LSU/PSU - Two Flags Thrown by the R

[grunewar]

Caveat - I am not a football official.

LSU /PSU Capital One Bowl Game

LSU QB drops back to pass. R throws flag for hold against LSU O Lineman. Play continues. PSU D Lineman gets to LSU QB and as he's making the sack, LSU QB intentionally grounds the ball. R throws another flag.

Questions:

1) Is it standard for officials, all officials, to have two flags?

2) Have you ever used two flags on a play? How common is this?

Thanks

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Questions:

1) Is it standard for officials, all officials, to have two flags?

2) Have you ever used two flags on a play?

3) How common is this?

1. No, but probably more common the higher one goes.

2. Yes.

3. I don't know who's qualified to tell you about all over the world at every level. In my association maybe 25% of officials carry 2 flags.

[umpirebob71]

I've always carried two flags. One ball type in the front of my knickers, and one folded up in my right front pocket. I can think of only a few times I've used them both on one play.

[ljudge]

I know I always carry two and I'm pretty certain my crewmates on both college and high school crews do the same. And, yes, I did have two flags while working the R position. QB's facemask was grabbed by the defender, then he got way and scrambled more and intentionally grounded the ball. The grounding definitely completely unrelated to the FM foul. Both were very easy calls to make.

IMO you should always have two flags. The R of my college crew had 3 fouls two years ago and had to throw his hat because he was out of flags! And, in that case all fouls were "there" and no one questioned it. I recall two of them being dead-ball infractions.

[ajmc]

Although it's purely a personal choice, most officials I know carry two flags. Actually using the second flag is something that doesn't happen every season and you may go several seasons without having the need to use that second flag, but when you need it you're glad you carry it. It doesn't weigh all that much.

[grunewar]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Although it's purely a personal choice, most officials I know carry two flags. Actually using the second flag is something that doesn't happen every season and you may go several seasons without having the need to use that second flag, but when you need it you're glad you carry it. It doesn't weigh all that much.

Understand. It's like in basketball, carrying an extra whistle or needle (to inflate balls) - you carry em around forever and never need em. But, when you do, good to have!

[With_Two_Flakes]

Standard in the UK to carry two flags, one tucked into the pants at the front so you can get to it, the second one in a side pocket so it is not showing. We consider that we do not want our officials to look too "eager" to be flagging stuff by having two flags showing.

Honigs used to sell a smaller size flag to use as a second flag (don't know if they still do) and that's what I carry in my pocket. Can't recall the last time I threw the second flag, but occasionally you do need it. It is not a big deal to have to carry two, and I also carry two beanbags, two whistles, a spare clip if I am HL, etc. Best to be prepared.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Understand. It's like in basketball, carrying an extra whistle or needle (to inflate balls) - you carry em around forever and never need em. But, when you do, good to have!

Exactly, same concept really. I carry two flags, one folded in my front pocket and a ball-type flag in my waist band. I have used both during the same play a few times, mostly when there was extra curricular activity involved.

[Bullycon]

Originally Posted by grunewar

1) Is it standard for officials, all officials, to have two flags?

2) Have you ever used two flags on a play? How common is this?

1. All officials in my association are supposed to have two flags. I doubt all of them do.

2) I have used the flag in my back pocket twice. The first time I called a foul during a down, then had to flag a coach mouthing off afterward. The second time a B player committed a personal foul, then the A player retaliated. Both occurred this past season, my second year officiating.

So, it is rare, but it happens.