Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@icloud.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, Septermber 8, 2022
Week #1 is in the books, with many games played in temperatures of over 100°. We all survived, and the weather report for this Saturday looks like rain! Normally, in the first couple of weeks of the season, there are numerous procedural penalties (offside/false start/etc.). In looking at the game reports, we had games with less than two or three of these fouls. That means good coaching. Nothing slows the tempo of a game more than stopping for penalties.
There might be some confusion with the new NCAA rules related to blocking below the waist. The question came up on a low block by one of the three upbacks protecting the punter, commonly called the shield blockers. Although these players are in the tackle box, blocking below the waist is prohibited on any kick plays (except against a ball carrier). (Rule 9-1-6-c) However, also remember that, to be a block below the waist, the opponent has to have one or both feet on the ground. An airborne player cannot be blocked below the waist. (Rule 2-3-2-a)
Player safety is always our #1 priority. When there is an injury near the sideline, and trainers are attending to one or more players, always stop the game and continue only when all players and personnel are safely out of the way. Officials should always make the Referee aware of what is happening downfield. Do not play with injured players or medical personnel on the field, no matter where they may be in relation to the play.
There have been numerous reports of important equipment, such as the chains, not arriving on the field until game time. Nothing is worse for officials than arriving on the field 45 minutes before the game and looking for the chains and crew. Officials who are responsible for the chain crew should go straight to the administrator to get the situation resolved. Do not wait and hope they arrive before game time.
Many of our colleges have rosters of about 100 student-athletes. Many of the student-athletes fall onto special teams. These special teams players are likely to be participating sparingly, and they sometimes become over-zealous, intending to impress their coaches. I understand that these players are fighting to be part of the team and get playing time, but we need to remind them the same rules apply to all players. Stop after the whistle. There should be no pushing players to the ground, laying on players or trash-talking. Coaches, please help instruct these players. Officials, talk to them early in the game if you see any of this.
We had an unfortunate incident in one of our games. One of our officials used profanity to get the attention of the players. He told the coach that’s the only thing they understand. We have a strict “zero tolerance” policy for profanity for student-athletes, and officials are held to even higher standards. The actions of this official will never be tolerated in SCFA. We need to be professional on the field at all times. When everyone else gets out of hand, we need to have the entire officiating crew keep their cool.
When a receiver (or kicking team player) goes out of bounds, whether voluntarily or is pushed out, officials need to put their hat down to indicate the player was out of bounds, and we know how he got there. If a receiver goes out voluntarily, he can never come back and be the first to touch a forward pass. If he is pushed out or forced out, he must reestablish himself in bounds before he can touch the legal pass. I did not see hats down on a couple of plays last week. Again, only put a hat down if you know how the player ended up going out of bounds, but we need to have at least one official know how it happened.
A coach sent in a play where the quarterback quickly tossed the ball forward to a running back who fumbled the ball and it was picked up by the defense and advanced for a touchdown. After reviewing the video, I questioned the officials and they felt there was not enough separation between the quarterback’s hands and the receiver to make it a pass. This play is designed to be a forward “shuttle pass.” It’s been used for years. The advantage is that if the running back drops the ball, it is an incomplete pass. On these types of plays, make them what they are intended to be: a pass. This would have avoided a cheap touchdown.
Officials need to trust their natural football instincts. You’ve seen a lot of plays, and generally, your first instinct is correct, so don’t be afraid to rule. We had a pass over the middle, and video cannot prove whether it was a catch or incomplete. One official started with an incomplete signal and then dropped it. I think if he had gone with his instinct, we could have ruled correctly. When in doubt, incomplete.
Always understand what a flag does to the game. Consider this in your thought process when throwing a flag. Last week, late in a game, the defense made a big third-down stop. The defense continued to push the runner 10-12 yards behind the line of scrimmage. At the end the play, a flag was thrown. Obviously, it gave the team an automatic first down and decided the game. Without saying it was not a foul, could the officials have prevented it by whistles and yelling at players to stop? Let’s be aware of game situations, and make the calls that MUST be made, not the ones that CAN.
We had a couple of targeting plays sent in for the Commissioner and me to review. Without getting into the weeds, here’s a brief statement of targeting. First, the official must consider if the player is defenseless or is a runner. If defenseless, any contact to the head or neck area is targeting. (See Rule 9-1-4 Note 2 for examples of defenseless players) For a runner, the contact must be with the crown of the helmet, now defined as a small 6-inch circle at the top of the helmet. To call targeting in either situation, an indicator is needed (such as a launch, upward- thrust, lowering the head, etc.). (See Rule 9-1-4 Note 1 for a list of more indicators) Coaches and even officials keep referring to helmet-to-helmet contact, but this is not a foul in every case. I’m asking coaches to continue sending in these types of plays so I can better train officials with respect to targeting.
“Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.”
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, Septermber 8, 2022
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2022 WEEKLY BULLETIN #2Week #1 is in the books, with many games played in temperatures of over 100°. We all survived, and the weather report for this Saturday looks like rain! Normally, in the first couple of weeks of the season, there are numerous procedural penalties (offside/false start/etc.). In looking at the game reports, we had games with less than two or three of these fouls. That means good coaching. Nothing slows the tempo of a game more than stopping for penalties.
There might be some confusion with the new NCAA rules related to blocking below the waist. The question came up on a low block by one of the three upbacks protecting the punter, commonly called the shield blockers. Although these players are in the tackle box, blocking below the waist is prohibited on any kick plays (except against a ball carrier). (Rule 9-1-6-c) However, also remember that, to be a block below the waist, the opponent has to have one or both feet on the ground. An airborne player cannot be blocked below the waist. (Rule 2-3-2-a)
Player safety is always our #1 priority. When there is an injury near the sideline, and trainers are attending to one or more players, always stop the game and continue only when all players and personnel are safely out of the way. Officials should always make the Referee aware of what is happening downfield. Do not play with injured players or medical personnel on the field, no matter where they may be in relation to the play.
There have been numerous reports of important equipment, such as the chains, not arriving on the field until game time. Nothing is worse for officials than arriving on the field 45 minutes before the game and looking for the chains and crew. Officials who are responsible for the chain crew should go straight to the administrator to get the situation resolved. Do not wait and hope they arrive before game time.
Many of our colleges have rosters of about 100 student-athletes. Many of the student-athletes fall onto special teams. These special teams players are likely to be participating sparingly, and they sometimes become over-zealous, intending to impress their coaches. I understand that these players are fighting to be part of the team and get playing time, but we need to remind them the same rules apply to all players. Stop after the whistle. There should be no pushing players to the ground, laying on players or trash-talking. Coaches, please help instruct these players. Officials, talk to them early in the game if you see any of this.
We had an unfortunate incident in one of our games. One of our officials used profanity to get the attention of the players. He told the coach that’s the only thing they understand. We have a strict “zero tolerance” policy for profanity for student-athletes, and officials are held to even higher standards. The actions of this official will never be tolerated in SCFA. We need to be professional on the field at all times. When everyone else gets out of hand, we need to have the entire officiating crew keep their cool.
When a receiver (or kicking team player) goes out of bounds, whether voluntarily or is pushed out, officials need to put their hat down to indicate the player was out of bounds, and we know how he got there. If a receiver goes out voluntarily, he can never come back and be the first to touch a forward pass. If he is pushed out or forced out, he must reestablish himself in bounds before he can touch the legal pass. I did not see hats down on a couple of plays last week. Again, only put a hat down if you know how the player ended up going out of bounds, but we need to have at least one official know how it happened.
A coach sent in a play where the quarterback quickly tossed the ball forward to a running back who fumbled the ball and it was picked up by the defense and advanced for a touchdown. After reviewing the video, I questioned the officials and they felt there was not enough separation between the quarterback’s hands and the receiver to make it a pass. This play is designed to be a forward “shuttle pass.” It’s been used for years. The advantage is that if the running back drops the ball, it is an incomplete pass. On these types of plays, make them what they are intended to be: a pass. This would have avoided a cheap touchdown.
Officials need to trust their natural football instincts. You’ve seen a lot of plays, and generally, your first instinct is correct, so don’t be afraid to rule. We had a pass over the middle, and video cannot prove whether it was a catch or incomplete. One official started with an incomplete signal and then dropped it. I think if he had gone with his instinct, we could have ruled correctly. When in doubt, incomplete.
Always understand what a flag does to the game. Consider this in your thought process when throwing a flag. Last week, late in a game, the defense made a big third-down stop. The defense continued to push the runner 10-12 yards behind the line of scrimmage. At the end the play, a flag was thrown. Obviously, it gave the team an automatic first down and decided the game. Without saying it was not a foul, could the officials have prevented it by whistles and yelling at players to stop? Let’s be aware of game situations, and make the calls that MUST be made, not the ones that CAN.
We had a couple of targeting plays sent in for the Commissioner and me to review. Without getting into the weeds, here’s a brief statement of targeting. First, the official must consider if the player is defenseless or is a runner. If defenseless, any contact to the head or neck area is targeting. (See Rule 9-1-4 Note 2 for examples of defenseless players) For a runner, the contact must be with the crown of the helmet, now defined as a small 6-inch circle at the top of the helmet. To call targeting in either situation, an indicator is needed (such as a launch, upward- thrust, lowering the head, etc.). (See Rule 9-1-4 Note 1 for a list of more indicators) Coaches and even officials keep referring to helmet-to-helmet contact, but this is not a foul in every case. I’m asking coaches to continue sending in these types of plays so I can better train officials with respect to targeting.
“Believing you can become successful is the most important step in actually achieving it.”
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations