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.