newcomer question

[jjrye22]

Our new guys never get R in the first 2-3 years.
Generally we work with 5 and 6 man crews (7 in the higher level games, but the new guys aren't usually in on those games), and they are normally started LM/LJ on a 5er, or FJ on a 6er. Some will start as U, but they tend to be people who used to play (maybe just a preference for being on the field itself?)
In the first year our people don't really get that much exposure to other positions - I went 7 years before they stuck me back as SJ and BJ. I know quite a few who have never been U (scared of the action).

[Welpe]

Our association seems to prefer having their new guys work at umpire and I believe this is a good approach because it keeps new guys in the middle of things and it requires them to know penalty enforcements. Most of my games were at U though I did a handful at HL. They will put guys with a few years of experience in at R for youth games and veterans usually work at BJ for Varsity.

I really enjoy working at U and being right in the middle of things on every play. It feels like home to me as I was a center and linebacker in high school. I even had half of a tackle on a running back last year.

Working the wing is not bad either...at least when the volume on the coaches is turned down low.

[zebra2955]

Around here a lot has do to with the level games. In youth we have them learn all (We work 4 man in youth). With four games a day one game at each. We will have them ref the youngest and rotate from there. Even the veteran officails do this just to keep them seeing things from all perspectives.

And I agree with sonofanump take that whistle out of your mouth. I also officiate basketball, and this helps a ton.

[vbzebra]

Originally Posted by zebra2955

Around here a lot has do to with the level games. In youth we have them learn all (We work 4 man in youth). With four games a day one game at each. We will have them ref the youngest and rotate from there. Even the veteran officails do this just to keep them seeing things from all perspectives.

And I agree with sonofanump take that whistle out of your mouth. I also officiate basketball, and this helps a ton.

Sounds good....makes breathing and running so much easier!!

[Sonofanump]

The whistle does not end the play, the play ends itself. Some plays do not need whistles at all and only the covering official should be on it. Think of it as a dead ball tool instaed of ending a play like in basketball.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Just a quick comment on Texas Aggie's thoughts about basketball officials joining the ranks of footbal officials. I agree wholeheartedly that any officiating experience prior to working football is an advantage. Basketball, IMHO, is probably the most difficult game to officiate because of the need to make those split-second decisions that Texas Aggie referred to. Add the that the need to determine the flow of the game and process that in your mind, and it becomes a difficult task. Also, just as in football, basketball has its own philosophies that need to be integrated with your knowledge of the rules so that you can officiate "with the book" rather than just "by the book."

However, there are a few adjustments that even a great basketball official needs to make in order to be successful on the gridiron: (1) In basketball, decisions have to be made extremely quickly, (2) Each decision (as opposed to 'non-decisons') is accompanied by a whistle--a quick whistle. In football, things need to happen at a more 'leisurely' pace. Decision making on potential fouls can take 2 or 3 seconds so that the official can assess the foul, determine its effect on the play, and then decide whether an opponent was put at a material disadvantage. The flag doesn't need to come out immediately in most cases (exception being LOS infractions like false starts). And...(this is a big one)...the decision on a foul is not accompanied by a whistle. That's where a different kind of whistle control needs to be learned.

But I agree with TA that having had officiating experience should be a great advantage for anyone looking to get out on a football field.

[vbzebra]

Originally Posted by Bob M.

REPLY: Just a quick comment on Texas Aggie's thoughts about basketball officials joining the ranks of footbal officials. I agree wholeheartedly that any officiating experience prior to working football is an advantage. Basketball, IMHO, is probably the most difficult game to officiate because of the need to make those split-second decisions that Texas Aggie referred to. Add the that the need to determine the flow of the game and process that in your mind, and it becomes a difficult task. Also, just as in football, basketball has its own philosophies that need to be integrated with your knowledge of the rules so that you can officiate "with the book" rather than just "by the book."

However, there are a few adjustments that even a great basketball official needs to make in order to be successful on the gridiron: (1) In basketball, decisions have to be made extremely quickly, (2) Each decision (as opposed to 'non-decisons') is accompanied by a whistle--a quick whistle. In football, things need to happen at a more 'leisurely' pace. Decision making on potential fouls can take 2 or 3 seconds so that the official can assess the foul, determine its effect on the play, and then decide whether an opponent was put at a material disadvantage. The flag doesn't need to come out immediately in most cases (exception being LOS infractions like false starts). And...(this is a big one)...the decision on a foul is not accompanied by a whistle. That's where a different kind of whistle control needs to be learned.

But I agree with TA that having had officiating experience should be a great advantage for anyone looking to get out on a football field.

yeah, that's a very good point. Didn't really think of that. On "fouls" in basketball, play is dead immediately. That'll be one (of what I'm sure will be MANY) adjustments I'll have to get used to!

[Texas Aggie]

Honestly, it isn't a problem for me and I leave the whistle in my mouth a lot. I can think of only one time in the last few years where I had a "too quick" whistle, and it wasn't even incorrect. I had just done a weekend of basketball games and had a Monday football game as a wing. A kid breaks upfield, but steps on the sideline and I blow it like its basketball. Nothing really wrong with that, but I don't want that quick a whistle in football. I've gotten to where I don't even blow my whistle in football unless I need to.

However, I won't argue the point as I think its a good one.

In some ways, football has helped my basketball, giving me a more patient whistle there.