Confirming a Field Goal

[Robert Goodman]

This is something where no code gives the best mechanics for the officials under the posts. An official under (or immediately behind) a post has an unbeatable view of which side of that post the ball passes, but hardly any view of which side of the other post the ball passes, if it's at all close. So why doesn't any game that has that type of goal (rugby, American football, whatever) have a signal that the official under one post can give that means, "The ball passed inside my post & over the bar."? Like for instance, at the instant the ball passes over the bar, pointing "inside", i.e. toward the other official. If they point at each other, that's a strong indication to the referee that the kick was good. Plus, the ref can sight the ball at the instant they put up their arms as add'l evidence the ball was between the posts. If either one points "outside" or down, that's a strong indicator to the ref that the kick was wide or low.

But nooooo! The codes all provide only signals that say "score" or "no score".

Robert