First white hat assignment!

[Welpe]

No white hats for subvarsity games? Interesting, I haven't heard that one before. What is the rationale for doing that?

Here, the R always wears a white hat, regardless of the level.

[bisonlj]

If anyone here wears a white hat for a sub-varsity game I think everyone looks at them as being a little high on themselves. For most sub-varsity games, a number of officials are hired but no specific position assignments are made. The 3-5 officials get together 15 minutes before the game and decide who is going to work where. To show up wearing a white hat is a little presumptive.

I had worked a handful of white hat in JV/freshman/youth games before my first varsity game. I actually found it the easiest position to work during the plays and as long as we weren't administering penalties, it was also easy. I almost felt like I wasn't doing anything!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

If anyone here wears a white hat for a sub-varsity game I think everyone looks at them as being a little high on themselves. For most sub-varsity games, a number of officials are hired but no specific position assignments are made. The 3-5 officials get together 15 minutes before the game and decide who is going to work where. To show up wearing a white hat is a little presumptive.

I had worked a handful of white hat in JV/freshman/youth games before my first varsity game. I actually found it the easiest position to work during the plays and as long as we weren't administering penalties, it was also easy. I almost felt like I wasn't doing anything!

I always bring both hats. Most games, it's my crew working as a crew -- in that case it's a 90% chance I'll white hat. If I'm with another group, I'll go where they tell me. I *always* show up wearing a black hat, though, hoping I can go work a wing. *I* find it easier.

[Welpe]

Wow, how different things are in different parts of the country. Here, not only do we work 4 man for everything below varsity but our positions are also assigned. We have some flexibility say, for example, a veteran at R wants to work a newer guy in at R instead but for the most part, our positions are all assigned.

[HLin NC]

Don't forget your coin!

I worked a MS game one with a guy doing his first WH. He forgot his coin and nobody else had one so we wound up using his PBR key ring fob. (and that doesn't stand for Professional Bull Riders)

[schmitty1973]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Don't forget your coin!

I worked a MS game one with a guy doing his first WH. He forgot his coin and nobody else had one so we wound up using his PBR key ring fob. (and that doesn't stand for Professional Bull Riders)

Personally I would've chosen "Strings-No Strings"!

[ppaltice]

You are probably right about the distance: 12-15 yds. To be honest, I don't think about the exact distance anymore. I will have to check next game. I do know that when I first started, I lined up too close to the line and the QB.

I worked in Louisiana, Mass, Idaho, and now Alabama and the referees all wear white hats for all levels.

[ref1986]

Originally Posted by schmitty1973

Personally I would've chosen "Strings-No Strings"!

I've done rock-paper-scissors in JV and freshmen games just for fun. I also did it once in a varsity game. We do the coin toss while both teams are on the field for warmups. I always ask the coaches what they're going to do if they win the toss. If one team wants the ball and the other wants to defer, there's no need to flip the coin. So one game I asked the captains if they wanted to do rock-paper-scissors so I would have an official winner of the toss. They thought it was a good idea, so we did it!

No one here wears white hats for undercard games either. We see who shows up and decide who's doing what. As a varsity R, I always want to do something else if I can. My preference is LJ so I can b.s. with the home team coaches.

[Reffing Rev.]

When I was in IL or MO we never wore WH for sub-varsity games. WHen I came to NE it is assumed R will always where a WH.

My advice...which has not already been given.

Buy a data-wallet with signals in it, or at least copy and carry those, because chances are your first or second game someone will bring you an aiding the runner call or failure to wear required equipment call.

Rehearse your coaches conference and your coin toss. If your state allows it, do the coin toss off the field as early as possible.

Even though its a sub-varsity game do a pre-game with your crew.

During warm-ups learn the number of each team's passers and kickers and whether they are right or left handed/footed, so you can set on the correct side of the formation.

Keep it simple.

[VALJ]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

For most sub-varsity games, a number of officials are hired but no specific position assignments are made. The 3-5 officials get together 15 minutes before the game and decide who is going to work where. To show up wearing a white hat is a little presumptive.

Interesting. Our association (as is obvious from the fact that I'm asking in the first place) assigns specific positions. We've been known to switch amongst ourselves on JV games (the assigned LJ is usually a BJ, while the assigned BJ is normally an LJ), though not on varsity games.

I actually look forward to doing JV games "out of position" - especially at BJ - because I like seeing a different view of the game. Everything but U, anyway - I usually U once a season, simply to remind myself why I don't U more often.

One of my favorite on-field moments actually came last year when I was working out of position at BJ. We had a run play to the side, and the wideout was about 15 yards downfield holding the DB. The play got blown up in the backfield, so it didn't affect the play, so I ran in to warn thw wideout about his hands. "Son, remember that when you're leading the sweep, the only person I have on the entire field to watch is you, so if you're holding, I *will* see it. OK?"