After twenty-five years of officiating I have come to the conclusion that the rule book was written by a committee of intoxicated Philadelphia lawyers.
Common sense is the way the crew administered the penalties. The rule book is far too complicated for those that can't spend 2 hours a night, every night, studying the rules. And making administration of fouls different from the NFL or NCAA makes it far worse. I feel that I'm in the top 1% of officials who understand the NFHS rules, and even then I learn a few new things every year. But I also understand that following the rules exactly as written causes many unjust and confusing rulings. Like holding on a QB sack. Additionally, I know that I'll get wrong information from crew members many times. Like - I'm told that they have a PI on defense #55. I've got to evaluate - hmmm.. 55? Are we sure the ball was past the line of scrimmage? If not, it might not be a foul. And so on. If I don't question, then we have incorrect rulings not because of poor enforcement, but because of officials lack of understanding of the complicated rule book. Most of us don't have time to study the rules as we're busy with a full-time job, family and other commitments. Making the rules so complicated is a disservice to everyone.
@brooksfire9580 A lot of great points and I agree. The NFHS rule book does officials little favors. What if the offense actually scored a safety on a try? No one in the stadium would believe the crew's ruling and no one is going to care when the state authorities back up the call on Monday. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
You think High School is confusing. College is more. Just study rule 10-2-5-a-2 of the college rule. There is a 90 minute podcast by three Division 1 officials explaining the complexities of the rule. It will make your head explode. From what I have been told by people officiating in the NFL, their rule book is even more complex.
@@briandow2974 I can imagine. I dislike the rules in NFHS that are opposite. Because when I call it right, and get chewed out by the fans and coaches - and another crew calls it wrong (but right according to the NFL rules), we all look like idiots. Like a kick headed towards the end zone muffed by R at the 1, then recovered by K in the end zone. It's a touchback in NFHS, but a TD in NFL. What is the rationale? It's not to stop injuries as everyone is hitting, blocking, scrambling to get that ball - no matter if it's dead going into the end zone. Because they don't know that. Because it's not 'always' dead. If it was a fumble, it wouldn't be dead. And many officials allow these plays, then later huddle and call them back. Slows down the game for a play that should be exciting and a no-brainer. There are dozens of rules like this that don't have to be this way.
Great play to show your association the importance of foul REPORTING. After informing the WH the result of the play, give me: 1. WHEN? 2. WHAT FOUL? 3. Committed by WHO? 4. WHERE? Every official should work at knowing those 4 things every time they drop a marker. Give the Referee that information when you throw a flag and most decent Referee's will be able to sort it out.
Wait did you get that second option right? A Block in the Back is not a Personal Foul (10y). So they don't automatically offset, but would be enforced in order or occurrence. Then again was the really a DB BIB? Is there such a thing? Or should that be an unnecessary block away from the play 9-4-3c. Which then makes it a PF that would offset leaving the ball at the dead ball spot. This one is more complicated than than we think. 🏆🏈
I hate it when the white hat rushes through the penalty signaling. Don't be embarrassed and think everyone is looking at you, just calmly and deliberately give the signals.
Maybe the white hat wasn't explained the penalties in order or he was going off old info or a 3rd possibility of okay were going to call these to save my ass.
The rulebook is bad then. A penalty by the turnover team in the process of tacking the takeaway team should not have to be declined to keep the takeaway. This rule is just trying to be complicated for no reason. Even if there was holding or something before the actual turnover, if their penalty happens after the turnover it isn't reasonable, let alone fair, to negate the turnover. Creating rules that go against a common sense fair ruling is just bad rule making. Also, that enhanced audio sounded basically the same to me. I could understand the first time just fine, but if someone couldn't, it would be better, I think, for you to put the words on screen and read them yourself rather than "enhancing" the audio and listening to it again.
While not my position too many depend on white hat to know it all. On this play all he knows is his the the qb was safe. If you throw a flag you need to know who and when because penalty enforcement is a CREW RESPONSIBILITY!!! If you call be the rules expert on your crew, you don't gave to be the white hat(let's be honest some backs have time to read the rule book when on the field 😂) Newer officials present your fouls to white hat so they don't have to ask any questions, know who fouled, what the foul was and when it happened (face mask on white #? After the interception during the tackle. I think they didn't want to put a personal foul on the defender but really play was over so I think they only wanted to call bib but dead ball pf is justified.
I was a WH for 10 years and am gleefully going back to the wing this fall. One other piece of info I always made my crew tell me when reporting a foul was, what was the result of the play. If you have PI, let me know if we had a complete or incomplete pass, did we end up OOB, was there a fumble. Really what I told them was pretend I’m in the locker room during the play and they have to explain what happened because once that pass is away, I have things to watch.
Based on possible enforcement calling it a PF was better and easier. In theory it's hard to have a DB BIB as the play is then over, so the foul is escalated to a PF.
