Any Advice For A Rookie?
 

Hello all...first post.

I'm still in the middle of the FB rules classes here, but I'm doing a scrimmage tomorrow for the first time and I've got a game scheduled for later this month. Just wondering if some of the veterans here have any advice for a rookie coming in? Anything at all is much appreciated.

Read Rule 2! Over and over again!

Read ALL of the rules over and over again. You can't apply the rules unless you know them. Know them cold.

Relax, enjoy yourself, and if you have the opportunity to take some plays off (many scrimmages have extra officials there) step back and watch a veteran work some plays. If not, see if you can get someone to film you. Not only can you have someone review it with you to show you where to improve, but years from now, when you're a solid vet, you can look back at how bad you really were. :)

Ask lots of questions (here is a good start). When you watch a game, watch the officials, not the ball. When you officiate a game, watch the action, not the ball.

Remember that appearance is probably 80% of the job. Dress to perfection. Shoes sparkling, hat crisp, shirt pressed. No stripes showing through your knickers (tuck them into your undergarments). If you step onto the field looking like you are an inferior official, the perception is that you are an inferior official. That goes for weight too. If you're overweight, no matter how hard you try and how much you hustle, you'll be seen as lazy, out of position, etc. Perception is reality. Look the part.

Keep your whistle out of your mouth.

Unless you are the umpire, stay wide. Angle is much more important than distance in getting a good view of a play, and if you get too close, you won't be able to see everything that's going on.

Avoid ball-watching. At least 75% of the time, you don't have responsibility for the ball, but you still need to keep an eye on the players in your area.

Hey guys...thanks for the advice. Just got back from the scrimmage and here's some of things that I noticed:

1. It's a lot easier to officiate watching on TV than actually being on the field.
2. Trying to remember all the responsibilities I've got at a certain officiating position is actually harder than knowing the rules themselves.
3. I noticed that no matter where I was(wing or ump) I was watching the ball >50% of the time, which is something I shouldn't be doing.
4. When I was in the ump position I forgot where the ball was on the original spot a few times because of #2 above.
5. Couple times on the wing I was late on the whistle because I was fumbling for it on my chest. That was at the beginning, after that I kept it in my mouth the whole time.
6. I'm in pretty good shape, but it needs to be better. (On a 1st D and 10 from the O's 15, they ran quick in and the WR caught the ball and started running down the field breaking tackles...I was sprinting right behind him for 60 yards until he was tackled on the other sideline from me around the D's 20 or so. I was so proud of myself for keeping up and getting the spot even though it was on the other sideline. Then I saw the flag...at the line of scrimmage...for holding. :mad: All that work for nothing. It took me a couple plays to get back to normal breathing after that.)
7. I'm going to be sore tomorrow. Ouch.
8. It was a lot of fun and I'm excited for the next one.

In red is my response to some of your scrimmage experiences. Below is some other general comments I have.

1. It's a lot easier to officiate watching on TV than actually being on the field. Yes, but use watch TV games from a officiating standpoint. See if you agree with their calls and think of the penalty enforcement before they say it. Even for NFL games, think about it as if it was an NF game.
2. Trying to remember all the responsibilities I've got at a certain officiating position is actually harder than knowing the rules themselves. This is why it is CRITICAL you have a solid presnap routine.
3. I noticed that no matter where I was(wing or ump) I was watching the ball >50% of the time, which is something I shouldn't be doing. Experience helps most with this, but a presnap routine which reminds you of what to watch for is important. Also remember that you must watch other things when the ball is not in your area for the safety of the players.
4. When I was in the ump position I forgot where the ball was on the original spot a few times because of #2 above. Have a second "down indicator." One for the down and one for the ball position.
5. Couple times on the wing I was late on the whistle because I was fumbling for it on my chest. That was at the beginning, after that I kept it in my mouth the whole time. DON'T keep it in your mouth. A little late is a lot better than a little early!! One of my wings uses to long lanyards clipped together so it is down almost to his belt. He then can run with it in his hand and run with normal arm movement.
6. I'm in pretty good shape, but it needs to be better. (On a 1st D and 10 from the O's 15, they ran quick in and the WR caught the ball and started running down the field breaking tackles...I was sprinting right behind him for 60 yards until he was tackled on the other sideline from me around the D's 20 or so. I was so proud of myself for keeping up and getting the spot even though it was on the other sideline. Then I saw the flag...at the line of scrimmage...for holding. All that work for nothing. It took me a couple plays to get back to normal breathing after that.) Nothing you can do there. They will always be faster than you. Especially varsity HS and college players and you will always be sucking air after a 60 yard sprint. You did a great job of hustling and getting the spot even though it came back.
7. I'm going to be sore tomorrow. Ouch.
8. It was a lot of fun and I'm excited for the next one. Glad you're excited! Welcome aboard!


Here are a few other things to think about.
Buy the Redding Study Guide https://thatsitideas.com/doublesdist...onlineform.htm cuz it is awesome. Read it, highlight it, and work as many games as you can.

Go to a clinic or two if you can and any on field stuff at a clinic is a bonus.

This board, the NF board, http://www.nfhs.org/scriptcontent/va...?ubb=forum;f=9, and refstripes http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?board=3.0, are great sites that focuses on NF FB. You can learn from reading, looking in the rulebook for answers, posting, and asking your own questions.

A mentor is a great way to go if you have someone who is good and will work with you. Talk to him about things as often as he will let you, via email or phone.

Start watching games and thinking of what the signals and enforcements for fouls that you see happen are before the official comes on and does the signal and enforces the penalty.

HAVE FUN AND NEVER STOP LEARNING OR STUDYING!!! GREAT TO HAVE YOU ABOARD!!

Grant's site has a ton of good stuff. http://home.comcast.net/~minnmo/football.htm

Having taught new officials for the last 10 or so years, I offer these from experience---

Study, study, study.

Keep your mouth shut and listen to what people tell you. Be a sponge. Don't tell your mentors what you know about officiating because you don't know anything yet.

You already learned that it's easier to officiate while watching TV. That usually gets the talkers to be quiet.

Don't watch the ball.

Keep the whistle out of your mouth.

Work as many snaps as you can. If you work multiple Youth games on a day, work on something each game.

Keep the whistle out of your mouth.

Always hustle. Treat every game the same. That Mitey-Mite game is just as important to the parents/players as any NFL/NCAA game is to the participants.

Keep the whistle out of your mouth

I'd like to echo this - don't keep the whistle in your mouth. Most guys also use a finger whistle. I prefer a wrist lanyard but it's the same idea. I don't wear a whistle around my neck.

Thanks for the link MJT...I think I'll register on those boards today.

It's interesting you guys keep saying to keep the whistle out of my mouth because that's what the veteran ref told me at the beginning. Then he saw me fumbling around for the whistle when I was late a couple times and he told me "don't be late on the whistle!" Then near the middle of the day he told me to keep it in my mouth because it was better than being late. I think getting another landyard and clipping them together so I can run with it in my hand is a great idea. I thought about getting the ring whistle that fits on the fingers, but it just wasn't comfortable to me. I haven't heard of a wrist landyard. I have a landyard right now that has a little black button that moves up and down to tighten or loosen it, I suppose if I put that on my wrist and tightened it up then I could keep it in my hand and run. Is that what you meant, waltjp?

So then what are your presnap routines? A lot of trouble I had on the wing was trying to figure out whether they had 7 guys on the line. A lot of the time it seemed to me that the wideout closest to me was in "no-mans-land", but I would punch him off instead of calling an illegal formation because I couldn't see to the other side of the field to know whether they had other guys out there. The HL told me to "count the backs", but I couldn't get out of him how that would work. I suppose if they have 3 backs and a QB then if my guy is on and other opposite guy is on then they have 7.

ForensicRef, see the new thread I started regarding presnap routines. I'll provide mine for the R position and hopefully some guys from other positions will do the same so we all learn and confirm things. I will be working wing and deep for some college games this year, so I will do the same for those positions when I have time. It is a great thing to do.

Which is exactly what I told you NOT to do. :rolleyes:

If you keep your whistle in your mouth, you're going to blow it when you shouldn't, AKA an inadvertant whistle.

DO NOT KEEP THE WHISTLE IN YOUR MOUTH. If you do, you're going to blow it when you think the runner's down and he's not, you think he's down but the ball is loose, or you think he has the ball but someone else actually does.

Officiating football is a series of repititions. You do the same things over and over and over and over.... Don't worry, the more you do it, the more habitually it will become.

so, wearing the ring on your finger, how can you blow the whistle and signal the end of a play at the same time? Like, how can you whistle and signal an incompletion?

Well, see that's the thing. I had it out and got yelled at for late whistles and then the ref told me to just keep it in my mouth. I tested out the wrist landyard thing at home after waltjp suggested it and I think that's going to work.

Well, what I saw the guy that had that today do was blow the play dead quickly and then make the call right afterwards. For example, when the runner goes down, blow the whistle loud and as you run in for the spot then make the hand signal. I guess that's really the only way right?

On just about any play, a whistle isn't even needed. The play kills itself. The whistle is just an indicator that the play is over. I might blow my whistle once or twice a game. (I work as a deep official) You don't need a whistle when everyone in the stadium knows the pass is incomplete or the runner is down, or it's a TD, etc.

I know there are a lot of people that argue the need for whistles, especially in lower level ball, but the fact is that the play is over when the play is over, not when the whistle blows. (unless it's an inadvertant whistle) Get in the habit of NOT blowing it. Use your voice to talk to the players, use your whistle only when you have to.

This has to rate as about the worst advice anyone can offer you. It's better to be slow and correct than fast and wrong. An NFL official who helps our association with mechanics suggests that we try to officiate a scrimmage without using whistles. His claim is that after the first couple of plays the players will become accustomed to it and the officiating crew will realize that the whistles are not really required.


See wrist lanyard here.

I think I can accomplish the wrist landyard with my regular one. I'll just move the black ball up and lock it around my wrist and wrap the rest of the string around my hand.

What about the old saying that you "play until you hear the whistle"? Isn't that what the players are taught? I hear a lot from the guys teaching the class that "sometimes I never blow my whistle" and "the play is dead by rule." I think what might happen sometimes is that we're so afraid of blowing an inadvertant whistle that we over compensate by not blowing it at all. If the play is dead by rule, and you know it's dead by rule, there should be nothing wrong with blowing the whistle, but I agree with everyone here that having it in your mouth is probably a bad idea. I had to catch myself a couple times before I blew it to make sure I was sure that the play was actually dead.

With a lot of practice it's no problem. I have not owned/used a neck lanyard for about 25 years. I have a finger whistle and a wrist lanyard. The type of whistle I use depends on the position I'm working.

Why are you blowing a whistle on an incomplete pass?

You'll hear this from coaches and parents. Like a lot of things you'll hear from them - it's not true.

I can almost guarantee that at some point this season there will be a play that is clearly over, a whistle won't be blown and a player will unload on an opponent. Flags will fly for the late hit and soon after you'll hear the chorus sing, "The whistle didn't blow."

Whistle or not, the play is over when the play is over.

What do you mean? Don't confuse the newer officials and tell them not to blow their whistle on an incomplete pass. The covering official should sound their whistle quickly and loudly when the ball becomes dead on any play, including an incomplete pass. While the whistle shouldn't be in the mouth before the snap or during the play, it should be blown when the ball is certain to be dead. I don't think you will see different in any mechanics manual, and it is specifically listed in the NF manual. I know the whistle doesn't kill the play, but it should be blown at the end of the play so those who are blocking and cannot see the play know they should stop.

If it's in the NF Mechanics Manual, you may be right. I've never seen the NF Mechanins Manual--we don't use it.

There is no reason to blow a whistle on an incomplete pass but sine the orgoinal poster doesn't work here I won't tell him that.

I don't think there's a hard and fast rule for whistle kept in the mouth. I keep my whistle in my mouth during the play. I've had like maybe 1 IW in approximately 125 games. However, I've been a basketball official for years who's lived with the whistle being there and I have about as good whistle control as it gets.

You decide. If you learn to be slow on the whistle, as I am, then you should be fine. If not, then you either need to keep it out or practice slowing down.

You just have a bit of a pause worked in.

TWEET - pull whistle out of mouth - hands up for touchdown signal.
TWEET - whistle out - incomplete pass.
So on and so forth.

If timing becomes a factor, you can actually slide your fingers out of the whistle to leave it in your mouth and signal stop-the-clock at the same time.

FWIW, while I agree that rule #1 is "keep the whistle out of your mouth," I think a close rule #2 needs to be "'fess up when you do have the (hopefully rare) inadvertent whistle."

Thing is, I don't work in the US but I try to do things as you do up there since you're the inventors of the sport.
As I've heard and read from NFL rulebook, the covering official must blow the play dead. The other officials should confirm the whistle.

Now, this may be wrong or not done usually but since the book was the only thing I had till now, that's what I do.

Besides, we have a 20 yards pass incompletion downfield and the O-lineman are still blocking. If there's no whistle and they can't see the result of the play, how do they know it's over? This may sound stupid to you all but it's not clear for me. I had players screwing up after a dead ball because they didn't hear the whistle

Rule #3 regarding whistles is actually the opposite of this - NEVER "mirror" another official's whistle or TD signal.

I figured you were working NCAA ball or six man mechanics for NF ball, so I posted a question about a whistle or not at the end of a incomplete pass on another site that is NCAA. http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?topic=2466.0 Now if you are told not to blow a whistle by someone above you, then do that, but I may ask them why and argue some of the points listed in these posts. It is somewhat of a safety issue at times. What harm does a short whistle by only the covering official do to harm anything?

Then why the hell carry them? That's a silly suggestion.

I agree that there should normally be only one whistle on a play - and that should come from the covering official.

Sadly I am the highest officiating authority in Rio and we work the ****ty NFL rules modified.
So, Rule 15 states that:
15-6 (Field Judge)-5:
(...) Field judge is also to use his whistle when, upon his positive knowledge, he knows:
(a) thst ball is dead;
(b) that time is out;
(c) that time is out at the end of a down, during which a foul was signaled by a marker, no whistle has sounded in such cases; and
(d) that even in the presence of a whistle up or down field, he is to sound his whistle when players are some distance from such signal. This will help prevent dead ball fouls.

It's the same for Side Judge and Back Judge

Hmmm, you know what they say about making assumptions?
What Ref inSoCA is saying is we are a high school (NFHS rules) association standard 5-man for varsity that does not use the NFHS mechanics manual. The assoc has developed its own and that's what we teach/use.
I guess what Ref in SoCA is saying, how do you reconcile the belief a whistle is needed at the end of an obvious incomplete pass against the commonly held notion that the play kills itself and there is no whistle necessary?

I've always heard and practiced this. But, what is the downside of mirroring a whistle? The worst case is an inadvertant whistle and the play is dead anyway and would actually prevent the offender from not owning up to it. I really don't see what the issue is.

Safety would be the number one reason. It just lets all know that the play is dead and prevents possible problems and injuries.
The thread in refstripes has some good points from other officials. It is at least something to discuss IMO.

The only problem is the whistle you may be mirroring may not be from another official.

It's an exercise, Jim. Nobody ever suggested no using a whistle in a game. Besides, what would you do with your lanyard if you didn't have a whistle?

What you thought was a whistle may not have been a whistle. (Or it may have come from the stands, or a coach, or a plane flying overhead, etc.)

If one member of the crew has an IW, he/she should be the one to 'fess up and blow the whistle again.

In our local association we tell ALL our officials, especially the new ones, unless you see the player down with the ball in his possession, do not blow the whistle. We also teach our officials to only signal a TD if it is to their side of the field, and they clearly see the TD.

To sum it up, see the ball, make the call. If you don't see the ball, don't make the call.

As for your original question regarding advice, don't let the crowd bother you. The best thing for you to do is pretend they are not there. The only call that matters is yours and that of the other officials. Not the few people in the crowd who apparently have a rule book at home.

Here are my thoughts, FWIW:
Don't mirror signals.
Don't mirror whistles.
Don't double up flags.
Keep the whistle out of your mouth, IF you are comfortable with it. If not, BE SURE you see the ball prior to blowing the thing.
There is no harm in having a play without a whistle.
On an incomplete pass, there is no harm in blowing a short whistle to signal to everyone else that the play is dead.
There is no harm in having no whistles on a "three yards and a cloud of dust" type running play.
There should never be more than two whistles on any given play. If there are more, too many eyes on the ball.

Just my opinions.

I pretty much agree with everything you said. Except I stongly suggest that if you are not comfortable with the whistle out of your mouth, you better get comfortable with it. Not only does it prevent IWs, but it also saves you a trip to the dentist.

I'd agree with everything grantsrc said aprt from maybe the "dont double up flags". Not sure exactly what grant meant by that. If by "doubling up" he means 2 officials flagging the same foul because they both saw it, then I'd disagree with him saying dont do it.

Never assume the other official saw the same foul, I say flag what you see. If it is there, two flags sell it better to the players and coaches.

I'd quantify that by saying that if a foul is well outside your area, then (1) what are you doing seeing it in the first place, maybe you should be watching elsewhere and (2) you'd better be 150% sure of what you saw and if you are doing this more than once or twice a season then you are gonna get up the nose of your colleagues.

I have had an occasion where I saw a foul and flagged it and saw another official's flag come in on the same yard line. I started going toward him to double-check he had the same foul as I did. He picked up his flag and backed off and waved me toward the Referee to rport the foul.
I reported my foul, but when the Umpire started marching it off, this other official came in telling us we were marching the wrong way. His foul WAS NOT the same as mine. So the referee now had to redo the whole enforcement, talk to captains etc. made us look like idiots. A learning experience and nowadays I always check with the other guy that we did in fact see the same thing before one of us goes to report it to the Referee.

Remember the answer to #61 on the Part I NFHS is False!
 

All players who are ELIGIBLE at the start of the down REMAIN ELIBIGLE throughout the down

What I meant was don't throw your flag just to support your fellow official, if you don't see it. Some do this in order to "add" credibility or support to a call.

Totally agree with you there grantsrc. Hadn't hear the term "Double up". Over here, we call it a "Me too" flag. When I'm white hat, I hate asking a guy what he's got, only to told "I've got the same as him" :(

REPLY: Not sure what you're responding to here, but remember that some officials reading this board work under NCAA rules (especially our European brethren) where your statement is definitely not true. I know you mentioned Fed in the subject line, but some might have missed it.