Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@icloud.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Friday, Septermber 23, 2022
Hudl is the video sharing platform coaches and officials use to exchange game video. Colleges share game videos with their upcoming opponents, and officials use it for training. Over the years, video continues to provide officials the best training, and we never share any of the video you send us with anyone but the officiating staff. Hudl now gives me the ability to track the amount of time officials are spending on the site. I realize we are all busy; but if you are going to be successful, I would strongly suggest you spend at least one hour a week looking at plays in Hudl. Our coaches spend many hours each week reviewing video, and they have a right to expect that officials are doing at least a minimum amount.
I send two plays to the entire officiating staff each week, requesting their opinions on the calls. Last week, I sent out a play at the goal line where the pylon was “blown up” and the officials ruled the ball short of the goal line. As I have repeated time and time again, great players make great plays. The correct call here was a touchdown. When in doubt, make this a touchdown.
After a score, by rule, we have a maximum of one minute to be ready for the next kickoff. (Rule 3-3-7-h) There is no time out after a score to get the teams back on the field ready to kickoff. All that said, DO NOT call a delay of game in this situation, unless it is absolutely necessary. It has no real effect on the game, and simply looks bad. In addition, after a free kick, the 40- second clock should be started. (Rule 3-2-4-b-1) However, as above, try not to have a delay of game. If the play clock is getting low, simply pump it back up to 25 and get the teams ready for play. Again, no real affect on the game. Just hurry them up. In addition to those, let’s not have a delay of game after a timeout. Get the teams off the sideline, and ready for play.
Remember, when games are played on high school fields, the hash marks are not the same as NCAA hash marks. In these cases, make sure that you place the back end zone pylons 20-yards from the sidelines, and two yards from the end line. (Rule 1-2-1-k) Use these pylons to help you line up. If those pylons are not available, see if you can find some type of a cone to indicate where the ball is going to be spotted. Our coaches design plays to NCAA standards, making the ball position important.
Speaking of pylons, if the ball is going towards the pylon on a free or scrimmage kick, the covering official must be right at the pylon. If it goes directly over the pylon, or if the covering official is in doubt, it is a touchback.
The following are a few points to discuss, based on evaluators’ game reports.
Referees must get the foul report to both coaches by noon on Sunday. Foul reports track fouls, which official called it, the player’s number, and the time. Coaches use these reports to break down video. Let’s help them out and get it to them as quickly as possible, and by noon Sunday at the latest. Officials should have the email addresses of all head coaches. If you don’t, email it to me and I will forward it to the head coach. This should be a last resort.
I would like to congratulate the crew, who on a very tight catch in the end zone, initially called it incomplete. The crew got together and discussed the play then correctly reversed it to a touchdown. It was absolutely the correct call. Great job. Don’t be afraid to step up and be a crew saver. This particular game was played on one of our new stadiums with a Jumbotron. Some say officials took a peek? Don’t use the video, but get it right.
The flight of the ball is one of the hardest things to watch on a scrimmage kick or punt. We had a situation where the ball hit a receiver in the helmet, but no one saw it. Luckily, it was recovered by the receiving team. The three deep officials need to step up and help out on these calls. You’re the only ones who likely can see it.
As you are no doubt aware, I have repeatedly appealed to each of you to make any fouls BIG. There is an exception to that. Any dead-ball fouls that threaten safety need to be called to protect players and the integrity of the game. We can’t miss any of these.
We have our officials on the field 45-minutes before game time to supervise the actions of both teams and prevent any unsportsmanlike behavior of the teams. There is no need to talk to anyone other than players, coaches, chain crew members, timers, and your fellow officials. Please keep your conversations with any team members. trainers and coaches to a minimum.
Two excellent training video’s for this week
https://youtu.be/6T8kHS9qS3U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSgfWZI_H5o
“When you do lose your hat, you don’t want your head in it.” – John Madden, head coach, 1962- 63, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, California (1936 – 2021)
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Friday, Septermber 23, 2022
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2022 WEEKLY BULLETIN #4Hudl is the video sharing platform coaches and officials use to exchange game video. Colleges share game videos with their upcoming opponents, and officials use it for training. Over the years, video continues to provide officials the best training, and we never share any of the video you send us with anyone but the officiating staff. Hudl now gives me the ability to track the amount of time officials are spending on the site. I realize we are all busy; but if you are going to be successful, I would strongly suggest you spend at least one hour a week looking at plays in Hudl. Our coaches spend many hours each week reviewing video, and they have a right to expect that officials are doing at least a minimum amount.
I send two plays to the entire officiating staff each week, requesting their opinions on the calls. Last week, I sent out a play at the goal line where the pylon was “blown up” and the officials ruled the ball short of the goal line. As I have repeated time and time again, great players make great plays. The correct call here was a touchdown. When in doubt, make this a touchdown.
After a score, by rule, we have a maximum of one minute to be ready for the next kickoff. (Rule 3-3-7-h) There is no time out after a score to get the teams back on the field ready to kickoff. All that said, DO NOT call a delay of game in this situation, unless it is absolutely necessary. It has no real effect on the game, and simply looks bad. In addition, after a free kick, the 40- second clock should be started. (Rule 3-2-4-b-1) However, as above, try not to have a delay of game. If the play clock is getting low, simply pump it back up to 25 and get the teams ready for play. Again, no real affect on the game. Just hurry them up. In addition to those, let’s not have a delay of game after a timeout. Get the teams off the sideline, and ready for play.
Remember, when games are played on high school fields, the hash marks are not the same as NCAA hash marks. In these cases, make sure that you place the back end zone pylons 20-yards from the sidelines, and two yards from the end line. (Rule 1-2-1-k) Use these pylons to help you line up. If those pylons are not available, see if you can find some type of a cone to indicate where the ball is going to be spotted. Our coaches design plays to NCAA standards, making the ball position important.
Speaking of pylons, if the ball is going towards the pylon on a free or scrimmage kick, the covering official must be right at the pylon. If it goes directly over the pylon, or if the covering official is in doubt, it is a touchback.
The following are a few points to discuss, based on evaluators’ game reports.
- Every time there is a time out, every person on the crew needs to record it on their card. We do not want to get into a situation where we lose track of time outs, or report incorrectly to a coach.
- The SCFA has concerns with coaches coming on to the field to debate officials’ calls. Officials have been instructed not to talk to coaches if they come on the field or are outside of the 20-yard lines. Coaches, be aware that the officials have been instructed to only have discussions with you in the coaching box. Be consistent with these calls this year. If a coach is outside of the box to protest an officiating decision, it should be flagged as Unsportsmanlike Conduct. (Rule 9-2-1-b-1)
- After a change of possession, officials need to enforce penalties before setting the chains. We should never start a series on anything other than first and ten, unless the foul occurred after the ready for play. (Rule 5-1-2-b)
- In NCAA football, when a player’s helmet comes completely off, unless as the result of a foul, that player must leave the game for one play, or his team must be granted a charged team time out for him to stay in the game.
- Seven officials need to signal time-out when the clock is to be stopped. This will help part-timers in the press box. I know we don’t like to make signals away from our area of coverage, but we can help the timers if everyone mirrors this signal.
Referees must get the foul report to both coaches by noon on Sunday. Foul reports track fouls, which official called it, the player’s number, and the time. Coaches use these reports to break down video. Let’s help them out and get it to them as quickly as possible, and by noon Sunday at the latest. Officials should have the email addresses of all head coaches. If you don’t, email it to me and I will forward it to the head coach. This should be a last resort.
I would like to congratulate the crew, who on a very tight catch in the end zone, initially called it incomplete. The crew got together and discussed the play then correctly reversed it to a touchdown. It was absolutely the correct call. Great job. Don’t be afraid to step up and be a crew saver. This particular game was played on one of our new stadiums with a Jumbotron. Some say officials took a peek? Don’t use the video, but get it right.
The flight of the ball is one of the hardest things to watch on a scrimmage kick or punt. We had a situation where the ball hit a receiver in the helmet, but no one saw it. Luckily, it was recovered by the receiving team. The three deep officials need to step up and help out on these calls. You’re the only ones who likely can see it.
As you are no doubt aware, I have repeatedly appealed to each of you to make any fouls BIG. There is an exception to that. Any dead-ball fouls that threaten safety need to be called to protect players and the integrity of the game. We can’t miss any of these.
We have our officials on the field 45-minutes before game time to supervise the actions of both teams and prevent any unsportsmanlike behavior of the teams. There is no need to talk to anyone other than players, coaches, chain crew members, timers, and your fellow officials. Please keep your conversations with any team members. trainers and coaches to a minimum.
Two excellent training video’s for this week
https://youtu.be/6T8kHS9qS3U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSgfWZI_H5o
“When you do lose your hat, you don’t want your head in it.” – John Madden, head coach, 1962- 63, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria, California (1936 – 2021)
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations