Opinions on this?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Wow, I guess officiating is actually a lot different in some parts of the country. In some parts, the same officials who work local College, HS (at all levels) and Semi-Pro are actually the same officials who work youth leagues.

I did not say that this applied to everyone. But I highly doubt someone that is working college is available to work much youth ball for the simple reason you cannot be in two places at the same time. That being said, it was rather clear these were not big time high school officials, let alone worked college.

Peace

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I did not say that this applied to everyone. But I highly doubt someone that is working college is available to work much youth ball for the simple reason you cannot be in two places at the same time. That being said, it was rather clear these were not big time high school officials, let alone worked college.

Peace

I guess it all depends on where you are. The age old suggestion to "do like a Roman" only applied when you might happen to be in Rome. Further East, College games are usually played on Saturday afternoons. Youth Football games are primarily played throughout Sunday afternoons and evenings, although some are played Saturday evenings at 5:00 & 7:00, or 6:00 & 8:00pm and occassionally on weeknights at 6;00pm.

Again, back East, many of the same officials belong to both ECAC and the local HS Assn., that services HS and Youth leagues and services semi-pro leagues and don't have college, HS or semi-pro assignments that conflict with youth leagues every week. Like most areas, it boils down to availability and interest and many enjoy an infinite mix of available choices.

Amazing how often people assume "one size fits all" when in reality that hardly ever applies.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ajmc

I guess it all depends on where you are. The age old suggestion to "do like a Roman" only applied when you might happen to be in Rome. Further East, College games are usually played on Saturday afternoons. Youth Football games are primarily played throughout Sunday afternoons and evenings, although some are played Saturday evenings at 5:00 & 7:00, or 6:00 & 8:00pm and occassionally on weeknights at 6;00pm.

That sounds great. But you have completely missed the point. It is really not whether officials can or cannot work games at all levels. It is clear by the mechanics, the look of the officials and they way they moved they obviously are not working all levels as was assumed by a previous point. I was stating that that these officials were not automatically high school or college officials as assumed by a previous poster, which is why I made the comments in the first place.

Originally Posted by ajmc

Again, back East, many of the same officials belong to both ECAC and the local HS Assn., that services HS and Youth leagues and services semi-pro leagues and don't have college, HS or semi-pro assignments that conflict with youth leagues every week. Like most areas, it boils down to availability and interest and many enjoy an infinite mix of available choices.

Amazing how often people assume "one size fits all" when in reality that hardly ever applies.

I did not ask you what they did out East. And what someone does in a particular area is also not relevant to my comments. I was making it clear that these officials were likely not working all levels. I work in many basketball camps as a clinician and help train younger/newer officials in basketball. We joke all the time that we can tell what someone's experience is by just watching them run up and down the court just a few times. I think what I saw was a similar reaction that I got. Because college officials would not be doing some of these things whether they were working youth ball or not in my opinion.

Peace

[ajmc]

Relevance is important, as is context, and the context of this discussion seemed pointed towards some observations that "pinching in" from the sidelines was automatically improper mechanics.

The counter suggestion was simply that considering the significant physical and skill differences between 8 year old children playing football, and other more advanced levels of the game, often calls for practical adjustment to standard mechanics to better deal with the actual circumstances of the game at hand. Such adjustments may well be appropriate, rather than automatically considered improper.

There's little value in critiquing any individual official's performance, at the 8 yr old level from a compiled parental highlite video, unless you might be a mentor for that particular official and were discussing it privately and constructively with the official. There is even less value in assessing perfomance based on mechanics, that may be unique at this level, as compared to how they would be required at more advanced levels.

Football at the 8 year old level is a DIFFERENT game.

[Fedex]

Jeez-o guys...breathe for a second.

I understand and know that youth football is a different level than high school. I do know that some mechanics are adjusted to the level. I get it. I also know that some youth officials do not work high school and are just starting out. I'm also going to take back any comments on laziness, since it's probably not the case.

So...let me rephrase my question. When is it appropriate to pinch to an extreme (like at 5:42 and 7:08 of the video)? What good does it do to be that close to the action? Does anybody teach it like that for 8 year old football?

I appreciate the feedback given by you guys...it's priceless knowledge (No sarcasm here).

Scott

[ajmc]

"pinching in" TOO far is normally not a good idea, at any level, unless there might have been something significant he was responding to, that can't be seen on the video.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Fedex

So...let me rephrase my question. When is it appropriate to pinch to an extreme (like at 5:42 and 7:08 of the video)? What good does it do to be that close to the action? Does anybody teach it like that for 8 year old football?

It does not do much good at all. But honestly I really do not think that is the point. It is a youth football game, with people that are not required in many jurisdictions to do much of anything. You are going to see all kinds of things of the officials (like wearing a jacket on the field) that you would not see other places. Take it for what it is a training ground for people to get some experience. That means you will see all kinds of wrong things.

Peace

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by Fedex

Jeez-o guys...breathe for a second.

I understand and know that youth football is a different level than high school. I do know that some mechanics are adjusted to the level. I get it. I also know that some youth officials do not work high school and are just starting out. I'm also going to take back any comments on laziness, since it's probably not the case.

So...let me rephrase my question. When is it appropriate to pinch to an extreme (like at 5:42 and 7:08 of the video)? What good does it do to be that close to the action? Does anybody teach it like that for 8 year old football?

I appreciate the feedback given by you guys...it's priceless knowledge (No sarcasm here).

Scott

Scott,
I think if you read Bob M's post above you'll get your answers to the first two questions. There are a few specific plays where pre-pinching may be ok, but not to that extent. As for the last question....either the guys in the vid are doing it the way they were taught and/or required to do it or they came up with that on their own. No way for us to know. I do know around my area, I'd be strongly advising them to get back. I'd also have a lot of other recommendations for them, but we'll stick to the pinch question here.

[Fedex]

Thanks guys...I appreciate the answers!