Roughing the Passer

[Reffing Rev.]

White hats of the world,

This season I've called a lot more Roughing than in past seasons, I moved to a new location, different schools and all that, well tonight I was working a make-up game from earlier in the season filling in with a crew I've never worked before. They told me I was too protective of the QB, or too quick to call roughing. So here is the question...

A few years ago at a camp one of the clinicians said he used a little trick to help judge Roughing, I've used it ever since. He basically said as an R he keeps the whistle in his mouth as long as the QB has the ball. On a run play he drops it pretty quick, on a pass play he would drop the whistle at release and say, "Balls away, balls away" Then any contact after he said it twice was too late, flag, and of course before that any obvious "renewed charge" etc. would still get a flag.

Does anyone else use this?
Does anyone else have a "trick" to help them?

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

White hats of the world,

This season I've called a lot more Roughing than in past seasons, I moved to a new location, different schools and all that, well tonight I was working a make-up game from earlier in the season filling in with a crew I've never worked before. They told me I was too protective of the QB, or too quick to call roughing. So here is the question...

A few years ago at a camp one of the clinicians said he used a little trick to help judge Roughing, I've used it ever since. He basically said as an R he keeps the whistle in his mouth as long as the QB has the ball. On a run play he drops it pretty quick, on a pass play he would drop the whistle at release and say, "Balls away, balls away" Then any contact after he said it twice was too late, flag, and of course before that any obvious "renewed charge" etc. would still get a flag.

Does anyone else use this?
Does anyone else have a "trick" to help them?

In Canada, the philosophy is that the defender has to do something to lessen, once the ball has been released, the contact to escape the RTP foul.

That could be adjust his route, even slightly, to lessen the effect on the passer.
It could be to "hold up" the passer so that the passer doesn't continue to the ground.
It could be that the pursuer slows up at the last second.

Any number of elements could cause the hanky to stay in the pocket. But if in the R's judgment, the defender didn't do anything to lessen the contact, it is a flag.

I've found this approach to be very consistent locally, and provincially as well.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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 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.

[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.