SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION - THE WEEKLY BULL - August 7, 2024
Everyone Meets at Mira Mesa This Week! – All classes will meet this week. Agenda: Attendance (check for accuracy and add your clinic attendance), Review the Bull, Calibration, Instructional video, Questions from Mechanics Exam, Rules Summer Study 21-40. 1st year class will have their own agenda.
1st Year and 2nd Year Numbers – We have a good solid 50 in our 1st year class and another solid 40 in our 2nd year and transfer class. A very, very good recruiting and retention effort by our officials. Very special thanks to Dave Garza and Mile Bailey for their follow up and hard work! Maybe the raise we got helped some as well?
Correction to Game Fees – At the JV and Freshman levels, all four officials make $95. There is no special fee for the referee. Sorry.
From Our Assignor – Accept your assignments. Do so as soon as you get the notice from Arbiter.
Coaches Comments from Conference Meetings – Coaches wanted to know about aiding the runner and had some questions about adornment and visors. The coaches were taken through the equipment check process and told that we will continue to send problems to the sideline (no warnings). The coaches were supportive. We discussed best practices when a skirmish breaks out. One coach may be of some assistance, all others keep the players and others in the team box area. Finally, we talked about cleaning up sloppy formations. One warning to player and coach, then we penalize.
Crew Communication Can Be Visual – Have you ever thought about how we communicate with our eyes? Sometimes you can see from the expression on your crewmate’s face that he needs help, or is confirming what you have, or that he agrees with the umpire’s penalty enforcement information before stepping off the yardage. I just learned from Pete Morelli, former NFL referee, that he always wanted his crew to come to him face-to-face when reporting all major fouls. He said he wants to see and hear the official as he reports to better understand the official’s confidence level he/she has for the flag. Yes, he had Sarah Thomas on his crew, so it really was he or she!
Certified and 2nd Year and Transfer Officials Mechanics Exam On-Line – It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that officials complete the exam individually, but DO NOT SUBMIT. Then meet, phone call, zoom with crew or other officials to review answers to the exam before submitting. The window for the on-line Mechanics Exam closes this Friday night 8/9 at midnight.
Belt Button For Radios – Some of us have been using an adapter for radios that places a button on our belts we push when we want to talk on our radios. It replaces the button on our collars which some find awkward to use. If you’re interested, here is the link to the website for more information or to order one. https://www.goodcallofficiating.com/speakeasy
Send Foul Reports to Bezverkov – Remember to have someone on your crew send your tabulated fouls from your game to Robert so he can enter into the database. This will help us in our work so please have someone do this for your crew! Thank you.
Thank You From the First and Second Year Instructors – Every year our first year officials work their very first scrimmages with the outstanding guidance of some of our best crew members. Then our second-year officials work their scrimmage with the help of more outstanding officials. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the Association and its membership!
Non-Compliant Players – If you were to get into a situation where a player is being non-compliant with your directions, please do not grab or place your hands on that player. Ultimately, you can penalize the player for unsportsmanlike behavior which places the player at risk of disqualification. But, placing a hand on the player now opens up a very different conversation.
Drones – Just a reminder that the FAA and CIF do not allow drones to be flown over stadium events including football games. If they fly beforehand to get shots for some other purpose, that’s fine. But when we take the field, no drones. If there are any issues with this directive, or any other part of game administration, please inform Steve Coover as he serves as our CIF Liaison.
SDCFOA Officer Positions – Association Officers are elected every year. If you are interested in running for Secretary, Treasurer, Assignment Secretary, or Instructional Chair, please inform our President, Bob Flavin, and our Executive Secretary, Ed Zapolski by August 31st.
Food for Thought – When in one of the two scrimmage kick formations, the numbering exceptions on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd downs are different than 4th down. Discuss those differences from rule 7-2-5 Exceptions 1 & 2 in class tonight. Then discuss how we might miss this important difference on an attempted FG on 1st,, 2nd or 3rd down at the end of a half or at the end of a game!
