Recent Posts

71

Texas Topics / Re: TASO Officiating Philosophies and NCAA Officiating Standards

« Last post by blindtxzebra on July 30, 2026, 12:26:50 PM »

Kind of along the same lines, kind of not...The NCAA CCA manual has mechanics for a 10 second runoff, are there runoff mechanics listed in the TASO mechanics? I have looked and cannot seem to find them. Really only asking because of the change in the CCA manual this year.

72

National Federation Discussion / Re: Basic Spot behind itself

« Last post by Derek Teigen on July 30, 2026, 10:37:30 AM »

Yeah, I can't imagine what inspired my original post... as usual, the questions are often direct quotes from the book, regardless of how ridiculous they end up sounding.

There's also a question about pass eligibility by position that completely omits the necessary context of the numbering exception.

The first two I agree with, the last one I hope just has a typo. The foul by B occurred during a loose ball play behind the LOS, so the enforcement spot of the foul will be the previous spot - 1st and 5 from the A8 (not A3) -- OR decline the foul and take the result of the play, 2nd and 5 from the A8. Either way, next play starts from the A8 and they would be silly to make it 2nd down.

Why at the 8 yard line. Illegal kicking and batting is a 10 yard penalty.  1st s and 10 @ a13 no?

73

Non-Officiating Discussion / Re: Is calendar syncing between Google and Outlook always this unreliable?

« Last post by peterparsons on July 30, 2026, 06:46:35 AM »

When did you first set everything up? Microsoft made some changes relating to authentication last year, and in order to keep everything working I had to delete a Microsoft account I have and add it from scratch to the Gmail app. Everything does seem to work again. I can see both inboxes in the Gmail app and both calendars in Google Calendar.

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National Federation Discussion / Re: Fair catch free kick and restraining lines.

« Last post by Ralph Damren on July 30, 2026, 06:43:40 AM »

FWIW (for what it's worth), until late last century the NZ on a free kick couldn't extend into the endzone.Someone  brought up this unicorn play.....

SCENE: Wharf Rats trail by 2 with only seconds left in game. Blind Owls ball 4th down on their own 1.

ACT I : Punting from their own EZ, a partially blocked kick is fair caught by the Rats at K's 2.

ACT II : Rats choose to free kick for game winning FG. 

ACT III : Owls send in 7' 6" basketball player to leap at goal line ,trying to block the kick.

EPILOGUE: After a hearty discussion, it was felt that EVEN if the NZ was to extend into the EZ. once the kick entered the EZ it would be dead by rule and a TB  .

AS PAUL HARVEY USED TO SAY: "...AND NOW YOU KNOW THE REST OF THE STORY  "

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General Discussion / Re: eSIM for traveling in Europe when refereeing matches abroad?

« Last post by peterparsons on July 30, 2026, 06:27:59 AM »

Have a look at apps such as Airalo, Nomad and Saily. These are what I use when travelling for work outside countries where my contract provides for roaming. They all offer European or EU eSIMs as well as country-specific eSIMs.

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General Discussion / eSIM for traveling in Europe when refereeing matches abroad?

« Last post by Marko on July 29, 2026, 11:12:26 PM »

Hey. This season we have 2 trips planned, one to Germany and another to Spain to officiate continental-level American football games. The problem is that my usual carrier charges me completely outrageous roaming rates, like 15 euros a day just to get decent data. A fellow referee who travels a lot to European tournaments told me about an eSIM for traveling in Europe a virtual SIM card that you can activate right on your phone without having to hunt for a store at the airport when you arrive. I’m interested, but I don’t have much information on how it actually works, whether all carriers are covered in the countries where the league plays, and especially whether the rates are really affordable for about ten days. Has anyone here used this for this kind of trip?

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Word from 'on high' regarding the "2 X 2" formation

« Last post by ElvisLives on July 29, 2026, 09:45:41 PM »

Maybe we will get a bulletin soon.

Yes, let’s hope.

I just got another piece of information, that is very different than what we had been hearing. This came from an FBS coordinator (indirectly to me, since I’m not in FBS any more, and not from an FBS official). But, from somebody at that level, I would hope that we could believe it to be authoritative.

———————————————————————

Upon further review, I am now thinking I misinterpreted what the source said. If I did, I take 50% blame, and assign 50% blame to the source, for not making clear what he was trying to say. But, for now, I will leave it at that, except to say that there is no doubt that once Team A has come to their initial team ‘set,’ and the snapper is in his position, the 2X2 ‘box’ (if it exists) is set and locked, there can be no position changes that affect the 2X2. If Team A has 5 linemen numbered 50-79, then there is no 2X2, even if there are interior linemen with ‘eligible’ numbers (they are ineligible), and Team A player(s) may move/shift all they want (if they don’t false start).

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NCAA Discussion / Re: Word from 'on high' regarding the "2 X 2" formation

« Last post by blindtxzebra on July 29, 2026, 08:29:09 PM »

Maybe we will get a bulletin soon.

79

Texas Topics / Re: TASO Officiating Philosophies and NCAA Officiating Standards

« Last post by ElvisLives on July 29, 2026, 07:40:31 PM »

If I haven’t relayed this anywhere else, the TASO Football Board is standing up a committee to consider blending the Standards into the TASO Philosophies, so we have a single comprehensive document. Won’t happen for 2026, I don’t think, but, hopefully for 2027.

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Texas Topics / Re: TASO Officiating Philosophies and NCAA Officiating Standards

« Last post by ElvisLives on July 29, 2026, 07:37:38 PM »

I would presume that this difference has everything to do with replay.

That would be correct. Generally speaking, in NCAA, when in question, let it play out, and let replay ‘fix it.’ For TASO, we need to officiate on the field, to the best of our abilities.