My game this week...

[glyphrunner]

This was completely irresponsible and unprofessional. For you to have done this could seriously dislodge some team in play-off standings. It may not be the case for where you are, but there are some places that, in the event of tied win/losses in a season, they decide play-off standings by number of points scored.

So, by you choosing to decide for the players and coaches what should happen in the game, you've potentially cost them a play-off spot.

[RonRef]

That is the problem with states that decide playoff tie-breakers on the number of points scored, it just breeds piling up the score. That is why the BCS took that formula out of there ranking process a couple of years ago. When does sportsmanship enter into high school sports these days?

[golfnref]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

This was completely irresponsible and unprofessional. For you to have done this could seriously dislodge some team in play-off standings. It may not be the case for where you are, but there are some places that, in the event of tied win/losses in a season, they decide play-off standings by number of points scored.

So, by you choosing to decide for the players and coaches what should happen in the game, you've potentially cost them a play-off spot.

He probably also preserved the right of some A players to play the next week.
Given the circumstances and mood of the game a fight was a strong possibility and ejections a sure result. This could have a greater impact on their playoff hopes than 6-7 points.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

This was completely irresponsible and unprofessional. For you to have done this could seriously dislodge some team in play-off standings. It may not be the case for where you are, but there are some places that, in the event of tied win/losses in a season, they decide play-off standings by number of points scored.

So, by you choosing to decide for the players and coaches what should happen in the game, you've potentially cost them a play-off spot.

I'm sure he'll cry himself to sleep.

I think it was a mature, responsible decision myself. Any coach with a shred of sportsmanship would take a knee and not be thinking of "tiebreakers" in week 2.

[Jim D]

In Missouri, the score differential maxes out at 14 points. It is important to know for any game if that could be a consideration. All things being equal, I think the treatment was smart officiating.

[fonzzy07]

Originally Posted by Jim D

In Missouri, the score differential maxes out at 14 points. It is important to know for any game if that could be a consideration. All things being equal, I think the treatment was smart officiating.

Yes but in Missouri nothing counts untill your last 3 games ( districts) Weeks 1-6 have no baring on who enters the playoffs, thus being week 2, no Missouri coach shoul be thinking of points, a win is more then enough for them.

[wisref2]

It was the right thing to do.

A coach told me a story recently - he's getting his butt handed to him 40+ to zip to a much superior team. (We have a running clock after 35 points) He's been having problems with the official (a subpar replacement) on his sideline and decides to argue a pretty bad call. He's on the field talking with the white hat and the clock is still running. In his headphones, he hears his coaches telling him to stay out there because the clock is still running! The white hat says "Larry, the clock is still running. You want me to stop it?"

Well, they don't stop it - stand out there for two minutes just talking - the white hat moves the line judge to back judge - the game goes on and ends peacefully.

Game management.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by wisref2

It was the right thing to do.

A coach told me a story recently - he's getting his butt handed to him 40+ to zip to a much superior team. (We have a running clock after 35 points) He's been having problems with the official (a subpar replacement) on his sideline and decides to argue a pretty bad call. He's on the field talking with the white hat and the clock is still running. In his headphones, he hears his coaches telling him to stay out there because the clock is still running! The white hat says "Larry, the clock is still running. You want me to stop it?"

Well, they don't stop it - stand out there for two minutes just talking - the white hat moves the line judge to back judge - the game goes on and ends peacefully.

Game management.

There's a crew chief I'd be really thrilled to work for and someone, as a crew chief myself, I work hard NOT to emulate.

On the FIELD? Come on.

The four guys working with me are my PARTNERS.

The WH in your story threw the "sub-par replacement" under the bus. What does that make the WH?

[wisref2]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

There's a crew chief I'd be really thrilled to work for and someone, as a crew chief myself, I work hard NOT to emulate.

On the FIELD? Come on.

The four guys working with me are my PARTNERS.

The WH in your story threw the "sub-par replacement" under the bus. What does that make the WH?

That was my initial reaction too. But this was a "you had to be there" situation. It was the guy's first varsity game. He had blown several calls, had a few inadvertant whistles, was yelling at coaches, and threw the QB out for a comment that shouldn't have even drawn a flag (and here you miss the next game for getting tossed). I know the WH and he's a good one - I'm sure he didn't like doing it.

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by glyphrunner

This was completely irresponsible and unprofessional. For you to have done this could seriously dislodge some team in play-off standings.

There are some things that are more important.

If Dr. Moore can sleep at night, kudos to him.

[DrMooreReferee]

Where I'm from, points scored are of no consequence in playoff qualifying. However, with that being said, I would have still done the same thing.

I tell ya, rules are rules. But then again, sometimes things are not always as they seem. For instance, I had a game 2 yrs ago that was won by a score of 72-0. In the 2nd half, I was winding no matter what. Out of bounds, we wound it. Incomplete pass, we wound it. The winning team was putting in 2nd, 3rd, and probably 4th string players and STILL scoring at will. They probably could have put the cheerleaders in and scored some points. The point I'm making is that sometimes you have to try to speed the completion of a game along. And in this case we didn't have a 72 point lead. But the game was well in hand. And it REALLY needed to end.

And I'm actually sleeping pretty well. But I did wonder what the comments would be from you guys. And I appreciate them good or bad.

Thanks again,
Dr.Moore

[SouthGARef]

Good job! I would (and have) done the same exact thing.

[DJ_NV]

For what it's worth, i'm torn on this one. My head says it was the wrong thing to do, my heart says there's no question it's the right thing.
We've all had plenty of games like this, and we've all wound the clock when we shouldn't have by rule to speed up the game. However, rules are rules and even though I'll be the first to admit that I've done it in the past, now it makes me feel uneasy when officials in my association disregard basic rules where judgement is not involved. Even though philosphically we all agree that it's the right thing to do, I would almost rather that we as officials do not do anything that compromises our integrity and impartiality. If we can state that we followed the rules when something negative occurred, we're not liable (unless you have a different directive from your state association on how to handle these game situations). Unfortunately, liability is also a factor these days and right or wrong, officials shouldn't put themselves in a position to be held accountable even if common sense dictates that it was the correct action at the time.
If Team A wants to run up the score, that's their right. Is it poor sportsmanship? No question about it, but that's for the state association and the coaches and ADs to handle, not us.
Did we keep a few kids from sitting out next week? Most likely, but then if you or your crew does toss a player on the last one or two plays of a game and they have to sit out the next week (as in our state), then so be it. Lesson (hopefully) learned for that player as well as the rest of the team and coaching staff.
Our state is finally considering a running clock and point differential system for next year, and in my opinion it is long overdue. But our state rules interpreter said at our last meeting that until that happens, we must approach both coaches and get permission to shorten the game, i.e. "wind it". It's not up to us to bend the "black and white" rules like timing and untimed downs after fouls.

again, that being said, I'm certainly not going to criticize. I'm merely adding an another point of view so that we all can hopefully make the best decision when we're in the situation.