[Bob M.]

REPLY: A lot also depends on what level of football and how many officials are being used. In youth football, four officials is the norm. In HS, generally five officials work. In the vast majority of college games and in all NFL games, there are seven officials. As a general rule, the fewer officials on the field the more 'compromises' they need to make in coverage. Also, you're likely to see flags coming from further distances where an official's primary area of coverage is vastly more extensive than in an NFL game where seven sets of eyes are dividing the field up into smaller chunks.

Also, in lower levels of football, your officials--just like the players--tend to be less experienced and just beginning to learn how to officiate. And for what it's worth, one of the most common officiating mistakes, especially for newer guys, is not seeing the whole play. That is a primary reason for mistakes of the kind you mention--block in the back vs. the side. Since we didn't see the play you cited, we certainly can't comment on that specific call.