Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: Rich Kollen
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Friday, October 25 2024
A coach sent a video of a scrimmage kick in which the officials allowed the receiving team to play with 12 on the field. Our mechanics require that we have three officials counting the defense, so this should never have happened. There should have been three flags thrown. This is especially true on any scrimmage kick, where our antennas must go up, as units change in and out. Count players on EVERY play. On scrimmage kicks, any low block is a foul (Rule 9-1-6-c). As you are all aware, kick plays are where most of the big officiating issues occur.
When the 12th player is in the huddle, one player must leave immediately. If the huddle breaks with 12, the penalty is illegal substitution. We had an official tell a coach last week there can be 12 in the huddle a HS rule. We all need the developer cheat sheet when you’re working Friday night, high school rules, and Saturday night NCAA two rules. We lose all credibility when we miss quoted easy rules.
Most of the time, the referee does not need to ask a captain or a coach what they want on penalty enforcements because the situation is obvious. There were times when we would ask the captains. In today’s game, we go right to the head coach to explain options. It is the obligation of the head coach to make this decision. He should not get on the headset and talk to somebody in the press box. This takes too long. Coaches should make their decision quickly, as it is a bad look to spend time waiting on a decision.
If the quarterback wants to spike the ball to kill the clock, there must be three seconds remaining in the quarter, half, or end of the game. If it’s under three seconds, the only thing the offense can do is run a play. When the clock is running, we need seven officials aware of the clock at the time of the snap.
A coach shared a video in which tackles were not breaking the plane of the snapper's waistline. If the tackles are not on the line, they can gain a tremendous advantage. Officials should work with the players and coaches to get the tackles up so their helmet breaks the waistline of the snapper. They should also give a warning to the coach before a penalty is called.
I recently noticed crews reviewing videos of the two teams they will officiate that week. Although preparation is good, consider the value of knowing all the stats of key players, the formations they will be running, etc. If you have that much time, it is better spent discussing catch/fumble plays, ball carrier down or fumble, types of defensive pass interference, correct penalty enforcement, and counting to twelve.
There is so much going on in the football game, that officials often see the second act missing what started the confrontation. We have seven officials on the field. Discuss this at your next pregame. Hopefully, we can penalize the instigator and the player who reacts. It’s hard to explain to a coach that we missed what started it and penalized the reaction.
In a game last week, one of our back judges probably set a record by throwing a flag 29 yards downfield. Over the years officials have put things in flags such as golf balls and washers so they can make these long throws. Not too long ago, an official had weighed his flag with fishing weights, and unfortunately, it went through the face mask of a player and caused permanent eye damage. Be careful about what you are putting in these flags. There isn’t a need for a 29 yard flag.
When you’re instructing the timers, the clock runs on field goal attempts until it hits something behind the goal line. If the field goal is attempted from 25 yards and beyond with five seconds to play in half or quarter, the game clock needs to go to 0. If under 25 yards with five seconds, we need to put one second back on the clock. Seven officials must have been clock awareness.
Referees have done a good job reporting scores after every game, but make sure you include any incident about which I might be contacted by a coach or AD. If you have an ejection, please call me with the information immediately.
We had a crew lose it down last weekend. Fortunately, the game was nearly over and no officials, coaches, or players picked it up. The game was on local TV, however, and the announcers had a field day on our error. The crew probably lost focus due to the score, and it was late. Although fortunate for us, the optics were bad. Please discuss this at your pregame so it won't happen again to any other crew.
If you think it was a foul, do not call it; you must know it was a foul.
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Friday, October 25 2024
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2024 WEEKLY BULLETIN #8A coach sent a video of a scrimmage kick in which the officials allowed the receiving team to play with 12 on the field. Our mechanics require that we have three officials counting the defense, so this should never have happened. There should have been three flags thrown. This is especially true on any scrimmage kick, where our antennas must go up, as units change in and out. Count players on EVERY play. On scrimmage kicks, any low block is a foul (Rule 9-1-6-c). As you are all aware, kick plays are where most of the big officiating issues occur.
When the 12th player is in the huddle, one player must leave immediately. If the huddle breaks with 12, the penalty is illegal substitution. We had an official tell a coach last week there can be 12 in the huddle a HS rule. We all need the developer cheat sheet when you’re working Friday night, high school rules, and Saturday night NCAA two rules. We lose all credibility when we miss quoted easy rules.
Most of the time, the referee does not need to ask a captain or a coach what they want on penalty enforcements because the situation is obvious. There were times when we would ask the captains. In today’s game, we go right to the head coach to explain options. It is the obligation of the head coach to make this decision. He should not get on the headset and talk to somebody in the press box. This takes too long. Coaches should make their decision quickly, as it is a bad look to spend time waiting on a decision.
If the quarterback wants to spike the ball to kill the clock, there must be three seconds remaining in the quarter, half, or end of the game. If it’s under three seconds, the only thing the offense can do is run a play. When the clock is running, we need seven officials aware of the clock at the time of the snap.
A coach shared a video in which tackles were not breaking the plane of the snapper's waistline. If the tackles are not on the line, they can gain a tremendous advantage. Officials should work with the players and coaches to get the tackles up so their helmet breaks the waistline of the snapper. They should also give a warning to the coach before a penalty is called.
I recently noticed crews reviewing videos of the two teams they will officiate that week. Although preparation is good, consider the value of knowing all the stats of key players, the formations they will be running, etc. If you have that much time, it is better spent discussing catch/fumble plays, ball carrier down or fumble, types of defensive pass interference, correct penalty enforcement, and counting to twelve.
There is so much going on in the football game, that officials often see the second act missing what started the confrontation. We have seven officials on the field. Discuss this at your next pregame. Hopefully, we can penalize the instigator and the player who reacts. It’s hard to explain to a coach that we missed what started it and penalized the reaction.
In a game last week, one of our back judges probably set a record by throwing a flag 29 yards downfield. Over the years officials have put things in flags such as golf balls and washers so they can make these long throws. Not too long ago, an official had weighed his flag with fishing weights, and unfortunately, it went through the face mask of a player and caused permanent eye damage. Be careful about what you are putting in these flags. There isn’t a need for a 29 yard flag.
When you’re instructing the timers, the clock runs on field goal attempts until it hits something behind the goal line. If the field goal is attempted from 25 yards and beyond with five seconds to play in half or quarter, the game clock needs to go to 0. If under 25 yards with five seconds, we need to put one second back on the clock. Seven officials must have been clock awareness.
Referees have done a good job reporting scores after every game, but make sure you include any incident about which I might be contacted by a coach or AD. If you have an ejection, please call me with the information immediately.
We had a crew lose it down last weekend. Fortunately, the game was nearly over and no officials, coaches, or players picked it up. The game was on local TV, however, and the announcers had a field day on our error. The crew probably lost focus due to the score, and it was late. Although fortunate for us, the optics were bad. Please discuss this at your pregame so it won't happen again to any other crew.
If you think it was a foul, do not call it; you must know it was a foul.
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations