a play from my last JV game still bugs me.

[BigFarns]

I had a situation where I was running up the sideline with a back and there is a DB with an angle. One that would have allowed him to get there before the endzone. I can see him coming because of my angle on the play and there is a receiver running with him trying to ruin his angle. I clearly saw him push the DB from the side and the DB goes flying on the ground. With no more threat I simply continue running the last 20 yards and raise my hands when the back scores. I then look back and one of the officials following me calls block in the back. I jog back cause I got a feeling he's calling the block I saw. I confirm the number and then I ask him if he's sure and he said yes. I then look to the white hat and shrug and say I didn't see it that way. They have been officials since like the beginning of time and I'm only in my second year so I let it go. But it's still bothering me. I see how that block was probably "clean up duty" but I could watch it and easily keep up with the runner. Plus beside that one threat noone else was going to catch up and the runner was in no danger of stepping out of bounds...so I watched the block. Was I looking outside my responsiblity? If not, then should I have "overruled" the other official and how? When I asked him if he was sure I simply said "are you sure cause I saw a good block."
I wish I could draw a diagram somehow on this site...it'd be easier for y'all to tell me if I was looking in the wrong spot or not and if I should have pressed what I saw on the play more with the other official.

[Warrenkicker]

I think that the area for your attention gets smaller the more players are in it. Thus if the runner is not being threatened nor threatening either the side line or goal line then you should watch players around him. If you pin your eyes on the runner and miss the block just behind him then you aren't doing your job. After the play you can go back and explain what you saw in the way of where the contact was initiated and see if the other official agrees with what you saw. Then you can determine together if that contact was a foul and the R can also "see" what you saw. "I had one hand in the side and one on the back" or "I had both hands on the side and the player then fell on his front."

It seems that there are a lot of differing opinions about what is a block in the back. It was a few years ago but I saw a block which I saw as fine but two other officials I was working with flagged it. I saw it as clearly in the side but perhaps they were ruling it as "he didn't have his head in the front" or "the blocked player landed on his face." But if the third, disinterested party gets in on the discussion then perhaps he can, based on the descriptions, resolve the disagreement.

[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.