Communication signal

[ajmc]

I would think the deep official (BJ or R on an interception) watching a player cross the goal line near the sideline would instinctively make eye contact with the official pursuing the action along that sideline. In the absence of a TO signal somewhere up the line, the presumption should be that the play was still live when the runner crossed the goal.

I would also presume, the sideline official who has observed a player step on, or outside, the sideline would continue signalling TO until everything stopped, or the deep official picked up, and repeated back, the signal.

I normally don't have a problem with any signal that actually helps clarify a situation, but I just don't see any value in this suggested signal, in as much as it to mean anything the deep official has to look to the sideline official anyway and seeing, or not seeing, the TO signal somewhere upfield tells the entire message.

[OverAndBack]

Whatever subtle signal (eye contact, thumbs up, point, whatever) a wing and a back judge might make to say "I got him inbounds" and "I got him over the goal line" so that you are on the same page before a touchdown signal is made, that's absolutely the way to go.

Signalling that a guy is still inbounds seems superfluous to me.

[daggo66]

I don't even understand the thumbs up. Wouldn't you blow your whistle the second he steps on the line? The BJ shouldn't be waiting for a TO signal. the wing should blow his whistle as soon as someone goes OOB, then continue until he is at the spot and signal TO. If it's close to the pylon the BJ shouldn't be signally anything anyway. There is no rush to signal a TD. The wing should get to the pylon and make the signal.

[OverAndBack]

Originally Posted by daggo66

I don't even understand the thumbs up. Wouldn't you blow your whistle the second he steps on the line? The BJ shouldn't be waiting for a TO signal. the wing should blow his whistle as soon as someone goes OOB, then continue until he is at the spot and signal TO. If it's close to the pylon the BJ shouldn't be signally anything anyway. There is no rush to signal a TD. The wing should get to the pylon and make the signal.

I think it's just a final check to make sure. I've always been told that you can take an extra second on the back end to make eye contact just in case and it's better than having the guy say "Oh, shoot, wait, I actually had him out back here, my bad. Sorry."