Get Ready for Fall 2024
From: "Rich Kollen" - dayofgame@me.com
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019
This week, hundreds of football student-athletes who participated in the 2019 SCFA season will be playing their last game of community college football. Football has a bigger percentage of two-year players moving into four-year programs than other sports. I'm sure that the student-athletes would like to thank the California community college system for providing them with excellent opportunities, support, and coaches who have helped them for the last two years to become a better person through this great game.
Between funding from the officials' associations, SCCFOA and SCFA, we've had evaluators at over 45 games. They are there to evaluate everything from game management and lights out on the scoreboard to the officiating. Evaluation of officials is very subjective. I've always cautioned officials not to be a "yeah, but" person when an observer points out something. The correct answer is to simply nod your head, or a simple "yes sir" will suffice. This program is designed to make our officials better. They are not there to make you feel bad or try to criticize you. I would like to commend all of our observers who worked diligently this year, covering our games for very little compensation. Steve Coover coordinated the program, and all the evaluations have been made available to commissioner Sartoris and me. They are very helpful, and I hope each of you that have been evaluated have gotten some good insight from our observers.
I would like to congratulate the 36 new officials who joined SCCFOA this year. Some of you were assigned games, many helped with timing opportunities, and others will need to wait until next season. I encourage each of you to take advantage of the excellent online training and the officiating camps and clinics available to each of you. The experience and knowledge of veteran officials is always helpful. Continue to stay in shape, watch video, and improve your game. Playoff and bowl game assignments will be released by Tuesday night, November 19. Those selections are an imperfect science. This year a committee will assist me in the assignment process. There will be five bowl games and three playoff games. The state championship game will be in Bakersfield in December. The championship assignment rotates, so this year the North CA Officials Association will officiate the game.
We had a very unfortunate incident last Saturday at one of our colleges. Someone broke into the locker room, stole seven cell phones, a Rolex watch, the cooler that they brought for drinks at halftime, and also broke into the athletic director‘s office. I'm know that no one likes to be without their cell phone, but try to keep all your valuables locked in your car. It is impossible to fully secure all of our belongings, but your car is probably a better solution. Another suggestion that I have gotten is to bring only your car key. It is easy for someone to walk through the parking lot with a key fob and try to find your car. Much harder to use a key to try car doors.
A few final thoughts for the last week, bowl games, and playoffs: If the kickoff is caught in the end zone, but never brought out of the end zone by the receiver, the game clock does not start. (Rule 3-3-2-a) Clock errors, especially those at critical times at the end of a half or game, should be corrected by officials.
We discussed players using hoodies under their uniforms. Fortunately, we've had very few reported. The PAC 12 Conference was out in front and ruled against it immediately. Please continue to report it if we begin seeing players wearing them.
More schools are providing a microphone for referees. When you talk, there can sometimes be a 2-3 second delay. I know this is distracting and hard to get used to, but this happens at all levels, and it's something you just need to practice. Tips: Do not say, "We have" a foul, rather just report the foul, i.e. "holding, #64, offense." I also hear defense "offsides." There is only one side for each team. So, the defense is "offside." The offense cannot be offside. The offense has "encroached."
This year, we had a situation where an official confronted a student-athlete to help him understand his actions. In this case, he did it very closely to the athlete, who pushed the official back. Be very careful when addressing an emotional student-athlete. Stay at a safe distance so he does not feel threatened by you.
Post-scrimmage kick penalty enforcement is simple, but not always understood. (Rule 10-2-3) This is my attempt to keep it easy for coaches, fans, and officials. This occurs ONLY on fouls by Team B, on punts and missed field goals that cross the line of scrimmage. The foul occurs before the end of the kick, and Team B will next be putting the ball in play. The purpose of the rule is not to give the offense a "cheap" first down by a foul after they have decided to kick the ball. The foul must occur after the ball is kicked. That said, use common sense and do everything you can to make it a post-scrimmage kick enforcement. When in doubt, the ball was already kicked.
Referees: on kickoffs in which the receiver has taken a knee in the end zone, move to a position in front of the receiver to prevent any possible problems. The same mechanic should be used with quarterbacks who have been sacked while attempting to pass.
Officials: when giving a spot, be sure to hustle down the line and come in at a 90° angle. It looks bad on video when the official giving the spot "bananas" into it. It looks like you're guessing where the ball should be spotted.
When a team is celebrating after a play, do not run into the celebration. Stand back and observe the action. It is dangerous to try to intervene. Consider having ball personnel get you another ball after the touchdown for the try. It doesn't look good for us to be chasing after the ball.
There's been some confusion when a player's helmet comes off and he continues to play. This is a personal foul, not unsportsmanlike conduct.
Referees: remember that your microphone may be on at any time. Be very careful what you say after any announcement. The mic could still be hot. Very little makes you blush more than when you throw out an expletive that is heard by the whole crowd.
If anyone on the crew gets the feeling that something isn't right, make sure to step up and potentially save the crew. It does no good after the next play or in the locker room to say, "I think we may have messed up that enforcement."
This Saturday, El Camino College will name their new stadium field after legendary coach, John Featherstone. John coached at El Camino College for over 31 years, compiling a 214-119-2 ties record. John was one of the great community college coaches in Southern California, and he will be there during the naming ceremony.
"I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet tall, so I couldn't play basketball. I'm only 190 pounds, so I couldn't play football, and I have 20/20 vision, so I couldn't be a referee." – Jay Leno
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations
Subject: SCCFOA
Date: Thursday, November 14, 2019
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
2019 WEEKLY BULLETIN #10This week, hundreds of football student-athletes who participated in the 2019 SCFA season will be playing their last game of community college football. Football has a bigger percentage of two-year players moving into four-year programs than other sports. I'm sure that the student-athletes would like to thank the California community college system for providing them with excellent opportunities, support, and coaches who have helped them for the last two years to become a better person through this great game.
Between funding from the officials' associations, SCCFOA and SCFA, we've had evaluators at over 45 games. They are there to evaluate everything from game management and lights out on the scoreboard to the officiating. Evaluation of officials is very subjective. I've always cautioned officials not to be a "yeah, but" person when an observer points out something. The correct answer is to simply nod your head, or a simple "yes sir" will suffice. This program is designed to make our officials better. They are not there to make you feel bad or try to criticize you. I would like to commend all of our observers who worked diligently this year, covering our games for very little compensation. Steve Coover coordinated the program, and all the evaluations have been made available to commissioner Sartoris and me. They are very helpful, and I hope each of you that have been evaluated have gotten some good insight from our observers.
I would like to congratulate the 36 new officials who joined SCCFOA this year. Some of you were assigned games, many helped with timing opportunities, and others will need to wait until next season. I encourage each of you to take advantage of the excellent online training and the officiating camps and clinics available to each of you. The experience and knowledge of veteran officials is always helpful. Continue to stay in shape, watch video, and improve your game. Playoff and bowl game assignments will be released by Tuesday night, November 19. Those selections are an imperfect science. This year a committee will assist me in the assignment process. There will be five bowl games and three playoff games. The state championship game will be in Bakersfield in December. The championship assignment rotates, so this year the North CA Officials Association will officiate the game.
We had a very unfortunate incident last Saturday at one of our colleges. Someone broke into the locker room, stole seven cell phones, a Rolex watch, the cooler that they brought for drinks at halftime, and also broke into the athletic director‘s office. I'm know that no one likes to be without their cell phone, but try to keep all your valuables locked in your car. It is impossible to fully secure all of our belongings, but your car is probably a better solution. Another suggestion that I have gotten is to bring only your car key. It is easy for someone to walk through the parking lot with a key fob and try to find your car. Much harder to use a key to try car doors.
A few final thoughts for the last week, bowl games, and playoffs: If the kickoff is caught in the end zone, but never brought out of the end zone by the receiver, the game clock does not start. (Rule 3-3-2-a) Clock errors, especially those at critical times at the end of a half or game, should be corrected by officials.
We discussed players using hoodies under their uniforms. Fortunately, we've had very few reported. The PAC 12 Conference was out in front and ruled against it immediately. Please continue to report it if we begin seeing players wearing them.
More schools are providing a microphone for referees. When you talk, there can sometimes be a 2-3 second delay. I know this is distracting and hard to get used to, but this happens at all levels, and it's something you just need to practice. Tips: Do not say, "We have" a foul, rather just report the foul, i.e. "holding, #64, offense." I also hear defense "offsides." There is only one side for each team. So, the defense is "offside." The offense cannot be offside. The offense has "encroached."
This year, we had a situation where an official confronted a student-athlete to help him understand his actions. In this case, he did it very closely to the athlete, who pushed the official back. Be very careful when addressing an emotional student-athlete. Stay at a safe distance so he does not feel threatened by you.
Post-scrimmage kick penalty enforcement is simple, but not always understood. (Rule 10-2-3) This is my attempt to keep it easy for coaches, fans, and officials. This occurs ONLY on fouls by Team B, on punts and missed field goals that cross the line of scrimmage. The foul occurs before the end of the kick, and Team B will next be putting the ball in play. The purpose of the rule is not to give the offense a "cheap" first down by a foul after they have decided to kick the ball. The foul must occur after the ball is kicked. That said, use common sense and do everything you can to make it a post-scrimmage kick enforcement. When in doubt, the ball was already kicked.
Referees: on kickoffs in which the receiver has taken a knee in the end zone, move to a position in front of the receiver to prevent any possible problems. The same mechanic should be used with quarterbacks who have been sacked while attempting to pass.
Officials: when giving a spot, be sure to hustle down the line and come in at a 90° angle. It looks bad on video when the official giving the spot "bananas" into it. It looks like you're guessing where the ball should be spotted.
When a team is celebrating after a play, do not run into the celebration. Stand back and observe the action. It is dangerous to try to intervene. Consider having ball personnel get you another ball after the touchdown for the try. It doesn't look good for us to be chasing after the ball.
There's been some confusion when a player's helmet comes off and he continues to play. This is a personal foul, not unsportsmanlike conduct.
Referees: remember that your microphone may be on at any time. Be very careful what you say after any announcement. The mic could still be hot. Very little makes you blush more than when you throw out an expletive that is heard by the whole crowd.
If anyone on the crew gets the feeling that something isn't right, make sure to step up and potentially save the crew. It does no good after the next play or in the locker room to say, "I think we may have messed up that enforcement."
This Saturday, El Camino College will name their new stadium field after legendary coach, John Featherstone. John coached at El Camino College for over 31 years, compiling a 214-119-2 ties record. John was one of the great community college coaches in Southern California, and he will be there during the naming ceremony.
"I wanted to have a career in sports when I was young, but I had to give up the idea. I'm only six feet tall, so I couldn't play basketball. I'm only 190 pounds, so I couldn't play football, and I have 20/20 vision, so I couldn't be a referee." – Jay Leno
Rich Kollen
Director of Football Operations