Wearing the white hat for the first time...

[sloth]

I just got the call last night from the referee on our crew. He's not going to be there Friday night and wasn't able to find a sub outside of the crew, so yours truely has been elevated to do the honors. The only problem is that I've never worn the white hat...at any level and now I'm in full panic attack mode.

I've done LJ and BJ and through several clinics have a short list or cheat sheet on what you need to be doing pre-snap, during the down and then post-scrimmage in terms of reads, assignments and things to account for. Does anyone have something similar for the referee? If I can get a solid sequence to go through, I think I'll be okay.

Any advice any one can offer up?

[MJT]

Originally posted by sloth
I just got the call last night from the referee on our crew. He's not going to be there Friday night and wasn't able to find a sub outside of the crew, so yours truely has been elevated to do the honors. The only problem is that I've never worn the white hat...at any level and now I'm in full panic attack mode.

I've done LJ and BJ and through several clinics have a short list or cheat sheet on what you need to be doing pre-snap, during the down and then post-scrimmage in terms of reads, assignments and things to account for. Does anyone have something similar for the referee? If I can get a solid sequence to go through, I think I'll be okay.

Any advice any one can offer up?

I had my guys do this for a pregame, we shared them to each other, last year. It would good to hear from everyone on their presnap thoughts.

Here are mine I created for my spot as the R. Hope it helps.

Running plays: As the referee
1. look for chin straps of defensive players
2. declare ball RFP
3. jog back to 12-14 yards while looking for chin straps of offensive players
4. once a series, check for 5 lineman numbered 50-79
5. offense player count with Marly
6. watch backs for FS
7. after snap – watch ball, runner, blocks around him until he reaches NZ
8. run parallel to LOS if sweep or option
9. continue to watch QB after handoff for illegal contact, then watch blocks around runner – I can help on key blocks on sweeps in front of runner or behind – whichever look like possible problems.

Pass plays: As the referee
1. def/off chin straps, RFP, lineman #’s, player count with Marly, watch backs for false start
2. watch for holding especially of tackles or anyone close to QB
3. stay behind QB and roll with him
4. yell “balls away” and stay with QB until no longer any jeopardy
5. watch Marly throw flag 30 yards when Mark and Todd are within 5 yards of push off (this was a wisecrack of a OPI we had this year.

Punts: As the referee
1. def/off chin straps, RFP, lineman #’s, player count with Marly, watch backs for false start
2. set up 2 yards in front of punter and very wide
3. see punter gets snap and does not have knee touch ground
4. watch for holding especially on rush ends and yell “balls away”
5. see that punter does not get “run into” or “roughed”
6. see that ball is going downfield and if going OOB’s, watch and line up wings with OOB’s spot
7. move chains after making sure no flags are down

Free kicks: As the referee
1. count R and K players
2. watch “Haas” for onside kick signal
3. signal RFP
4. wind clock on touching by R
5. if deep kick, watch ball till release to U and L
6. watch for BBW, BIB, clips, and holds by R

Field goals and trys: As the referee
1. def/off chin straps, RFP, lineman #’s, player count with Marly, watch backs for false start
2. set up on hash and on 14 yard line
3. watch for holding especially on anyone threatening blocking the kick, yell “balls away”
4. see that holder or kicker does not get “run into” or “roughed”
5. don’t blow whistle if FG gets blocked and try to stay ahead of runner on block return
6. turn and give good signal of “good” or “no good” to press box


Penalties: As the referee
1. go and meet official to meet him half way.
2. repeat the foul to the official (to ensure you've heard it correctly).
3. make sure you understand status of the ball for enforcement spot.
4. if it is a FS/Encroachment type of dead ball foul, no need to give prelim – just tell umpire/clear self/signal
5. come to a complete stop and give preliminary signal to press box.
6. put your back to offended team's bench so the captain can see his coach.
7. give captain the best choice of option first, if very obvious tell him “you want to back them up, right?”
8. if penalty is accepted, state the penalty and what the enforcement is to the umpire to see that he agrees.
9. L goes to end of enforcement spot, LJ stays at PS
9. clear yourself from players and come to a complete stop and give final signal to press box while U is enforcing penalty.
10. double check ball position as the H should be where the U ends up


Good luck!!! Presnap routine is huge! Slow your self down when you see a flag on the field. Have a good pregame!!

[irefky]

This is good stuff here MJT, good luck SLOTH, you do own a WH dont you?

Find out in pre-game with coaches about QB throwing arm to line up.

[Snake~eyes]

I have a couple of tips. Slow down! When theres a penalty, repeat the foul back to the flagger, that way you make sure you get it right. Then have the U with you when you give the captain the options, he is there to double check your enforcement. Don't be afraid to ask the U for help.

Slow down! When you give your signals, think what you're going to do for a second, no need to rush those. Also practice in the mirror a little so that they're crisp.

Once you signal off everything, get help from U,LJ and BJ for clock status. The rest of the crew will help you out and will make you look good!

As for plays, keep your eyes on the QB, do not follow the ball.

Other than that, good luck and have fun! Let us know how it goes.

[Texas Aggie]

Slow down any penalty enforcement or anything else you need to attend to, but when everything is flowing along, keep it flowing by having a quick ready for play. Games that drag are the ones that end up giving us all problems in one way or another.

Tell the wings or the BJ to always remind you when the clock is hot on the ready for play by twirling his finger or some other similar signal. That way, when you've been thinking about whether the spot was a first down, moving your own down indicator, waiting for the chains to clear, and communicating first down (for example), etc., his help gives you one less thing to worry about. And it will keep him awake! If he handles the ball a lot or if you can't see him, get the LJ to help out.

Finally, work out with the crew in pre-game what exactly they will say when you meet on a foul. Last night, I was blowing a JH game, and we had a holding foul (offense) on a try. The LJ came in and said, "holding, offense, going 5 yards back." Well, its a 10 yarder, but I was concentrating so hard on the signal that I didn't even think about it. I'd rather them tell ME "holding, offense," and then wait for me to confirm the enforcement. You may want something different.

Good luck. You'll do fine.

[BayouUmp]

Good luck Sloth.
Frankly, I'm surprised your association is putting you in this position on a Friday night with no JH/JV experience.

I assume this is a varsity game, so your secretary is showing confidence in your ability, you need to be equally confident in yourself.

Best advice given so far...Slow Down. Rushing will lead to mistakes especially when your mechanics are green.

Hopefully you have a very good Umpire on your crew. If so, it'll make your job much easier.

Come in to where he is spotting the ball between downs to be near enough for a quick question to him or a comment from him before hustling back to your position. Ask him to remind you of the clock status before penalities and after 1st downs so you know whether to wind the clock on the ready.

Know what you're going to say to the coaches during pregame and to captains at the toss...write it down if you have to. It is during these meetings that you'll probably me the most nervous. Practice these conversations and the mechanics of indicating the results of the toss. Get through these meetings without making it obvious your a newbie....also, don't tell the coaches this is your first WH assignment.

Arrive a little earlier than normal to give yourself extra time and avoid being rushed.

Oh yeah! Bring a coin!

Good luck.

[sloth]

Thanks MJT...that was just what I was looking for.

As for some of the questions...in Indiana, the association doesn't book the games for you. The crew chief has that task. I'm sort of nervous about the crew. Since I've had to move up to R, a newre fella is working LJ (this is his second game), and I think the U is not happy that I'm wearing the white hat tonight. I am confident that it will go okay.

I do have a signal mechanic question. I know that when giving th esignals, you face the press box, but when a play results in a first down, do you turn and indicate first down by extending your arm in front of you, or do you continue to face the press box and indicate first down to which ever side it happens to be (in the first case you'd only ever use your right arm, in the second, it would vary which arm you used based on the direction of the drive).

I'm almost embarased to ask this, but I'd like a general rule of thumb for telling an USC from a personal foul. I've looked back through the rule book, but I've not been able to condense wwhat I'm reading into something that I can keep handy for then the time comes.

Thanks again for all the help. I'll be sure to post how it went.

[AndrewMcCarthy]

I turn and point first down. It's the last signal you give so you never have to turn back. I always use my right arm.

General rule of thumb? Contact foul = personal foul. Noncontact = UC. A lot of guys mix these up for some reason.

[mikesears]

Originally posted by sloth
I'm almost embarased to ask this, but I'd like a general rule of thumb for telling an USC from a personal foul. I've looked back through the rule book, but I've not been able to condense wwhat I'm reading into something that I can keep handy for then the time comes.

Personal fouls are contact fouls. Unsportsmanlike fousl are non contact fouls. The only unsportsmanlike foul that involves contact is contact with an official.

It is important to know the difference because personal fouls can either be live ball (ABO enforcment) or dead ball (succeeding spot enforcment) fouls. Unsportsmanlike conduct fouls are ALWAYS succeeding spot fouls.

[sloth]

I understand the importance of knowing the differance between USC, live ball PF, and dead ball PF. I'm thinking about cases of double fouls...a USC and dead ball PF can't combine for a double foul, but a live ball PF can...which bothers me a bit. I'd hate to think that roughing the QB or a bad facemask could be offset by a hold.



[Edited by sloth on Oct 7th, 2005 at 10:21 AM]

[mikesears]

Originally posted by sloth
I'd hate to think that roughing the QB or a bad facemask could be offset by a hold.

... or even an illegal shift. Doesn't seem equitable because one is a safety foul and one is a procedure foul. Yet that is how the NF rules are written.

Do you have specific questions about these? I tried to answer a general question in a general fashion. You would be surprised at the number of officials who signal personal fouls and USC fouls.

[sloth]

I think I'm going to be okay...this is sort of last minute jitter sort of questions concerning the R position. I'm usually the fella tha referee will double check with on a rules or enforcement question.

So just to be clear...any live ball PF will combine with another penalty (obviously on the other team) to result in a double foul. A dead-ball PF (late hit or hit out-of-bounds) can not combine to make a double foul and no USC's will combine for a double foul.

Thanks again to all for the signal mechanics. I want to make sure that not only is the game administered well, but that I look like I've done this before.

[ljudge]

Originally posted by sloth


So just to be clear...any live ball PF will combine with another penalty (obviously on the other team) to result in a double foul. A dead-ball PF (late hit or hit out-of-bounds) can not combine to make a double foul and no USC's will combine for a double foul.

Good on both.

Just remember you have 4 others out there who have responsibilities. Let them do their job. When I did this the first time I was constantly thinking (kind of like a control freak). Just relax and have fun just like you did in your first varsity game. It's not all that different. Just remember you belong there and people believe in you.

One more thing...just remember it's only a white hat, not a halo!

THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

[FredFan7]

Let us know how it turns out! Good luck! :-)

[sloth]

Well I wanted to update everyone on how it went. All things considered I'd give myself a C+ for the night. I made some early mistakes, and I've identified some things to work on, but I also was able to have some success and did something well.

Things I messed up on...

Gave PI signal for a bloack in the back.

Had 4-5 times in the first half where I forgot to wind the clock on the ready for play (after 1st down).

I think I missed some holding calls in the interior of the line.

I lost track of the QB following turnovers (which will lead into a question later).

In the first half I was rushing the RFP and sort of hung out my chain crew and linesman.

Positive things...

The issue with rushing the RFP when the chains were moving as well as winding the clock on the ready for play went away in the late 3rd/early in the 4th.

Had an issue with the visiting head coach and my umpire...he ended up throwing a USC. I ended up having to physically pull my umpire back from the head coach. (this was due to a flag that was thrown for defensive holding on the DE on a pass play the resulted in an interception for the defense. Coach was hot and the umpire is known for his short temper). I was able to get the visiting head coach and the LJ that threw the holding call together As we were going in at halftime), and in a rational way explained why the flag was thrown. HE wasn't happy, but I think the fact that he was able to hear what the LJ saw and I was able to give him the rules interpertation made him accept the call. I also could feel the play was getting a little bit chippy at the end of the half, so I spaoke brielfy with each head coach and asked them to make sure the players kept a cool head. The second half went much better. IT didn't help that we had a 1 point final score (as for the emotion and intensity). But I think being able to resolve the conflict was a positive that I took from the night.

In the 4th as I felt the game coming to me, I relized that I really enjoyed the position. I think I might be hooked. I do need a lot of work wearing the white hat, but I was encouraged by my progress from the 1st to the 4th.

Now my question...after throwning a interception, how much protection do you afford the QB? In both interceptions, the same player (the DE) cmae looking specifically for the QB. While both hits we pretty rough, they were clean. The player passed other potential blockees to look for the QB. I felt bad as thought I needed to stay with the QB longer (I was looking for hold and blocks in the back on the return).

Also, I had several cases where I had a couple players rolling around on the ground. ON a punt, kicks away, I'm watching the punter and as the action goes down field, I notice a couple blockers that have gotten tied up and are rolling around. I don't know how they got there, and there's noting really flagrent (punches, kneeing or anything else)...it just sort of looked ugly. What do you call?

Thanks.