Season 1st Quarter

[Cosmokramer1]

This site sure doesn't have the traffic it used to.  Curious to hear how everyone's season is going so far through the 1st quarter of the season, no pun intended.  Some observations I've seen from my games and watching a few others:

1. Coaches have been pretty good thus far.  I'd say better than usual.  But it's early and district play is about to get ramped up. 
2. Administrators have been average to less than average.  Hit or miss to know if we even have an administrator on-site. 
3. Clock operators are getting worse.  Both game and play clock.  Witnessing some obvious "homering" taking place but really mostly ignorance in understanding timing rules. 
4. The 2-minute time out is worthless.  All it does is give both teams one extra time out and I've seen where it frustrated one coach and made the other happy. 
5. Drives me nuts to see officials not grasping when it's time to stop throwing on every foul they see.  For example, we really do not need an illegal formation (or any administrative) foul that stops the clock and game when there's 30 seconds left and the score is 50-6.  Don't even need a holding, ineligibles, etc. 

This are my 2 cents and opinion only.  I enjoy seeing others opinions and input.



 

[dammitbobby]

For me, season has (IMO) been very good, so far... I've learned a lot, and I can tell I have made big improvements in game management and attention to detail, as well as improved mechanics. I've thrown I think 11 flags on Friday nights, and I think they've all been correct calls... the only thing I want a do-over on, is a DPI call I made that was correct (I was H in a 5-man crew) at the pylon, and the back judge ruled it uncatchable, and I let him talk me off the flag, and I should have stayed with it. (On this particular field, there are literally huge trees just feet away form the field, and they cast an enormous shadow on that side of the EZ right to the pylon, and I while I knew it was DPI, I lost track of the ball as it entered the shadows, but my gut said DPI... turns out the ball him him in the hands, was def not an uncatchable ball.)

In my industry there's such a thing as imposter syndrome, and I very much have it, in my professional life and officiating life as well... I tend to defer to others who I feel have more knowledge and experience than me, and this time it bit me in the butt. Definitely an area to work on for me.

[Cosmokramer1]

For me, season has (IMO) been very good, so far... I've learned a lot, and I can tell I have made big improvements in game management and attention to detail, as well as improved mechanics. I've thrown I think 11 flags on Friday nights, and I think they've all been correct calls... the only thing I want a do-over on, is a DPI call I made that was correct (I was H in a 5-man crew) at the pylon, and the back judge ruled it uncatchable, and I let him talk me off the flag, and I should have stayed with it. (On this particular field, there are literally huge trees just feet away form the field, and they cast an enormous shadow on that side of the EZ right to the pylon, and I while I knew it was DPI, I lost track of the ball as it entered the shadows, but my gut said DPI... turns out the ball him him in the hands, was def not an uncatchable ball.)

In my industry there's such a thing as imposter syndrome, and I very much have it, in my professional life and officiating life as well... I tend to defer to others who I feel have more knowledge and experience than me, and this time it bit me in the butt. Definitely an area to work on for me.

Keep up the great work and attitude.  Pretty soon, if not already, you will be the experienced one leading the way. 

Best of luck to you, and everyone else, in the 2nd quarter of the season today.  Still a lot of football to be played but the game will be over before we know it. 

[dammitbobby]

Keep up the great work and attitude.  Pretty soon, if not already, you will be the experienced one leading the way. 

Best of luck to you, and everyone else, in the 2nd quarter of the season today.  Still a lot of football to be played but the game will be over before we know it.

Thank you, appreciate it!

I will add - last night I had a first... I know TASO now wants us to carry two flags (I do not and will not), but I could have used both last night - offside by the kicking team and KOB. I had my flag down for offside (easily a yard past, on an onside kick) and I was practically standing at the KOB spot, so I held the line where it crossed, and communicated with the R. Could have dropped my hat or beanbag but didn't really see the point, it wasn't even remotely close to NOT being out of bounds.

Still not going to carry two flags.

[Redriverref]

One thing I am hearing this year from folks who work at the college level is that they are allowing the players a short leash of certain celebrations. When it happens in a UIL contest, they are telling our lesser experienced folks to not throw the UNS unless it is directed at an opponent. I have not been alerted to any changes in our approach to penalizing for celebration. I have observed the D-1 folks relaxing on it during televised games. I feel we need to keep a lid on it.

[peterparsons]

Thank you, appreciate it!

I will add - last night I had a first... I know TASO now wants us to carry two flags (I do not and will not), but I could have used both last night - offside by the kicking team and KOB. I had my flag down for offside (easily a yard past, on an onside kick) and I was practically standing at the KOB spot, so I held the line where it crossed, and communicated with the R. Could have dropped my hat or beanbag but didn't really see the point, it wasn't even remotely close to NOT being out of bounds.

Still not going to carry two flags.

Why the issue with 2 flags? I've carried 2 my entire career (including in leagues where they've instructed us to only carry 1). The second one is buried out of sight in my back pocket. Unless it's needed, nobody knows it's there. My experience is that needing 2 flags is more common than needing 2 bean bags, and nobody ever says anything about a second bean bag.

Take the play you described, but instead of a KOB, you now have an offensive hold or an illegal block in the back during the return. How are you going to mark that accurately while officiating the play to completion? (This is an entirely plausible situation - it's happened to me multiple times.)

[peterparsons]

Thank you, appreciate it!

I will add - last night I had a first... I know TASO now wants us to carry two flags (I do not and will not), but I could have used both last night - offside by the kicking team and KOB. I had my flag down for offside (easily a yard past, on an onside kick) and I was practically standing at the KOB spot, so I held the line where it crossed, and communicated with the R. Could have dropped my hat or beanbag but didn't really see the point, it wasn't even remotely close to NOT being out of bounds.

Still not going to carry two flags.

Why the issue with 2 flags? I've carried 2 my entire career (including in leagues where they've instructed us to only carry 1). The second one is buried out of sight in my back pocket. Unless it's needed, nobody knows it's there. My experience is that needing 2 flags is more common than needing 2 bean bags, and nobody ever says anything about a second bean bag.

Take the play you described, but instead of a KOB, you now have an offensive hold or an illegal block in the back during the return. How are you going to mark that accurately while officiating the play to completion? (This is an entirely plausible situation - it's happened to me multiple times.)

[ilyazhito]

Why the issue with 2 flags? I've carried 2 my entire career (including in leagues where they've instructed us to only carry 1). The second one is buried out of sight in my back pocket. Unless it's needed, nobody knows it's there. My experience is that needing 2 flags is more common than needing 2 bean bags, and nobody ever says anything about a second bean bag.

Take the play you described, but instead of a KOB, you now have an offensive hold or an illegal block in the back during the return. How are you going to mark that accurately while officiating the play to completion? (This is an entirely plausible situation - it's happened to me multiple times.)

This depends on your position. I am a back judge, so I do need 2 beanbags, because I have to mark the end of kicks and for the general purpose of marking the spot of a fumble. Having a second beanbag helps if one gets lost on the field after a punt return and I don't have the time to retrieve mine.

[Etref]

IMHO, all wing officials should carry 2 flags for the reasons PeterParsons list above.

[peterparsons]

This depends on your position. I am a back judge, so I do need 2 beanbags, because I have to mark the end of kicks and for the general purpose of marking the spot of a fumble. Having a second beanbag helps if one gets lost on the field after a punt return and I don't have the time to retrieve mine.

I've worked plenty of games at BJ over the years, and I still stand by my comments. The mechanics I currently work expect every official on the crew to have both 2 flags and 2 bean bags. Yes, the situations where you need 2 (of either) are rare, but it does mean that you are ready when they do happen.

[dammitbobby]

Why the issue with 2 flags? I've carried 2 my entire career (including in leagues where they've instructed us to only carry 1). The second one is buried out of sight in my back pocket. Unless it's needed, nobody knows it's there. My experience is that needing 2 flags is more common than needing 2 bean bags, and nobody ever says anything about a second bean bag.

Take the play you described, but instead of a KOB, you now have an offensive hold or an illegal block in the back during the return. How are you going to mark that accurately while officiating the play to completion? (This is an entirely plausible situation - it's happened to me multiple times.)

Maybe it's a cultural thing, or even specific to my state/region, but in the past carrying two flags was frowned upon as it was felt (paraphrasing to a degree here) that we have other tools that can serve in a pinch. There definitely was/is a perception around officials who carry/carried two flags, and it was generally implied that they were over-officious (if that's a word) and would be more likely to use both when not necessary.

I think 2 bean bags is different - I can drop one if necessary to mark a spot if necessary, and still have one for regular use. I've also dropped a bean bag after a long gain and the chain crew is huffing and puffing to get down the field, and the offense is ready to snap. IMO a bean bag is a much more versatile tool than a second flag.

[peterparsons]

I carry 2 flags, 2 bean bags, 2 whistles, 2 pens, even a spare watch if I've got the game clock. Many games I'll only ever use 1 of each (max), but I'm always ready for the rare situation where the second one (of any of them) becomes needed.

There are various cultural "old school views" around officiating - number of flags, wearing sunglasses, long/short sleeves, whatever. These things change (the NFL has allowed its officials to wear sunglasses since the late 2000s), but not everyone moves with the times. I prefer to be judged by what I do on the field, not by some outdated idea from 30 years ago that "1 flag good, 2 flags bad". Most people who see me on the field would never know that I have 2 flags, it only becomes obvious on those 1/2 plays a season where I need to use both.

If I can figure out how to post it here, I've got a picture of Land Clark from NFL Week 1 where you can see his second flag poking out of his back pocket. If 2 flags is good enough for those officials, it's good enough for me.

[peterparsons]

Here's the picture I referenced in my previous post. Hopefully people can view it.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16WqKkWK6fP4jf3lAr_BrN7-W4xtT3rRS/view

[JasonTX]

Maybe it's a cultural thing, or even specific to my state/region, but in the past carrying two flags was frowned upon as it was felt (paraphrasing to a degree here) that we have other tools that can serve in a pinch. There definitely was/is a perception around officials who carry/carried two flags, and it was generally implied that they were over-officious (if that's a word) and would be more likely to use both when not necessary.

I think 2 bean bags is different - I can drop one if necessary to mark a spot if necessary, and still have one for regular use. I've also dropped a bean bag after a long gain and the chain crew is huffing and puffing to get down the field, and the offense is ready to snap. IMO a bean bag is a much more versatile tool than a second flag.

Many moons ago we had a guy that earned the nickname, 6 shooter.  I am told he walked onto the field with 6 flags tucked around his waist.  Rumor has it that it wasn't nothing for him to have all 6 down on a play. That is over officious.  Having two flags, with one tucked away in a pocket would not be.  As mentioned in other replies, if you work on a wing, you have a higher chance of needing that second one.  At the snap you have an illegal formation, and then you have DPI.  Getting that accurate spot is important, and tossing a hat will not cut it.  You may have already tossed your hat when the receiver stepped out of bounds.

[ilyazhito]

I tuck 2 flags in front of my belt along with 2 bean bags. I do this so that I can grab a flag or a bag from either side as needed. I never remember anyone having more than 2 flags, as I am not sure where the extras would go. I have had situations where I needed to use both flags on a play (live ball and dead ball fouls, multiple  live-ball fouls on the same play), but they have not happened too often. I remember having a KCI and a BSB on the same punt play. There was even a crazy sequence in a college JV game that involved a fight with a 3rd player joining in. I had to throw both my flags and my hat. The game was called after the fight.

[Etref]

Many moons ago we had a guy that earned the nickname, 6 shooter.  I am told he walked onto the field with 6 flags tucked around his waist.  Rumor has it that it wasn't nothing for him to have all 6 down on a play. That is over officious.  Having two flags, with one tucked away in a pocket would not be.  As mentioned in other replies, if you work on a wing, you have a higher chance of needing that second one.  At the snap you have an illegal formation, and then you have DPI.  Getting that accurate spot is important, and tossing a hat will not cut it.  You may have already tossed your hat when the receiver stepped out of bounds.

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