I will be starting out doing football for the first time
this season,after several years of doing strictly baseball.
It will be several days before I can get my hands on a
rule book,and in the meantime I'd like to get started
studying the rules.Is there anywhere online that anyone
would recommend?
Also,any tips for a first year football official
would be appreciated.

Email me and I'll send you a bunch of stuff I have that you can look at. [email protected]

Mechanics
 

Know the rules. But, if you're not in position to make the call...

get hooked up with a crew and follow them around on Friday nights and watch them work. Ask questions. After a couple weeks go with another crew even. Don't hook up with a crew doing small school stuff. Go with one doing the biggest schools in your area. They are usually the better crews.

I agree very much with cowbyfan1. Don't only attend those games but try to make the pre-game as well. If your organization looks for chain crews sign up early and often for those assignments. You get a front-row seat of the action and a ground-level view of what the officials see and how they call the game. As a rook I stood behind one of our organizations best Linesman. I didn't even work the chains. The referee asked me if I was a cadet and said work the clip if I wanted to. More than likely you'll be brought in as a wing any way and there's no other way to get acclimated (other than actually working) than being right there on top of the action.

I agree with chiefgil.. know the rules and learn your mechanics.

Probably the most imortant thing I have learned from this forum in my short career, is to learn rule #2 inside and out. This one section of the rule book is the foundation of most all others. In MHO its almost like the "ten commandments" of the rule book.

REPLY: umpduck...What state are you working in? If it's Massachussetts or Texas, you'll be learning NCAA rules; otherwise, you'll be learning Federation rules.

Alabama!
 

Alabama, hence the Bear Bryant quote.

Hey Bob, do you know where I can look at the rosters for Thurday's game?

Walt

Study the definitions. Just like baseball, they are the key to understanding the rules

Re: Alabama!
 

REPLY: Don't know Walt. I know they have a pretty elaborate program at the game with pictures of all the players, etc., but I don't know where we can find out who's playing prior to that. I'm ready...I've been hydrating myself all week to fend off heat cramps...and brushing up on my seven-man mechanics!