Ncwingman, In ILL. we have a shortage of high school football officials on all levels. I work with a assigner that assigns on 2 years contracts. I have my schedule for 2023 & 2024. It's not like when I Started in 1985 when high school varisty crews carried alternates on their crews. So if someone got hurt & couldn't work because of injury they could fill in.
The bigger hurdle in NC is that teams don't have their schedules set that far in advance, and non-conference games are sometimes in flux right up to season start. We've got an officials shortage as well, we try to piecemeal crews together as much as possible to cover everything that may pop up and often have to pick up games or ask for help from neighboring associations.
A proposed rule that was tabled in sub- committee, because of lack of stats, was one you guys favored 12-3 in our straw poll. Starting the game clock on RFP after OOB plays prior to last 2 minutes of each half.. They needed to see how often it occurred and how much time elapsed between RFP & snap. I proposed to run as an experimental rule to our state association but was suggested to clear it with the coaches first.
I'm speaking at our state coaches clinic this Friday, and am searching for any ideas from you guys. A selling point is that this has Been around NCAA & NFL for many years without any glitch that I'm aware of. Our proposed mechanic is asking the LJ to record occurances and attempt to record time saved. Any suggestions would be welcomed.....
(5-man crew)
Here's a thought, and I might try to do it myself if you want a random data point from warmer climates. Instead of changing the way the clock is managed, you could collect data without letting anybody know you're doing so. This will require a few things that may not exist, or exist consistently.
a) I know you've stated that there are no on-field play clocks in Maine. This means this will be the BJ's responsibility (assuming he's keeping the play clock) -- and he'll have to keep an accurate play clock. I know that there are occasions in blowout JV games that I've not been super accurate on my definition of 40 if I'm the only person who knows...
b) Whoever is doing it will likely have to keep a written record, pausing during timeouts or other administrative stoppages to keep up -- or try to remember an increasing list of random numbers in his head. Radios and a penalty charter would simplify this, but that's probably not consistently available.
c) Anyway, to the mechanic -- play goes OOB, clock stopped. BJ starts the 40. Once the ball is placed and U backs off, BJ notes the time remaining on the play clock (say 30 seconds). At the snap, BJ notes time remaining (say 12 seconds). Subtract the two and there that was the potential time off the game clock (30-12 = 18 seconds). After several plays, BJ only has to remember the seconds elapsed (18, 12, 7, etc.). At whatever stoppages, BJ writes down current list of numbers and then can restart the list. If radio/charter exist, BJ can just call out the time after each play and have somebody else keep the running tally. After the game, add the numbers together for total time and count how many numbers for total occurrences. Data collected with no change in how the game is run.
d) Alternative is BJ keeps a count up timer on a second watch, and then doesn't have to check the time at the snap, but just hit a button and check it after the play. Probably a better idea, since the BJ should probably be keeping an eye on his keys at the snap rather than his watch, but it requires additional gear.
