Wing official's how do you cover the quick pass from the QB to th WR on the sideline? Who decides if it backwards? Do you have any hand signals? Any other ideas or suggestions welcome.

It's amazing that this has popped up twice now in November. It's really an August issue, but I'll agree is can be a sticky issue to handle.

Here's a link to the another discussion: http://www.gmcgriff.com/discus/messa...tml?1132331202

It seems the concesus is that the backside official has a better look. I can't agree nor disagree, but one thing for sure, if the pass is coming my way I'm holding the whistle longer than normal should it hit the ground.
If I do blow the whistle its because I felt it was forward and therefore incomplete.

I used to be an advocate of punching back. Couple years ago we were instructed NOT to do that. I really thought it was a good idea to do it. But I do what the boss says to do. Should the offside official punch back, I might not see it and possibly call it forward. One axiom I remember is when it doubt its a forward pass.

If it is a quick pass, we punch back and have the wing that the ball is coming to decide forward or backward.

I'm not sure who would have the best view on this. I can see either wing having a good angle at it. Certainly the R would not have this call but some assocations are saying it is his responsibility. When properly positioned, he doesn't have a good view of the pass.

I like the punch back. I think it gives everyone an indication whether it was forward or back. Then we can react accordingly.

As a wing, I punch back for a backward pass, punch forward only if it looks questionable for the WH.

As a WH, I also do this if and only if there's no pressure on the QB and I watch for and roughing.

As a wing in NF, I, as well as our crew find it easiest for the back wing to be able to tell if the ball was forward or backwards, but we believe that it is the forward wings call, not the referee as the books says.

REPLY: The first sentence in grantsrc's post describes exactly what we've been instructed to do. However, I do agree with Theisey that the far-side wing has the better view. It's just that it's impossible for him to sell the call.

Thanks guys. We had a few passes in a game a few weeks back. Two passes made us look stupid. Even if we made the right call, we didn't look good making it!

Being the WH I want to clear this matter up and get the best possible mechanic for it.

Backside wing SHOULD have the best view but front side must make the call because:

1. If the the backside wing has no whistle is it because he didn't see it or because it was backward?

2. If it is a BW pass do I need to try and find the other wing to see the punch? In the meantime, what is the ball doing.

Thus, I think the front side wing has to call it.

We also handle it this way. Seems to work well.....

After thinking more about a game situations on this call. I would think that the backside wing would call incomplete and hit the whistle if he 1) clearly sees that the pass is forward, 2) hits the ground and 3) does not hear the front wings whistles right away.

REPLY: On this play, one of the officials---and one only---needs to live or die with this call. And it needs to be decided before the game, or before the season. This is one of those times where you really shouldn't go fishing in someone else's pond. If the near-side wing has the call, he has it. No looking to help if it's not requested. What would happen if the far-side wing blew the whistle because he saw the pass clearly forward and saw the ball hit the ground with no whistle from the near-side wing but the near-side wing was punching back because he saw the pass as backwards? I don't know, but I wouldn't want to be on that game. Get it all straightened out in the pre-game and live with it. Personally, I agree that the far-side wing has the better perspective on this play, but like I said earlier, he can never sell the call from 50+ yards away.

We had that and I felt like crawling under the bleachers!

understanding that most B-passes are quick but have seen some that happen for the last choice if WO are covered downfield. My question, if the far side wing has left with key receivers, he does not have this best angle and as you guys stated, 50 yards away, ouch.

IMO, the WH and covering wing has the best angle since most passes are to our key receiver, outside or to a back. Of course my last submit was that the WH at times is with the QB for any roughing business.

What's your opinions on this?

I don't think the far side official shouldn't be downfield that fast (for the quick B-pass). As a WH I can tell you I can never make the quick B-pass at the line. If the QB drops back a few steps, then yes I have it all the way.

Is it more important to look good or get it correct?