holding

[uprights]

I need some feedback on holding for me this is the hardest call do you follow the rule,do you call holding if away from play?

[BktBallRef]

Originally posted by uprights
I need some feedback on holding for me this is the hardest call do you follow the rule,do you call holding if away from play?

Most officials don't. I don't, unless, for example, the player is thrown violently to the ground. I think obviously rough fouls need to always be called.

[4 Sport Official]

We tend to ignore holding that is not at the point of attack, unless, as BBR stated, it is judged to be a safety concern. This is the way we like to look at things for running plays. Obviously, for passing plays, almost any B player that is held, particularly at or near the line, could have had an effect on the play.

[SWFLguy]

I am an umpire of some 33 years--- holding does happen a lot
since they went to the open hand blocking--- I keep my flag in my
pocket if it is not at the point of attack or not a personal
foul type of play !

[Mike Simonds]

I agree. Holding is one of the most difficult calls to make correctly because of the amount of judgement involved. I would say if you are the covering official and you see holding within your field of vision go ahead and call it. If you are the clean-up official and you see holding then use your judgement.

Good points on the difference between holding and personal fouls. Holding is more of a judgement call that can be called or not called based on the proximity to the ball, game situation, etc. Personal fouls should be called at all times.

[SWFLguy]

some defensive players will whine about holding to "get" a call-----
I refuse to buy into that thinking-- I tell them "I'll take a look at
# whatever, and you fight him off -- if it is at the point of attack
he'll get flagged"
the better players play on and never bother you------
again-- usually at the better level of play, the games
just about "call themselves" and as an umpire I'm simply
directing traffic and trying to keep from getting hit !
Umpires love their position like no other official !
(-:

[Mike Simonds]

Good points!

I do the same thing. I listen to a player's complaint and then watch his opponent for the next one or two plays. If its something marginal I'll warn the opponent but if its a foul that influences the play I'll penalize it. If there is nothing I'll let the defender know what I saw. You are right, the better players will appreciate that we are paying attention.

As a younger official (only 9 years now) I am trying to work on quality rather than quantity when it comes to calling fouls. I am still working on developing good judgement but I noticed that this is something that improves over time...

A friend of mine who is also a coach (and former official) said the same thing: Defensive players have to gain separation from the blocker. He knows that with the agressive use of hands in today's game that officials will not be able to catch some holding so they teach their players not to stand there and dance with their opponents.

Two weeks ago I called defensive holding on an extra point. The defensive tackle held the guard so that the linebacker could shoot through the gap and attempt to block the kick. Now I know why they put that question on the test!

[Edited by Mike Simonds on Oct 21st, 2002 at 09:37 PM]

[glind13]

We have a saying in our crew---Call the train wreacks and let the ticky-tack stuff go.

I agree with the other replies, good advice.

[snrmike]

Here's something and old state tourney clinician told us at a class for new officials about 10 years ago:

Remember these 3 guidelines for calling a foul (in order of priority):

1) Did it affect player safety.
2) Did it affect the outcome of the play.
3) Did it affect the flow of the game.

I try to use this for every call... it seems to keep me from calling ticky-tack fouls!

[STEVED21]

Mike,
100% correct. If the hold doesn't affect the play let it go. You can add # 4. If you don't see the block from beginning to end, don't make a call.

[BulldogMcC]

I was taught three simple rules on when to throw the flag:

1) When it is a safety concern

2) When the foul gave the offending team the advantage.

3) When it is so blantant that not even one of those loud obnoxious know it all fans won't say a word.

I added one more just because I found it necessary some times to correct things preventive officiating could not:

4) If I tell a player to do something, (Ex: "#76, check your position on the line, you were lined up in the neutral zone.") and they fail to correct it. Then the flag is the added pressure to make them actually pay attention and correct the problem.

Unfortunately rule #4 led to me flagging one team for illegal shift 11 times during first game of the season. They had apparently practiced doing the Dallas shift, two point to three point shift for all Guards & Tackles, on every play. The problem is the QB would put a man in motion then call his cadence telling the linemen to shift.I explained it, explained it again, flagged it thinking it would end, but they proved the saying, "You play the way you practice" because every time the pressure was on, the offense QB would start the man in motion, then call his cadence to put the line into their 3 pt.

McC