TASO Point Changes

[mccormicw]

It seems simple.  Either points are to reward people for working (incentive) or they indicate an experience level.  If they are a reward, then give points for everything and the points/division level attained are some sort of badge of honor (albeit useless).  If points indicate an experience level, then give weighted points based on the experience gained by participating. I offer that a varsity 6 man game is not more experience gained than a JV game.

Having said all that, it may never change but it my opinion it will always be wrong to let coaches pick their crew.  There are surely many officials out there that call what they see regardless of whether or not they were picked for a game by a coach.  However, there are probably more that call differently when picked by a coach than they would if they answered to a coordinator of officials (or equivalent).   

[Joe Stack]

I don't believe points are a REWARD, but a MEASURE. Scrimmages have SOME value; spring scrimmages have very little value; college games, however, have great value in my view.

[Clear Lake ref]

You can learn a hell of a lot more working 1 college chain than any classroom film study will provide.

[DallasLJ]

You can learn a HECK of a lot more working 1 college chain than any classroom film study will provide.

  Having worked college chains the last 5 years, I do not agree.  We do not dress or get to hang out with the college crew, so you have no real opportunity to visit with them or hear their discussion of plays in the game.   A good film study focuses on specific issues and through repetitive I think is more helpful.  For example, watching the NCAA tape on catch / no catch allows you to watch and discuss far more plays in 20 minutes that you will see in a game.

  Just my humble opinion.

[Clear Lake ref]

Almost every crew I have pulled chains for the last 6 years has been very friendly and quite open to discussing the plays.

[DallasLJ]

Almost every crew I have pulled chains for the last 6 years has been very friendly and quite open to discussing the plays.

  I am not saying they are not friendly -- and we may be different set up -- but the games I work, the chain crew and the officials dress and meet separately.  So, the only interaction we have is a few minutes pre-game and during TOs. between 1 or 2 chain crew with one flank official.   I chart fouls for them some of the times.  So, I talk to the flanks more than most -- but there is no "insight" gained because we don't, as a group, get to dialogue with them.