Helping the runner??

[bossman72]

Just because assisting the runner is so infrequently called (or ignored), the assisting would have to be blatant and out in the open for me to call it.

[bisonlj]

I agree with bossman. I would need to see a lot more "help" before I'm going to call assisting the runner. I'm also amazed that an associtation is teaching their Umpires to call illegal formation with only 6 on the line. I never look wide to see where the receivers are. That is such an easy call for the wing officials.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by bossman72

Just because assisting the runner is so infrequently called (or ignored), the assisting would have to be blatant and out in the open for me to call it.

I called one last year from my R position. QB keeps the ball. Diminutive tailback pushes him with both hands. Pretty easy call. As the tailback was running off the field, I overheard the coach say, "Who are you, Reggie Bush?"

[whitehat]

Doc, once again thanks for the video. I think you guys nailed all three. Great call on helping the runner. Replay shows even more the effect of the push. I have never called this, but I would if it was obvious to me. As a mechanic we might tune our eyes to be looking for it on short yardage or goal line siuations especially.

Our terminal officials call the illegal formation and like others here I have never seen a U flag it..but as I tell my crew, as long as we get it right I really don't care who flags it!

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by whitehat

Our terminal officials call the illegal formation...

Are those the officials at the train station or the ones with cancer?

[DocLogic]

The first two calls were right on.

I wouldn't have called the aiding the runner....... you aren't wrong for calling that, it's a "by the book call" ......but that wouldn't have been called in a college or pro game..... and that is a standard.

I'm not going to call a push from behind. I have called aiding the runner before when a team mate grabbed and pulled a runner into the endzone, but a push I'm going to let go.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by DocLogic

The first two calls were right on.

I wouldn't have called the aiding the runner....... you aren't wrong for calling that, it's a "by the book call" ......but that wouldn't have been called in a college or pro game..... and that is a standard.

Each level has it's own set of unique rules, for a reason. The same holds true for "standards".

[Mike L]

It would be more accurate to say, especially in HS ball, each area has it's own standards. I know around my neck of the woods we do not want that flag for aiding the runner in the example given.

[sloth]

Originally Posted by DocLogic

The first two calls were right on.

I wouldn't have called the aiding the runner....... you aren't wrong for calling that, it's a "by the book call" ......but that wouldn't have been called in a college or pro game..... and that is a standard.

I'm not going to call a push from behind. I have called aiding the runner before when a team mate grabbed and pulled a runner into the endzone, but a push I'm going to let go.

I agree. I'm not saying it was a bad call, but here in central Indiana, I don't know of any referee that would flag that as aiding the runner (and I'm a referee). My thoughts (and what I've seen) is that aiding the runner comes into play if an offensive player is holding up a ball carrier who would go to the ground without the help. Also, pulling a ball carrier will bring that flag. A push in the back of the ball carrier will not get called. Again, I'm not bashing the OP and his flag, just commenting on the standards in my neck of the woods.

[DrMooreReferee]

Originally Posted by sloth

I agree. I'm not saying it was a bad call, but here in central Indiana, I don't know of any referee that would flag that as aiding the runner (and I'm a referee). My thoughts (and what I've seen) is that aiding the runner comes into play if an offensive player is holding up a ball carrier who would go to the ground without the help. Also, pulling a ball carrier will bring that flag. A push in the back of the ball carrier will not get called. Again, I'm not bashing the OP and his flag, just commenting on the standards in my neck of the woods.

I certainly don't feel like anyone is bashing my call. I asked for you guys' opinions. Its all good. I still feel like it was a pretty clear case of helping the runner. But I also understand that different folks look at things a little differently. And there are different philosophies all over the place on how to deal with things. Its all good, I love the discussions.

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by Forksref

I called one last year from my R position. QB keeps the ball. Diminutive tailback pushes him with both hands. Pretty easy call. As the tailback was running off the field, I overheard the coach say, "Who are you, Reggie Bush?"

My high school coach told me this story once. He said he would always see teams push the runner in, but it never gets called. So he decides, heck, we will do it too. So his runner did it and got called and his convo with the WH went like this:

"What did he do?"
"He pushed the runner into the EZ"
"Why did you call it?"
"It's assisting the runner coach"
"I know it's assisting the runner! But how come you freakin guys never call it when other teams do it!" (said half jokingly but not really)