Teachable Moments

Yesterday I had a new official with me in the car.  Not always, but often, the conversation turns to religion in general and my job in particular.  That's especially the case when I have a newbie riding with me, or I'm the newbie and the guys want to learn about me.  Yesterday was the former.

"So will you be going to the same church or a different church when you move?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, are you going to the same type of church, or are you going to something totally different?"

"I'll be going to the same type of church, yes."

"And what religion are you again?"

"I'm a Christian."

"Well, yeah .... but what kind?"

"I'm an Episcopalian.  So I'll be going to another Episcopal church."

Silence ....

"An Epicospahwhut?"

"Episcopalian ... E -- pih -- Scuh -- Pay -- lian ... just like it's spelled."

"And what is that?"

Here we go .... "In short, we're basically in between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants."

"Huh . . . well I knew there were Catholics and Christians, but I didn't know ..."

"Stop right there ... Catholics ARE Christians."

"Yeah, okay ... but weren't there the Christians first and then the Catholics broke off from that."

**Sigh**  I refrained from slamming my head against the steering wheel.

"Where do you attend church?"

"I go to Local Independent Conservative Bible Believing Church."

"Ah ...."

Here's hoping his grasp of football rules is better than his grasp of Religion 101.

Football Season Approacheth

In just three short months, the RVFOA (the official name of the officials' group I belong to) will begin meeting.  This is when we really start digging into the rules and mechanics books to start getting mentally ready for the season.

In five months the games will begin and we'll be off and running.

I am once again in charge of the rookies.  This means I get to meet with them 1-1/2 hours ahead of our regularly scheduled meeting to go over rules, mechanics, uniforms, expectations, and anything else a rookie official might need to know.

So in preparation for the upcoming season, it's about time I also start physically preparing.  Today was the first day out on the bike.  I stopped at the local Les Schwab Tire Center and had them put air in the tires, and then I went on my traditional short route.  I'm not quite ready for the freeway ride to Hugo, but I'll get there.  As it was, my legs were a little rubbery when I got home.

Spring is here and football is in the air!

Finals Weekend

This was Finals Weekend for me.

First, an inter-denominational continuing ed group I have been part of for the past two years came to a close.  It was a program through Fuller Seminary and is called a Micah Group (based on Micah 6:8 -- What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?)

This was sort of an experiment of sorts as it gathered people scattered from Portland to Ashland.  Over the two years we lost a few people due to theological issues or job issues, but we maintained a decent core group of people.  We would meet both in real life and virtually about once a month.

Friday was our last time together.  I'm not sure how many of them will read this, but it was a pleasure being with Mark, Steve, Dave, Murray, Randy, Joel, and Barbara.  Blessings to them all as we continue on in our various ministries.

Second, I worked my last football game of the season.  I didn't really work it, since I was the alternate (Should an official be unable to complete his duties, you will be called upon to finish the job).  But I rode up to the game with the crew, worked on the sidelines managing the chain crew for the Head Linesman so he could concentrate on the game and not the chains, we said goodbye to a 40-year official who retired after this game, and generally had a fine time.

It was a long, good weekend, but man is my brain fried and I need a nap.

I have one more meeting to attend, and then I think I will be going to bed.

What I do, Part II

The previous post had a link to a Big 12 officiating crew before, during and after the game.  It's a good example of our life in stripes.

And for those of us on the inside, here's another video that will make you laugh out loud.  I have a feeling it will make you laugh out loud anyway.  Enjoy.

If Hitler and the Nazis officiated high school football.

What I Do

You all know about my fall hobby -- wearing stripes and running around a football field.

I had a parishioner ask me after service today, "What's the difference between a spot foul and a regular enforcement foul?"

I spent about 5-10 minutes with her explaining a few things and getting her straight.  She had no idea at how complicated things could get, or the differences between NFL, NCAA, and NFHS.

Anyway . . . that got me to thinking that most people don't really know exactly what we do.  So, I offer you this to give you a little bit of insight:   Big 12 Officiating Crew

Missed Calls

I have a hobby in which I am expected to be perfect from the first time I walk out onto the field and get better from there.

I have a job in which I am expected to be perfect from the time the sun comes up until the time the sun comes up the next day.

Every once in awhile I miss a call on the field.  Sometimes I know I miss a call because half the people in the stadium and everybody on one sideline lets me know I missed a call.  Sometimes I know I missed a call because either I get a sick feeling in my stomach that I missed something, or, after replaying the situation in my head, I realize I missed it.

Every so often I miss a call on the job.  Sometimes I know I miss a call because there is no shortage of people who let me know I missed it.  Sometimes I know I missed something because, upon further review, I realize I missed it.

Either way, I try to perform to the best of my ability.  Many times that is acceptable.  Sometimes it's not, and a call is missed.

And sometimes, when it seems like the stadium is raining down cat calls and questioning my ability, sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't have been a weatherman.

Seriously???

I received a couple of new games for next week.

For almost ever since I have been part of my current Association, I work exclusively in two positions:  Monday through Friday afternoon, I'm the white hat (meaning the Referee . . . meaning the guy you see on t.v. announcing the penalties); and on Friday night I work as the Back Judge (meaning my responsibility is from me to the goal line, however far that may be, and to rule primarily on pass interference).

Two spots.  Almost always.

And when I came into this Association, I told the assigning secretary, "I don't work Umpire" (meaning, the guy in the middle of everything who usually gets run over, meaning the position of the guy in Texas who was assaulted by those two nitwits).

And by now, you've figure out the reason for this post:

I'm working as an Umpire in a game next week.

Pray for me.

Babysitting

We are assigned games through an assigning website.  It's a convenient way to get your schedule, unlike the old days when we were handed out slips of paper with our games and then we had to go through and check our schedules to see if we could work, turning back games we couldn't and trying to pick up games we could.

The way it goes now is that, before the season, we can log onto the site and go through the entire season blocking out days, or parts of days, when we are unavailable.  The assigner then knows immediately who is available for games and who not to assign.

We get an e-mail notification when we are assigned new games.  We get onto the site, accept the games, and note when, where and what time the game will take place.  In short, I know about two-weeks in advance where I will be working every day of the week.

As a white hat (crew chief), I send an e-mail to my crew reminding them of the game, what the weather report is, whether we will be wearing shorts or pants, short sleeves or long sleeves, and about what time I will be at the game site.

Yesterday one of my crew did not show up for a game, so we worked it with three.  He just didn't show up.  There was no e-mail stating a problem.  There was no phone call or text.  Just not there.

After the game, I talked with my boss and told him of the no-show.

This morning we all received a message laying the blame for the no-shows on the white hat.  "Make sure you call your crew -- e-mails and texts are not working."

Um . . . IT'S NOT MY FAULT.  The guy KNEW he was working that day (he accepted the assignment).  I sent him an e-mail.  If he can't keep track of his own life, why is it MY PROBLEM to keep him straight?  (Know that Friday nights are different, because we often have to make travel arrangements to show up together, whereas weekday games we are all coming separately and often from our day jobs).

So . . . I called the guy today (because he's on my crew tomorrow) and said, "This is your friendly reminder from your babysitter about the game tomorrow . . ." in a not-really-friendly tone.

He said, "I didn't forget on purpose . . . "

I wanted to say, "Really?  What does forgetting on purpose look like?"

Instead I simply said, "Be there at 4."

I have a feeling he will be early.

We Got It Right

I had a game at my favorite site last night.  Not only do they provide us with a spacious place to get dressed, but they also give us fantastic hamburgers and Gatorade at halftime.  And on top of that, the school put in a new artificial turf field last year that, compared to their last field, is like walking in a bouncy house it's so soft.

At one point we had this play happen:

4th and many yards to go for the Visitors.
The snap went over the punter's head and he went chasing after the ball.
After securing possession, and being pursued around the field, he managed to get a kick off.
The kick was about two feet off the ground and traveled about seven yards.
The Home team tried to recover, but muffed it.
The Visitors also muffed it.
Then the Home team muffed it again.
The Visitors finally ended up in possession with the ball.

After the dust (or rubber pellets in this case) had settled, we had one of those very long conferences in the middle of the field with the entire crew.  Let's just say we weren't talking about those bacon cheeseburgers.

Who touched the ball?  Where did they touch the ball?  Who ended up with the ball and where?

After figuring all that out . . . Visitors ball 1st and 10.  And one unhappy Home coach.

But we got it right, and that's a very good feeling.

Top Not Top Ten Comment

It's Friday, that means that ESPN does their Not Top Ten plays of the week.  These are almost always humorous, tend to show the lighter side of sports, and remind us that even players at the elite levels can look like any other Saturday afternoon hack.  And, as with anything on ESPN, these are run multiple times throughout the day.

The plays today featured a video of Seahawks coach Pete Carroll getting run over by an official during a preseason game:



The first time I saw it, the announcer said, "The ref's gotta look where he's going there."  Um . . . NO!!  Pete was in the white where coaches and players are not allowed.  The second time I saw it, a different announcer said, "The Hawks need a get-back coach."  Now that's more like it.  Players and coaches DO NOT belong in the white.  If you are and we run into you, it's a foul -- 15 yards in high school.

Football season is here.  Let's remember where everybody belongs.

The Three-legged Stool

Yesterday afternoon I worked the first spring scrimmage game for the SOU Raiders (2014 NAIA National Champions, btw).  It was good to be on a football field again and hang out with the guys.

To be honest, though, I was a little bored.  Seven-man mechanics is a whole lot different from the four- and five-man mechanics I normally work.  But it was still fun.

After the scrimmage the crew went out for food, drinks and fun.  Shortly after we got there, another official joined us.  The other six guys on the crew new him from having worked a lot of small college with him.  I had met him briefly when he came to our high school group and gave a presentation on working in the Pac-12.  So, yes, he started where we all do, Pop Warner and junior high, and moved up the ranks to officiate in the Pac-12.

As it turned out, he got "The Call" a few days ago . . . he is now one of several new officials in the NFL, which includes Sarah Thomas.

Anyway, he and I got to talking about things and he asked me if I were looking to move up into college.  I said, "No," and gave him a variety of reasons.  But we got to talking about what differentiates a "great" official from an "average" official.

**I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP**

"A great official understands all three aspects of the game and can integrate that seamlessly into his officiating.  There's this thing I like to call a three-legged stool -- Rules, Philosophy and Mechanics -- and the great officials know the importance of each."

I replied, "You would make a great Episcopalian."

Who said there wasn't theology in football??

Pandora's Box

This can't be good.

Officials in an Oklahoma high school football playoff game incorrectly administered a penalty, thereby negating a winning TD and causing that team to lose the game.

The situation has gone to court, and now a district court judge will be ruling on the case.

You can read all about it here.

Was the penalty administered incorrectly?  Definitely.

Did that change the outcome of the game?  Definitely.

But sometimes bad stuff happens that doesn't go your way and you need to deal with it.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes you get screwed.  Some days you're the hammer, some days you're the nail.

The point is, if this case is upheld it will give every person and every team a legal reason to cry, "Foul!" and, "That's not fair!" and run to a lawyer and the courts every time there is a real or perceived bad call that kept them from getting what they felt they deserved.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not defending the crew here.  They made a terrible mistake.  There really is no excuse for a game official, let alone five of them, to not know the penalty enforcement on a relatively easy situation -- we aren't talking any of the really screwy stuff that can sometimes happen when that oblong, pointy ball starts bouncing around the field.  And I've read on a couple of forums that the crew has been disciplined by the powers that be and that there will be at least one, maybe two, officials who has/have chosen to retire from officiating, never to work another game again.

That is a terrible way to end a career and those five men will have to live with that mistake the rest of their lives.  And no court decision will ever allow them to get over it.

Sometimes life just sucks.  If the Oklahoma court upholds this appeal and decides to replay the game, or award the victory to the aggrieved team, I can guarantee you life will suck even more.

Especially for the men and women in stripes.

The Followup to the Game

My crew got to officiate a great 6A semi-final on Friday.  Final score was 17-14.

A few of the highlights:

West Salem scored a touchdown on the final play of the 2nd quarter.  This was actually what we call an "untimed down" because there was an accepted penalty during a down in which time expired.  This means the offense gets one more play with 0:00 on the clock.

They ran a fake punt in which the snap was muffed and fumbled, during the scramble a WS player picked up the ball, made his way through traffic and about 40 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

I was given high marks for calling offensive pass interference against Tigard, as well as ruling correctly on Tigard's final touchdown where the receiver caught the ball right at the end line.

The line judge and I were also given high marks for properly covering a play in which a Tigard player gained 40-some yards but fumbled the ball as he was tackled.  There was a scrum for the ball and WS recovered on their own 2-yard line.  We did everything right.

Two evaluators met with the crew after the game and basically said, "All we have to give you is a bunch of nitpicky stuff because you all worked an excellent game."

And that, my friends, is how you happily end a football season as an official.

The Game

If you've been paying attention, you'll remember that I was honored to receive a 6A semi-final game.  This is sort of a big deal around these parts.

The game is between West Salem and Tigard, with the kickoff set for Noon PST.

I know this is a stretch, but if any of you want to actually ... oh, I don't know ... WATCH the game live, click here and the link will take you to a website where you should be able to receive the live feed.

If that isn't your thing, enjoy whatever it is you do on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Playoff Game

Two weeks ago I had a first round playoff game and was told that I would have a semi-final game this weekend.  My crew also had a second round game last weekend, but I was out of town for the diocesan convention and my grandmother-in-law's funeral.

When I got home, I received an e-mail from my commissioner telling us that we had been removed from the game this upcoming weekend (today) and that the state had given our association two other games for next weekend.  So, instead of working today, my crew will be working one of two state 6A semi-final games next week.  The other crew will have the state 4A final game next week.

This is a good thing for our association, and it's an honor for these two crews.

In that e-mail from the commissioner, he also requested our presence at a meeting this past Wednesday night.  Most of the two crews were there (my referee had a work conflict that he couldn't get out of, but the U, LJ, HL, and BJ were all present).  He basically wanted to get us ready to be at these games.  Both of them are in the Portland area, and both of them are high profile games.

Which means, "Be prepared to be watched and evaluated from the moment you enter the parking lot until the time you leave the stadium."  Yep, nothing says "Stay Calm" like knowing you are being watched and evaluated at every turn.  On the one hand, it's sort of nerve racking to be conscious of the fact that every move I make will be graded. 

On the other hand though, I won't be doing anything I haven't done before.  The game will still be played on a field 120 yds long x 53-1/3 yds wide with 11 players in dark jerseys and 11 players in white jerseys.  This reminds me of one of my favorite officiating stories of all time.

A veteran NFL official was getting ready for a game with his crew.  The crew had a new Referee (white hat), and this was his first game in that position; and he was nervous.  Nervous to the point of being incapacitated.  The veteran asked him a question: Excluding those of us in the locker room, is there any other person out of the 55,000 in the stands or any of the coaches on the sidelines who are more qualified to wear that hat that you?

"No."

"Do you think you can go out onto that field and referee one play, just one, correctly without screwing it up?"

Giving a little smile, he said, "Well, yes, of course I can."

"Let me tell you something: that's the only way this game will ever be played -- one play at a time."

I will be in Portland next weekend working a high-level, high profile state semi-final game . . . one play at a time.

Time stamped

I realize that not everyone enjoys football as much, or in the same way, that I do.  I also realize that not everyone watches games like I do -- a side effect of being an official, I'm sure.

So I'm not surprised, nor offended, when I invite someone to watch a game and they have no desire to sit out in the cold and/or ugly weather for the sole reason to watch me run around the field.  Mrs. Ref often did that early in our marriage, but she has since become much more discriminating as to when she will actually attend a game in person.  After all, why go to a game in bad weather and listen to the surrounding fans scream at your husband for being an ignorant fool when she can do the same thing in the comfort of her own home while listening to the local radio broadcast?

With that said . . . I posted a link to my last game (a first round playoff game) and invited people to watch it, totally forgetting that people have different ideas of what constitutes "viewing pleasure."  After a suggestion from a friendly reader, I have managed to time-stamp the parts of the game where you could, if so desired, watch me flit around the field doing my thing.

All you need to do is go to the comment section, look at the times I've listed, and then go to that part of the video.  Most of them are rather boring, but there are a few times (a pass interference call, a measurement, a personal foul -- and a whole lot of me under the uprights) that will give you an idea of how I spend my Friday nights during the season.

I'll post more playoff information as it becomes available.

First Round Playoff Game

I did some searching and managed to find the archived video of my first round playoff game from last Friday, November 7.  As usual, I'm the Back Judge, so I'm generally out of the picture.  But, if you want to watch, you can watch the game here.

Playoff Game

I worked the first playoff game last night between Wilson (from Portland) and North Medford.  It turned out to be not that close, as Medford won 41-7.

However, the crew worked well together and we didn't make any glaring mistakes.  My first flag of the night went against Medford for having 12 players on the field.  My second flag of the night went against Medford for pass interference.

But like I said, the guys in stripes had a great game.  It would be nice to work a second round game, but I will not be in town; that happens to be the weekend that we are going up for the funeral of Mrs. Ref's grandmother.

I will, however, be in town for the semi-final game in two weeks.

Yep, the season is coming to an end, but this is a great way to end it.

Woo Hoo!!!!

I received a call from the commissioner of the officials' association this morning.  You never know what you're going to get when he calls because not only does he assign games, but he also deals with disciplinary issues.

This call went well.

"Good morning.  I'm calling to find out if you are interested and available to work a semi-final playoff game on either Friday or Saturday, November 21/22."

Trying not to scream like a high school girl who was just asked to prom by her secret heartthrob, "Yes, to both.  I am definitely interested, and I am also available."

"Okay, good.  I'm putting the crews together now.  You will also have a first round playoff game this Friday, and I'm pretty sure that that crew will be together for the semi-final game as well."

"Great.  Thank you."

"You're welcome.  And congratulations."

Last Regular Season Game

I worked my last regular season game of 2014 last night.  Other than the first quarter, it wasn't all that exciting, final score being 76-12.

If you care to watch, I'm the back judge who eventually rolls up his sleeves because I was hot.  Everyone else thought it would be a good night to be in long sleeves.  Anyway . . . I had a good night -- made some good calls and one questionable pass interference.  But the crew had a good time.


Here's your link to the game.