[JRutledge]

Originally posted by zebraman

I'd call it like the NFHS wanted. If I even had the slightest notion that the assignor (who thinks he is above the NFHS), was holding that against me, I'd inform the NFHS. No sweat.

Good for you. But I do not work for the NF. When I start working for the NF or anything I do with the NF directly, I will take that attitude. I pay dues to the IHSA, not the NF. And even the IHSA is trying to make sure that they separate themselves from the things we do directly as an official, because they want to uphold the Independent Contractor status. When the NF has a National Tournament that I can officiate, I will be stirctly concerned with everything the NF stands for. Until then, I and many official (especially when they admit it) are going to be much more concerned with the Official's Associations, fellow official think over what the NF puts on paper.

Originally posted by zebraman


I think you misinterpret things. I've heard refs say they'll only call 3 seconds as an advantage/disadvantage call. Adv/Dis is in the NFHS rule book so that's consistent.

Advantage/Disadvantage is in the rulebook based on contact, not violations. If I am wrong, show me the passage and I will concede that point all together. BTW, the term Advantage/Disadvantage is not even the terminology of the rulebook. It is implied by the Tower Principle and other rules people, but not at all the verbage of the rulebook.

Originally posted by zebraman

I've never heard a ref say that wouldn't call a travel in a varsity game. That's ridiculous. They wouldn't get any games around here if that was their attitude.

I agree it is ridiculous, but I have heard it. I did not say the level of the individuals that said it or the type of officials that made that comment, but we cannot just talk about officials that are just at the top and doing varsity games. I am sure they heard that from somewhere and maybe just repeated it.

Originally posted by zebraman

I will never call a scorebook administrative T before a game...but that's because I get to the table at 12:00 and have 2 minutes to fix any problems before the game starts. I think you're using selective hearing.

I am at the table before you are, so I really do not see the point that makes.

The point is here that you make these general statement, then you repeat them enough so that you believe them after awhile. Of course it is selective hearing on my part, it does not go along with your orginal statement. You cannot prove that there are not "regional" applications but saying that 99% of the NF are applied. I guess that was based on a scientific study you did across the country or within states to confirm that percentile?

Obviously there must be some regional factors or regional practices, because if that was not the case, why put traveling in the POEs if everyone across the country is applying the rule properly? All they did in the POE on traveling was take the language straight out the rulebook and put it in that section. It is a rule, why did they have to do that? Why change the "elbow" rule from a T to a violation? I will admit that I "ignored" the rule calling swinging elbows, mainly because I called it once and you would have thought my skin turned white after I did it. Then was told, "do not call that" after the game. And there are many rules or mechanics that the IHSA wanted us to enforce, but the officials that do not enforce them, still recieved playoff games and still advanced far in the playoffs. That is changing a bit, but do not tell me with a straight face that there are no "regional" factors, when I had to adjust when I moved within my own state from the Western part of Illinios, to a Western Suburb of Chicago. Or better yet, what about those officials that move from one state to another and find that what they did back home does not work here now?

Peace