"blarge call" high school

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

...
As a student of the rules of the game, it just makes my skin crawl, when I think of how the NFHS and the NCAA Men's committees want us to handle a "blarge". Their solution is not logical; it is not rational; nor can it be defended by rule. And everybody knows how I feel about interpretations that cannot be defended by rule, .

I have a story about a "blarge" that occurred in a boys' H.S. varsity game in Michigan about twenty years ago, but this post has gone on long enough.

MTD, Sr.

Then throw the NBA in there also, since their rules allow for blarges also.

To me, a blarge is nothing more than a double foul, except called by 2 different officials, rather than one. I've only been involved in the one blarge call, and it didn't involve a collision. Dual-coverage area between L & T, T (me) calls a PC for A1 extending arm and pushing off, L calls block for B1 contacting A1 with a knee outside of his normal stance.

[RulesGeek]

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

To me, a blarge is nothing more than a double foul, except called by 2 different officials, rather than one.

I'm new here and without nearly the experience of many of the posters, so take that into consideration, but I think MTD's point is that a blarge is NOT a double fou. A double foul is 2 players can simultaneously (or nearly so) making illegal contact to each other. A blarge, however, is a single contact RULED differently by 2 different officials. Either a block occurred; or a PC foul occurred. Not both. One needs to be called. Not both. If a blarge were a "double foul," it COULD be called by one official.

Originally Posted by BadNewsRef

I've only been involved in the one blarge call, and it didn't involve a collision. Dual-coverage area between L & T, T (me) calls a PC for A1 extending arm and pushing off, L calls block for B1 contacting A1 with a knee outside of his normal stance.

That IS a double foul. NOT a blarge. (I think)

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by RulesGeek

I'm new here and without nearly the experience of many of the posters, so take that into consideration, but I think MTD's point is that a blarge is NOT a double fou. A double foul is 2 players can simultaneously (or nearly so) making illegal contact to each other. A blarge, however, is a single contact RULED differently by 2 different officials. Either a block occurred; or a PC foul occurred. Not both. One needs to be called. Not both. If a blarge were a "double foul," it COULD be called by one official.





That IS a double foul. NOT a blarge. (I think)

A blarge is a double foul with one official calling a PC foul, and one calling a block. That's what happened on my play.

[deecee]

My personal feelings are that a BLARGE can not happen. The officials should get together and come to a conclusion on one or the other. Having a blarge IMO is the easy way out. But there is a very specific caseplay with instructions for what to do that must be followed. IMO they got it wrong and should look at the NCAA-W way of handling it.

You cannot have a BLOCK AND a CHARGE on the same play.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by deecee

My personal feelings are that a BLARGE can not happen. The officials should get together and come to a conclusion on one or the other. Having a blarge IMO is the easy way out. But there is a very specific caseplay with instructions for what to do that must be followed. IMO they got it wrong and should look at the NCAA-W way of handling it.

You cannot have a BLOCK AND a CHARGE on the same play.

We could have a philosophical discussion about Schrodinger's Cat and its application to this situation, but I agree with you -- in real time we need to decide who is more responsible and go with that. Till the NFHS changes things to match the NCAAW, we need to follow the case play.

(The one thing I always ask in this situation is this -- we always praise officials for holding their preliminary and making sure there's only one call on the play. But what if that call is absolutely horrible? Why is one 100% wrong call better than 2 different calls -- at least one of them, then, is right.)

The only good thing about the NFHS/NCAAM way of handling it is what happens in NCAAW if both officials are stubborn and insist they are right? Does the third official get to break the tie? Does the R on the game decide (and there's a 2/3 chance he's involved in the call)? Do they poll the coaches and/or fans?

[rockyroad]

Originally Posted by Rich

The only good thing about the NFHS/NCAAM way of handling it is what happens in NCAAW if both officials are stubborn and insist they are right? Does the third official get to break the tie? Does the R on the game decide (and there's a 2/3 chance he's involved in the call)? Do they poll the coaches and/or fans?

It has nothing to do with who is "right". It has everything to do with who's primary area the play is in...are there a few gray areas? Sure. But those conversations, in my experience, do not take very long.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rockyroad

It has nothing to do with who is "right". It has everything to do with who's primary area the play is in...are there a few gray areas? Sure. But those conversations, in my experience, do not take very long.

They don't at that level because the officials are experienced and know the repercussions of getting into a long, drawn out discussion over it. They know that settling it quickly (regardless of whether they come out with a block or a charge) is the right thing for the game and for their credibility. They're embarrassed enough at that point.

Now, let's consider how this could play out in a HS game with officials who would actually argue about the call or be obstinate and get into a long discussion about this. How would THEY resolve things? Flip a coin?

At higher levels and in my games (because I feel I'm adequately aware of perception and its importance) I'm certain we could handle this the NCAAW way. I'm not sure about the garden variety freshman/JV game, though.