[JRutledge]

I have to take issue with your point of view here. I agree that the NF is a major force for those states that are members, but to suggest that everything they say is accepted and practiced is ridiculous.

I work three sports and in all of them there are rulings that come out that are rejected by people in our state. I agree we cannot just pick and choose what rules we use, but there is a philosophy that is accepted from the powers that be. The NF does not hire officials for the playoffs in my state. All the NF is create the rulebook. We have clinics that are required for all to attend or they lose their license. And if they want to work playoffs, umpires/officials have to attend certain type of clinics in order to be considered. In each of these sports there is a rule or a mechanic in which the IHSA wants us to do. In football we were told to use sideline warnings for conduct purposes. In basketball we have changed the mechanics for 3 person to fit what he clinicians wanted. They even wanted us to do something that is not supported by the NF Mechanics books. In baseball there are PowerPoint Presentations that defines mechanics that the NF does not advocate. I am sure all states have things they wish their people to adhere to.

I am not saying that everything Windy is saying is correct on this issue. Actually I cannot remember any particular ruling that suggests what he is saying is true. Now that does not mean he is wrong, but I have never heard anyone suggest that you award two bases for this type of play. I just think to suggest that every time the NF says something there is 100% agreement by all its members is rather silly.

I remember that when PSK came out in football there were officials all over the country were trying to tell me how wrong I was on what the NF wanted us to do. The NF came out with much contradictory information on this new rule and the IHSA told us how to enforce the rule based on the information they distributed to the officials and coaches. The NF ended up siding with the IHSA and their point of view on the rule.

I had a discussion on this board and others about a rule of informing coaches or teams about timeouts in basketball. I not only cited the rules, I also talked to our clinicians and our Head Clinician as well. They philosophy that was relayed to me was clearly different than what many were doing across the country. It was clear they did not want officials going over and reporting timeout situations to coaches. It was even said that "officials have more important issues to worry about." But folks on this board did nothing but tell me I was wrong and I had no idea what the rule was.

I tell you these stories to illustrate that a state can do what they want to and tell their officials what they want to. The NF cannot tell states how to run their officials and what rules have to be emphasized. The IHSA is a member of the NF and we have members from our state that sit on the rules committees in multiple sports over the years. The editor in a couple of sports is a person that worked in the IHSA Office for some years (was in that position when I started officiating). Yes, any state can make a ruling or decide what is important and what rules or mechanics are to be used. It happens in every sport I know of and these situations are widely discussed. I know in baseball this year there were many mechanics that we used that were not ever in the NF books. Life will go on.

Peace