(There is a lot here, but I think you'll get a lot out of it, if you'll stick with it.)
Another thing I noticed in the vast majority of UIL championship games was the lack of activity by officials during their time on the field during pre-game, which should be done in every game - not just state championship games. As a reminder, per UIL Exception, our jurisdiction begins at 60 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, and, per the TASO manuals, we are required to have at least two officials on the field beginning at 60 minutes before the scheduled kickoff, IF PLAYERS OF BOTH TEAMS ARE ON THE FIELD. You are certainly permitted to be on the field beginning at that time even when only one team - or neither team - is on the field, and, although not specifically mentioned, you are highly encouraged to have the entire crew on the field for your pre-game activities. There is enough to do to keep everybody productively busy.
I will first compliment the very few crews that actually did what they are supposed to do. That includes:
-checking the field for unsafe conditions
-placing the pylons in their correct locations
-checking, marking, and approving game balls
-meeting and instructing the chain crew
-observing teams warming up ("getting snaps," as we say)
-meeting and instructing ball persons
-meeting and coordinating with the media liaison (red hat), when applicable
-(championship games only) meeting and coordinating with the replay sideline assistant
Some of the crews never had even a single member walk around the entire field, much less inspect it for unsafe conditions. Most crews had at least a few members walk around the entire field. Thankfully, at Jerry World, the field is marked well, only requiring temporary sidelines for the 6-player games, and temporary hash marks for NCAA/UIL football (which are in the same location for 11-player and 6-player football, as they relate to the center-line of the field). They also do not have anything hard or permanent anywhere within the limit lines. But, we still have to check to make sure the booster clubs will be able to move EVERYTHING related to their inflatable tunnels outside the limit lines, and make sure the schools don't set end zone camera tripods within the limit lines, and the broadcasters don't set field cameras within the limit lines, etc.
Placing the pylons in the correct locations is a pet peeve of mine. Although the UIL only
recommends the use of hash mark pylons, if they are used, they need to be placed where specified by rule, which is 3 feet - THREE FEET - not six feet, or 12 feet, off the end line. The stadium operations folks set those pylons at the back of the white boundary (6' off). Not one single crew made any effort to locate them in the correct locations. Between one pair of games, a TASO administrator located the pylons in the proper locations. During team warmups, the two hash mark pylons at the 'south' end of the field got knocked over by players, but they were still in the general area where they are supposed to be located. Later, a crew member, who just happened to be walking by, set those two pylons at the back of the white boundary, where they stayed for the rest of the week. But the two pylons at the 'north' end remained in the proper locations for several more games. Eventually, one of the hash mark pylons at the 'north' end also got knocked over, and a crew member located it at the back of the white boundary, but left the other pylon at three feet. It, too, eventually, got knocked over, and move to the back of the white. What's the big deal you ask? We don't get to change the rules. By RULE, those pylons are to be set 3' off the end line. They used to be on the end line, but the Committee moved them 3' off, because they didn't want to negate an otherwise athletic play by a receiver who might happen to contact those hash mark pylons while inbounds or airborne, causing illegal touching when he caught a pass. With so many plastic grass fields with permanently marked hash marks, do we still need those pylons? Maybe not. (The NFL doesn't even have those pylons.) But it isn't up to us to make that decision. They are to be 3' off the sideline. Put 'em there, and keep 'em there, unless/until the rule is changed.
Checking game balls for UIL games is not easy, because the teams are not required to bring game balls to us in our dressing room before team warmups for checking and marking. Regardless, we need to test, approve and mark game balls for both teams. So, almost always, we have to perform that task on the field. This annoys some teams (coaches, especially with some of the smaller level schools), because we often have to interrupt them while they are warming up with those very game balls. Too bad. We gotta check them anyway, and we're going to do that right now, Coach. Talk to your booster club about springing for some more balls so you can keep warming up while we check the ones you want to use for the game. I know a lot of officials that ridicule other officials for performing this task. That's BS. There is nothing wrong, at all, with testing the balls with a pressure gauge. And, if some need additional air, there is nothing wrong with taking a hand-held pump to add air, personally. At least two championship crews did just that. (One B even had a cordless electric pump.) However, most of us can tell by 'feel' if a ball is clearly underinflated. With either a gauge, or by feel, if a ball is underinflated, you can add air personally, or you can notify the team that you can't approve that ball until it is properly inflated, and have them take care of the problem, and bring it back to be checked and marked, if acceptable.
For championship games, the chain crews are TASO officials assigned to work all three games, each day. Nonetheless, the H (and L in crews of 7) must at least introduce himself/themselves to the members of the chain crew, and review procedures and expectations, just as you would with any regular-season game. Granted, that discussion might not take long with a group of experienced officials, but it needs to be done. In the championship games, I only saw one crew actually conferring with the H/L, and that was the first game on the first day. But, I know the dressing facilities for the game crew and the chain crew are in very close proximity to each other, so, for the other games, that conversation may have taken place at the dressing rooms.
"Getting snaps" is very important, and only one or two crews spent much, if any, time doing that. Wings should observe snaps, reminding themselves of keys, pre-snap progression, etc. Similar for deep guys. And deep guys should observe punts, in particular, to refresh their minds/bodies in observing receivers, and move with the receiver in their runback (as brief as that might be). Deep guys - observe receivers running routes and catching passes; work on fading. R - note throwing arms of passers, and kicking legs of punters. R - observe snaps for pre-snap routine. U - if you can get into the defensive back field without interrupting the team, observe snaps from there. Otherwise, observe snaps from where you can, to work on pre-snap routine. DO NOT JUST STAND AROUND; DO NOT STAND WITH HANDS IN POCKETS OR ON HIPS, OR WITH ARMS FOLDED ACROSS THE CHEST (as many crews did). Stay busy. Walk briskly, when walking. A brisk walk is better than a sloppy jog. If you need to move faster than a brisk walk, sprinting is not necessary, but make it at least a good easy run. Do not gather into a huddle, unless there is a purpose (like exchanging game related information).
All sideline guys - get to know the ball persons, by first names. Let them know how important their job is, and that you appreciate their help. Impress upon them how important it is for them to pay attention, and be ready with that replacement ball at all times. It looked like most of the crews did instruct the ball persons.
Coordinating with the media liaison (R, B) was performed by all crews.
Coordinating with the replay sideline assistants (R, L) was performed by all crews.
Referees: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use jersey colors in your announcements. Know the team (offense, defense, kicking team, receiving team, passing team, fumbling team, return team, or actual team name, i.e., "Coronado"). NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, use an informal acronym for a team name, like "web" for West Eagle Bluffs. Always use the institution name, or, in some cases, the individual letters of the acronym, when the acronym for the institution is well-known, such as "U-N-L-V," "B-Y-U," "T-C-U," "S-M-U," "U-T-S-A," "U-S-C." A few institutions are known well-enough by the general public to be an exception, such as "UTEP," (yootep). But never use "smew" for "SMU," etc. I don't know of a single high school in Texas, or across the country, that is known well enough to not draw suspicion for conflict of interest if the informal acronyn is used.
And, Rs, for gosh sakes, place the microphone mute switch in a location on your belt as to not get switched on inadvertently. Very embarrassing for the entire officiating community when that happens repeatedly, until a technician has to intervene and 'fix the glitch.' (Bonus points for anyone who gets that reference.
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I may have more, on another day.
