Quote:
Originally Posted by AremRed
Someone please tell me this is a late April Fools joke. Hand behind the head is THE WEAKEST signal in all of sports.
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Wonder why the hand behind the head signal has been, and still is, around, unchanged, for forty years in high school games (NFHS and/or IAABO)?
Observers and evaluators in my little corner of Connecticut have always turned a blind eye to the use of any player control foul signal, which is probably why in a local board of 325 officials we have dozens of different player control foul signals.
The emphasis had always been on understanding the block/charge rule, anticipating the play, avoiding double whistles with preliminary signals, and making the correct call; not on the proper signal.
Of course the signal is the least important aspect of a black/charge play.
That leaves the player control foul signal up to each official's personal preference, often based on what young inexperienced officials observe veteran officials doing in varsity games (or in televised college games), liking it, and copying it.
I've had four different interpreters (training leaders) in forty years, all excellent, and not one has addressed player control foul signals.
I honestly think that they have purposely avoided the issue, afraid that veteran officials would revolt.
On my local board, player control foul signals rank right up there with equipment issues as the most inconsistent things that we do.
Want me to not enforce undershirt rules in a subvarsity game? Tell me, just tell me, and I'll do it.
Want me to use a team control foul punch for both player control and team control fouls? Tell me, just tell me, and I'll do it.
Don't have to standardize the entire world, I'll settle for just my little corner of Connecticut.
Why beat around the bush?
I usually do what I'm told to do by someone in authority.
