Clear Sidelines

[ajmc]

Haven't seen the 2008 books yet, but if the recommendation is for the wingofficial to flag the sideline, that makes a lot of sense.

Presumably, it's that wing official who has been cautioning the sideline about their behavior up to the point a flag becomes necessary, and that wing official whose requests are being ignored.

It's that wing official who will have to control that sideline for the rest of the game so it seems only logical that it's that wing official who will decide when his sideline has failed to comply, and it's that wing official who has the sole authority to penalize for non-compliance, so it's he, who it makes sense sideline personnel, needs to pay attention to.

[Ed Hickland]

The sidelines have been a problem for almost 30 years in our Association. One coach was so bold has to stroll onto the field with his bright yellow cord behind him. He has retired.

Sideline control has to be enforced not just by your crew but consistently with every crew at every game, otherwise, coaches will label those who enforce the sidelines and/or scratch the enforcers.

You need to make it tough on wingmen so they want to enforce the sidelines without fear of coaches' retribution. Something like failing to enforce the sidelines will result in not getting a playoff assignment.

Consider this, for officials poor sideline enforcement can have two negative consequences; 1) injury to a coach or other sideline person caused by the official with the impact being a multi-million dollar lawsuit like we saw in Texas; or, 2) injury to an official which could be serious. Either way the official could be hurt either physically or in the pocket book.