[Mike Simonds]

Salutations gentlemen!

And good luck at your experience at the umpire position.

Sleeper, you bring-up such good points. I have my first game of the season this Saturday (Hawaii football League: adult semi-pro guys in their 20s and 30s) and I was just reviewing the same points you discuss.

In my mind, its good to keep it simple:

1. Talk it up with the players and them know you are strict yet fair and you are watching them as a fellow comrade guiding their passions towards the Light.

2. Get a good position and vary it slightly depending on the situation. For example, you need to be about 5 to 7 yards behind the line, in between and slightly behind the linebackers, able to clearly see the snap and the 5 interior offensive linemen.

3. Good dead-ball officiating. If its a dead-ball foul shut the play down immediately. Always be confident and consistent in this area. Let the players know you are there and that you care about them but like a good older brother or father you will also not tolerate any bad stuff (verbal and otherwise).

4. Sleeper your best observation is about holding. I think this is an area I really need to work on as well. We need to pick-up the point of attack and focus our energies at the little grabs and arms-outside-the frame stuff that can give the runner or passer a momentary advantage. Also, you bring-up such a good point about the philosophy of the defensive player's reaction to the initial grab, etc. So good. Also, we need to be aware of defensive fouls (some that I've seen are defensive linemen holding their opponent so the linebacker can block a kick or a defensive player slamming his closed fist or slapping his opponents helmet, etc.).

So the main thing is to get used to having a nice steady platform so you can scan your area and then focus on the action of the 2 to 4 players (offense and defense) at that point of attack that is critical to the play.

So good luck to you! They originally stuck me at umpire about 6 or 7 years ago and now 10 seasons into my career I don't want to work anywhere else (okay, I do envision myself as a fleet-footed and attractive back judge but hey umpires are allowed to dream aren't they?).

And yes, I believe Ernest Hemingway would have made a great umpire! Someday may all of us go to Pamplona, wear berets, drink wine and tell football stories someday.