Umpire Calls PI when...

[Scuba_ref]

Question for umpires specifically and everyone else secondarily:

When would an Umpire ever call PI?

Our assignor worked a game where the U called this (as the R the assignor wasn't too keen on that) and so he wants to have a discussion about it at our meeting tonight. I thought I would see what you all had to say about it prior to that meeting?

[jTheUmp]

Never.

[Scuba_ref]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Never.

Thanks jTheUmp (which I assume means you are an Umpire)!

That was my response to the assignor when he asked me about it on the phone (full disclosure, I'm not and never will be an umpire).

I thought I would let the umpires speak to it here just in case they had a different opinion on it.

[jTheUmp]

If anyone wants me to elaborate, I have three big reasons why I'll never call pass interference from the umpire spot:

1) Since I'm in the middle of the field, and I turn when the pass is thrown... this means that if it's a short pass, I won't be turned in time to see the whole play. If it's a long pass, it'll be far enough away from me that the H, L or B will have a better look than I will anyway.

2) On a seven-person crew, you've got 3 officials (F, S, B) whose ONLY JOB is to watch action on eligible receivers, and 2 others (H and L) who share that responsibility for at least part of the time. On a 5-person crew, you still have 3 officials working that beat.

3) The first big-time NCAA clinic I went to, in the umpire breakout someone (not me) asked if there was ever a time that the U would throw a pass interference flag. The response from the Big 10 (now NFL) umpire leading the discussion: "No. Never. Not even if I'm 1000% sure and nobody else has a flag out. I'll never get a downgrade for not throwing on a pass-interference foul, but I probably will get downgraded if I do throw one, even if I turn out to be right"

[scrounge]

I think this is old-school and outdated thinking. While the U won't ever be the *primary* person, if he sees it and is sure...someone needs to step up and save the crew. Be sure, and then be double sure. But to say 100% never? No, that's ridiculously simplistic IMO.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by scrounge

I think this is old-school and outdated thinking. While the U won't ever be the *primary* person, if he sees it and is sure...someone needs to step up and save the crew. Be sure, and then be double sure. But to say 100% never? No, that's ridiculously simplistic IMO.

Think about it...what are the odds that U is sure and correct at the same time where at least three others are incorrect?

[ajmc]

3) The first big-time NCAA clinic I went to, in the umpire breakout someone (not me) asked if there was ever a time that the U would throw a pass interference flag. The response from the Big 10 (now NFL) umpire leading the discussion: "No. Never. Not even if I'm 1000% sure and nobody else has a flag out. I'll never get a downgrade for not throwing on a pass-interference foul, but I probably will get downgraded if I do throw one, even if I turn out to be right"[/QUOTE]

I'm dealing with 4 and 5 man mechanics, and although an Umpire calling a PI foul should be exceedingly rare, being 1000% sure about ANYTHING is going to get a flag.

Although it depends on where and what level you're working at, those of us who allow themselves to get excessively concerned about "downgrades", or hesitate because you're worried about how you might look on film, perhaps Interscholastic officiating is not the right spot.

[Welpe]

Even in four or five man mechanics there is not a conceivable time when I would throw on a PI. I had a play earlier this year when as U I turned on a short pass, saw what I thought was pretty clear OPI and reached for my flag. I then said to myself "WTF are you doing?" and stopped.

The reasoning given at the clinic is spot on. We get in much more trouble for what we throw than what we don't. Like it or not, film is used here and it matters. I'd rather keep my boss happy and work a full schedule of games that don't involve me traveling to BFE every week.