Wingmen, get the heck out of bounds. Damn rookie mistake could really cost a team

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by Jim D

...If you keep your vow to never be on the field again when the ball is on your side of the field, you risk becoming a very marginal official for the rest of your career.

REPLY: Jim...first I have to admit that I'm a proponent of staying off the field at the snap and moving into the field only as the play develops, and never when the play is coming toward your sideline.

Secondly...don't you think that your quoted statement is a little over the top since I believe that RIRef's context was when the ball is live and action is moving into or through his side of the field? There are several Division 1 and NFL wing officials (almost all of them for that matter) who work their positions this way. I'd hardly call them 'marginal.' Of course, once the ball becomes dead, movement into the field is advised, often required.

Since the field is only 53 yards wide, what is it that you can see from 20 yards away that you can't see from 25 yards awy? Dang little, I'd offer. In fact, you can see more from 25 yards away simply because of the expanded view of your peripheral vision. And notice that DIv 1 and NFL officials don't even come into the dead ball spot unless the LTG or goal line is threatened. They only come in as far as necessary--never closer. Why? Because staying wide assists them in dead ball officiating. My choice...stay wide.

[Jim D]

It has been my observation that NFL and NCAA officials on the line tend to work on the field, if only just barely. The downfield guys are the ones who work off the field. I've worked on the sidelines at NFL games for a long time and I know the HL are on the field almost 100% of the time.

Then again, they have better marked fields, better lighting, better passers and receivers and usually a more open offensive plan.

My comments were directed at an extreme statement from a younger official. I think we need to be less rigid in our thinking and less in awe of the NFL and be a bit more adaptable. I believe in staying wide too - just not too wide.

[MJT]

Originally Posted by Jim D

It has been my observation that NFL and NCAA officials on the line tend to work on the field, if only just barely. The downfield guys are the ones who work off the field. I've worked on the sidelines at NFL games for a long time and I know the HL are on the field almost 100% of the time.

Then again, they have better marked fields, better lighting, better passers and receivers and usually a more open offensive plan.

My comments were directed at an extreme statement from a younger official. I think we need to be less rigid in our thinking and less in awe of the NFL and be a bit more adaptable. I believe in staying wide too - just not too wide.

Jim, the wings in D1 games (accept the SEC) and the NFL never start on the field. They only come in at the end of the play, and then only usually if the money line (GL or LTG) is threatened. Watch the NFL games and they are on the white until the play is dead and then only come in for close spots on the LTG or GL. I'm watching Navy/Pitt right now and the H was just on the white then the snap was on the opposite hash.

I work R for varsity, but have worked H, L, S, and F in NCAA and work exclusively on the white. Once you get used to it, you will always do it and can see things better, especially the wide view for cheap crap and DB crap when the play goes away from you. I work the MS games at our school and usually work a wing and help out others working the R for practice and stay on the white even for 7th grade games.