[JRutledge]

Originally posted by Dommer1
Rut on "getting it right":

"I have heard this all the time. Where does it say that? Can you give me a mechanics book, a rulebook or any publication that the rules committee signs off on that agrees with that statement?"

Rut, could you please clarify this statement. Are you saying that getting it right is less important than appearing to be right? Or am I misinterpreting you?

I really do not understand what you are misinterpreting, because I do not believe in the blanket statement, "get it right." Are we out there to get it wrong? If I make a call do I think I got it wrong? Am I not using judgment to make a call?

I know I work out to stay in shape. I study a lot of the rulebook and the mechanics books. I attend association meetings. I attend clinics all in the effort of getting the calls that I have to make right. Does that mean I will get them all right? Of course not. When I make a judgment call, I do not want someone that had a different angle, might not have seen the same thing I did, telling me we need to discuss that call. If we do that once, when does it stop? I do not see them doing it in the NFL? I do not see basketball officials telling a calling official that foul they just called was not a foul? I do not see a baseball umpire in the field come in and tell they plate umpire that the pitch he called a ball was a strike.

Originally posted by Dommer1
In this situation I would meet up with the calling official by the R (as running towards him before he reports it telegraphs to everyone that you don't agree), and in a calm manner (with an absolute minimum of body language) say something like: "Jim, you sure he hit him in the back? From my angle, it looked like the initial contact was from the side". If Jim says, "no, I got a good look, that's a definite foul", then I'm done. If he feels unsure, and is "big" enough to admit that he might not have had the best look, he can indicate that, and we can arrive at a conclusion together.

This is not what he did. At least in his example, he goes to the Referee who does not see the play at all (at least from the story) and tries to appeal to him. It is too late at that point. He needs to convince the official that threw the flag, not the person reporting it.

Originally posted by Dommer1
An official who thinks all his calls are always correct, and does not accept input from someone else on the crew, is someone I don't want to work with.

I do not want to work with officials that cannot trust their partners. There are always situations and circumstances where help or discussion is necessary, but this is not one of them. We cannot change calls based on opinions. If that is the case we could discuss every call made. Sometimes we are just going to have to live with our partner's calls. If they are not doing the job, then have them replaced. But most of the time you are not going to know that on the field, you will figure it out when the tape comes back or the assignor or evaluator makes a determination. I cannot stand working with people that cannot follow proper procedure.

Peace