Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: Rich Kollen
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Friday, September 06, 2024
I welcome everyone to the 2024 California community college football season. For over 20 years, I have tried to keep our officials, coaches and athletic staff updated on what is transpiring in community college football with the 36 colleges from San Diego to Santa Maria. Over the years, my weekly bulletins have been used by our officials, coaches, and many others to promote our level of college football. I have included college presidents in weekly emails to keep them in the loop since they show so much support for football. We thank you for your support.
I would like to congratulate Riverside City College for winning last year's state championship game, defeating San Mateo. Tom Craft, Riverside’s head coach, earned his 5th California State championship ring, (1991, 1993, 1998, 2019, 2023). Tom achieves success through excellent recruiting, coaching and the great philosophy he instills in his student-athletes.
The California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) has made a tremendous commitment to two-year college football. Currently, there are more two-year football programs from California than in rest of the country combined.
Our head coaches are so important to our program, especially with the emphasis on sportsmanship and sideline control. I would like to welcome our new coaches: Arnie Robles - East LA, Nate Turner - San Bernardino, Mason Mitchell – Grossmont, Oscar Rodriquez – Southwestern, Ben Buys – Chaffey, Eric Scott - West LA, Brian Crooks and Phil Austin - Fullerton (co-head coaches). Best of luck, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
The NCAA rule changes for the 2024 season mainly address the use of technology. Tablets are now permitted on the sideline and coach-to-player electronic communication. These new rules will not apply to our level this year, but it is something to consider for the future. High schools are using sideline communication between coach and player, and we all need to prepare in case the 3C2A adopts these rules next year.
A few rule changes do affect our level this year: horsecollar tackles are not permitted anywhere on the field of play, and there will be a two-minute timeout at the end of both halves. We will call this the two-minute timeout since the NFL has the registered trademark in the phrase, "two-minute warning."
This year, the NCAA and 3C2A are putting greater emphasis on the conduct of players and coaches during our contests. It is the responsibility of the officials to control the contest, the responsibility of the head coach to control all assistant coaches and substitutes, and the responsibility of the college athletic administration to control game administration and the spectator environment. Hostile interactions between fans, players, and coaches must be addressed immediately. Good sportsmanship is a combined effort by everyone. Commissioners from both football conferences and all eleven sports conferences have developed the framework to address increasing sportsmanship issues over the last few years. Coaches, ADs, and officials will be supported by the college president and the conference commissioners.
60 years ago, when I put on a football uniform, the pants were designed to hold hip pads, thigh pads, and knee pads. Over the years we’ve seen fewer knee pads, even though it remains an NCAA rule. For the last 20 years, I’ve encouraged our officials to help follow the rule, but every time we watch a major college game on Saturday, it is obvious that the rule is being ignored. Coaches have been told that this is their responsibility. Each coach signs a form before the game saying that his “players are properly equipped by rule.” Officials are not going to chase borderline knee pad situations. We will only address no knee pads and pants looking like biker shorts. Officials are not going to be fashion police. That’s the responsibility of coaches, trainers, and equipment personnel.
Athletic trainers will tell you need to start hydrating three days before your event. Temperatures this weekend are scheduled to be in the high 90s, and with our synthetic turf, it adds about 15°. Start drinking water today! Official time-outs for water breaks might be considered by Referees this Saturday. Make sure to put the safety of athletes at the top of your priorities.
As always, THANK YOU to the men and women who put on the stripes every week for our student-athletes. You may not always feel appreciated, but you should know that you are needed to ensure any of these games happen. All of the schools are deeply grateful to have you working.
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. -Lou Holtz-
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Friday, September 06, 2024
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2024 WEEKLY BULLETIN #1I welcome everyone to the 2024 California community college football season. For over 20 years, I have tried to keep our officials, coaches and athletic staff updated on what is transpiring in community college football with the 36 colleges from San Diego to Santa Maria. Over the years, my weekly bulletins have been used by our officials, coaches, and many others to promote our level of college football. I have included college presidents in weekly emails to keep them in the loop since they show so much support for football. We thank you for your support.
I would like to congratulate Riverside City College for winning last year's state championship game, defeating San Mateo. Tom Craft, Riverside’s head coach, earned his 5th California State championship ring, (1991, 1993, 1998, 2019, 2023). Tom achieves success through excellent recruiting, coaching and the great philosophy he instills in his student-athletes.
The California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) has made a tremendous commitment to two-year college football. Currently, there are more two-year football programs from California than in rest of the country combined.
Our head coaches are so important to our program, especially with the emphasis on sportsmanship and sideline control. I would like to welcome our new coaches: Arnie Robles - East LA, Nate Turner - San Bernardino, Mason Mitchell – Grossmont, Oscar Rodriquez – Southwestern, Ben Buys – Chaffey, Eric Scott - West LA, Brian Crooks and Phil Austin - Fullerton (co-head coaches). Best of luck, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call.
The NCAA rule changes for the 2024 season mainly address the use of technology. Tablets are now permitted on the sideline and coach-to-player electronic communication. These new rules will not apply to our level this year, but it is something to consider for the future. High schools are using sideline communication between coach and player, and we all need to prepare in case the 3C2A adopts these rules next year.
A few rule changes do affect our level this year: horsecollar tackles are not permitted anywhere on the field of play, and there will be a two-minute timeout at the end of both halves. We will call this the two-minute timeout since the NFL has the registered trademark in the phrase, "two-minute warning."
This year, the NCAA and 3C2A are putting greater emphasis on the conduct of players and coaches during our contests. It is the responsibility of the officials to control the contest, the responsibility of the head coach to control all assistant coaches and substitutes, and the responsibility of the college athletic administration to control game administration and the spectator environment. Hostile interactions between fans, players, and coaches must be addressed immediately. Good sportsmanship is a combined effort by everyone. Commissioners from both football conferences and all eleven sports conferences have developed the framework to address increasing sportsmanship issues over the last few years. Coaches, ADs, and officials will be supported by the college president and the conference commissioners.
60 years ago, when I put on a football uniform, the pants were designed to hold hip pads, thigh pads, and knee pads. Over the years we’ve seen fewer knee pads, even though it remains an NCAA rule. For the last 20 years, I’ve encouraged our officials to help follow the rule, but every time we watch a major college game on Saturday, it is obvious that the rule is being ignored. Coaches have been told that this is their responsibility. Each coach signs a form before the game saying that his “players are properly equipped by rule.” Officials are not going to chase borderline knee pad situations. We will only address no knee pads and pants looking like biker shorts. Officials are not going to be fashion police. That’s the responsibility of coaches, trainers, and equipment personnel.
Athletic trainers will tell you need to start hydrating three days before your event. Temperatures this weekend are scheduled to be in the high 90s, and with our synthetic turf, it adds about 15°. Start drinking water today! Official time-outs for water breaks might be considered by Referees this Saturday. Make sure to put the safety of athletes at the top of your priorities.
As always, THANK YOU to the men and women who put on the stripes every week for our student-athletes. You may not always feel appreciated, but you should know that you are needed to ensure any of these games happen. All of the schools are deeply grateful to have you working.
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it. -Lou Holtz-
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations