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Football Officiating => General Discussion => Topic started by: JugglingReferee on October 01, 2010, 10:30:46 AM
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Setup: Canadian varsity game, 4 man crew. KO after a TD. Referee is on the KO line, in front of a bench. H on restraining line and on opposite side as the R. U and L are deep for the KO. L on the R's side of the field, U on H's side of the field. I'm the L. K ends up kicking a short one to surprise Team R. (There was no strategic reason to expect a short KO, such as down by 6 with 2 minutes to play.)
So I'm about 45 yards deep, and as soon as K starts towards the ball, I suspect the short KO. K does the short KO towards the sideline where the R is. So I start running up and at about 35 yards away, I see that Team R touches the ball first, and the ball is sailing OB. In Canada, the team to last touch the ball is awarded possession. Then, as the ball is sailing OB, I believe I see K touch the ball ever so slightly. BUT.... I'm 35 yards away and we're talking about a fingertip (if that) touching here.
I come running in and ask the R is he saw the double-tip. He says no. I suggest to him that I'm 50/50 that I saw K touch the ball after Team R did. If the R thought K touched the ball, I'd suggest giving K the ball. He didn't continue to officiate by watching the ball sail OB.
The timer is on the sideline and had a great view of the play. Plus, he's a buddy of mine. He says, "JugglingReferee, you had the call right. K did touch it."
Argh!!! I've put this play behind me in terms of not getting the call right, but I need to better predict (start shallower) react (run faster) when a short KO may occur.
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I think this is one of those situations that should come up in pre-game chats with the coaches, should it not?
But if you had no clue ... what can you do to set up in a better spot? You used the key words, though, you were not certain ... therefore, cannot make the call. This seems like a learning lesson for R, donnit?
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*I* think its's a learning opp for the R, but he showed little interest in being told that he didn't follow the path of the ball... when I told him that he needs to continue officiating, he didn't seem to happy that I was voicing this fact.
Truth is I was more like 75/25 that K touched it again. But as you say..... gotta be 100%.
One coach quietly asked about the situation and accepted that I was far away from the play. I then stated that had we been using a 5-man crew, the mechanic difference would have had a guy right there to see the whole play. Sorry, did I say "using". I meant "paying for". LOL
Had a game today. 1 vs 3 in the county. Still only a 4 man crew. We needed 5.
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Had a game today. 1 vs 3 in the county. Still only a 4 man crew. We needed 5.
I was spoiled in Sask - six man crews for all Varsity games.
We do five in NB. Seems do to the trick.
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Ya. 5 is good. We've got a bunch of guys very good at the deep position, and could work it alone back there.