Hustling versus Hurrying

[NorCalRef12]

In the situation you described, I think the WH was just worried about you getting tired out. But if you can run to get the ball and still be good to go, by all means hustle back there to get it.

There is a difference between hustling and hurrying. Typically, new official's will hurry which only makes your vision bounce around and make things harder to see. For someone who hasn't played football for a while and is just getting into the game, it can seem like it is moving very fast. New official's think they need to speed up and get on top of the action in order to see everything. The opposite is actually true.

When you hurry, you are more concerned with where you are going than the action that you should be keying on. You should hustle to get in the correct position, but once you are there, slow down, stop if possible, and watch the play.

There is more to it than this, but this is the general idea.

[whitehat]

Try watching some good college (or good HS) officials, their mechanics, how they move, when they don't. if a wing, don't start moving on the snap, see what is happening then shuffle down field, let the play come to you...

NorCal is right. the more you slow down the more the game will slow down for you and you will see more. No good R will mistake your controlled, slow, deliberate hustle with laziness. some officials are just lazy and wont retrieve balls, dont pinch in on short yardage spots, BJs who stand in the middle of the field...etc...

[JRutledge]

Hustling is primarily during live ball action and right after dead ball action. You do not need to go nuts trying to get a ball relayed during stopped clock period or in the middle of the game. The next play is not going to start until all officials are ready anyway. The bottom line is you are not going to need to run all over the place during a one yard run up the middle.

Peace

[mbyron]

Hustle: getting to the right place at the right time.

False hustle: running around like a headless chicken.

[Mike L]

What most veterans mean by "slow down" is to take the time to process what you have seen before making any call. Are you sure about what you saw? Did you see the entire action? Did it have any real effect on the play?

You will have to move and move quickly at times to get yourself into that proper position to see the action correcly however. Sometimes, you don't have to move at all. It is about whether you are in the position to get that "window" you need.

Finally, if you are thinking about your drive home or the previous game starting late during your game, you've got some concentration issues to deal with.

[archangel]

Another suggestion if the ball went "40 yds" and the ball boy is still on the sidelines,--- dont retrieve the kicked ball, and just get another one from the sidelines. Let that ballboy retrieve it.

[Forksref]

Don't hurry to the ball when the play ends. Stay back and have a wide vision of the field so that you don't miss any dead-ball action.