Getting Player Number

[BryanM67]

Just wondering...

I am working my 3rd season as a football official (having done both youth football and varsity).  I have noticed some crews require a player number if a penalty is called.  I even know a white hat that will wave off any penalty if a number is not reported.

Among my group of officials, the philosophy is to get the number if you can.  But its a courtesy to the offending team if you can provide it.  But not getting a number does not mean a foul did not happen.  Also they point out that there is nowhere in the rulebook that the officials must provide the number of the offender.

Just wondering what other philosophies that officials in the refstripes community have on this.

[JasonTX]

Continuing to officiate takes priority over getting a number.  Get the number if you see it, but don't neglet the rest of the play just to get a number. 

[Dommer1]

It took a couple of seasons before I consistenly could get numbers. While not having a number certainly does not mean that there was no foul, not having the number sure makes it tougher to sell. Getting numbers is a question of mental programming. Sure, in some situations you won't be able to get one due to your angle on the play, but those situations are rare.

I'd say that our philosophy is that you need a number for the fouls you call. However, if you do not, that does not void your call, but those situations should be few.

Never make one up though. That could get ugly...

[Amir]

I even know a white hat that will wave off any penalty if a number is not reported.

Don't know about you guys but I find that shocking!  

Never make one up though. That could get ugly...

Jerry Markbreit has a funny example of this in his autobiography where they make up a number only to be told that number was retired a few decades beforehand.


I definitely agree with Jason and Dommer on this - continue to officiate, get the number if you can.

[JasonTX]

Another example I have heard in trying to get a number.  Suppose the foul was for facemask.  "Gentlemen, which one of you grabbed the facemask." (nobody says anything)  "Ok, we'll just give it to you #50 and your coach is very upset."   #50 says, "It wasn't me it was #25"  (#25 confesses).   

[bama_stripes]

I let both coaches know that, while we'll do the best we can to get them a number, we have to continue to officiate.  It's usually not a problem.

And I'd NEVER wave off a flag just because we didn't get a number.  That's borderline cheating, IMO.

[LarryW60]

Perfect case:

Friday night I'm following the runner down the sideline on a long gain when an A player throws a hard BiB right in front of me.  I drop the flag while still following the runner.  I never even tried to get the number because there was still too much going on around the runner to look back.  The WH was fine with not having a number.

[VALJ]

Yeah, it definitely helps to be able to say "coach, I missed the number on that block in the back, but it was your outside receiver."  The one I've sometimes had trouble with is when an A player gets gang-tackled and one of the B players in the pile reaches up and grabs the face mask.  "Coach, I didn't see whose arm it was, but there was a red sleeve on the arm that grabbed him."

I seem to recall on WH around here that does that "no number means no foul" stuff as well, which (even as a rookie) drives/drove me nuts.

[lawdog]

And what authority do these high and mighty white hats cite for their ability to waive off a penalty because you didn't get the number???  Egomaniacs making up their own rules as they go.  Real professional...

Sure it is best to get the number but there can be a lot going on sometimes and if you don't get the number it sure doesn't mean the penalty isn't there.  Get the number whenever possible and do your best to do so, but its far more important to call the play correctly than have the number! 

[VALJ]

I agree completely, lawdog.  I told one of the officials in my class about that (it was my second year, I think) and told him "if I ever start refereeing and say something like that, please smack me in the head." 

[British Ref]

I seem to recall on WH around here that does that "no number means no foul" stuff as well, which (even as a rookie) drives/drove me nuts.

Does this mean he would never enforce an illegal formation penalty?

[RMR]

And I'd NEVER wave off a flag just because we didn't get a number.  That's borderline cheating, IMO.

At a minimum, malpractice.

[VALJ]

Does this mean he would never enforce an illegal formation penalty?

I was too new to be a JERK at that point. 

[williebe]

I believe it is a good idea in pregame with the coaches to tell them we will try to get a number but times we cant so we will try to get a position. But there are times we cant. Not getting a number does not relive the fact that no foul occurred. IMO.

[HLinNC]

Glad the police don't work that way.

"I'm sorry but you failed to get the tag number of the getaway car.  We can't prosecute the armed robbery."