Twist on 8-2-2

[wisref2]

What I'd like to know is this. Why is it up to us to figure all this out?

All of these interpretations should have been put out as part of the communications of the rule change. Frankly, I don't think the Federation understood the real implications of what seemed to be a pretty easy, and good, rule change.

Heck, this wasn't even covered at our rules interpretation meeting. They just skipped over it saying it was pretty simple.

Reminds me of the basketball change a few years ago redefining player control to include during an interrupted dribble. The Federation never realized that made it possible to call a timeout as the ball was rolling down the floor!

At the time, I suggested that they form an advisory committee of active officials (there are few, if any, actual officials on the rules committee) to review their changes to identify things like this.

It's unacceptable for this type of thing to happen. They've set us up for failure because, unfortunately, very few officials actually participate in these kinds of forums. They just go out on Friday and work a game and don't even realize what this rule really means.

Rant over.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by wisref2

At the time, I suggested that they form an advisory committee of active officials (there are few, if any, actual officials on the rules committee) to review their changes to identify things like this.

Doesn't always work. I know a league that had current officials and retired players on such an advisory committee, but when it came time to write the actual rule book, the league shoved them aside and turned out the worst P.O.S. of a rule book for football I'd ever seen.

Robert