Good replies gentlemen. Yes, I agree it's a lot to do, and frankly, it may look a little weird. And yes, Mark I see your point as well. In my original reply I mentioned these mechanics came as recommendations from our mechanics committee. Over the years (before I was an official) they tried various things and found what did and didn't work. They landed on a set of mechanics that I was trained on. To Marks question (which is valid) it's not difficult at all to find out which way an official is rolling because we give and look for signals from each other and talk about in pre-game even though we work every week together.

Some veteran officials don't like this at all. I recall a NCAA linesman saying "WHAAAAT?" in one of the meetings. Any way, my linesman and me came up together as cadets and were asked by the same Referee to be on a crew together. So we were taught to use these when we were originally trained and have been using them ever since. Again, I'm sure it definitely looks and sounds weird but for us it works. The point is we're always in active communication on every play so we're actively looking for signals from the other guy. I'm not trying to "sell" the concept per-se just sharing what happens to work for us.

Great (valid) questions.

Re: Re: simplify
 

Theisey & others:
Thanks for your warm welcome ;)
It took some hard work to figure out that I'm "new", to be sure. Consider the fact that I told everyone in my post that I started 3 years ago and that this was my first post here (although I've posted on other sites). :rolleyes:
I'm surprised at Theisey's hasty response because I read this & other forums, and can tell anyone that cares how he is one of the "top guys". No hard feelings, eh? :)

Here's what I'm looking at and don't mean to quote anyone out of context here, but this is a snapshot of this thread:
does anyone have a link to signals...
the NF handbook has a list...
In our state, they give us a list of...signals...
...why do we need them in high school games
...you don't need most of them at all...
...would involve those that live to change mechanics...

I realize that the forum is open to all levels, but this thread, like many others in the forum, insinuates Federation rules & mechanics. If we speak in generalities, you'll have even the best senior officsils scratching their heads because someone in a thread talked about how the defense scored 2 points on a try last Friday night, etc.

Furthermore, my post quoted from the Fed. manual--so my statement and examples stand pat about using signals for something that they weren't prescribed for.

James brings up another very good point here--the one I was trying to make. Using the same signals for different things, especially in the same geographical area, make for confusion and a breeding ground for crew error. Take it from a "newbie"--the simpler the better. Eye contact needs stressed more--we pay so much attention to what signs we're being given that we forget to actually LOOK at each other.

Hope that made sense. :cool:

J Ransom