Use Your Head!

Pointers on making the right call,
not always the book call

No matter what the sport or what the level, the number-one principle of officiating should always be to employ common sense. That is certainly true in football.

The game of football often mirrors society itself. Football has rules; society has laws. Rule interpretations are similar to court rulings, and officiating mechanics can be likened to everyday guidelines and procedures. Football has officials as authority figures, and society has law-enforcement personnel.

Rules, regardless of the level, are not made to be broken, and neither are laws. Nevertheless, there are times when the rulebook should not be taken literally, and common sense and the intent of the rule should be upheld. The following examples will illustrate situations in which that is true.

After a play, the dead ball spot is clearly short of the line to gain. if that occurs after second down in the first quarter, a measurement is not warranted and a request by the captain of the offensive team should not be granted. However, if that same situation occurs after fourth down, late in the game, it makes perfect sense to bring the chains out, show both teams and the fans that the line to gain was not made and that the ball is turned over to the other team.

The game clock is not running when team A commits a false start. The ball was snapped before the officials could stop the play for the dead-ball foul; the clock operator started the clock and two seconds elapsed. Even though both NFHS and NCAA rules specify that the clock may be reset, if that occurs in a one-sided game, it can be overlooked. However, if time is of the essence, the clock must be adjusted accordingly.

On a pass play, the quarterback is scrambling and is running forward close to the line of scrimmage. As he throws the ball near the line, there are two receivers and two defenders just a few yards beyond the line. Common sense dictates that the covering official's primary job is to watch the receivers. Whether the quarterback was past the line when he threw the ball is a secondary concern.

Both NFHS and NCAA have specific rules regarding equipment and uniform requirements. Officials must consider the level of play, weather conditions and game conditions before enforcing those rules strictly. if a team is driving and time is of the essence, officials should not stop play for a small tear in a jersey if no player is in danger.

Perhaps the most common example of officials not calling a play according to the strictest definition of the rule involves holding. So many factors enter into that decision on virtually every play. Did the hand contact - which may not have been strictly by the book - put the defender at a disadvantage? The safety of the defensive player is not usually at risk during a hold, but if there is a potential safety issue, it must be considered. Was the action at the point of attack or on the other side of the field? Lastly, did the action have a material effect on the play?

The NCAA rulebook contains specific language that indicates what should be called if an official is not certain about specific play situations. For example, Rule 2-2-7e states that "when in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed." There are more than a dozen instances offering guidance on how officials should rule when the situation is in question. In addition to those specifically mentioned, there are other situations that can be considered in the same manner. As a practical matter, officials in doubt should rule that a departing player has left the field prior to the snap, verbal defensive signals are legal and not an attempt to confuse team A, a team A player did not violate substitution rules and was within 15 yards of the snap (NFHS) or inside the nine-yard marks (NCAA), a pass is backward rather than forward beyond the neutral zone, a player has been forced out of bounds by an opponent and, in a momentum situation, a play results in a touchback rather than the ball belonging to team B near the goal line.

With "when in question" statements, the NCAA tries to bring consistency to the game by specifically directing officials to rule in a certain manner. There will be times when no official will have undisputed knowledge of how the play actually occurred. in those rare cases, the rulebook should be applied. The NFHS does not have specific references to those or any other play situations. Since there are many more officials working under NFHS rules, perhaps it would be a good idea to include some or all of those situations.

in any case, those rulings should not be considered an easy out. Officials should work hard to be in the correct position to rule on all plays.

Officials must not apply a response that might initially appear to fall in the realm of common sense. The adage "two wrongs don't make a right" definitely applies in officiating. Every official makes mistakes, and anyone who says otherwise hasn't worked many games. The natural tendency may be to employ a make-up call or think that you are correcting the error by favoring the offended team on a subsequent call. Not only does that result in two errors, but the official will lose the respect of coaches and fellow officials. Even the originally offended coach will realize what has happened and will think less of the official for letting that human response enter into the picture.

Dealing with coaches and players often calls for applying an unusual amount of common sense. All officials have seen participants get upset and act in a manner that is inconsistent with their normal behavior. Sometimes an official's mistake has gone against them.

Often, the coach or player is wrong and the official has made the correct call. Regardless of who's right and who's wrong, officials must take the lead role in settling the situation.

Common sense says that, especially if the official erred, the coach should be permitted to express his opinion. The official must realize that in that situation, the coach's demeanor and communication techniques may not be the same as they have been up to that point. However, the coach should be heard. Granted, a coach should not be given unrestricted license to say whatever he wants to, and should not be allowed to demonstrate in an unsportsmanlike way. Try to defuse the situation in a calm manner. Common sense is especially crucial before an official penalizes a coach or player for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Such situations often provide an opportunity for a fellow official who was not involved in the play to enter the picture. it is proper for another official to flag a coach or player who is acting in an unsportsmanlike manner behind an official. For example, if a coach standing behind an official gives the "choke" signal, any other official who sees the gesture should throw his flag. Likewise, if a coach comes onto the field behind an official, a penalty may be called by an official who is across the field. part of a pregame meeting should be a discussion on how the crew will deal with coaches and players.

Another area in which common sense is vital involves your overall approach to the avocation of officiating. Set realistic expectations regarding the level of commitment required, even at the beginning levels. it takes time and effort to be successful. As with any avocation, the number of opportunities gets smaller as you move up the pyramid. Your job, family, age or physical condition alone do not prevent your moving up the officiating ladder. Rather, job and family time pressures may prevent you from making the commitment required. Use common sense to tell yourself that you will be the best official you can be at your current level. it is fortunate that the game of football has committed officials at all levels.

All officials have the right and responsibility to initiate rule changes. Officials can submit written suggestions to representatives who can then forward them to a higher level. The reality is that it's a long process, and certainly it's not always successful. That is not a reason not to try.

The solid official is one who supports the rules under which the game is being played. While not always calling every play exactly by the book, he nevertheless upholds the spirit and intent of all rules. The successful official is not a "book ' official," but one who always applies common sense to his officiating task.