Catch Signal

[SoGARef]

I personally don't see a need to use the catch signal or the bobble signal. The communication is very simple and direct. If the pass is incomplete then you give the incomplete signal. If it is complete you mark the spot and indicate the down if it is short of a first down and if it is a first down then you wind the clock and then stop the clock and indicate a first down.

How dumb would this look? A pass is thrown into the endzone that is close to the sideline. The receiver goes up and catches the pass and comes down with one foot in. It's a touchdown. You signal that it was a catch by using the catch signal and then you throw up the touchdown signal. I don't think so.

[chiefgil]

Umpires are men of girth, and stamina. It ain't easy haulin' around this carcass chasing 17 year-old testerone charged young gentlemen for 2 1/2 hours.

That's why we ned Snickers, and Milky-Ways, and ...

[SJoldguy]

The catch signal can get you into trouble. If you use it on a low pass and the official on the other side saw the ball on the ground!

I did use the booble one time. Two good teams , close game in the 4th quarter, energy level of players coaches and fans very high, pass on my sideline, home receiver on home side, back to sideline, boobles pass, steps out then secures ball in his hands. I gave incomplete then stop the clock. I paused looked at the coach and gave mild booble signal, then incomlete pass again. It defussed everything including the fans. Some other officials saw the game on TV and asked me about it. They agreed that it was good in that situation due to the excitement/pressure. It was a single officials call, no chance that another official would be helping me by seeing something different.

[Snake~eyes]

I think the only time you can really use a catch signal is on the sideline, 4/5 man mechanics when you have all responsiblity for whether it is a catch or not. Using it in the middle is not safe because someoen coudl be waving it off.

[Rich]

Originally posted by SoGARef
I personally don't see a need to use the catch signal or the bobble signal. The communication is very simple and direct. If the pass is incomplete then you give the incomplete signal. If it is complete you mark the spot and indicate the down if it is short of a first down and if it is a first down then you wind the clock and then stop the clock and indicate a first down.

How dumb would this look? A pass is thrown into the endzone that is close to the sideline. The receiver goes up and catches the pass and comes down with one foot in. It's a touchdown. You signal that it was a catch by using the catch signal and then you throw up the touchdown signal. I don't think so.

No more stupid than the NFL officials that do just that. Or make the "force out" signal before signalling a TD.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser


No more stupid than the NFL officials that do just that. Or make the "force out" signal before signalling a TD.

Rich,

Those are their mechanics. They are supposed to use those mechanics. They also have 19 cameras watching many of their games as well. I do not think his comments are about what the NFL does, but what do the other levels do. You know as a basketball official that what is allowed at the NF level is not the same at the NCAA level. If the "catch" signal is allowed in your area there is nothing wrong with that. But you have to understand that it is not allowed in many other places. No different than where some people put their flag, not everyone agrees to what should or should not be allowed.

Peace