NCAA Question

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by TXMike

The whistle is generally not necessary but by nor blowing it, guys risk having late hits that cannot be flagged as it may involve players not in position to notice the ball is dead. I have been part of games where a few members of the crew made a wager to see who would have to blow their whistle first (and that person would buy). Seemed pretty juvenile to me and potentially dangerous.

Why can't you flag a late hit without a whistle? Do you have a rules reference for that statement?

Peace

[TXMike]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Why can't you flag a late hit without a whistle? Do you have a rules reference for that statement?

Peace

I should have been clearer. I am not talking about late hits on the runner. No excuse for that. I am talking about those late blocks thrown far enough away from the action or at such an angle that the blocker could not legitimately know the play was dead. You are a B I believe, as I am I. If so, you know there are many times when you are watching receivers engaged with DB's downfield and you do not have a clue the ball is dead without hearing the whistle. If I do not know it is dead then I suspect there are some players who do not as well.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by TXMike

I should have been clearer. I am not talking about late hits on the runner. No excuse for that. I am talking about those late blocks thrown far enough away from the action or at such an angle that the blocker could not legitimately know the play was dead. You are a B I believe, as I am I. If so, you know there are many times when you are watching receivers engaged with DB's downfield and you do not have a clue the ball is dead without hearing the whistle. If I do not know it is dead then I suspect there are some players who do not as well.

You've still got 2 choices here, even with no whistle:

1. Tell them "It's over!" if the contact is minor.

2. If the contact is severe enough, flag a PF for unnecessary roughness (for example, a cheap shot).

I had #2 a couple weeks ago, with a shot from the side 20 yards away from the play. The coach kept whining that the whistle hadn't blown, until I told him that the flag was for UR, not a late hit.

[TXMike]

The whistle is much louder (and in the places I ref, noise is often an issue) and quicker.

No argument with #2 but I rarely see a DB who is not actively trying to enagage in the action. No way am I flagging a Team A player for trying to keep him from doing so.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by TXMike

I should have been clearer. I am not talking about late hits on the runner. No excuse for that. I am talking about those late blocks thrown far enough away from the action or at such an angle that the blocker could not legitimately know the play was dead. You are a B I believe, as I am I. If so, you know there are many times when you are watching receivers engaged with DB's downfield and you do not have a clue the ball is dead without hearing the whistle. If I do not know it is dead then I suspect there are some players who do not as well.

What you just described does not always stop because there is a whistle. And even if I have a whistle, I may not flag anything if the players are basically engaged with each other and there is not real violent contact. And as long as they stop reasonably, I would not have a foul anyway. This is why I use my voice when I can and yell "It is over...It's over." And I will say that whistle or no whistle.

Peace