The 3-person battle continues

[billyu2]

Originally Posted by Freddy

The dean of high school coaches in our area, who is also an AD as well as a state-tourney level football official himself, commented to me regarding 3-man recently:
"3-man is not going to go away."
I further probed for what seemed to be a negative opinion on 3-man vs. 2. What he didn't like about 3-man he summarized in two words: "More Whistles."
His point was not the occasional double whistle by good crews reacting to plays on the border of their PCA's, rather than he too often gets saddled with 3 guys who, as ballwatchers all, call violations and fouls at the same time. Triple whistles. That tells him that he, as an AD, was better off just having two ballwatchers cuz it's cheaper than having three.
Given the respected status of this veteran coach, I accepted this as somewhat a valid commentary on the state of 3-man officiating in our area and as an emphasis to continue in our scrimmages and rules meetings.
Some have simply gotta be doing a better job at PCA coverage.

I agree with JRut not putting too much stock in the coach's comment. Doesn't matter to me if he's the dean of coaches or is a state tournament football official. He might just be a guy who has an "attitude" about the 3-man system. On the other hand, if you, Freddy as an official, feel his comments have some validity and with the examples you cited to illustrate his point, then perhaps the problem might be a "half-fast" effort on the part of the state and local associations to implement, teach and improve the 3-man concept. And, if there are some "officials" who just don't get it or continue to be habitual ballwatchers...oh, well. When Ohio first adopted the system there was an official in our area who would insist during the pre-game-"We're not rotating tonight." Didn't get many games after that season.