Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@icloud.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022
I have lived in the Southern California area my entire life. Last Saturday night, we experienced lightning all over the area. I attended a game at Long Beach City College, and we started the 6:00 pm game with a 30-minute delay. Then, another strike delayed the start 30 more minutes. I heard from three other crew chiefs and ADs in the area, and they were all experiencing the same issues. I was in communication with the commissioner and advising everyone to get the games in, using the correct protocol. I commend the three crews who correctly followed the NCAA lightning procedure and finished their games. Unfortunately, many games ended after 10:30 pm. We had one situation where the protocol was not followed, and the game was called just into the second 30-minute delay. This situation may never happen again, but if it does, before you terminate a game, be sure to call me or the commissioner. The cost to replay this game in order to give our student-athletes a full 10-game schedule is estimated at $5,000.00. If the situation requires such a postponement, then the ADs, commissioner and I jointly make that call. Follow the lightning protocol, found in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook at www.ncaa.org.
Whether a pass is forward or backward is a big call, especially if the pass hits the ground. The Line Judge is the official primarily responsible for this call. Each crew must work out a signal to alert the other officials. When in question, it is a forward pass rather than a backward pass, and if it hits the ground, it is incomplete. (Rule 2-19-2)
Before the games, our crew chiefs meet with both coaches, along with the Umpire, during the 45 minutes officials are out on the field. Referees should ask the coach if his team anticipates trying any kind of trick play. Make sure you communicate that information to your crew before the start of the game. This will eliminate the element of surprise for the officials and will help us get the play correct, with proper mechanics, should the team use it.
Since we do not have replay, we have always been able to review second half targeting fouls and make a decision to confirm or reverse it. (Rule 9-1-4 PENALTY) If targeting is confirmed in the second half of a game, the student-athlete may not play for the first half of the next game. The review is usually done on Monday by the commissioner and me. Targeting calls have been down this season, mainly thanks to coaches teaching correct and safe blocking and tackling techniques. We understand how fast this occurs on the field, how loud it might sound, and how bad it might look. It’s much easier to sit in front of a computer screen and go frame-by-frame; so please don't be concerned if a targeting call is taken off. When in doubt, continue to err on the side of safety.
I have not seen this in any SCFA video, but it happened in a Division I game recently. The quarterback was sacked and the defensive player gave what is referred to as a “Slimed In” gesture (made famous by Young Thug). Basically, hand across the front of a face mask like you were wiping your nose. Interesting enough, the NCAA ruled that this is not enough of an unsportsmanlike act to result in a penalty. A throat slash, however, is ALWAYS an unsportsmanlike act and must be penalized. (Rule 9-2-1-a-1(a)) Know the difference.
There cannot be defensive pass interference on a pass that does not cross the line of scrimmage. (Rule 7-3-8-a) There can be a foul for holding or a personal foul, but it cannot be DPI. I commend the crew that brought this to my attention after they discussed it in the locker room. This is all about learning, and it should never happen again, certainly not to that crew. Head Line Judge and Line Judge must know where the pass is first touched in relation to the line of scrimmage, and must be prepared to step up with such information.
Remember to communicate the result of the play to your Referee before reporting a foul. Fouls may be declined, given the result of the play, and the Referee needs to know that information before administrating the penalty enforcement.
Our officials use the phrase "point of attack" for certain fouls. These fouls are called if they have a material competitive effect on the play. Such fouls include, without limitation, holding and blocks in the back. I have witnessed several plays in which these fouls were called despite being committed completely away from the point of attack, with no effect on the play and no safety or sportsmanship impact. Let's leave those alone. Warn the players, but only call the fouls that MUST be called. (These “minor fouls” do not include personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, or any fouls that endanger the safety of a player, all of which must be called when they occur anywhere on the field.)
A coach commented on seeing a lot of pushing the ball carrier forward into big piles. Remember, a push is perfectly legal, but it is a foul if you pull a ball carrier forward. (Rule 9-3- 2-b)
We discussed last week that is not the official’s responsibility to discipline a student-athlete on his/her behavior. Similarly, as noted above, we had a situation in one of our five lightning delay games where the officials took charge and canceled the game. This is not the responsibility of the officials in this situation. We had two athletic directors onsite, and the commissioner and me available by phone. We will make that decision. (Rule 3-3-3-c)
In order for the passer to legally ground the ball, he must have been out of the tackle box, and the ball must cross or land beyond the neutral zone. (Rule 7-3-2-h Exception) Basically, what the officials are looking for is the outside foot of the passer must be completely out of the tackle box. When in question, the passer is out. Let’s not split hairs.
Continue to be great officials and give the coaches, student-athletes, and fans our very best: every play / every week. We have the best seat in the house to watch the best game in the world, and, oh, we get paid for it!
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, October 20, 2022
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2022 WEEKLY BULLETIN #7I have lived in the Southern California area my entire life. Last Saturday night, we experienced lightning all over the area. I attended a game at Long Beach City College, and we started the 6:00 pm game with a 30-minute delay. Then, another strike delayed the start 30 more minutes. I heard from three other crew chiefs and ADs in the area, and they were all experiencing the same issues. I was in communication with the commissioner and advising everyone to get the games in, using the correct protocol. I commend the three crews who correctly followed the NCAA lightning procedure and finished their games. Unfortunately, many games ended after 10:30 pm. We had one situation where the protocol was not followed, and the game was called just into the second 30-minute delay. This situation may never happen again, but if it does, before you terminate a game, be sure to call me or the commissioner. The cost to replay this game in order to give our student-athletes a full 10-game schedule is estimated at $5,000.00. If the situation requires such a postponement, then the ADs, commissioner and I jointly make that call. Follow the lightning protocol, found in the NCAA Sports Medicine Handbook at www.ncaa.org.
Whether a pass is forward or backward is a big call, especially if the pass hits the ground. The Line Judge is the official primarily responsible for this call. Each crew must work out a signal to alert the other officials. When in question, it is a forward pass rather than a backward pass, and if it hits the ground, it is incomplete. (Rule 2-19-2)
Before the games, our crew chiefs meet with both coaches, along with the Umpire, during the 45 minutes officials are out on the field. Referees should ask the coach if his team anticipates trying any kind of trick play. Make sure you communicate that information to your crew before the start of the game. This will eliminate the element of surprise for the officials and will help us get the play correct, with proper mechanics, should the team use it.
Since we do not have replay, we have always been able to review second half targeting fouls and make a decision to confirm or reverse it. (Rule 9-1-4 PENALTY) If targeting is confirmed in the second half of a game, the student-athlete may not play for the first half of the next game. The review is usually done on Monday by the commissioner and me. Targeting calls have been down this season, mainly thanks to coaches teaching correct and safe blocking and tackling techniques. We understand how fast this occurs on the field, how loud it might sound, and how bad it might look. It’s much easier to sit in front of a computer screen and go frame-by-frame; so please don't be concerned if a targeting call is taken off. When in doubt, continue to err on the side of safety.
I have not seen this in any SCFA video, but it happened in a Division I game recently. The quarterback was sacked and the defensive player gave what is referred to as a “Slimed In” gesture (made famous by Young Thug). Basically, hand across the front of a face mask like you were wiping your nose. Interesting enough, the NCAA ruled that this is not enough of an unsportsmanlike act to result in a penalty. A throat slash, however, is ALWAYS an unsportsmanlike act and must be penalized. (Rule 9-2-1-a-1(a)) Know the difference.
There cannot be defensive pass interference on a pass that does not cross the line of scrimmage. (Rule 7-3-8-a) There can be a foul for holding or a personal foul, but it cannot be DPI. I commend the crew that brought this to my attention after they discussed it in the locker room. This is all about learning, and it should never happen again, certainly not to that crew. Head Line Judge and Line Judge must know where the pass is first touched in relation to the line of scrimmage, and must be prepared to step up with such information.
Remember to communicate the result of the play to your Referee before reporting a foul. Fouls may be declined, given the result of the play, and the Referee needs to know that information before administrating the penalty enforcement.
Our officials use the phrase "point of attack" for certain fouls. These fouls are called if they have a material competitive effect on the play. Such fouls include, without limitation, holding and blocks in the back. I have witnessed several plays in which these fouls were called despite being committed completely away from the point of attack, with no effect on the play and no safety or sportsmanship impact. Let's leave those alone. Warn the players, but only call the fouls that MUST be called. (These “minor fouls” do not include personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, or any fouls that endanger the safety of a player, all of which must be called when they occur anywhere on the field.)
A coach commented on seeing a lot of pushing the ball carrier forward into big piles. Remember, a push is perfectly legal, but it is a foul if you pull a ball carrier forward. (Rule 9-3- 2-b)
We discussed last week that is not the official’s responsibility to discipline a student-athlete on his/her behavior. Similarly, as noted above, we had a situation in one of our five lightning delay games where the officials took charge and canceled the game. This is not the responsibility of the officials in this situation. We had two athletic directors onsite, and the commissioner and me available by phone. We will make that decision. (Rule 3-3-3-c)
In order for the passer to legally ground the ball, he must have been out of the tackle box, and the ball must cross or land beyond the neutral zone. (Rule 7-3-2-h Exception) Basically, what the officials are looking for is the outside foot of the passer must be completely out of the tackle box. When in question, the passer is out. Let’s not split hairs.
Continue to be great officials and give the coaches, student-athletes, and fans our very best: every play / every week. We have the best seat in the house to watch the best game in the world, and, oh, we get paid for it!
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations