Egregious mis-application of a rule

[dblref]

Originally Posted by KSRef07

I find it amazing a varsity level official did this. At the first timeout I would politely ask all three of them to come over and ASK them why it was called. Don't TELL them they were wrong. If he says, "He stepped outside the 3-foot area with both feet" then you have no issue, but you might want to remind them there is no traveling on an inbounds. If he says he moved backwards, then ask his partners if they agree. In the unlikely event they ALL think it's a violation, I would explain that it's not. Then thank them.

This might not be a varsity official. Since the OP is located in northern VA, this game would have to be either a rec league or possibly a scrimmage of some type, and the official(s) might be sub-varsity. Happens all the time during scrimmages. The scholastic season doesn't start here until late Nov (don't know the exact date).

[SMEngmann]

If I'm the coach, and it's a critical point in the game, I call timeout and ask the calling official what he called. Most likely, the calling official will quote the proper rule and the infraction simply wasn't seen by the coach. If the official doesn't know the rule, ask for a conference with his partner(s). If they determine that an error had been made, they MIGHT give you the ball back and if you're really lucky, they might not charge the timeout.

If this situation happened in my game, I would use my elastic power to overturn the call and give the team the ball back, and I would most likely ask the coach if he still wanted the TO. I would then bring the coaches together, explain the situation and resume play. In my opinion, we have an obligation to get plays right and be fair, it is a cop out when a situation is fixable to say, "Sorry coach, we screwed up, but we're going with it anyhow." Common sense is key here.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by SMEngmann

If this situation happened in my game, I would use my elastic power to overturn the call and give the team the ball back, and I would most likely ask the coach if he still wanted the TO.

What elastic power?

Have you got a rules citation that overrules the language of rule 2-6?

You can tell the calling official that he screwed up. You can ask him to change his call. If he doesn't want to change it though, no one has any elastic powers to make him do so, including the R.

I agree that you should try your best (away from everybody but the officials) to get your partner to change his (wrong) call, but if he doesn't want to, then we just suffer.

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by dblref

This might not be a varsity official. Since the OP is located in northern VA, this game would have to be either a rec league or possibly a scrimmage of some type, and the official(s) might be sub-varsity. Happens all the time during scrimmages. The scholastic season doesn't start here until late Nov (don't know the exact date).

Dblref:

Not trying to impugn any CBOA members, this is just a hypothetical to engender discussion.

Thx

[dblref]

Originally Posted by justacoach

Dblref:

Not trying to impugn any CBOA members, this is just a hypothetical to engender discussion.

Thx

No problem, I didn't take it that way. I only wanted to point out to KSRef that it might be a sub-varsity (gotta love that term) rather than a varsity official. I joined CBOA in 1994 (came over from Bull Run Officials Assn.) and I worked a few "varsity" level games before being selected for the varsity level.

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by dblref

No problem, I didn't take it that way. I only wanted to point out to KSRef that it might be a sub-varsity (gotta love that term) rather than a varsity official. I joined CBOA in 1994 (came over from Bull Run Officials Assn.) and I worked a few "varsity" level games before being selected for the varsity level.

Hey Dblref:

Can you PM me with contact phone for G. Chicko. Have a few ??s for him


Thanks