Recent Posts

31

Texas Topics / Re: Substitutions 3-5-2-d

« Last post by dammitbobby on June 23, 2026, 03:22:03 PM »

I'll also admit to not always thinking about this, but as for your question, usually for lower levels no, and for Varsity, it depends - are they trying to be deceptive, or just being kids who don't know who is on the kickoff team? Would be a stretch for me to flag this unless I really thought they were trying to be purposefully confusing.

32

Texas Topics / Substitutions 3-5-2-d

« Last post by Bulldog75 on June 23, 2026, 03:14:35 PM »

d. Substitutes who become players (Rule 2-27-9) must remain in the game for
at least one play and replaced players must remain out of the game for at least
one play, except during the interval between periods, after a score, or when a
timeout is charged to a team or to the referee with the exception of a live-ball
out of bounds or an incomplete forward pass (A.R. 3-5-2-III and VII).


I'll admit I haven't been in the habit of watching for this one.  How often do you see it?  I'd expect it's more common in JH and JV, where the guys are figuring where they're supposed to be and when.  Are you enforcing this at all levels of play? 

33

Texas Topics / TASO Test Open and UIL Exceptions

« Last post by dammitbobby on June 23, 2026, 01:33:19 PM »

2026 Rules Test is now open in the TASO portal... and here are the UIL Football Exceptions for 2026-2027 ( I don't think they've been posted here yet, although the doc is dated May 26)

https://taso.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-UIL-Exceptions-Eleven-Man-Rev-05-26.pdf

Hate that they didn't take fair catch kick out.

This is an interesting change in targeting: "If Instant Replay is used, a disqualification of a player due to a targeting foul will automatically be reviewed to determine if the foul met the criteria and/or definition of a targeting foul – replay will either confirm or reverse the foul for targeting based on the video evidence." Since last year, officials are to decide whether the targeting foul is flagrant or not, (IMO, if it's targeting, by rule it is flagrant, per penalty statement for 9-1-3 and 9-1-4), but if it is a game with IR, all they are looking at, is whether it is meets the definition of targeting or not, not whether it was flagrant or not.

34

General Discussion / Re: Officiating Other Sports

« Last post by Ralph Damren on June 23, 2026, 06:46:12 AM »

I just finished my 60th and last year of umping baseball. I always enjoyed working the plate as it kept you in the game, sorta' like wearing the white the white hat in football. With the exception of one game, I always used the outside (baloon) protector. Felt you might enjoy my feeling on that....

SCENE: Warm spring day, "Smokey" and I were working a double-header out in cow country. Smokey has just got one of them there inside protectors. Early 70's

ACT I:  Smokey worked the plate in the first game.

ACT II: Played at a private school , they fed us between games. Remembering the menu of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. We set with the coaches. One coach dunked his sandwich in the soup  . Smokey asked if I would like to try his new chest protector in game two. I said YES  .

ACT III: I quickly learned one would need a bigger shirt  , we wore buttoned-downs back then and as I bent over 3 buttons poped.

ACT IV: In about the 3rd inning I caught a foul tip in the adam's apple  .Those new-fangled protectors didn't ofer protection then.

ACT V: The remainder of the game, I was only interested in hiding behind the catcher and not so much if the pitch was a ball or strike  .

EPILOGUE: After the game I told Smokey that these 'new-fangled' things were only a fad and wouldn't last. Over the last few years, I've had to rely on a friendly tailor to keek my 'raft' useable as they don't seem to make 'um anymore .

35

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

« Last post by Etref on June 22, 2026, 04:42:59 PM »

Hi everyone
I've been trying to keep my Google Calendar and Outlook calendar in sync, and honestly it's becoming a bit of a headache. I spent a good part of the weekend trying different settings and workarounds. Everything looks fine at first, then a day or two later something goes wrong. Sometimes events disappear, sometimes I end up with duplicates, and it's hard to know which calendar is actually correct. A few weeks ago I even missed an important appointment because an event that was showing up originally had vanished from my personal calendar. Since then I've been double-checking everything, which kind of defeats the purpose of having synced calendars in the first place. I looked into CalDAV and a few other sync methods, but most of the guides I found seem either outdated or written for people who already know exactly what they're doing. I can usually figure this sort of thing out, but this one has been surprisingly frustrating. For those of you using both Google and Microsoft calendars, have you found a setup that's actually reliable over the long term? I'm not looking for a workaround that needs constant maintenance or breaks after every update.
I'd be interested to hear what has worked for you.

I don’t use google and do not use outlook calendar. I rely on my iPhone and iPad calendar which has never had a problem

36

Texas Topics / Re: Raise your hand….

« Last post by ElvisLives on June 22, 2026, 12:53:01 PM »

I'll be there.
You'd better watch out for that guy you're playing golf with.

My son made me buy a new driver. Watch out, NOW!!!!

37

Texas Topics / Re: Raise your hand….

« Last post by TxJim on June 22, 2026, 10:56:49 AM »

….if you are going to the Annual Meeting in San Marcos next weekend?

Me? Yes! Playing golf Friday morning. Then just hangin’ out with the crowd Friday evening, and Saturday.
For the second year, those of us on the Education Committee have no duties. But, looking forward to connecting with old friends, and, hopefully, making new friends. And, maybe learning something. Always striving to get better.
Maybe I’ll see y’all.

Robert Cameron
Lubbock, Texas

I'll be there.
You'd better watch out for that guy you're playing golf with.

38

Texas Topics / Re: Raise your hand….

« Last post by dammitbobby on June 22, 2026, 10:05:44 AM »

I'll be there, will attempt to play golf as well.

39

Texas Topics / Raise your hand….

« Last post by ElvisLives on June 21, 2026, 03:45:21 PM »

….if you are going to the Annual Meeting in San Marcos next weekend?

Me? Yes! Playing golf Friday morning. Then just hangin’ out with the crowd Friday evening, and Saturday.
For the second year, those of us on the Education Committee have no duties. But, looking forward to connecting with old friends, and, hopefully, making new friends. And, maybe learning something. Always striving to get better.
Maybe I’ll see y’all.

Robert Cameron
Lubbock, Texas

40

General Discussion / Re: Officiating Other Sports

« Last post by bossman72 on June 20, 2026, 11:10:37 PM »

Did baseball for 20 years and gave it up after the 2024 season.  I wasn't having fun anymore.  Baseball became work to me.
My early baseball career was going very well.  Getting some D1 non-con opportunities and working high level summer leagues.  Then I started football in 2009 and said "Screw baseball.  Football is where I want to be."  I just loved it so much more.  That and I started my job in 2010, which isn't conducive to baseball umpiring (4pm starts for high school and 1pm college weekday double headers).  I just relegated myself to summer men's leagues and Legion baseball (since they start at 6pm or later).  I don't miss baseball.

I will say that baseball made me a better football official.  I don't think I'd be as good of a football official if I didn't umpire baseball.  I also think baseball is harder to officiate than football.

Lacrosse intrigues me.  If I pick up another sport, it will probably be that (unlikely though).  I know nothing about the sport, which might be why I want to try it.  Plus I already have the uniform.