By the Book vs. Spirit of the rules

[mostripes]

This is my second season as the white hat and I have a great relationship with several veteran white hats and I'm still trying to work with my crew to make sure that we are calling the things that need to be called, while not looking for boogers.

Here's my question/scenario for the board.
Week 2.. pre-game.. Head Coach A says.. we noticed on the game film, that their tackle lines up in the backfield quite a bit.. R/U go back to locker room mention to wings.. keep your eyes open, if it's there, let's talk to the coach and do some preventative officiating.  There wasn't anything mentioned by my wings  during the game and no illegal formation flags.  In watching Hudl.. the tackle was clearly lined up in the backfield 11 times. Which frustrated me as it was pointed out by the opposing coach and the wings were made aware of the other coach's concerns.

Fast forward.. Week 4 tomorrow night.. I ask another official who worked at School X previous Friday, anything I need to know? He says.. well, they have a tendency to line up "wonky" and he shares the game film.  While watching the film, it's apparent that "wonky" means the tackle(s) are so far back that they don't even line up technically "on the line" and the slots are lined up next to the tackles, so not technically "backs".  This happened at least 30 times in the first 3 quarters.

Since this has obviously gone on Weeks 1, 2 and 3.. is an illegal formation too much of looking for boogers?

[Atlanta Blue]

Warn them first if no one is deceived.  MAYBE (depending on circumstances) warn them one more time, if it didn't have a material effect on the play.  If they continue, flag it.

[theunofficialofficial]

Are you sharing this film with your crew? It sounds like you need to have a discussion with your wings about what your expectations are in what a legal and illegal formation are.


Sometimes showing them obvious differences between the two formations can be a good starting place and can work on narrowing down the gray area of what is and isn't a foul.

[FLAHL]

I don't think Illegal Formation 30 times, or even 11 times, is looking for boogers.  We do try to prevent it by talking to the kids during the first drive, but after that we flag it.

Hudl is a great tool for the entire crew.  I hope your wings are open to feedback.  If not, you might need new wings.  I'm surprised the coach who pointed this out to you and then watched it happen 11 times didn't go nuts!  Good for him for keeping his cool.  Bad for the crew if he gets input into playoff assignments.

[AlUpstateNY]

As has been suggested, your first step should be discussing this issue with your wings, utilizing the HUDL films if necessary (and practical) to clear up any misunderstandings or confusion they might have regarding offensive linemen legally "being on the line". 

As also suggested appropriate "preventive officiating" would be to alert, the suspect player (s) and/or their coach that their positioning is "questionable" suggesting appropriate adjustment, if necessary.  If the improper practice continues, assessing the appropriate penalty becomes necessary.

Illegally lining up can create an unearned, unfair advantage for the offensive blocker.

[ncwingman]

Illegal formation is not a booger foul when the offensive lineman are cheating into their blocking positions like that.

It IS a booger foul in garbage time of a freshman game when the brand new wide receiver who has never played a game before doesn't know where the line of scrimmage is.

In any case, on a Friday night you'd never call the foul 30, or even 11, times. You give them a polite warning, a slightly more stern warning, the coach a heads up and then a flag. Maybe one fewer warnings. After they get dinged for five yards, the player might get it in their head not to do that. If they get dinged twice, the coach is going to fix the problem one way or another.

If you're still throwing flags after that.... well, there's only so much you can do.

[Atlanta Blue]

If you're still throwing flags after that.... well, there's only so much you can do.

Or as Ron White says: You can't fix stupid.

[CalhounLJ]

The quicker you flag this, the sooner they correct it. I would venture to say that if you had flagged it the first time they lined up "wonkey" or whatever, they would have "unwonked" their formation quickly.

[mostripes]

Thanks for all of the input guys.  I'm definitely on board with the preventative officiating method and the fewer flags the better, especially if they are preventable with a few simple words.  FLAHL nailed it with his thoughts about the wings needing to be open to feedback.  But that's another topic for another day! Good luck tonight everyone. 

[SouthGARef]

Becoming a major problem in the games I watch.

Marginal enough that I would prefer to give the coach a warning, but it needs to be flagged much more often that it is currently.