Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@me.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019
Have you ever thought this (or even verbalized it at your pre-game conferences): "I hope we don't end up in the weekly bulletin." I hope you don't either, but remember that the sole purpose of the weekly bulletin is to share what is happening on the community college football field. These bulletins are only intended to raise the awareness of coaches and officials so that everyone better understands this great game. Please continue to send me plays and situations from which all officials (and coaches) can learn. If you ever work a game in which you think you officiated perfectly, you should quit, as it will never happen again. We all make mistakes; let's learn from them.
The Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) publishes a football officials' mechanics manual each year. I know we've not given those to our officials in the last few years but I'm going to recommend that we give them to our officials next year. There is excellent material that covers the mechanics of every situation that officials face during the game. I believe it's available online for purchase or copy. I strongly encourage you to read over things that pertain to your position and the general philosophies of football officiating.
The rule book and mechanics manual give the approved signals for every situation that can occur during a game. We are finding unauthorized signals being used during games. We have enough problems with our timers, so make sure you stick to signals that are approved. Other signals are not authorized and will not be tolerated.
We are starting to see a lot of players with their undershirts exposed and jerseys not tucked in. I hate to be a fashion police, but this is an easy fix. Coaches, please help SCFA players dress properly as well. (Rule 1-4-5-a-1: Jerseys must be tucked into pants.)
The officials on the flanks are working very hard to get a good spot for the Umpire. Too often, I see Umpires not looking for their spots, but simply putting the ball down where they think it should be. Football is a game of inches. Officiating is teamwork. Wing officials have a much better angle on where the ball should be placed. Don't ignore them.
Did you know that Pete Roselle, former NFL commissioner, after coming out of the military, started as a student at Compton College? In 1946, he became the student athletic news director. During a basketball recruiting trip to Compton College, then University of San Francisco head coach, Pete Newhall, ran into him and arranged for him to get a full scholarship to continue sports information studies at USF. 13 years after he started college at Compton, at age 33, he became the youngest Commissioner of the National Football League in 1960. He is credited with making the NFL what it is today.
Just because the ball is dead does not mean the play is over. We're getting to the time of the year where we must become excellent dead-ball officials. Once the play is over, we need to continuously watch the players for any extracurricular activity that could lead to unsporting behavior and cause problems later in the game.
When restricted linemen (50-79), are down and locked in a 3- or 4-point stance, or hands below their knees, they cannot rise out of their stance until the ball is snapped. If a coach or quarterback changes the play, these linemen are still locked. It's a false start if they do. This restriction also applies to players other than 50-79 when the team is utilizing the numbering exception and such players are ineligible by position. Rule 7-1-2-b-3.
Remember the new blindside block rule does not pertain if the blocker pushes with hands extended. The only time we have a foul for blindside block is when a player attacks his opponent with “forcible contact.” Rule 9-1-18. It its generally the same philosophy as targeting (other than targeting's inclusion of attacking a defenseless player with the “hand”). Another play that has come up is the personal foul for hitting a passer forcibly at the knee or below. Remember, the passer must have one or both feet on the ground for this to be a penalty. If the passer leaves his feet to make a pass when he is contacted, there is no foul, by rule. Rule 9-1-9-b.
On fourth down or a try, the only player of Team A that may advance a fumble prior to a change of possession is the player that fumbled it. If any other Team A player recovers or catches the fumble, the play is over. Rule 4-1-3-j.
We are starting to see linemen start to cheat their way back in obvious passing downs and punts. This gives them an unfair advantage. Make sure you get those players on the line of scrimmage. Warn them and the coaches early. I know we hate to call these fouls, so let's get them on the line early. Rule 2-27-4-a-2.
I know many of you are trying to move up in college football, and I applaud your efforts. There haven't been too many hires at the Division I level in the Western U.S. for the past few years. Don't give up. There is currently a Referee in a Power 5 conference who was not hired in Division I football until he was 51 years old. He was officiating community and small college football in Arizona, attending many camps, when he received the opportunity. David Alvarez never gave up; don't you give up following your dreams.
Former Mt. San Antonio College football head coach Bill Fisk, 75, passed away October 3 at his home in Elizabeth, Colorado, after a long battle with prostate cancer. Fisk was part of the Mt. SAC athletics family for nearly four decades and led the Mounties to their first national championship in 1997. During his 18-year career as head coach, he was the first Mt. SAC football coach to reach 100 wins and finished his career with an overall record of 126 wins, 64 losses and 2 ties (.661 winning percentage). Fisk mentored hundreds of outstanding student-athletes and a number of coaches that went on to excel at the 4-year university and professional ranks. Fisk garnered numerous other honors throughout his career and in retirement was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2016) and Mt. SAC Athletics Hall of Fame (2017). Another sad note SCCFOA lost long time official and current member of our observation team, Ron Mouzis. Please keep both families in your prays
"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing." - Peyton Manning
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, October 3, 2019
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2019 WEEKLY BULLETIN #5Have you ever thought this (or even verbalized it at your pre-game conferences): "I hope we don't end up in the weekly bulletin." I hope you don't either, but remember that the sole purpose of the weekly bulletin is to share what is happening on the community college football field. These bulletins are only intended to raise the awareness of coaches and officials so that everyone better understands this great game. Please continue to send me plays and situations from which all officials (and coaches) can learn. If you ever work a game in which you think you officiated perfectly, you should quit, as it will never happen again. We all make mistakes; let's learn from them.
The Collegiate Commissioners Association (CCA) publishes a football officials' mechanics manual each year. I know we've not given those to our officials in the last few years but I'm going to recommend that we give them to our officials next year. There is excellent material that covers the mechanics of every situation that officials face during the game. I believe it's available online for purchase or copy. I strongly encourage you to read over things that pertain to your position and the general philosophies of football officiating.
The rule book and mechanics manual give the approved signals for every situation that can occur during a game. We are finding unauthorized signals being used during games. We have enough problems with our timers, so make sure you stick to signals that are approved. Other signals are not authorized and will not be tolerated.
We are starting to see a lot of players with their undershirts exposed and jerseys not tucked in. I hate to be a fashion police, but this is an easy fix. Coaches, please help SCFA players dress properly as well. (Rule 1-4-5-a-1: Jerseys must be tucked into pants.)
The officials on the flanks are working very hard to get a good spot for the Umpire. Too often, I see Umpires not looking for their spots, but simply putting the ball down where they think it should be. Football is a game of inches. Officiating is teamwork. Wing officials have a much better angle on where the ball should be placed. Don't ignore them.
Did you know that Pete Roselle, former NFL commissioner, after coming out of the military, started as a student at Compton College? In 1946, he became the student athletic news director. During a basketball recruiting trip to Compton College, then University of San Francisco head coach, Pete Newhall, ran into him and arranged for him to get a full scholarship to continue sports information studies at USF. 13 years after he started college at Compton, at age 33, he became the youngest Commissioner of the National Football League in 1960. He is credited with making the NFL what it is today.
Just because the ball is dead does not mean the play is over. We're getting to the time of the year where we must become excellent dead-ball officials. Once the play is over, we need to continuously watch the players for any extracurricular activity that could lead to unsporting behavior and cause problems later in the game.
When restricted linemen (50-79), are down and locked in a 3- or 4-point stance, or hands below their knees, they cannot rise out of their stance until the ball is snapped. If a coach or quarterback changes the play, these linemen are still locked. It's a false start if they do. This restriction also applies to players other than 50-79 when the team is utilizing the numbering exception and such players are ineligible by position. Rule 7-1-2-b-3.
Remember the new blindside block rule does not pertain if the blocker pushes with hands extended. The only time we have a foul for blindside block is when a player attacks his opponent with “forcible contact.” Rule 9-1-18. It its generally the same philosophy as targeting (other than targeting's inclusion of attacking a defenseless player with the “hand”). Another play that has come up is the personal foul for hitting a passer forcibly at the knee or below. Remember, the passer must have one or both feet on the ground for this to be a penalty. If the passer leaves his feet to make a pass when he is contacted, there is no foul, by rule. Rule 9-1-9-b.
On fourth down or a try, the only player of Team A that may advance a fumble prior to a change of possession is the player that fumbled it. If any other Team A player recovers or catches the fumble, the play is over. Rule 4-1-3-j.
We are starting to see linemen start to cheat their way back in obvious passing downs and punts. This gives them an unfair advantage. Make sure you get those players on the line of scrimmage. Warn them and the coaches early. I know we hate to call these fouls, so let's get them on the line early. Rule 2-27-4-a-2.
I know many of you are trying to move up in college football, and I applaud your efforts. There haven't been too many hires at the Division I level in the Western U.S. for the past few years. Don't give up. There is currently a Referee in a Power 5 conference who was not hired in Division I football until he was 51 years old. He was officiating community and small college football in Arizona, attending many camps, when he received the opportunity. David Alvarez never gave up; don't you give up following your dreams.
Former Mt. San Antonio College football head coach Bill Fisk, 75, passed away October 3 at his home in Elizabeth, Colorado, after a long battle with prostate cancer. Fisk was part of the Mt. SAC athletics family for nearly four decades and led the Mounties to their first national championship in 1997. During his 18-year career as head coach, he was the first Mt. SAC football coach to reach 100 wins and finished his career with an overall record of 126 wins, 64 losses and 2 ties (.661 winning percentage). Fisk mentored hundreds of outstanding student-athletes and a number of coaches that went on to excel at the 4-year university and professional ranks. Fisk garnered numerous other honors throughout his career and in retirement was inducted into the California Community College Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2016) and Mt. SAC Athletics Hall of Fame (2017). Another sad note SCCFOA lost long time official and current member of our observation team, Ron Mouzis. Please keep both families in your prays
"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing." - Peyton Manning
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations