Responding to sideline / bleacher chatter

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Bullycon

Excellent point, RichMSN. I had not considered that. I do think it would have been highly unlikely. All he had done was take the toss from the QB and run to the outside.

But you don't *know*. So you don't throw a flag.

[Canned Heat]

If you never learn to tune out crowd or sideline comments or complaints, you'll have a short career in officiating. I had a hard time the first year or two and find myself perplexed by some of the comments that come out of the crowd or a coach's mouth. I do a good bit of AAYFL youth ball every Saturday in addition to our weekly assignments and I don't think I have to tell you how many parents think they know the rules better than our whole crew. If I had a $5 spot for every time I've heard some parent ot coach scream "HORSECOLLAR" this year, I could take off until Christmas.

[chymechowder]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

If I had a $5 spot for every time I've heard some parent ot coach scream "HORSECOLLAR" this year, I could take off until Christmas.

haha, awesome.

I hear it all the time, too. Kid gets pulled down by his shirt tail and Team A sideline is screaming for a horsecollar tackle penalty.

[Bullycon]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

If I had a $5 spot for every time I've heard some parent ot coach scream "HORSECOLLAR" this year, I could take off until Christmas.

Amazingly, I had more complaints last year than this year. I've had two plays where the runner was grabbed by the back collar, but not pulled down. Not a word. The one time a coach called for it, the defender clearly had him by the back of the jersey, not the collar of the jersey.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by Bullycon

Amazingly, I had more complaints last year than this year. I've had two plays where the runner was grabbed by the back collar, but not pulled down. Not a word. The one time a coach called for it, the defender clearly had him by the back of the jersey, not the collar of the jersey.

I had a boatload of those the first year it was implemented in the NFL, but had yet to be instilled in the NCAA or NFHS. One time a guy in the crowd (youth game, no less) was so extremely adamant, the coaches of the home team asked ME to settle him down. I reluctantly called time out and approached the sideline and stated to the gentleman that the horsecollar was a rule only in the NFL. I then mentioned that if he did not restrain himself any further, he would be removed from the venue. Got some ovation from the stands on the way back out to the field. This year, I've had at least 5 instances of coaches yelling for the HC and they weren't anything near an HC. All going down forward and one getting pulled forward from the name placket over onto his head. We did have a textbook one 2 weeks ago on a breakaway interception.

[Reffing Rev.]

1. Everybody wants a flag thrown, just not at them.

2. NEVER talk to anyone in the crowd. Nothing good can come from it.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by Reffing Rev.

1. Everybody wants a flag thrown, just not at them.

2. NEVER talk to anyone in the crowd. Nothing good can come from it.

I agree. That's the only time it's ever been done...and I'd never recommend it. As apprehensive as I was, it took care of a situation that was going to turn worse before it got better and the game management there was "lacking" in all forms...if you know what I mean. Had it not been a youth game (7th graders) with the next game's kids sitting in the stands and some more warming up next to the bleachers...it may have never happened.
I still get "thank you's" from that staff, due in large part because none of them had a set of seeds to set the parent straight.

[Durham]

I have a very serious question to a very big problem i have with the advice "Ignore them!" Why do we as football officials choose to ignore them and just live with it? Why don't we enforce the code of ethics/sportsmanship?

I began my officiating as a baseball umpire and have worked every level of baseball and there we do not just ignore. We don't go looking for it, but when someone steps out of line, we respectfully and professionally are asked to help show them back into the light.

So why is it different in football? I am in my 2nd year of football and spending a lot of time at the white hat and back judge positions and one of the reasons that I am doing well is my learned ability to effectivly communicate with coaches and players.

There is nothing wrong with turning around durring dead ball time and telling the coach that each of you has a role, you''l do your best to do yours and it would be best that he stick to his. They usually get the hint and tactics like this have usually worked and been understood after a side-line warning, a 5, and or a 15. I am not saying just throw them, but if after speaking with them, it isn't hard to find a toe in the box.

So, vet's please explain to me.

Thanks.

[umpirebob71]

I was referring to ignoring the fans in the stands. As has been said on here, nothing good can come from arguing with them. As for a coach, if he is getting out of line, I'll let him know.

Originally Posted by umpirebob71

I was referring to ignoring the fans in the stands. As has been said on here, nothing good can come from arguing with them. As for a coach, if he is getting out of line, I'll let him know.

Me (after hearing a few remarks from the assistant coach): "Hey coach, muzzle your assistant or it's going to cost 15"
Head coach: "OK"
Assistant coach: "Muzzle me??? mpfhmpfhmfhmpmfhp" (Sounds emanating while head coach has his hands covering the mouth and pulling assistant away from me)
Players: Laughing uproar
Me (wondering): What a beautiful sound.

[ajmc]

I've found it's usually not a good idea to embarrass a coach in front of his players. You're never sure in what direction that might take you. However, I see no problem in quietly, and calmly, advising the coach as privately as possible that he has a choice. He can mind his manners and keep his comments to himself, or he can choose to say whatever he wants as loudly as he likes in the parking lot.

It's his choice and it's irrevocable.

Originally Posted by ajmc

I've found it's usually not a good idea to embarrass a coach in front of his players. You're never sure in what direction that might take you. However, I see no problem in quietly, and calmly, advising the coach as privately as possible that he has a choice. He can mind his manners and keep his comments to himself, or he can choose to say whatever he wants as loudly as he likes in the parking lot.

It's his choice and it's irrevocable.

As you can see in my clarified posting, I wasn't setting out to embarrass the assistant. In my sitch, the head coach was very cordial throughout the game, while the assistant had plenty to say (nothing bad, just incessant chatter about this and that which I usually don't listen to until it becomes personal). He just finally pushed a nerve when he "decided" he would ask why I didn't flag something. That's when I told the head coach to muzzle the assistant before it hurts the team, especially when it was a freshman game. How the head coach decided to muzzle him wasn't my business but it was quite amusing.

[mrkroz]

Ignoring and communication.

I'm an official who works for the Danish American Football Federation (DAFF). I was working white-hat at a 4-man crew in a 9-man football game. On a running play off tackle (TE) the ball-carrier was "trippet", meaning fell over a defensive linemans leg (did not go down, but could keep running). Offense sideline yelled out "TRIPPING!!" but I simply replied "no!" and continued officiating; whereafter the sideline went silent.
After the game one of the coaches over and said "You had the comment of the game.." with a smile on his face. They had accepted that I had seen the action, but knew that it wasn't a foul (contrary to them).

At the same time when you have the split-second decision "think-through" time that was discussed earlier, and decides to throw the flag just as a coach yells in you head, that there is a foul I usually reply "I HAVE seen it ,coach!" in a tone that says "back off".