As an official, one must process massive amounts of information over the course of a 3-hour contest. Officials must be able to both ingest and digest all inputs from every source on that field. It can be a feat of mental gymnastics being able to parse what is relevant from the loads of feedback (and dare I say noise) to navigate all participants from coin toss to final whistle.
Technology has helped advance communication by allowing discussions to be expedited through radio, but it has also given unnecessary chatter a new avenue to be just as bothersome if not worse than before. For any official, especially inexperienced ones, if we can limit communication to relevant, objective information, it will eliminate a lot of unnecessary confusion. It will also enable us to focus on the task at hand because the most important play in any sport is the current one.
To aid in this effort, I’ve created a list of important Ws of officiating. These Ws are questions to ask yourself throughout the course of any game to maintain or regain focus.
WHO
“Who is in possession of the ball?” This one may seem obvious because the team with the ball is most likely in possession of the ball. That is the case in running plays. In loose ball plays (any other play that is not considered a running play), a loose ball is in possession of the team who was last in possession. In other words, if there is not a CLEAR change in possession (fumble recovery, interception, kick recovery, turnover on downs, etc.), the team that was previously in possession retains possession. This is important when administering fouls, but most important when dealing with any sort of action where the ball is loose on the field.
“Who is the foul on?” Referees and Coaches will love you if you report a foul with a player number…. EVERY TIME. This is especially important on Personal Fouls and Unsportsmanlike Penalties. Think about it like this, if you were reporting a crime to the police, and you do not have a description of the perpetrator, it is highly unlikely that they can help you. The easiest way to lose credibility is to report fouls without numbers. This tells the world that you did not see the entire play. How can a coach make adjustments when they are unaware of who is committing infractions?
WHAT
“What Down Is It?” The chains are there for everyone to see and once they are set, they are set and clipped. However, if everyone on the crew is not on the same page as to what the current down is, WE HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM! Don’t assume that the person in the minority on the crew is incorrect in this situation either. Last, if you are depending on a parent provided by one of the teams on the box to bail you out, Good Luck. The Down and the Clock are everyone’s responsibility.
“What foul do you have?” Better known as “Whaddaya Got?” or “What ya Got?” The flag is tied to your integrity so know what type of infraction you have before tossing it on the field. If you know the foul and have the number, most referees can take care of the rest. Get in the rule book and get intimate with the foul section.
WHERE
“Where did the foul occur?” This is denoted by where your flag is dropped. For example, prior to this year (2023) fouls behind the line of scrimmage by the offense/kicking team in some rule books in certain situations were enforced at that spot. A 10-yard penalty was essentially a 30-yard penalty if a hold took place 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Remember that some fouls are spot fouls, which means that they are enforced from that exact spot both horizontally (along the line of scrimmage) and distance wise.
“Where is the Line of Scrimmage/Line to Gain?” Knowing where the line of scrimmage lets the referee know if some fouls are in fact not fouls at all. If a pass is caught behind the line of scrimmage on a screen play, there is good chance that offensive linemen may not be downfield illegally. Knowing where the line to gain is helpful when doing quick math on a penalty from the previous spot to determine if the offense will receive a new set of downs.
WHEN
“When did Team A take their last timeout?” No coach on earth will refuse a 4th time out. No coach on the opposite side will let you live down allowing a 4th time out. Record all time outs and share with anyone in ear shot. Repeat right before play resumes. There is no penalty for a 4th time out except embarrassment.
“When did Player A get an Unsportsmanlike Penalty?” Two unsportsmanlike penalties by the same player/coach equal an ejection. It is paramount to record ALL unsportsmanlike penalties, including time and description. Inform the coach so they can make adjustments and be aware.
WHY
To be honest, most “Why” questions will revolve around rule interpretations and penalty enforcements. The best remedy for this is to get in the rule book and understand the definitions and the threshold for these fouls. It will better help you as an official when it comes to explaining objectively the infraction that you saw. Remember that if you are not prepared to answer the “Why”, I might suggest reconsidering the foul altogether as it seems that it may be a borderline call. Above all else, preparation will help answer all “Why” questions. If you cannot answer the “Why” in a professional manner, do not compound the issue by giving a bogus response. Silence can never be misquoted.
These are a few of the many questions that I believe if you can answer throughout a game then your focus is where it should be. It takes time and practice transitioning from a spectator to an official. More importantly it takes experience and teamwork as a crew to master the art of compartmentalizing all the different pieces of information that gathers on any given night. The best piece of advice is to make a mental note before every contest to clear your thoughts prior to kickoff, use halftime to reflect and recalibrate, and maintain the same energy through the second half.
