Block/Charge - Beating a Dead Horse

[Pantherdreams]

I would agree that officials tend to penalize the defense more/ give the offense the benefit of the doubt. Part of the issue is that defense so so much less dynamic in terms of movement, balance, etc. There is no manipulative on defense. That I think a lot of officials rightly or wrongly see these dynamic or agility movements the offense makes as finess moves and when contact intereferes they are more likely to call the foul because its obviously interfering with what the player is trying to do. The defense however is just in a balanced stance (in theory) competiting as hard as they can and unless they get knocked down really don't visiblly lose momentum balance they do not have have fine motor skills/footwork to be interuppted. PLay on!

[jeremy341a]

For me it is a charge until the defense makes it not a charge. If it is too close to call I go with the charge as I feel we shouldn't punish the defense for a possible tiny violation of the rules.

[just another ref]

Originally Posted by jeremy341a

For me it is a charge until the defense makes it not a charge. If it is too close to call I go with the charge as I feel we shouldn't punish the defense for a possible tiny violation of the rules.

I don't get this. It's okay to punish the offense for "a possible tiny violation of the rules"?

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by just another ref

I don't get this. It's okay to punish the offense for "a possible tiny violation of the rules"?

Like it or not there are plays that are too close to know exactally if the defender "got there" or not. Where they there or only 99.8% there? I feel the onus should be put on the offense as I feel they could have taken a better path to avoid the defense.

Does anyone else have a default call when it is "too close to call?"

[maven]

Originally Posted by jeremy341a

Like it or not there are plays that are too close to know exactally if the defender "got there" or not. Where they there or only 99.8% there? I feel the onus should be put on the offense as I feel they could have taken a better path to avoid the defense.

Does anyone else have a default call when it is "too close to call?"

No, and IMO having a default call is laziness — and I am not saying you're lazy, I have guys in my association in mind.

Know what LGP is and referee the defense. Then you'll know whether contact is a block, charge/PC, or neither.

I don't deny that some plays are close, but IMO there are far fewer of them than many officials seem to think. Usually what seems to them like a close play is one they picked up late and guessed. And even on nut-cutters I do not have a default call.

[VaTerp]

Originally Posted by maven

No, and IMO having a default call is laziness — and I am not saying you're lazy, I have guys in my association in mind.

Know what LGP is and referee the defense. Then you'll know whether contact is a block, charge/PC, or neither.

I don't deny that some plays are close, but IMO there are far fewer of them than many officials seem to think. Usually what seems to them like a close play is one they picked up late and guessed. And even on nut-cutters I do not have a default call.

+1

Having a default call or worrying about what percentages of plays you have as charges/blocks/no call is going down the wrong path that leads to essentially guessing at plays and undermines officiating IMO.

Agreed that some plays are close but overall, its really not that hard.

Know the rules and referee the defense!

[Adam]

Originally Posted by maven

No, and IMO having a default call is laziness — and I am not saying you're lazy, I have guys in my association in mind.

Know what LGP is and referee the defense. Then you'll know whether contact is a block, charge/PC, or neither.

I don't deny that some plays are close, but IMO there are far fewer of them than many officials seem to think. Usually what seems to them like a close play is one they picked up late and guessed. And even on nut-cutters I do not have a default call.

I have a default, but I find the "nut-cutters" occur less frequently the longer I ref.

[jeremy341a]

Originally Posted by maven

No, and IMO having a default call is laziness — and I am not saying you're lazy, I have guys in my association in mind.

Know what LGP is and referee the defense. Then you'll know whether contact is a block, charge/PC, or neither.

I don't deny that some plays are close, but IMO there are far fewer of them than many officials seem to think. Usually what seems to them like a close play is one they picked up late and guessed. And even on nut-cutters I do not have a default call.

How do you decide what to call on a nut-cutter?

I want to make myself clear I do not have a default call for all plays just the "nut-cutters" you describe.