Wireless Microphone Systems – We currently have 25 of our 28 Crew Chiefs using a wireless microphone during games for announcements. Although we are in our infancy in our use of this electronic equipment, and some stadiums are a challenge to get quality sound and no static, we have had some outstanding experiences with their use. Something as challenging as adjusting the game clock becomes so simple. The coaches and fans quickly understand the unusual ruling on the field that just occurred.
Wireless Systems at Schools – We are also seeing an uptick in the number of schools that have a stadium wireless system available for our use. Some schools have them available and don’t even know we can use them at their games and have our referees make game announcements! We expect the number of schools with these systems to greatly increase in the near future. It is far better for a school to have control over the system than to have our referees bring equipment and hook it up. We are working with schools to provide technical support and pricing when they inquire about purchasing their own system.
State Champiosnhip Crews Have Been Selected – The following crews have been selected to work the CA State Championship Game the first two weekends in December: Referees Mike Andrews and Matt Starr, Umpires Ed Blick and Miles Bailey, LOS Mike Duggan, Nathan Thernes, Alex Szwed and Blair Havens, Deep Flanks Leonard Blevins, Levi Sumner, Nathan Wolf and Derrick Vassar, Back Judges John Gill and Kyle Takeo.
7-Person Mechanics Meeting – If you are one of those selected to work a championship or semifinal game, you will be working 7-Person Mechanics. All officials working a championship or semifinal shall attend a special 7-Person Mechanics Meeting on Wednesday November 20th at 7:00 pm at the Mira Mesa High School Library. Chain crews and timers are not to attend this meeting. You will receive credentials, game information, and then break out into position meetings. The Position Coaches are:
Referee – Chris Wiggins
Umpire – Mike Weseloh & Marlow Fitzgerald
LOS – Justin Joseph & David Middleton
Deeps and BJ – Jace Carlson and Michael Sparling
Food for Thought – Point After Touchdown - Lineman are numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 from left to right and the Center is #4. The left wing behind #1 is #11, the right wing behind #7 is #22. The holder is #33, and the kick is #44. Holder and kicker meet the requirements of rule 2-14-2 (holder, knee down 7 yards deep, kicker in position to kick).
Play 1. Tight formation. Numbers 1, 7, 11, 22, 33 and 44 would are eligible. Numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are ineligible. After receiving the snap, holder #33 rises, rolls to the right to throw a pass to #7, completed for a 2 point try. Ruling: LEGAL
Play 2. They line up tight, and then shift so that 1, 2, 3 are still on the LOS, but outside the hash/numbers on the left, and 5, 6, 7 are still on the LOS and split out to the right, outside the hash/numbers, and still on the LOS. Snapper #4, holder #33 and kicker #44 are still in position. After receiving the snap, holder #33 rises, rolls to the right to throw a pass to #7, completed for a 2 point try. Ruling: LEGAL
The key point here is that in NFHS, the snapper, holder and kicker need to meet the requirements of a legal scrimmage kick formation. Whether K runs a play out of a traditional FG/TRY formation, or out of some form of a swinging or double gate formation does not matter with regard to an illegal formation penalty. We do need to be aware of eligible numbers vs ineligible numbers. (Note: for those of you that work games under NCAA rules, Play 2 would not be legal)
