Use of hands while blocking

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by mikesears

I fully agree with common sense officiating and not flagging every holding we see. Point of attack, etc.

But this is where I disagree with the statement. I've called games where I didn't see a player holding all night long (literally not even a technical infraction). There are teams that DON'T teach holding and block very well. We all get those, "He's holding me!" complaints but in some of the games I've worked, nobody has approached me and I haven't seen it.

The phrase maybe common, but I assert it is incorrect. Too many officials rely upon that statement as a crutch to defuse an agry coach. Too many coaches rely upon this phrase as an excuse for teaching players to hold.

My two cents worth and I get two cents back

Mike,

It is a generalization that is all. Of course there are exceptions to that statement. I have had games where I had to seriously consider whether or not to throw a flag on every play. That does not mean every game is like that, it just to say that if a coach or officials looked hard enough, you could call holding all the time. It is a way at least from an officiating standpoint to not have a penalty on every play, unless we can see it on tape or it jumps out at you. That is all, that is it. It does not apply to every situation. No different if I was to say, “all women are crazy." Of course that is not true, but if I say that in a group of men, they might just agree with me.

Peace