"Letter..." or "Spirit..." -- Can the Second Exist Without the First First

[Camron Rust]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Why do you or anyone care that everyone does something the same? If you are doing something right in the eyes of your assignors, association or fellow officials, why does anyone care if there are some people that do not do things the way they are told?

Peace

Do all teams you see always play in games with officials assigned by that same assignor? Of course not. If two assignors (or people in other authoritative capacities in your state) differ on their direction, who do you follow? If you go by the philosophy of doing things the way your specific assignor wants it for one game, that seems fine. But, why should teams have different rules depending on who assigned the game? Also, why should officials have to remember the nuances of each assignor if they work for several? Seems like a recipe for a mess and more distrust of officials.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Camron Rust

Do all teams you see always play in games with officials assigned by that same assignor? Of course not. If two assignors (or people in other authoritative capacities in your state) differ on their direction, who do you follow? If you go by the philosophy of doing things the way your specific assignor wants it for one game, that seems fine. But, why should teams have different rules depending on who assigned the game? Also, why should officials have to remember the nuances of each assignor if they work for several? Seems like a recipe for a mess and more distrust of officials.

It is a little overstated in my situation to suggest assignors really say that much to the officials they assign for games, honesty that is really not the case in many situations that I experience. There is only one association I belong to where the assignor really bloviates about what they do not want or what they do want in their conference. Pretty much everyone else you find out through some experience of others or your own experiences that you did not handle a situation correctly in their eyes. This usually does not involve one rule. For example I have never had anyone tell me to not call a certain violation or to not call that foul (other than Multiple Fouls, but that is another story all together. ) Overall here were are more dictated to by the state as they control playoff assignments which is the carrot that most follow or risk opportunities. Of course you have guys that feel like, "I do not want to do that" but it only hurts them in the long run. Assignors in my experience usually want as many top guys in their conferences and that means people that do what the state wants.

I have learned more about the spirit of rules when a new rule comes out and the NF/NCAA comes up with some interpretation. Or when they make a POE out of a rule, or when you read something in the casebook. Most rules have some level of comment on them and if they don’t then it is clear they do not feel there needs to be one. Just like you do not hear POEs wanting Multiple Fouls to be called more, but you see Intentional Fouls and Traveling are often being suggested to be addressed.

Peace