Mouths of Coaches 2010

[RMR]

So, I learned a new rule tonight:

"If the clock is stopped for a defensive foul, it can only be restarted on the snap."

[Amir]

Three new 'rules' I've learnt so far this season:

1. The defence can never be flagged for holding.
2. If a pass is uncatchable, the defence can hit the receiver as hard as they like.
3. If a pass hits a safety's leg and he recovers it before it hits the ground, it's an incomplete pass.

[TXMike]

Fumble near the sidelines.  Team B's player is standing with 1 foot in bounds and 1 foot out of bounds when he picks up the ball.  Team A retains possession.

Team B Coach: "But he had 1 foot in bounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

[British Ref]

1. The defence can never be flagged for holding.

That's not a new rule, coaches have known this once since I started officiating.

[busman]

The defense also can't clip or block in the back or block below the waist.

[Welpe]

Our crew had an IW during an onside kick last week in a freshman game.  When I informed the receiving team's headcoach we were replaying the down, he blurts out at me "THERE ARE NO RE-DOs IN LIFE!"

 

[foureyedzebra]

On 2nd down, a team A player is advancing with the ball near the sideline and is hit by a defender at the 1 yd line, causing him to fumble the ball. The ball rolls into the opponents endzone and it is legally recovered by a teammate.  


The opposing coach says "If he fumbles it into the endzone then it's a touchback".  

I think he was just   trying to get me to reverse the call by citing a ruling from a similar play.  

I explained that if he had fumbled it forwards OOB or if the play had been a 4th down or try, then it would be a touchback; he just turned and walked away.

[HLinNC]

"But the late hit wasn't flagrant.  He didn't mean to and you know that."

"Anytime there is contact it HAS to be interference."

[younggun]

Lets see from this year....

"Why does the offence only have 7 on the line?!?!"

"The D is allowed to get back before the snap"

"If I want a measurement and the answer is 'no' the white hat has to call an officials timeout and come over and give me a formal reason why they are not going to measure."

Me:"Coach the QB threw the ball to an area where there was not an eligible receiver, there was no one even close."
Coach:" But I read in the book that all of the D are eligible receivers, there was a D person in the area, HES AN ELIGIBLE RECEIVER!!!!!"
Me:"Sorry my mistake coach, there was not an eligible offensive receiver in the area, its still Intentional Grounding." 

[TexDoc]

Coach's pregame, he hands me a nice printout full of things to "consider"

We run the whistle play.  The center has his hands on the ball and soon as he hears whistle, he snaps.  Tell that U he better be out of the way.

Our kicker is a rugby style kicker.  When he gets the ball he will not run more than 5 yards in any direction and kick the ball while still running.  The rule is that he has five yards either direction while he's still moving and still have protection.

We watched them all last year and at their scrimmage this year and they are a bunch of thugs.  You will have to flag them early to keep control the of the game so do not hesitate.

They hold receivers EVERY PLAY.  You will have to throw holding flags every play until they stop.

It went on and on and on.

[JasonTX]

At the start of the 3rd quarter the lightning is too close so we stop the game.  Coach says, "What do we do, just send the teams to the sidelines?"  Sure coach, and take this sign with you.   

[Welpe]

we stopped our game today due to lightning also...home coach gripes to me "Oh come on BLUE!  We play through lightning!"

Uhmmm ok there skipper! 

[BryanM67]

Heard this one tonight at a JV game..

"Ref... only a coach can call time out.  A player cannot call a time out" (referring to a timeout called by a player for the purpose of resnapping his helmet).

[rickref]

I know this is not a coach but a player but this was from last night. 2 things.

1. Me - Why did you kick my flag? PLayer - It is in my way.

2. Player - Who was offdies? Me (B) - I was not given a number. Player - Why the hell not!?

Most restraint I have shown ever in a ball game. I let his coach deal with him.

[busman]

Last night JV

"I want a measurement.  It's six inches short."  Kind of answered your own question, didn't you coach?

Flag for illegal formation - only six on the line.  "Who was it?"  Well coach, you pick.  it's one of those 5 guys lined up in backfield, but I assume it's not the QB.  (Even the coach got a good laugh on that one)

[fbrefga]

I had a flag for intentional grounding in last night's HS game.  Coach yells out "There are receivers but we just can't find them.".

[Etref]

I think I had the all time one Friday night.

Runners helmet came off and H whistled play dead (NCAA rules). Runner came back to huddle messing with his helmet, RTP and 25 second clock starts. Still messing with helmet. Others in huddle just stand and look at him. Finally 6 seconds left on play clock and coach calls time out.

Coach, " Why didn't you give him an equipment timeout?"

Me, " Coach, there is no such thing as an equipment timeout in NCAA rules"

Coach, " I didn't think so......................

[jimbulger]

Doing a youth game after the third obvious false start in a row

" cmon ref...its the wind blowing them over...."

[Steve Brown]

Five minutes left in the 4th quarter -- home team runs for a long TD. I'm cleaning up behind the play. Visiting team player blocks a home team player -- both fall to the ground. Visiting player jumps up and kicks the other player, who was still on the ground. After the play I went to the visiting HC and explained that the player's actions had disqualified him from further participation. Coach seemed mad, but accepted the outcome.

Two minutes later, during a time out, HC wanted to ask me what the player had done. I explained that he had kicked another player.

Coach drew back his leg like he was kicking a ball and said "like this?"

I said no, coach -- your player lifted his foot and smashed the other player in the back.

Coach: "that's not a kick, that's a stomp. You can't DQ a player for a stomp -- the rules don't even mention that".

[NorCalMike]

JV game last week. A82 catches the ball near the sideline on the B5 and clearly gets one foot down before going out of bounds.

HC: He didn't get both feet in.
Me: Coach it's Friday not Sunday.
HC: Huh?

Later in the game a bad snap goes over the the punters head and out the back of the endzone. K goes to free kick from their 20. After the kick the same head coach says
HC: The kicker used a tee.
Me: I saw that.
HC: He can't use a tee.
Me: Coach, it's Friday not Sunday.
HC: What is that supposed to me.

Me: You need to read the rule book Coach and not get your rules knowledge from watching NFL games.


Didn't hear another word from him the rest of the night.

[tow]

Found out tonight that a punter needs to be 7yds behind the line of scrimmage to attempt a punt!

[east louis]

last friday,2nd half KO,runner tripped @ his own 45 YL by kicker--coach yells"where's the flag,he cant trip the runner!" I say,"it's legal"--by now,coaches eyes are about to pop out of thier heads in disbelief--"you cant be serious--are you sure?" I shake my head---forgive them,for they know not(much at all)....

[rickref]

Saw this on a local evaluation: "Made a face gaurding call and then changed it to pass interference. Changing the call affected the outcome of the game." NCAA rules in Texas.

[bitols]

Me: You need to read the rule book Coach and not get your rules knowledge from watching NFL games.

bzzzzzzzzzz ! wrong answer ! Things like this can be very funny but can put you in a lot of troubles....be professional and avoid jokes. 

[LarryW60]

It would have been better to just expand on the original explanations and say something like, "Coach, you're quoting NFL rules that don't apply to a high school game."  It answers the question without sounding condescending.