talking to the head man for football in state

[concordref]

[img]My and several other crews have a chance to sit down with the man that is in charge of all football officials in my state.  If you or your crew had this chance, what type of questions would you ask him.  He is attending our 1st of early crew meeting that we have prior to the season starting in August.  My crew usually gets together3-4 times to start kicking our brain into gear about football.  And what type of topics would be good to talk about at this type of meeting.  Thanks!

[concordref]

I can not believe after 200 people have read my post, that no one replied.  It is not everyday, you get to sit in a room with the guy that runs football in your state, and has no idea what they would say to him.  The man we are talking about set down a whole new set of mechanics in Ohio a few years ago and for the most part the new mechanics are working very well on a Friday night and crews around the state have incorporating them into there games.  We have plenty of questions, but I just through this out to hear other ideas that I might not think of.

[Curious]

The man we are talking about set down a whole new set of mechanics in Ohio a few years ago and for the most part the new mechanics are working very well on a Friday night and crews around the state have incorporating them into there games.

Q1: (To you); were the "new mechanics" the result of input from top officials around Ohio; or did "The man" decide on these himself?  If the latter:

Q2: Why was input not requested?

Q3: What input is available to Ohio officials to improve any mechanics that are "not working very well"?  

We have plenty of questions, but I just through this out to hear other ideas that I might not think of.

[TampaSteve]

I would have a few, specific questions.  But perhaps best not pose them here.

[concordref]

Curious,
I have a great deal of respect for this guy, he started at the bottom and rose up to spend 15 years in the NFL.  What was happening  in Ohio, before this guy came along, was we were using NFHS mechanics and crews thoroughtout Ohio were adjusting them to suit each crew.  When it came down to playoffs, teams saw officials, thrown into crews and there was no standard as far as mechanics .  You did what the R told you do do on a playoff game.  I know I worked 2 of them.  The plan this guy set, is a good plan, and in a couple of instances a couple of them did not work and he changed them because several crews told him they do not work.  As far as I know, these were his own set of mechanics with little or not input from anyone.  What he is doing, and we are proof of it, he does attend winter off season crew meetings to get a idea of any problems on Friday night.  He lives around the Columbus area, and he is driving up to Northeast Ohio to sit with us.  Between 3 crews we have questions, and comments, but I sure do appreciate any suggestions from crew chiefs and officials around the country.  Thanks for your input.

[stevegarbs]

I have had this chance in our state a couple of times, as the guy who is in charge of football is also in charge of officials and he visits our association regularly.  My advice to you would be to not worry so much about specific questions- spend the time making him comfortable, get to know him better- what motivates him, learn his background and the how and why he got to his current position, what would he like to see happen within his program, etc.

I would avoid being confrontational or asking him to defend any specific actions he may have taken.  Let him do the talking, follow his lead on items that appeal to him, etc.

let us know how it turns out!

[Curious]

Curious,
I have a great deal of respect for this guy, he started at the bottom and rose up to spend 15 years in the NFL.  What was happening  in Ohio, before this guy came along, was we were using NFHS mechanics and crews thoroughtout Ohio were adjusting them to suit each crew.  When it came down to playoffs, teams saw officials, thrown into crews and there was no standard as far as mechanics .  You did what the R told you do do on a playoff game.  I know I worked 2 of them. 

This sounds all too familiar to our situation here in Michigan.  Standardizing mechanics IS a good thing; so my comments aren't aimed at that.  Also, your "supervisor" obviously is well grounded; so credibility is not suspect.

The plan this guy set, is a good plan, and in a couple of instances a couple of them did not work and he changed them because several crews told him they do not work.  As far as I know, these were his own set of mechanics with little or not input from anyone. 

It is encouraging to hear that he was/is open to suggestions from crews around Ohio. What we've noticed is that some of the recent mandated mechanics changes have been 6 or 7-man mechanics "forced-fed" into 5-man.  Some simply don't fit.

What he is doing, and we are proof of it, he does attend winter off season crew meetings to get a idea of any problems on Friday night.  He lives around the Columbus area, and he is driving up to Northeast Ohio to sit with us. 

You are fortunate!  Too often (even when some officials may be initially involved), these decisions get made in a "smoke-filled room" with little subsequent opportunity for discussion.  Obviously no one expects that decisions need to be "okayed" by everybody; but it certainly helps that the decision makers make themselves available to explain/discuss changes.

Between 3 crews we have questions, and comments, but I sure do appreciate any suggestions from crew chiefs and officials around the country.  Thanks for your input.