Roughing the Passer

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by daggo66

Slow down and take the whistle out of your mouth. Why would you have the whistle in your mouth just because the QB has the ball? That's an IA waiting to happen. Get a finger whistle. Other than the RFP, I rarely blow my whistle in the game.

Ever work basketball?

[daggo66]

No, what's your point?

[waltjp]

Another R that I respect shared this with me a few years ago concerning roughing/pass interference.

Roughing - If you have to think about it, flag it.

PI - If you have to think about it, hold it.

[kdf5]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Another R that I respect shared this with me a few years ago concerning roughing/pass interference.

Roughing - If you have to think about it, flag it.

PI - If you have to think about it, hold it.

Really nice! I'll try to use that.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by daggo66

No; what's your point?

My experience tells me that most IWs come from people without training in a sport such as basketball, where whistle control is paramount. Just my 2 cents.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

My experience tells me that most IWs come from people without training in a sport such as basketball, where whistle control is paramount. Just my 2 cents.

I've always thought the contrary: because we whistle every foul in basketball, it's tempting to do the same in football, especially for rookies.

[daggo66]

My point is that there is no rush to blow a whistle in football. Therefore there is no point for having it in your mouth. Same thing with the flag for RTP. Take your time and think about it.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by daggo66

My point is that there is no rush to blow a whistle in football. Therefore there is no point for having it in your mouth. Same thing with the flag for RTP. Take your time and think about it.

And for those that do, are you saying that they are officiating incorrectly?

[Ed Hickland]

I use the voice "it's gone", "it's away" or something like that. If the passer is hit during that period while I'm saying it, there was not sufficient time to avoid contact.

I started officiating with basketball where the whistle stays in your mouth most of the time. A little different with football where there is no need to blow the whistle to stop the play and even if it is no harm can be done for a delay. For me the whistle drops once the RFP is blown. If something happens my reaction time is 2 to 3 seconds just enough to think about it. If there is anticipation that the whistle needs to be blown as in the runner being pushed backwards or a hunt for the ball I will bring the whistle toward my mouth to reduce my reaction time.

[daggo66]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

And for those that do, are you saying that they are officiating incorrectly?

I am saying that they are risking an IW. As Ed stated there is no need to blow the whistle to stop the play. I tell my crew to never blow the whistle unless they see the ball. We will have 3 to 4 plays per game with no whistle whatsoever.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I've always thought the contrary: because we whistle every foul in basketball, it's tempting to do the same in football, especially for rookies.

What are your thoughts based on? Is that what happens in your area? We've had 11 rooks this year and on games I've had with them, I've had 1 IW.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I've always thought the contrary: because we whistle every foul in basketball, it's tempting to do the same in football, especially for rookies.

My U started doing FB 2 years ago and came from a basketball background. On the opening KO in his first game he saw a block in the back and blew it dead immediately. This incident definitely sold him on keeping the whistle out of your mouth after the snap or free kick.

[Reffing Rev.]

The whistle really wasn't the problem, but thanks guys. The clinician's rationale, and mine are simple...

1. If there is a dead ball foul just before the snap, the action is mostly coming at the R, and if I can blast my whistle (before the 2-3 seconds it takes to find the whistle again) then it might save some kid getting creamed because he knows the plays is dead, and another kid doesn't.

2. Its an issue of timing, the "drop the whistle" technique gives a personal physical timing check.

3. 1-handed signals from a ref who is sucking his thumb makes him look like an idiot.

Oh and BTW, the only IW I've had in 10 years was on a fake reverse, I saw "leather" (it turned out to be a muddy shoe that had come off of a player in the pile and gotten wedged under the pretend ball carrier's arm) , put my whistle in my mouth and blew. The ball was 30 yards away.

Again, I'm not advocating officiating fb with a whistle in your mouth all the time. I am advocating if you are going to use a finger-whistle be able to do it without sacrificing your mechanics and signalling abilities, and don't scold a guy for using his whistle 3-5 seconds longer than you do.

[kdf5]

The rule says "after it is clear the ball is thrown". There's some grey area there for sure. I've really tried to watch a lot of NCAA football this year and I've paid a lot of attention to hits on passers. I'm hoping to gauge my calls against what I see there and so far I feel like I'm doing a good job with my calls. I have some hits on the QB but they are pretty much immediately after the ball is gone. I also do a lot of communicating with defenders, especially telling those that lay off or pull by telling them "nice job of letting up" and warning those who I think may be a bit late. Any helmet to helmet stuff gets flagged immediately.