Best way to handle?
 

Crew debate on how to best (mechanically) to handle a situation...

L has the ball go out of bounds at the end line but either doesn't have a good look or the ball may have been touched bang - bang and L needs help. As L his whistle is blown and his hand goes up.

1) Hold hand up - look at T for help - wait for T to either give a direction or go to a alternate possession signal?

2) Hold hand up - look at T for help - come together to discuss and then give a directional signal?

3) Hold hand up - verbally ASK T for help. wait for T to either give a direction or go to a alternate possession signal.

Agree. I just make eye contact with raised eyebrows and say "HELP" out loud.

Help ...
 

That's exactly what I do, after sounding my whistle, and exactly what I discus with my partner in our pregame.

I will actually say, "Help Bobby?", in essence, giving the call to him.

Some guys don't like to verbalize, and would rather read body language, but I'm not shy about, literally, asking for help.

Either way is a lot better than what we used to do back in the olden days, waiting for the trail to slyly point a finger in the right direction.

This is how I do it too.

I was also taught that if you're the one being asked, come out strong and firm - like you saw it, have the call, and are confident. Don't want to be wishy-washy or seem indecisive.

Depends on my partner
 

I'f I'm with my regular partner, we have a system. Hold the hand up, eye contact means HELP. If he knows, he makes the call. If he doesn't, he shrugs and I make the AP call. Working with someone different, I verbalize a 'help' if I need to.

And if you don't have it, go right to C (or T, if C is the one being asked).

And, I agree that a "look" can be asking for help, as long as both individuals are aware of this.

Whistle plus 'stop clock' mechanic; loudly ask for "Help!" while looking directly at my partner; partner loudly verbalizes color and gives directional signal.

My partner did this from L at a camp...neither of us (I was C and it went out near the opposite corner) saw who touched it last. We went by the book and went to the arrow. During the video session with the evaluator afterwards we were told, in a rather matter of fact tone, that we should NEVER leave our partner hanging. "Give him the direction!" When we asked what we should do if we didn't know he just yelled "GIVE HIM THE DIRECTION!"

Okay...not sure I agree with this approach...but Okay.

For some reason, saying "Help" is frowned on around here. Instead, we stop clock and say "Partner". Not sure I see much difference, but oh well.

Haven't really heard that "Help" is frowned upon but I do say "Partner". I guess it may sound a little better...leaving less room for a coach to turn it against you.

That's pretty much what we have been told...Coach can't say something stupid like "Why do you need help?". But they really can say that...kind of 6 of one, half a dozen of another.

Old school
 

Have always got together, takes the guesswork out of it

How's that? If the calling official needs help, what is he contributing to the conversation?

I do not see why you need to "ask" for help loudly. If I am holding my hand up wiht no direction, my partners should know (or I would think they would know) I did not see the entire play. I guess that is regional, but often not needed around here. There are some that will say something, but looking at their partner does the trick.

Peace