Sideline 'warnings'

[clearwall]

I've heard this statement a couple of times this season and I can't find a single thing that makes it true, so I'm appealing to the forum to tell me what I'm missing here(UIL exc, interp bulletin, etc). Twice this year, I have thrown sideline warnings for 5 yards.

First time, a fellow official said 'they took away the 5 harder, it's a straight 15 now.' Well, I read 9-2-5 and it still says 1st and 2nd offense is 5 yards. Tonight, threw another one and a fellow official said, 'you don't signal it anymore, you just tell the coach and mark it off.' Now, that completely doesn't make sense to me. The whole purpose of the signals are to tell EVERYONE what's happening . I dont know when you'd ever just start marching back without telling people. He said 'oh yea, that's been changed way back in 2011.  Well, I was officiating in 2011 and I sure don't remember anything like that. I remember BBW and wedge rules, but not removing sideline warnings.

[TXMike]

There is no such thing as sideline warning (officially)   The first 2 times someone is in the restricted area, and you flag, there wil be a 5 yard penalty.  Use the delay of game signal and the sideline interference signal when signalling press box.  From 3d time on, it is 15 and you use the unsportsmanlike conduct and sideline interference signals.

If you should run into someone in the restricted area, that should be 15 yards even if it is the 1st time they are there but you only use the uns conduct signal as this is a different foul.  This is interfering with an official while the ball is live. 

[clearwall]

See, that's exactly what I've always done. They're saying things like the rule is completely gone and/or not enforced or signaled. Very weird

[El Macman]

See, that's exactly what I've always done. They're saying things like the rule is completely gone and/or not enforced or signaled. Very weird

How old are "they?" Probably wrong, but this sounds like some older folks that aren't sure where their book is, and have never heard of Rogers Redding.

I strongly encourage folks to take care of their sidelines without the use of the flag. Communicate constantly -and you will have to be persistent. Should you have to treat them like children? Of course not. But, as long as they give you some reasonable level of compliance when you remind them to keep the restricted area clear while the ball is in play, you are better served to communicate and cajole them. However, if, after numerous communications you get wanton lack of cooperation, or you get direct beligerance, then be sure the head coach and your referee knows that you have run out of patience, and further failures to comply will result in a flag, following the procedure prescribed by rule.

In the next meeting of your officiating organization, you might ask for a review of game administration and unfair act rules.

[Joe Stack]

If you should run into someone in the restricted area, that should be 15 yards even if it is the 1st time they are there but you only use the uns conduct signal as this is a different foul. 

9-2-3-a?? I agree this fits, but after the rewrite, it a little "thinner" than the previous rule, as I recall.

[TXMike]

At one time I don't think it included the officials as someone "protected" by the rule.  It does now.

[El Macman]

9-2-3-a?? I agree this fits, but after the rewrite, it a little "thinner" than the previous rule, as I recall.

Thinner? Not sure what that means. Among the earliest things RR did upon becoming Sec-Ed was to add "officials" to the list of things that was formerly known as 'illegal interference,' now known as 'Unfair Acts.' Before that, we only had the support of coordinators in making actual interference a 15-yard penalty. With this change, we have actual rule support. That hasn't changed, so I'm not sure how it is thinner.

[JDM]

Furthermore, this is a point of emphasis in Rogers Redding's National Coordinator's 2012 Mid-Season Comments posted on the CFO website.

[TxSkyBolt]

How old are "they?" Probably wrong, but this sounds like some older folks that aren't sure where their book is, and have never heard of Rogers Redding.

I strongly encourage folks to take care of their sidelines without the use of the flag. Communicate constantly -and you will have to be persistent. Should you have to treat them like children? Of course not. But, as long as they give you some reasonable level of compliance when you remind them to keep the restricted area clear while the ball is in play, you are better served to communicate and cajole them. However, if, after numerous communications you get wanton lack of cooperation, or you get direct beligerance, then be sure the head coach and your referee knows that you have run out of patience, and further failures to comply will result in a flag, following the procedure prescribed by rule.

In the next meeting of your officiating organization, you might ask for a review of game administration and unfair act rules.

+1

Great advice...

[Etref]

Best advice is to get them early. Do not wait till the 4th quarter because if you let them park there for 3 quarters they will only get worse and worse and eventually at the numbers.

[rickref]

When I work wing I use a lot of communication with teams that crowd. Ask for get boack coach help usually does the trick. When that fails a lot I use advise I saw on refstripes. I simply say "Players back up so your coaches can." Never has failed me. For some reason coaches hear that and and go into a panic getting guys back.

[Joe Stack]

I've reviewed a few recent rule books. I think the wording is similar, so "thinner" may not be correct. I think the old "sideline warning" rule made me think it had more of a clear distinction between it and sideline interference.