Football Officiating > NCAA Discussion

Flashing Stadium Lights

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ncwingman:
I didn't see any specific rule, and maybe I just missed it, but is there any guidance about the flashing/animated stadium lights that have become all the rage these days?

I recently had a high school game where they were having way too much fun with them -- and when they started flashing the lights while the visiting team was calling signals about the snap the ball, we stopped the game to tell them to knock it off. I was wondering if there was NCAA rules/guidance about when it is "allowed" to have the lights not at full brightness.

ElvisLives:
Stadium systems operators are subject to the rules, and the Referee has authority to take action necessary to ensure proper administration of the game, and to have game administration correct any conditions that may be adverse to the safety of players. Three seasons ago, Steve Shaw, by in-season video review, issued instructions to NCAA officials to coordinate with game administration to prevent conditions in which lighting levels are reduced to unsafe levels while players are on the field. This was in reaction to some, then, recent situations in which, following scores, the stadium lighting flashed on and off, with the ‘off’ being fully dark more than just instantaneously. This is obviously dangerous, as an opponent might commit some form of personal foul on a player during these fully dark moments, which could go unnoticed by game officials. This was no longer to be allowed.
I had hoped to see a rule change/edit, or at least an AR, to specifically require a minimum light level at all times when players are on the field. Unfortunately, that didn’t/hasn’t happened.
We’ve also seen direction from Shaw that video system operators are not to ‘flash’ video on video displays directly behind the goals when the opposing team is attempting a field goal attempt, in particular (obvious attempts to distract the kicker).
I don’t know what FBS officials, in particular, are being told by their coordinators, these days. But, I would hope the NCAA supports maintaining safety, and directs institutions to maintain a minimum level of light on the field at all times. If institutions think this through, they would WANT to maintain a minimum level of lighting at ALL times. The first time some infirm person misses a step in an aisle because he/she couldn’t see where they were stepping, falls, and breaks an arm (or worse), that family will be instantly billionaires, because any idiot can see the safety issue, and to consciously allow those conditions to happen is pure and simple negligence, if not criminal indifference.

dammitbobby:
https://x.com/SleeperCFB/status/1984731371596902826

Not quite the same thing, but this happened this weekend... it was the home team though running the try, so I don't think it was intentional.

ElvisLives:
Maybe that will force the NCAA’s hand to address this more firmly, and affirmatively.

jra104:
I've been on this since 2020!!!! LSU vs Florida, the shoe game.  Florida messed with the ribbon board the entire time LSU was on offense.  The fog made it worse and I truly believe it was not accidental. 
Check out the pictures of kicks in the 4th quarter... Florida kicking vs LSU.

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