HS rules
 

Guys,
I am looking to put a cable tv show together on football officiating. What I am looking for is some ideas. It is to difficult to just cover a whole rule and be meaningful and entertaining. So, I was thinking of the misconceptions of High School Football rules. Ones you think fans do not understand or always misinterpret. I know we may have done links like this before but I need to see them again.

In particular, go for rules that announcers typically screw up, or rules that are notably different from NFL to NCAA to NFHS. I'd go with:
<ul><li>"Down by contact" is big lately, tied into "the ground can't cause a fumble".
<li>Pass interference (with the bit in the Steelers game, it's a hot topic)
<li>For that matter, catch/no catch. This one, in particular, needs lots of film to illustrate your point - although you could also spend a decent amount of time discussing how things change in the end zone, as well as the force-out rule.
<li>Touchbacks - this will mostly be about the rule differences, and probably a short segment at that.
<li>Forward progress - a simple enough rule, but there will still be people who want to go by location of feet, especially on a sideline play. Not sure there's enough for a whole show here.
<li>Penalty spots - I'd guess there are a fair number of people who are confused about when the penalty is assessed from the end of the play as opposed to previous spot or spot of the foul.</ul>

I'm curious, how long a show will this be? I'm presuming it'll be on a public access station, which means no (or at least few) commercials. Half an hour actually becomes a fairly long time to fill.

You'll definitely want a bunch of film clips. The rights to any NFL or NCAA game are going to be very tightly controlled - you *might* get permission, but I'm guessing not (although I've never tried) - so hopefully you have or can get ahold of a decently sized library of H.S. tapes.

If the cable thing doesn't work out, you could always produce the segments yourself and publish them as podcasts, which are currently The Next Big Thing.

Good luck!

Thanks Roamin' Umpire. You have some great ideas there and I will concerned them all. I have tons of film from HS, NCAA and NFL. Once I get some ideas together then I have to do a story board to lay out. Then write a script. I figure each segment would be about a half hour. Yes, I am working for public access station but hopefully if it works maybe market it to an ESPN or related channel.

Axtually it might not be that difficult to get permission to use NFL films. They have a youth/H.S. football program within the NFL. I'd try getting this bunch to help out.

Not a bad idea...thanks

Is this going to be on ESPN? Or at least a show here in KY, these fans watch too much Sat and Sun games and gripe about calls on Friday nights.

Tie goes to the runner.

Hands are part of the bat.

(Hey ... any chance to dispel these myths has to be taken, right?) :)

sorry MC, football only...LOL

Hands are part of the ball.

3-second call during a shot.

You could try to get in touch with USA Football. They might help you with getting some video material.

www.usafootball.com

Is it a foul or a penalty?
 

Most people outside of our officiating community do not know the diference between a penalty and a foul.

Any penalty (distance) may be refused.

There has to be contact to be pass interference.

It has to be clipping, he hit him in the back. Coach, the call is a 'block in the back' (above the waist) - 10 yds, not a clip.

thanks chiefgil

I think maybe you should include informatiuon about just how much time and effort we put into officiating. I really don't think the fans at any level understand the amount of effort we put against being good/better officials. A tribute of sorts to officials might be helpful.

Very intersting thought Rich! I do agree with it for most of us but somebody out there will always kill that theory...

Maybe you should take a more human approach. Think of it as "Spinal Tap" for officials. Focus on use/abuse of Vitamin K & E for supehuman vision. Or maybe explore the common practice of officials picking a team (usually the home team) that they want to win: and, then doing everything possible to screw the other team. And finally, you could do an expose' of the dark side of officiating.....ref groupies (Title it : Women Love a Man in Uniform- Even One Made Out of Polyester).

dude, you're scaring me...LOL

Periodically (sp) through the show, you should flash either an email address or a mailing address (or both) where viewers can send in their questions regarding rules. If the show is live, flash a phone number and people can call in. You can then read their questions on the air the following week and answer the public's questions.

Here's one
 

How about intentional grounding? (i.e., illegal forward pass). I must have heard, a half dozen times or more, from the stands... "Hey, he was out of the pocket!!" Also, heard that at least once from an Asst. coach.

Oh, that is a good one!

You may want cover the fouls that carry lose of down or more importantly, the rules that no long carry LOD - Ineligible down field.

Tom, I am always looking to network with local officials, and this sounds like a great idea. Shoot me an email if you need any help with anything. I am right next door in PA.

Another obvious one I constantly hear. The defense jumps offsides, you throw the flag, then you hear from the sidelines "He got back"....again, not in HS he didnt.

Also, an uncatchable pass does not exist in HS football. Most fans do not know this.

Can't forget this comment...

"hey!! That pass was UNcatchable!!! "

Walt what is your email?

I think this could be one of the best parts of your show. If you want to clear up misconceptions and stuff, what better way than to have people (who don't understand the rules) call or write in with their own misconceptions or crazy plays. This could also be a great time-filler.

tpaul, here is my email address, shoot me an email.

[email protected]



Thanks, Jerry

Ideas
 

How about the thing we hear alot of from both niave coaches and fans after a pass interference is called? "Ref , that pass was uncatchable!"