SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION - THE WEEKLY BULL – September 28, 2022 Meeting Agenda – Attendance (make sure your crew and class are getting credit by entering it into the google doc. Attendance Sheet for your classroom, or email me); Bull; Calibration; Instructional Video; Sharing of Plays and Situations. 1stand 2ndYear Classes – Your instructors may want you to join the Crew Chief/General Meeting listed below. If not, just join the zoom meeting sent out by your instructors. If they want you to attend, please join us at the following link: SDCFOA Crew Chief Meeting & General Meeting 9-28-22 September 28, 2022 6:00 PM https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84025877341?pwd=TlpWc2R3NjlRajJoQmZhckNaMitXQT09 Meeting ID: 840 2587 7341 Passcode: 794270 One tap mobile +16699009128 Breast Cancer Awareness Month – If your crew wishes to participate, you may do so by using a pink whistle. Bob Hood usually has them for officials at our meetings but this year you have to contact him directly if you need one. His contact information is below. Banquet Stories – We have some really good ones but we need more! Contact Bob Hood at 858-405-8600 (Cellular) 8582798600 858-279-8600 (Home) or bob@hoodpromotions.com Golf Tournament – This year’s golf tournament will take place on Wednesday, November 2nd at Admiral Baker GC. Shotgun start tentative for 12:00 noon. $125 covers golf and cart. $145 gets you that plus drink tickets and a chance to win lots of great prizes at the raffle. You can enter a group or play as an individual. Golfers of all abilities and their guests are welcome. Raffle prize donations are also encouraged and appreciated. Register at www.sandiegoyouthfootballfund.orgor or contact Ed Blick, Mike Downing, or Mike Gunzelman with questions. The flyer is attached. Pace of Game - Starts with getting ball in to U promptly, but never are we to compromise our observation of the players at the end of a play. Officiate till the players separate. The hash marks are not a barrier for the U, show some hustle, get involved and get the ball spotted. The R and the U are most responsible for the pace, the tempo, and if they are not active, the players and coaches will follow their lead. Keep the game moving, official conferences after penalty reduces the credibility of our calls. Penalty enforcement is a crew mechanic, prompt enforcement moves the game along, keeps the clock running and the coaches will move on to the next play. The game is more fun for all, players, coaches, officials and the fans. Kick Catch Interference – While K14’s punt is in flight beyond the neutral zone, R23 gives a valid fair catch signal, or does not give a signal. The ball strikes R23’s shoulder pad and bounces high into the air. While the loose ball is still airborne, K87 pushes R23 in the chest and K87 catches it at that spot. Ruling: In both cases, the ball is dead when K87 catches it as K may not advance. There is no foul for kick-catching interference since R23’s protection ended when the kick was touched. K’s ball 1st and 10 at the spot where K87 caught the muffed kick. Expanded Neutral Zone – Can it be expanded up to 2 yards into the end zone? Answer: NO, the neutral zone may be expanded up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage, in the field of play. No ineligibles running around in the endzone please!!! Anniversary Awards–If you are celebrating an anniversary of service to SDCFOA, we want to recognize you at the banquet this year. If your first year of service is 2003, 1993, or 1983, we want to present you with a “Years of Service” award this year. Please contact Rick Christensen directly at ref.rick85@gmail.com with your information no later than October 7, 2022. Crew Chiefs, the Weekly Bulletin, and Video - Crew Chiefs are working extra hard this year to communicate with their crew prior to the next game. Topics include the Weekly Bulletin, the Weekly Instructional Video, and cut ups from their previous game. This is a huge time commitment so I hope the crew is pitching in and participating. We must get better each week! Inside 5 minutes – I observed several games where the final 3-5 minutes of either half became “pressure cooker.” Let’s prepare to match this intensity with our own internal communication, or maybe a code word or just a reminder on the radios. Our focus must be clear and our minds sharp. Obviously, we officiate every play in the game like it’s the last “game winning” play, but sometimes we need a re-set as we prepare for action at this critical time in the game! The Use of the Whistle – It is our local, state and national mechanic to not blow our whistles unless we see the ball in possession, and progress stopped or the player down by rule. We do not want inadvertent whistles! Inadvertent Whistles – If during legal forward pass, snap is in flight, or during a legal kick – replay the down. If the ball is in player possession, that team has the choice of possession at the dead ball spot, or replay the down. Same two options for the team last in possession if following a backward pass, fumble or illegal forward pass or illegal kick. Accepted penalties take precedence over an IW Communication with Players and Coaches – Communicating with players is like communicating with the coaching staffs. What you say to players is going to be repeated to the coaches. Please respond to players with facts, or the rule, or “I saw the block and it was close but legal.” “I was focused on other action on that play, I’ll watch for that foul.” Explain to coaches that “Coach, it sounds like we saw the play differently.” “I hear you. I understand.” “What did you see?” Remember, positive and proper communication starts as we arrive at the school. Be professional from the time you park your car – Be a Mike Weseloh when it comes to communication!!! Communication Within the Crew – Feedback from the observers has been very complimentary in this area. Not only are we communicating consistently and accurately with our supplemental hand signals, we have been very loud and vocal in our communication. Each individual on the crew can do enormous good for the crew as a whole by participating vocally on every play…down, distance, my goal line, your goal line, the status of the ball relative to the 5-yard mark on the chains, double stakes, wind, no wind, the clock is hot, when to hack relative to the final 25 seconds of the half or game, …the list goes on and on. Keep yourself and the crew alert on each and every play by communicating loudly and consistently. CIF San Diego Section Playoff Dates – Planning ahead? Here are the dates: Friday November 4 – First Round for Divisions I, II, III, IV and V (OPEN Division BYE) Friday November 11 – Quarterfinals for Divisions I, II, III, IV and V (Open Division Semifinals) Friday November 18 – Semifinals for Divisions I, II, III, IV and V Friday November 18– Open Division Finals at Snapdragon Stadium Friday November 25 – Finals for Divisions I, IV at TBD Friday November 26 – Finals for Division II, III, V at TBD California State Bowl Championships Friday and Saturday December 2 & 3 – Regional Championships Friday and Saturday December 9 & 10 – State Championships at Saddleback College
