would you say anything

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

To whom are you replying, Jay?

I'm guessing to anyone who changes their officiating as Jay describes.

[Jaysef]

Anyone who has even entertained changing the way they officiate this great game should reflect on their motivation for officiating football. I am not trying to call anyone out in particular...and I don't post very often... the subject matter of this particular thread caught me by surprise.

J

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Jaysef

Anyone who has even entertained changing the way they officiate this great game should reflect on their motivation for officiating football. I am not trying to call anyone out in particular...and I don't post very often... the subject matter of this particular thread caught me by surprise.

J

Disregard the initial "sportsmanship" comments, as I believe there is some difference of opinion there among those posting.

But are you implying that when you officiate an 8th grade B-game that's run 45 minutes late already on a school night, with the A-team waiting to play, and the score 40-0 in the fourth quarter, you don't do ANYTHING differently than you did when it was 0-0 in the first quarter?

[Jaysef]

...absolutely not. My reply,which may have taken on an all-encompassing tone, was in response to the original thread.

J

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Jaysef

...absolutely not.

You'd be crucified by most parents, coaches, officials, and trainers of officials I know if you were so rigid as to not understand the overall situation you are in. You have to be cognizant of the bigger picture sometimes. There are times when it's beneficial (even from the losing team's POV) for you to "help" the game move along.

[w_sohl]

The other night I was working a JV game, B was up by said 40+ points with ~2-1/2 mins. to go in the game. There was an obvious holding foul by A near B's sideline on a sweep play. I threw the flag, but A turned the ball over so we ignored my flag. My varsity WH was working BJ on this night picked up my flag for me and put it in his pocket. After the game he and another official who WHed for us that night told me that that is a perfect example of having presence and knowing the situation. They told me that I should have held the flag no matter what happened there, even if it cleared the guy for a score, it had no bearing on the outcome of a game. They both work JC ball here in CA and it is some of the best JC ball in the country. Most of these kids could go to D1 schools if it weren't for grades or social problems. There assignor wants it called that way. And just a little more info, this assignor has sent guys to the NFL. So you do change your officiating to fit certain situations. The rule books are printed B&W but the rules are never enforced that way...

[Jaysef]

...I may have made sweeping remarks in my responses, but, I repeat, my reaction was to the presumption that something unsportsman-like, was going on in the situation stated, and easing the pain of the team on the light end of the score by calling things you may not normally call, was even contemplated.

I understand the dynamics that occur in ugly games, as well as flawless, well-oiled contests, and your approach to officiating should conform to maintain the flow, but we are not here to try and make things right with the universe, just to enforce the rules, and keep the kids safe.

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