Input needed.

[sloth]

I made the title vague so that I might have a lot of people view this and give input. I strat out by telling a bit about myself. This is my 3rd season as a varsity official. My long term goals are to at least make it to I-AA ball (hopefully in the next 10-15 years). I try to officiate and do things with that goal always in mind.

As a style of officiating do you call the game consistant from the first snap to the last or do you allow procedural type infractions slide if the game is way out of hand and its in the second half? I find myself being someone that is of the first type while the more seasoned officials I know tend to be the latter.

While I understand that preventavie officiating is now very popular. I also understand that we should avoid the notice of the crowd when at all possible (keeping flags tucked away). This is more so compounded when a game is way out of hand, the outcome is obvious and a lot of laundry on the field will only extend the game longer.

I am concerned that not calling obvious fouls in those situations will lead to a loss of creadibility with coaches that review the game film later...that it will negatively impact reviews of my performance as an official.

I'm trying to be as consistant from the first play to the last, but am I being to strict and uptight? I don't want to be viewed as a "rule book" official by other officials, but I also want to be considered a professional, consistant and creadiable official by anyone reviewing my work.

Give me a new way to think about which way to develop myself to be successful in the future. Thats all I want...its not a desire to be on a power trip or get a pay check...I truely want to be better for the sake of advancing to have the privilage of working higher level games.

sloth

[TXMike]

The 1st thing I'd suggest is that you quit worrying about your credibility with coaches. That is not going to be how you move up to whatever level you aspire to do.

The 2d thing I'd suggest is that you just relax. As you get more experienced, you will start sensing what you should or should not be worrying about on the field. There are some things that cannot "slide" no matter the score. Not everything fits that category though.

[JRutledge]

Here is what you need to do.

• Attend as many camps as possible.
  
• Go to your local associations and listen to the presentations and speakers.
  
• Read (the other magazine I cannot mention) as much as possible.
  
• Buy as many publications on football officiating that you can get your hands on (from the other magazine I cannot mention).
  
• Find a mentor. Since you want to work college football, it would help if you can talk to someone that actually works college football.

I could mention other things, but these are usually solid things you can do right now and within the next year. You have already set a goal and that is always a good thing to do. You might take some of the goals and split them up into season, short-term and long-term. Getting to the college ranks is a long term goal, but you have to get some things done in the short term to get to that long term goal.

I also feel the advice that TXMike gave was also solid. Knowing how to call the game is going to take time. It also will take some experience by seeing snaps and by working different positions. I know it took me some time to develop a philosophy on calling the game and on certain rules.

Peace

[sloth]

I appreciate the input so far. I already am doing some of the suggestions so far. I attended two local all day clinic this past off-season and I also try to read about officiating and associated philosophies as much as possible. I need to find a mentor...that is something I have yet to do. I think I will look into a new association (my current one is very small) next season as well as try to set short term goals.

As for the creadibility...a good example is illegal formations. In the past I did a game where the team getting blown out was starting to cheat their gaurds back. They were setting up in a two point stance and none of their bodies were breaking the waist of the snapper. There is an advantage to be gained as pulling was much easier to accomplish from that position. I had the other official on the side line warn the coaches, but the situation contuned. Thats an easy call when the game is close, but do you throw it when they are being blown out by 5 TD's? I knew that dropping the flag for this would probably be in poor taste and draw the ire of my crew; but it bothered me to think that if the game was much closer, I'd have no trouble flagging it.

I'm really worried that I'd loose creadibility with someone that was evaluating me for the next level or for the state governing association, but calling this in the 1st quarter and not in the third of fourth.

I know I need to relax...I'm working on it. Its ironic, I actually get more concerned about being an official and doing a good job than I do my real job (chemist).

Again thanks for the input. Considering the level of experties and experience around this place...I greatly value what y'all have to say.

[Jim D]

Game situations change and if one team is blowing out another team, the advantage gained by a foul may decrease because each play is not as critical to the outcome of the game. Based on that, you can ususally be a bit more lenient in some of your calls. The coach will see the lineman maybe twitch and see that you didn't call it, but he should understand that, under the conditions, it was a good no call. That same move when the game is close and it's 4th and goal might warrant a flag. Calling both situations as if they were the same would be more of a red flag to a coach or evaluator that your change of standards.

[sloth]

Originally Posted by Jim D

Game situations change and if one team is blowing out another team, the advantage gained by a foul may decrease because each play is not as critical to the outcome of the game. Based on that, you can ususally be a bit more lenient in some of your calls. The coach will see the lineman maybe twitch and see that you didn't call it, but he should understand that, under the conditions, it was a good no call. That same move when the game is close and it's 4th and goal might warrant a flag. Calling both situations as if they were the same would be more of a red flag to a coach or evaluator that your change of standards.

Thanks. I needed that advice. Thats an arguement I can agree with and best of all, justify to myself calling a more lax game. I suppose the key is start thinking of an official as a game manager as opposed to a rules enforcer.