What should I expect from my first JC game?

[bjudge]

I was just assigned my first junior college game for this fall. I am just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on making the jump from high school to JC. What should I expect and look out for?

[gscsj]

If your assignor thinks you are good enough to move to the next level, keep doing what you were doing. You should expect to pick up quite a few tips from the older guys you will be working with. Do a lot of listening and very little talking unless it's asking questions. With it being your first game, just take it all in and learn from every play.

If your first game is like my first college game, be prepared because it will be difficult to wipe the smile off your face until the opening kickoff...then it's just another game and you will feel right at home.

Good luck!

[bjudge]

Thanks. I am a little nervous because I normally work as a BJ in high school, but I am scheduled as a HL for the JC game. I guess I will be studying mechanics until game time.

[Snake~eyes]

Originally posted by bjudge
Thanks. I am a little nervous because I normally work as a BJ in high school, but I am scheduled as a HL for the JC game. I guess I will be studying mechanics until game time.

That sucks and doesn't make much sense, I'm sure you work HL at FR/JV or lower levels but if you don't just study the mechanics manual. Unless you live in TX or MASS then realize that a player offsides can get back onsides.

[bjudge]

Originally posted by Snake~eyes

That sucks and doesn't make much sense, I'm sure you work HL at FR/JV or lower levels but if you don't just study the mechanics manual. Unless you live in TX or MASS then realize that a player offsides can get back onsides.

Yeah I worked 2 games last year as a HL in Varsity and then of course plenty of games on the JV/Soph level. So when I was asked which positions I would like to work, I listed HL second on my list. At the time, I figured that HL was least popular and I was willing to work any position as long as I could work JC. He told me that I wasnt assigned a BJ position because he said a BJ position in college is much different than in HS, so he wanted me to work a few games in JC before being assigned a BJ position. Now I wish I said LJ instead of HL.

I have worked adult leagues during the spring and we use college rules. So I have dealt with defense getting back onsides. The rule that drives me nuts in college is blocking below the waist. Making sure who is allowed to block towards the original position of the ball drives me nuts.

[Edited by bjudge on Jul 13th, 2005 at 06:46 AM]

[Bob M.]

REPLY: If blocks below the waist drive you nuts, the chop block rule must make you positively insane! You need a PhD to understand and remember it.

[James Neil]

Originally posted by Bob M.
REPLY: If blocks below the waist drive you nuts, the chop block rule must make you positively insane! You need a PhD to understand and remember it.

You got that right Bob. The Community College Football Officials Association I belong to sent me this as a Point Of Emphasis guildeline for chop blocks. Hope it helps.

"The following section has been developed to improve the understanding and awareness by all officials of the chop block, including the situations where the block may occur. The following is based on a presentation developed in 2005 by Kevin Matthews, used with permission."

A. The basic definition of a chop block include the following key points:
An obviously delayed(**) block,
At the thigh or below,
Against an opponent who is in contact with a teammate of the blocker,
Against an opponent in the act of disengaging from the first blocker,
or has just disengaged from the blocker but is still confronting him.
(**) Note there are certain restrictions where a delay is not necessary to make the chop block illegal.

1. Some key situations to consider:
If there is a combination block with a delay, and the second block is at the thigh or below it is illegal (and a foul) regardless of where it occurs on the field.
A chop block beyond the neutral zone is illegal in all situations, regardless of whether there is a delay, if all involved players are beyond the neutral zone.

2. Situations when a chop block is legal:
Two adjacent lineman can legally use a chop block IF;
the block occurs in the neutral zone, and if there is no delay between the first and second block, regardless of the order or combination of the contact.

In the Team A backfield IF a chop block is legal IF:
there is no delay between the first and second block, regardless of the order or combination of the contact.

B. Areas To Be Aware Of Where Chop Block Normally Occurs

1. Chop Blocks Occurring In The Neutral Zone – Adjacent Lineman

If there is NO delay between the two blocks, 2nd block can be either high or low, regardless of where the first block occurred on the opponent’s body. (The key is the blocks are simultaneous without delay).

If there is a delay between the two blocks, 2nd block MUST be high regardless of where the first block occurred on the opponent’s body.

2. Chop Blocks Occurring In The Neutral Zone – Non Adjacent Lineman

If there is NO DELAY between the blocks, the 2nd block MUST be high regardless of where the first block occurred on the opponent’s body.

If there is a delay between the two blocks and the first block is low, the subsequent block will be a foul regardless of where the 2nd contact occurs. If there is a delay between the two blocks, and the first block is high, the 2nd block must be high.

This is normally going to be responsibility of the umpire and possibly the referee as the action generally occurs between the interior lineman.

3. Chop Blocks Occurring In Team A’s Backfield (Behind The Neutral Zone).

There are no restrictions in this situation regarding a chop block by any two Team A players, IF the blocks are simultaneous.

If there is a delay between the blocks, any combination of a high-low block is illegal.

This call will normally be the referee, generally occurring during pass plays where Team B player is in contact with Team A trying to get to the quarterback and a Team A lineman or back then step in and throw a second block against the Team B player. The situation can also become a flank officials call on sweeps or off tackle plays.

4. Chop Blocks Occurring Beyond The Neutral Zone – Team B’s Secondary

Contact occurs when all players involved are beyond the neutral zone.

Any combination high-low block is illegal.

This play can occur in the secondary against the linebacker or safety on sweeps. Flank officials should be aware of this situation as a wide out or tight end are often involved in the blocking scheme.

On any kick play (scrimmage or free), a chop block would be illegal as there is no blocking below the waist in these situations. The exception would be a scrimmage kick by Team A from a non-scrimmage kick formation (“quick kick”). In this play situation, chop block situations outlined above would be applied.

C. Play Examples.

1. In The Neutral Zone

Adjacent linemen A65 and A66, at the snap simultaneously (without delay) block an opponent in the neutral zone:
-first block is low, second block is low.
-first block is low, second block is high.
-first block is high, second block is low.

While lineman A65 is blocking an opponent in the neutral zone, adjacent lineman A66 delays one second and then blocks the opponent while A65 is still blocking that opponent:
-first block is low, second block is low.
-first block is high, second block is low.

Center A55 and right tackle A74 (nonadjacent linemen) both block an opponent simultaneously (without delay) in the neutral zone:
-first block is low, second block is low.
-first block is low, second block is high.
-first block is high, second block is low.

While center A55 is in contact with an opponent in the neutral zone, nonadjacent lineman right tackle A74 blocks the same opponent one second after the initial contact of A55:
-first block is low, second block is low.
-first block is high, second block is low.

2. In Team A’s Backfield (Behind The Neutral Zone)

Tackle A74 and back A20 contact B77 simultaneously (without delay):
-first block is high, second block is low.
-first block is high, second block is low.

Tackle A74 is in contact with B77, when A65 subsequently contacts (with delay) B77:
-first block is high, second block is low.
-first block is low, second block is low.

Refer to the rule book, page FR-41 Chop Block section.

The key points to emphasize:

Call is not just an umpire’s call occurring only in the interior line. There are areas that all officials must be aware of the type of situations that the play occurs in.

Any place on the field, if there is a delay between the first and second block, and combination will be a foul unless both blocks are high.

[JDLJ]

The biggest difference is the speed of the players. Even though there doesn't seem like there should be that much difference between high school seniors and jr. college players, you will definitly notice a difference. The players are quicker and the plays develop faster.

Good Luck!

[bjudge]

Yeah Chop blocks are a pain too.....

I keep hearing that the players are much faster. I am sure it wont help that my first JC is on field turf. High School games are already faster on field turf as it is.

[ABoselli]

I've found that many JC players are better players than their D3 counterparts but are there due to grades and such.

In my first JC game, it felt like the 1st quarter was dragging - until I remembered the quarters were longer.

[JasonTX]

I never have worked a Jr. College game, but the players that I have seen are no different than D-1 players. In a lot of cases the only difference between D-1 and any other level is not their athletic ability, but some just aren't smart enough to be in a D-1 school. The speed and size may very well compare to a D-1 game.

[Bob M.]

Originally posted by JasonTX
I never have worked a Jr. College game, but the players that I have seen are no different than D-1 players. In a lot of cases the only difference between D-1 and any other level is not their athletic ability, but some just aren't smart enough to be in a D-1 school. The speed and size may very well compare to a D-1 game.

REPLY: I agree. In my JUCO experience, many of the players were D1 caliber but needed to get their grades up prior to admission. In many cases, there were D1 coaches there watching.