Discussion at our last association meeting prompted me to post this question.
Our mechanics handbook makes statements such as:
- Never wait for another official to call a foul that you are sure should be called.
- Officials should call any foul that affects the game …
- ALL officials on the crew are jointly responsible for the enforcement of the rules and are equally responsible if the game is either poorly or well officiated. You must work closely in facilitating the orderly conduct of the game.
- Work as a team to cover another officials back = "CLEAN-UP".
- Our most important objective is to GET IT RIGHT. Do not be afraid to stick your neck out when the situation requires it.
High school five-man crew (but the general question could apply to any number of officials working any level). BJ's primary key is the TE. BJ sees TE false start (it was
clearly and unmistakably a false start, easily observable on film - please don't hijack this thread speculating about whether it was or was not a false start). BJ holds whistle waiting for the R, the U or the flank official on that side to call it but none of them do. BJ throws flag and blows his whistle. Flank later confesses he saw it also but froze and didn't throw his flag. Later, R reams BJ for making this call, insisting it is not his call even though the TE is his primary key and the TE admittedly did false start. Consensus amongst BJ's at the association meeting was that R is correct - pass on this even though it was a clear false start.
If you are observing this in person or on video, do you fault the flank official for missing this
and the BJ for calling it? Do you credit the BJ for "getting the call right," "cleaning up," and "saving" the crew?