a play from my last JV game still bugs me.

[Jim D]

BigFarns, You handled it correctly both in watching the block and questioning the other guy. I assume he is equally sure he is right and you missed it. There is no way to overrule him. He made the call and you all have to live with it.

That's the big advantage of working with a regular crew. If he trusted you more, perhaps he would not have throw his flag when you passed on it and he might be more willing to listen when you questioned his view.

Shrug it off and move on.

[RoyGardner]

There's a good reason that it's called a "block in the back". A player has a front, a left and right side, and a back, and the block is a foul only if it's a block in the back and the initial force must be to the back.

I've seen lots of flags for "side hits" where the block was not in the back, and the blockee clearly knew that the block was coming. Flags that should not have been thrown.

I would talk to the calling official next time you see him and ask his view of what a block in the back really is. And additionally, the position of the blockers helmet is not a reliable indicator of a "legal/illegal" block.

[dumbref]

I am echoing much of what has already been said, but your mechanics on the play was spot on. You should look ahead of the runner if he is not being threatened. What you saw is what you saw – nothing. But remember it is a game of angles and your partner may have had an angle impossible for you to see. Trust goes both ways. You must trust what he saw and honor that as just as much as the other way around. There may have been an element of “newbie didn’t see it” but you are just second guessing yourself – DON”T! It is not about who is right or who is wrong - it is more about angles and trust. And it is just as important for your self confidence to trust what you saw at this point - it was just from a different angle. I don't think "a crew" has anything to do with it as long as you both are in a proper position for the play.

If you question the “official from the beginning of time” - ask him what he saw that you didn’t. If he is worth his salt, he will respect the fact you saw the block and didn’t throw your flag from the angle you had. I know I would be thrilled with a “newbie” that was looking at the correct thing no matter what he saw!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RoyGardner

There's a good reason that it's called a "block in the back". A player has a front, a left and right side, and a back, and the block is a foul only if it's a block in the back and the initial force must be to the back.

I've seen lots of flags for "side hits" where the block was not in the back, and the blockee clearly knew that the block was coming. Flags that should not have been thrown.

I would talk to the calling official next time you see him and ask his view of what a block in the back really is. And additionally, the position of the blockers helmet is not a reliable indicator of a "legal/illegal" block.

I like this, except for the part where you say "the blockee clearly knew the block was coming." That's irrelevant. I keep hammering on my crew -- it's gotta be between the shoulder blades for there to be a flag. Lotsa times the blocked player is blindsided, but the block is on the side.