NFHS 2020,21 POE's

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Maybe it's just my part of Rome, but Freddy and others that have observed camps & scrimmages I've attended have discouraged use of the bird dog because the use of a good preliminary signal at the spot of the foul ("White 5 with a push. Blue ball on the side.") tells those involved what they need to know. I can't help wondering what other areas have this philosophy despite the newest POE.

POEs never amount to much during the season, in my experience. States will have their own expectations and philosophies for rules and mechanics.

I don't give prelims except on block/charge plays. The NFHS really needs to get that requirement out of the manual because it's really stupid and hardly anyone does it. There is no need to give a prelim on non block/charge plays 95% (at least) of the time.

I will occasionally bird dog if I feel I need to clarify who the foul was on for the coaches, but my mechanic does not look like the chart. That mechanic probably needs to go away, too.

The NFHS mechanics manual has not kept up with the modern-day trends and philosophies in officiating and they refuse to update it, hence why using "approved mechanics" seems to be rammed down our throats every year. Heck even the most purist officials I know often are not giving prelims on every foul, which is one reason why I always chuckle whenever someone preaches at us about needing to do everything exactly the way the book states.

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by SC Official

POEs never amount to much during the season, in my experience. States will have their own expectations and philosophies for rules and mechanics.

I don't give prelims except on block/charge plays. The NFHS really needs to get that requirement out of the manual because it's really stupid and hardly anyone does it. There is no need to give a prelim on non block/charge plays 95% (at least) of the time.

I will occasionally bird dog if I feel I need to clarify who the foul was on for the coaches, but my mechanic does not look like the chart. That mechanic probably needs to go away, too.

The NFHS mechanics manual has not kept up with the modern-day trends and philosophies in officiating and they refuse to update it, hence why using "approved mechanics" seems to be rammed down our throats every year. Heck even the most purist officials I know often are not giving prelims on every foul, which is one reason why I always chuckle whenever someone preaches at us about needing to do everything exactly the way the book states.

We (Oregon) strongly teach new officials to do prelims on EVERYTHING. While we "require" it of everyone, we're less picky for the top end. Why? It gets new officials to slow down and get their call and the details of the call down before running to the table in a hurry only to be scrambling to figure out what to communicate. We don't however, teach the birddog unless there is a scrum and it helps separate the one person out from the mass.

[JRutledge]

Well we are asked in our state to give a prelim signal for all fouls. It was told to us to do that at the State Final Level the last few times I personally was there. And I can tell you that it was hard to do it on every foul. I know I did not give the signal on many fouls during the 2 games I worked in 2019. But it did not prevent me from working the title game or prevent me from really any opportunity. So it sounds like it is mostly lip-service and that they are looking at other things than your signally.

Also on the bird-dogging front. I still do it from time to time. But I only do it when there is a crowd or there is confusion. And it is still advocated at the NCAA level I work as well. Just had it discussed at an online camp I attended a couple of weeks ago and the speaker said that we should still use it and it is still in the book, which it is. I remember when it was required to do on all fouls and I know I did not do it all the time then. So there is that.

Peace