Ask an official

[catamaran]

Over the past year, I've notices a big jump in the people who complain about officiating at all levels. I thought I would take this opportunity to poll the masses (now that FB season is over until spring and I'm not a BB official) and see if I could be of service to educate people about what and how the men in stripes are doing their jobs. I know there are other officials on the board who might be interested in this. If there were enough (officials and lay people) that would like to know and the mods thought it was a good idea, I would take the time to research some plays, give rules and cases, post some pertinent articles, and so forth. I think it would not only educate the fan base but also help officials get better at their jobs and maybe show some that might want to become an official how worthwhile it is.


What say you?

[D-Wreck]

I would like a listing of every official in the Big Sky's vision prescription. And then how far off their glasses/contacts or lack thereof are.

But in seriousness, I think it would be nice to see the though process officials go through. I've found it's a little more difficult to criticize umpires after umping some Little League games.

[Billings_Griz]

Good idea if we can keep it civil but I'd say 99% of the time the complaint is on judgment calls. There is no arguing judgment calls, IMHO.

I umpired for 18-20 years and even during my last year the newest rule book was on the back of my "throne". There is no better way to learn the rules while there is nothing but peace and quiet. And there is nothing more gratifing to an official than "sticking" that one rule you see every 2-3 years. A chapter a "sitting", the book was read every week.

P.S. Can we keep longhorn out of this?

[Billings_Griz]

I've found it's a little more difficult to criticize umpires after umping some Little League games.

Amen!!!!!!

Every parent should have to ump a base and plate before their kid plays. There would be a lot less "noise" from the stands.

[BroncoCat]

reffing college intramural basketball games gave me a new appreciation of officiating. Worst job ever.
in 1994 it think it paid $5 game, $10 if one was MOA. I knew of one MOA attending EMC's campus; he refused to do it.

[longhorn_22]

Off the top of my head, from a couple years back when MSU played Portland St. there was an "interception" that was called. On the play, it was a deep ball that went over both defenders' heads and the receiver's head and bounced almost straight into the air. It fell into the Portland St. defenders hands and he proceeded to turn around and run it back. The officials let it go and counted it as an interception.
What is the process by which this could have/was reviewed by the league (after the game) and what consequences would have been in order? Would there have been a formal apology issued by Fullerton and the BSC or would the officiating crew have been fined/reprimanded?

[longhorn_22]

Good idea if we can keep it civil but I'd say 99% of the time the complaint is on judgment calls. There is no arguing judgment calls, IMHO.

I umpired for 18-20 years and even during my last year the newest rule book was on the back of my "throne". There is no better way to learn the rules while there is nothing but peace and quiet. And there is nothing more gratifing to an official than "sticking" that one rule you see every 2-3 years. A chapter a "sitting", the book was read every week.

P.S. Can we keep longhorn out of this?

Of course not.
I am generally pretty fair in my critiquing of the officials. But every year there is a game or two that sends me over the edge. I do admit I can get pretty livid with them and I do feel bad sometimes, but sometimes some calls are absolutely inexcusable. I think though, overall, most referees do a great job.

[Billings_Griz]

Off the top of my head, from a couple years back when MSU played Portland St. there was an "interception" that was called. On the play, it was a deep ball that went over both defenders' heads and the receiver's head and bounced almost straight into the air. It fell into the Portland St. defenders hands and he proceeded to turn around and run it back. The officials let it go and counted it as an interception.
What is the process by which this could have/was reviewed by the league (after the game) and what consequences would have been in order? Would there have been a formal apology issued by Fullerton and the BSC or would the officiating crew have been fined/reprimanded?

This is another good point. That official was OUT OF POSITION--no excuse for this type of play, they have seven guys on the field. #1 rule is not to get anyone behind you--especially the back judge.

The reason for him being out of position...TOO DAMN OLD. The league has been consistantly bringing in younger guys.

[Billings_Griz]

I am generally pretty fair in my critiquing of the officials. But every year there is a game or two that sends me over the edge. I do admit I can get pretty livid with them and I do feel bad sometimes, but sometimes some calls are absolutely inexcusable. I think though, overall, most referees do a great job.

Oh, I know. I've seen those 1-2 times a year.

[catamaran]

I was thinking about next season and beyond (its tough to go over mechanics and rules of years past because they constantly change and film is hard to get) but here's a shot. (I see BG started) it has to do with at least one official (Back Judge) being out of position because they should have seen the ball go over with a 25 yard cushion. Every college official is graded on a game by game basis by the director of a conference's officials and they are sent the report and game tapes once per week (at least now). If that process was in place when this happened there would have been a "downgrade" but as we all know, you'll hardly ever see an official apology from a conference or a notice of a repremand unless it was a complete boner

[BDizzle]

Why when the Cats play the Griz the refs always screw over the Griz?
























jk

[catamaran]

Why when the Cats play the Griz the refs always screw over the Griz?
























jk

Because they deserve it

[Old Skool Cat]

I guess I don't have a question so much as it more of a comment. It seems as though the speed of the game, both football and basketball, have surpassed the ability of the refs. That is to say that the athleticism of the players has increased so dramatically over the last 10-20 years that the refs are caught out of position or behind the play, or whatever. This especially true in basketball when you have a fast break and a play at the rim, yet the ref can't keep up and he's making a foul call from the half court. Or in football when a receiver runs a fly pattern and the ref is so out of position that he's making a pass interference call 25 yards upfield. I'm not saying you are going to get refs in the same shape as Kobe Bryant or Terrell Owens, but it would seem that as athletes are only going to get bigger, faster, and stronger, that you are going to have hold referees to higher physical standards as well. I mean honestly, I have seen football refs who could be contestants on the "Biggest Loser."

[catamaran]

physical fitness is definitely becoming a big push in the officiating community and I believe some conferences are starting to "grade it". One of the problems I see though is that most people would rather complain about officials than become one If there aren't enough "fit" officials to steward the game then you can't go without (as much as some people think you could)

[coachouert]

One question I've always had, and this may seem a little basic, but what are the responsibilities of each official on a play in football? There are the obvious ones like the line judge is looking for false starts, offsides, holding, but when you are training an official at each position, what do they tell them are the main thing to be watching? You always get people complaining about why one guy didn't throw a flag, or why one guy did throw a flag who would seem out of position.

[catamaran]

it really depends on the play/formation/etc but I'll try and keep it simple
Referee: qb is his #1 job and he starts the play watching the tackle opposite of where he lines up
umpire: center and two guards
HL/LM: simply put: snap; tackle; back location of the ball
BJ: outside receiver to the strength of formation

[Billings_Griz]

Little off topic here but CMR/West will only have two refs tonight. The place will be packed but SD2 only pays for 2...damn.

[gtapp]

BB Officiating has changed the game to the point where I don't watch basketball anymore. I think the game has changed and the size and speed of the players makes it impossible for the officials to truely know if a foul was committed so they just blow the whistle based on a players positioning. There are so many fouls calls that it slows the game down way too much. Recommended changes: 1) If an offensive player leans into a defensive player (even 1 deg) no foul is called regardless of the amount of contact. 2) if the shot is blocked no foul is called regardless of contact. 3) minimize the called fouls in the key unless they are obvious (let them play). 4) use replay when game deciding fouls are called.

FB Officiating is better but a couple of changes that would help is only call pass interference if it is blatant. If the Offesnsive player has to fight for the ball so be it. This is football! Second, don't call penalties if the penalty occurs away from the play (except PF). Again, let them play!

[catamaran]

FB Officiating is better but a couple of changes that would help is only call pass interference if it is blatant. If the Offesnsive player has to fight for the ball so be it. This is football! Second, don't call penalties if the penalty occurs away from the play (except PF). Again, let them play!

what I say to all lay people, "easier said than done"

[catamaran]

Quote of the Week III

"I went through the game in my office and I've been now to, I guess, it's 14 straight Super Bowls. This was clearly the toughest [to officiate] that I've ever seen. There was a lot of chippy stuff and pushing after plays. When I looked through it, there was actually much more we could have called if we wanted. [Referee] Terry McAulay, in the pre-game conference, the meeting that we had Saturday, said that the crew was going to officiate this game however the teams present it to us. He said, 'If there are five fouls, there are five fouls.' He said, 'If there are 20 fouls, there are 20 fouls and we'll call them.' And it's almost like he had a premonition. But the statement he made was correct. It's how the game presented itself.''

-- NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira, on our Sirius NFL Radio "Opening Drive'' show last Wednesday, on the criticism of the ticky-tack officiating nature of the Super Bowl. McAulay's crew called 20 penalties, and 18 were accepted, for 162 yards.