The indices for the NFHS rule and casebooks are not the greatest in the world (as I found out the hard way as I had to pull out the rule book during a game for the first time this past year). Does anyone know of an expanded index for either book?

Please tell me you didn't pull out your book during the game?

Please tell me you don't carry your rule book out to the field during a game?

Please let this be a joke.

Having the book ON you during a game is just big a no no. :(

In Ohio we are required to have the rule book on the field at every high school game. If the coach asks for a coach/referee conference about a rule interpretation and we can not produce a rule book and he complains to the state athletic association the officials are subject to a $100.00 fine. We normally have one of the chain crew hold the book during the game.

Dale

Maybe Ohio should trust their officials more than they do.

Wasn't Ohio the state that replayed a portion of a game this last season???

wow !!

Georgia I think.

Yep you are right it was Georgia, my applogies to all of the Buckeye state...

"Maybe Ohio should trust their officials more than they do."


It is not a matter of trust. It is a matter of getting it right. Several years ago in a state final game a referee enforced a penalty wrong. The coach asked for a conference to review the enforcement. To make a long story short the rule book was not consulted because none was available. The crew got it wrong. The penalized team lost the game. When the coach found out the he was correct, he complained to the OHSAA and blamed the lose on that wrong enforcement.
This was some thing that could have been prevented just by having the rule book available.
I have never had to refer to the book during a conference, but it is nice to know that we have it available just in case. After all it is our job to get things right.
Dale

I think if the coach wants to have a conference than he has to provide his own rulebook. That's how I would make it if I was the state rules interpreter or what ever their title is.

rulebooks on the field
 

In the California playoffs we were told to bring a rulebook on the field with us. Most of us laughed, but did as requested. I'd hate to bring the NCAA book out there with me.

So do you guys carry the casebook too? Also mechanics manual just incase you need to review mechanics during a TO? :D

Ay carumba, the R for a state title game didn't know an enforcement? Maybe, instead of carrying rule books around, they should get officials who study it before they get to the game.

Snake eyes is right, why stop there? You would then need a case book, and don't forget the comic book, that would be good illustrative purposes - maybe we could give that one to the public address announcer as well.

Wow. My post has taken on a life of its own!

Some Background.

Firstly, I do work in Ohio and until this moment I thought that everyone brought a rulebook to varsity games.

In eight years this was thefirst time that we ever had to pull it out.

The play in question was a scoring play in overtime that involved a backward pass to an ineligible player (by position and number). Coach for B calls a TO and requests a conference. Due to the uniqueness of the play and the magnatude of the play we decided to pull the book, verify our call (correct as it turned out) and satisfied the coach. With that in mind, a couple of thoughts.

1. I am stunned by the arrogance of the above posters. Not one of you knows the rules and their application without fail. If you claim to you are a liar.

2. Why not use every resource at our disposal? The game is not about us.

3. To those of you that think having the rulebook available is a bad idea, a question. Is it better to make a mistake in a critical situation that unfairly hurts a team than to lower yourself to look at the book.

4. As I said, this was the first time we ever had to pull it. I also would not pull it to satisfy a coach and prove my call. We had a question and we answered it.

5. We do carry a case book. Put them in a little Ziplock bag with the clip and hand it to the box man and hope we never have to use it. Kind of like a nuclear weapon.

6. Lastly, this dialogue is great between officials from different areas.

Feel free to attack me. I'm comfortable with my rule book orientation.