punt return, I don't recall, but around mid-field a good twenty yards from the ball, #45 blocks a guy in the back... now bear in mind, #45 is on defense, then he races down to where the tackle being made and after the whistle, knocks the crap put of someone. Another flag. This is the same a-hole I threw flags on last week. It was so stupid because the end of the run was at the 16, so we did half distance, half distance and put the ball on the four. I could have, and now looking back should have, nailed the guy for hitting a defenseless player... which would have been an ejection.
I threw an Illegal Forward Pass, a few False Starts, and a huge Holding. #55 was so pissed at me for calling it on him, but he took the guy down. He said "I rode him to the ground." Ah, yea, by the shoulder pads. Friggin whiners.
I could go on, but as I relieve these preschool playground antics, I'm getting depressed.
I still don't know what games I have for the season, so who knows what fun is in store next Saturday.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Minor League Football.. key word is minor
If Saturday's game is any indication of what is to come, then this is going to be a long, ugly season. Minor League Football conjours up the movie The Longest Yard. Saturday's game could have been the inspiration for that movie.
First, the caliber of play was dismal. I understand these guys have day-jobs and are weekend warrior's at best. And I doubt many of these players have seen a weight room or a pair of jogging shoes in a long time. But this is no excuse of the lack of character in grown men. It was pathetic. I thought the High School All-Star games were bad. This was just plain old ugly.
The game ended 22-6, so at least it was interesting, but we threw way too many flags. I broke-up several potential fights and had to talk down more than one hyped-up player. We threw at least six unsportsmanlike and three personal fouls - one of which I threw. I could, or perhaps should, have thrown other flags. Pushing, shoving, fighting. I caught a guy punching another player in the balls. What the hell?
One thing that contributed to the problem was we had a rookie crew. Three of the crew had never worked NCAA rules or mechanics. They had deer-in-the-headlights syndrome and it showed. Things started to get out of hand when the players felt we were not going to call any of the borderline things. It took us vets two quarters to get things back in line. We had to threaten to leave in order to get the players to stop being stupid.
As with many of the junior college games, there was no clock on the field, no PA system, and no field management to my knowledge. For a league what wants to improve its image, it is off to a poor start.
So get this; during the first quarter, we have a play in the flats where the runner falls down, but was not down by contact. The Line Judge blows the play dead. Ok, fine, he is a High School official and forgot we are using the NFL rule for this. No big deal. I remind him and we go on.
Another play just like this happens on the other side of the field, but the Linesman correctly does not blow the play dead and the runner gains another five yards before he is tackled. The visiting coach is jumping through his skin because the runners knee was down. We remind him of the rule, he protests, we tell him to politely get a clue. Then at halftime, the two coaches speak and agree to change the rule for the second half - now we are using High School rules.
Whatever.
First, the caliber of play was dismal. I understand these guys have day-jobs and are weekend warrior's at best. And I doubt many of these players have seen a weight room or a pair of jogging shoes in a long time. But this is no excuse of the lack of character in grown men. It was pathetic. I thought the High School All-Star games were bad. This was just plain old ugly.
The game ended 22-6, so at least it was interesting, but we threw way too many flags. I broke-up several potential fights and had to talk down more than one hyped-up player. We threw at least six unsportsmanlike and three personal fouls - one of which I threw. I could, or perhaps should, have thrown other flags. Pushing, shoving, fighting. I caught a guy punching another player in the balls. What the hell?
One thing that contributed to the problem was we had a rookie crew. Three of the crew had never worked NCAA rules or mechanics. They had deer-in-the-headlights syndrome and it showed. Things started to get out of hand when the players felt we were not going to call any of the borderline things. It took us vets two quarters to get things back in line. We had to threaten to leave in order to get the players to stop being stupid.
As with many of the junior college games, there was no clock on the field, no PA system, and no field management to my knowledge. For a league what wants to improve its image, it is off to a poor start.
So get this; during the first quarter, we have a play in the flats where the runner falls down, but was not down by contact. The Line Judge blows the play dead. Ok, fine, he is a High School official and forgot we are using the NFL rule for this. No big deal. I remind him and we go on.
Another play just like this happens on the other side of the field, but the Linesman correctly does not blow the play dead and the runner gains another five yards before he is tackled. The visiting coach is jumping through his skin because the runners knee was down. We remind him of the rule, he protests, we tell him to politely get a clue. Then at halftime, the two coaches speak and agree to change the rule for the second half - now we are using High School rules.
Whatever.
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