Quote:
Originally Posted by SC Official
POEs never amount to much during the season, in my experience. States will have their own expectations and philosophies for rules and mechanics.
I don't give prelims except on block/charge plays. The NFHS really needs to get that requirement out of the manual because it's really stupid and hardly anyone does it. There is no need to give a prelim on non block/charge plays 95% (at least) of the time.
I will occasionally bird dog if I feel I need to clarify who the foul was on for the coaches, but my mechanic does not look like the chart. That mechanic probably needs to go away, too.
The NFHS mechanics manual has not kept up with the modern-day trends and philosophies in officiating and they refuse to update it, hence why using "approved mechanics" seems to be rammed down our throats every year. Heck even the most purist officials I know often are not giving prelims on every foul, which is one reason why I always chuckle whenever someone preaches at us about needing to do everything exactly the way the book states.
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We (Oregon) strongly teach new officials to do prelims on EVERYTHING. While we "require" it of everyone, we're less picky for the top end. Why? It gets new officials to slow down and get their call and the details of the call down before running to the table in a hurry only to be scrambling to figure out what to communicate. We don't however, teach the birddog unless there is a scrum and it helps separate the one person out from the mass.