O.K. 2 things that are starting to really get under my skin

J

justobserving

11-man fan
#1 - I started seeing this being persistent during last years season. I have noticed it already this year. Nearly every flag thrown by the officials ends up being a 5 minute huddle to discuss the call. From the simplest motion penalty to a multiple foul or penalty call they can't just throw the flag, inform the referee and go on. NO, it is a meeting of the minds of 3-5 officials on every call. Why ?? This has happened at the 3 High School games I have attended and also at one college game. Have the rules gotten that complicated and I just have missed out ??

#2 - Do officiating crews just not know how to handle a downed ball that is going to be close for a first down call and is likely going to result in a need for a measurement ? I am sick to death of seeing a ball called down when is obviously going to be a situation where a measurement could be needed only to see the ball picked up, thrown around all over the place, walked around, location moved anywhere from 2 feet to 60 feet away, placed down and then the chains are called in. Are these guys nuts ? This happens more times than not anymore. I can remember when the ball was held down in the position where it was called down by an official as the ball carrier got up. The ball might be sideways, at an angle or straight down the field but was held right there, the chains brought in and it was measured right there.

It has always been said the football is a game of "inches". Darn right and officials just aren't good enough to move a ball around on a grass field, where lines are not straight, throw the ball to and fro, walk around with it and place in down in the "exact" position it would have been had it not been moved. The measurement can't be accurate.

I watched a "Keystone Cops" act the other night that was so screwed up it was hard to believe. Way to much info to put in here but believe me the defense who made a mighty effort and stopped the kid short got screwed. After all of the moving of the chains, the ball, the refs who had foot marked the ball - walking off and leaving those spots - after replacing and remarking the offense got a first down by more than half a yard. It was ludicrous but I have seen this played out time and time again. I saw this sort of thing happen at a college game a week or so ago....

Has anyone else seen these trends and occurances ??
 
I think the trend you are noticing is more due to the shortage of refs than anything else - particularly in highschool. Game times are having to be changed to accommodate the desperate shortage of officials. But yeah - I've seen a lot of ref huddles, and a lot of waived off flags.

I think the college issue is more an effect of instant replay, and refs not wanting to look like fools on a replay.
 
RainJack you are right. Instant replay is ruining College and Pro football.

I would vote for more refs that watch fewer things. And when they make a call, that's it!

I have always thought it silly watching a 60yr old, pot belly ref, running the field on a long play.
 
i like that they confer. it seems to lead to a better officiating in my opinion. I’m not talking about replay but the couple of moments before the penalty is stepped off or waved off. i am of the opinion that if you don’t want to let them confer then don’t bitch about the calling of the game....
 
kbjoe1":2qyh1hub said:
i like that they confer. it seems to lead to a better officiating in my opinion. I’m not talking about replay but the couple of moments before the penalty is stepped off or waved off. i am of the opinion that if you don’t want to let them confer then don’t booger about the calling of the game....
Click to expand...

JO may be complaining, but I was commenting on the increase in official's conferences and waived off flags this year. Seems the longest conferences and the most waived off flags are usually surrounding pass interference and/or horse collar calls.

Seems every game has an official that interprets the horse collar rule differently. And that is very frustrating for the fans, the coaches, and the kids.
 
What - and add yet another interpretation to the mix?

Besides, all the other refs would hate me because I'm always right and I'd wind up having to drive to all the games by myself.
 
I would love to officiate and really am in life position where I could. Some health issues prevent it.

I respect the officials, they have a difficult job and it goes unappreciated. I just wish that some of them were more versed in the rules and my biggest beef is with their mechanics.

Their positioning and movement in a lot of cases is just terrible. I know physical limitations for part of the guys is a problem. But it is hard to watch a flag fly in from 30 yards + behind a play and a call that is made that there is really no possible way the call could be made accurately from there, just has to be a guess.

Rain and I would not need to be on a crew together. There would most likely be some pow wows that could last for say 3 or 4 hours, might delay the game somewhat ...
 
Ya think?
Wouldn't it be ironically hillarious
if 2 officials got into a fight over a call??
Rolling around on the field
getting their stripes all mussed.
The boys standing around not breaking them up.
Man, I'd pay to see that!

I too would like to officiate
but I'm in no position right now to do so.

(I did do baseball a few years ago
and our chapter gurus
were always pounding us
with rules and mechanics tests!
I carried a rulebook in my back pocket
every day).
 
We got called for having too many defensive players on the field and the offense had just broke the huddle when he got off the field. But since it was an xp the penalty wasn't enforced.... Not knowing the simple calls is what is annoying.
 
Back
Top