Referee Magazine - August 2019

BASEBALL

CONFERENCE CALLS

SOFTBALL

IN THE WAY & OUT

FOOTBALL

RARIFIED RULINGS

ALL SPORTS

TUFF TIFFS

BASKETBALL

NFHS NEW RULES

VOLLEYBALL

CAPTAIN K.I.S.S.

AUGUST 2019 // REFEREE.COM

GOLD WHISTLE

Award TOM LOPES

THRILLS chills PP.44 P. 44

&

FINAL FOUR

NEXT GEN CLINIC P 62 P.

AR U READY?

P 34 P.

RIPPLEY’S

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

your voice since 1976 Cover 08_19-3.indd 1

$6.95

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CONTENTS

AUGUST 2019 Volume 44, No. 8 Issue 514 22

FEATURES 22

GOLD WHISTLE: TOM LOPES Longtime IAABO executive director is a leader, mentor and educator.

44

ROLLER COASTER RIDE Officials need to find the right rhythm to keep their lives in balance.

62

MAKE WAY NCAA national coordinators hold inaugural Next Generation seminar for select basketball officials.

72

YOU ARE THERE: RIPPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT MLB umpire ejects 17 during one 1984 game.

SPORTS 12

ON THE COVER Rodrigo Garcia-Priebe Age: 20

Rare Rulings Well Done: Plays Not Often Seen Will Challenge Officials; When Football Really Is a Game of Inches; Think Drink or Wither in the Weather

28

VOLLEYBALL

34

SOCCER

Resides: Marysville, Wash.

Occupation: Land surveyor Officiating Experience: Soccer official for five years; worked district playoff matches

FOOTBALL

50

Don’t Let Them Slide: Moisture on a Court Can Make for a Dangerous Situation; K.I.S.S.; 5MW: Dan Swensen Providing an Assist: AR’s Pregame Mechanics Contribute to a Successful Match; Second Whistle Situations; Be Dogged About Your Homework

BASEBALL

Trip Advisor: Know When They Get Charged When They Go Out to Talk; Focal Point; Dropped Third Point of No Return

GLEN MOFFITT (COVER), COURTESY TOM LOPES, DALE GARVEY (FOOTBALL)

56

SOFTBALL

66

BASKETBALL

74

ALL SPORTS

COLUMNS 4

PUBLISHER’S MEMO

6

THE GAG RULE

Crop of Officials; One Last State Tourney; Family Makes the Call

Jr. NBA Tip-off Session

Letters; Say What?; Snap Shot: Holding Back the Mascot; They Like Us; Survey Says ...

78

FOR THE RECORD

8

THE NEWS

80

LAW

40

GETTING IT RIGHT

81

CLASSIFIEDS

42

N.Y. Association Sticks With NCAA Rules; Former Official Paganelli Sr. Dies; TSSAA Ups Discipline for Ejected Coach Guay Skates Ahead for Women Hockey Officials; Two Officials Inducted Into IWCOA Hall; Indiana to Suspend Ejected Fans

PROFILES

Dinkel Family Raises Bumper

82

2019 Short-Season Minor League Baseball Rosters Legal Calls on Your Court; When an Association Intervenes; Know When the Game Is Over Camps/Clinics/Schools; Equipment/Apparel; Leadership Resources

LAST CALL

Old School: Not only did the school make me a better umpire, it made me a better person.

FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHT THIS MONTH

Obstruction Destruction: How to Recognize and Penalize a Defensive Gaffe; Getting the Ruling Right Isn’t a Travesty Dressed for Success: NFHS Rule Changes Center on Uniforms, Headbands; 5MW: Gina Cross No Argument About It: Top Tips to Terminate Tiffs and Tough Talks; Rules Study by the Book; Don’t Let the Dog Days Bite You

Officials need to know their rule codes to be able to determine whether a rare situation is a foul or not.

FOR MORE, GO TO PAGE 12

Find Referee Magazine on Facebook and follow RefereeMag on Twitter

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PUBLISHER’S MEMO Watch the video at referee.com/pubmemo

Jr. NBA Tip-off Session In mid-May, I was part of a panel discussion that kicked off the Jr. NBA’s Youth Leadership Conference in Chicago. There were more than 400 people in the audience, mainly representing youth, club and recreational basketball. Also in attendance were notables from the professional and collegiate levels, and from the sports media.

The panel session was tasked with discussing the “culture of youth sports.” On the panel with me were: Dallas Mavericks Coach Rick Carlisle, former NBA player Allan Houston and SafeSport board member Julie Novak.

Our moderator was ESPN sports analyst Maria Taylor.

It was clear from the outset that officiating was to be a key ingredient in the discussion. As we worked our way through the first half hour, it became clear there were going to be many questions from the audience.

Originally the Q&A section was to be about 10 minutes or less in length, but we began seeing questions from the audience piling up on the confidence monitor that only those of us on the stage could see. Because of this buildup, Maria made the decision (a correct one I would say) to go to the questions sooner rather than later.

As I began reviewing the first five or six questions displayed on the monitor, I was struck with the fact that the majority had to do with officiating.

Specifically, the questions were about fan behavior and its effect on us. There were questions about how we officials approach games, how we deal with players and coaches. There were also questions that made a reference to the findings of the historic national survey conducted by NASO in 2017. I had come especially prepared for those.

I had in the pocket of my sportcoat a small white card with some facts and figures from our 2017 survey. I like to carry that because then I can accurately quote the data. Here is what I shared with the audience that morning:

NASO National Survey of Sports Officials — 2017 (17,487 responses) • 67% work full time; 20% are retired.

• 17% spend more than $800 annually that is not reimbursed.

• 39% feel parents cause most problems of unsporting behavior.

• 54% feel coaches have the primary responsibility to improve behavior.

• 13% have been physically assaulted during or after a game.

• 47% have felt unsafe or feared for their safety due to bad behavior.

• 57% have had to step in to break up a fight or skirmish during a game.

• 64% have had to remove a spectator for bad behavior.

• 7% have regretted a decision to eject a coach; 58% regretted a decision to not eject a coach.

• 48% started officiating because of someone asking them to.

You might say that most of what’s above is “bad news,” but in the context of the panel discussion, I felt these were things the audience needed to hear and hopefully come to grips with. As the session continued, more and more questions about officiating came up. Those made me glad to have been able to bring our perspective to the gathering. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, it isn’t often that the officiating perspective is requested in such gatherings. I was very glad it was in this case. Kudos to the Jr. NBA and the organizers for including us.

Peace,

Chief Strategy Officer/Publisher Barry Mano Chief Operating Officer/Executive Editor Bill Topp Chief Marketing Officer Jim Arehart Chief Business Development Officer Ken Koester Managing Editor Brent Killackey Assistant Managing Editor Julie Sternberg Senior Editor Jeffrey Stern Associate Editors Jason Palmer Dave Simon Scott Tittrington Copy Editor Jean Mano Director of Design, Digital Media and Branding Ross Bray Publication Design Manager Matt Bowen Graphic Designer Dustin Brown Video Coordinator Mike Dougherty Interactive Media Developer Michael Kielas Director of Audience Development Dan Olson Event Planner/Marketing Coordinator Jennifer Helgesen Comptroller Marylou Clayton Data Analyst/Fulfillment Manager Judy Ball Director of Administration and Sales Support Cory Ludwin Office Administrator Garrett Randall Customer Service Support Specialists Michelle Murray Lisa Burchell Transportation Services Assistant Bob Wemmert Editorial Contributors Jon Bible, George Demetriou, Alan Goldberger, Jerry Grunska, Judson Howard, Peter Jackel, Jay Miner, Steven L. Tietz, Tim Sloan These organizations offer ongoing assistance to Referee: Collegiate Commissioners Association, MLB, MLS, NBA, NCAA, NFHS, NISOA, NFL, NHL, Minor League Baseball Umpire Development and U.S. Soccer.

Their input is appreciated.

Contributing Photographers Ralph Echtinaw, Dale Garvey, Ken Kassens, Jack Kapenstein, Bob Messina, Bill Nichols, Ted Oppegard, Jim White Editorial Board Marcia Alterman, Mark Baltz, Ron Huffman, Wade Labecki, Cheryl McCarthy Chiari, John O’Neill, Brent Rice, George Toliver, Larry Warrenfeltz Advertising 2017 Lathrop Ave., Racine, WI 53405 Phone: 262-632-8855 advertising@referee.com REFEREE (ISSN 0733+1436) is published monthly, $46.95 per year in U.S., $81.95 in Canada, Mexico and foreign countries, by Referee Enterprises, Inc., 2017 Lathrop Ave., Racine, WI 53405. Periodical postage paid at Racine, WI and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliverables to REFEREE, P.O. Box 16447, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6447. Direct subscription inquiries, other mail to REFEREE, P.O. Box 16447, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6447. (818) 487-4549. © 2019 Referee Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. (USPS Publication #107790.) Subscribers: Send address changes to REFEREE, P.O. Box 16447, North Hollywood, CA 91615-6447.

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EXCLUSIVE

10% DISCOUNT AT UMP-ATTIRE.COM All NASO members get an exclusive 10% discount as a benefit of NASO membership.

Members are able to use the discount on Ump-Attire.com’s 700+ officiating gear and apparel and qualify for free shipping offers and free returns. Just go to Ump-Attire.com and register using the same email address that is listed in your NASO account. Registered NASO members will be able to access the discount automatically without using a coupon code or having to call to place an order.

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THE GAG RULE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

LETTERS Continued Excellence

SNAP SHOT Holding Back the Mascot

A quick note of appreciation to let you know that you and the Referee magazine staff continue to excel in producing a quality monthly publication. Each month, I read the magazine from cover to cover (even the sports I don’t work) and I’m never disappointed in the content. But I wanted to share my opinion that this month’s issue (4/19) was one of the better ones in recent memory. The independent contractor (“Employee or Independent Contractor?”) and STOP articles were extremely interesting. Keep up the GREAT work.

Proud subscriber since 1987 and NASO member since 1989.

Referee Gerry Pollard has fun with the Northern Iowa mascot before a game at the MVC basketball tournament in March.

Jeff A. Murray Edmond, Okla.

SAY WHAT? “I used to (officiate) a lot of games. But now I find I can go Uber and Lyft to make more money.”

— Bryan Brown, a high school softball umpire from Westminster, Colo.

SOURCE: COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO STORY ON PAY RAISES FOR OFFICIALS

irv brown

SOURCE: THE DENVER POST

YOUR CALL @

St. Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights, Minn., offers a high school sports officiating class. What do officials think?

Chris Bown: Is the shortage getting refs or keeping refs?

Christina Hutchinson: Show me … mandatory for all student-athletes!

Bill Hammer: This is not going to work. History has shown that when you place unqualified people on the court or in the field, they cannot control the game because they don’t understand the principles of the game. I am a firm believer that the best

officials are the people who actually played the sport.

Harold Buck: Maybe instead of training new officials, require all spectators to take a course before they can come to games?

Jim Hochstrasser: That’s a good start but we need the parents in cages! LOL. Anthony Williams: This is great. I remember when I was in college they had an elective for officiating. We also had to officiate three

games to pass the class.

Ken Hartz: Love it, but unless they address fan behavior first, turnover will continue.

Stephen Fucik: Schools everywhere should do it.

It is a great job to have in college. You will make more money than most of your friends and work fewer hours, which leaves more time for studying.

“Like” us on facebook.com/RefereeMagazine to join the conversation.

SURVEY SAYS …

Have you ever dealt with a viral video pertaining to a game you officiated?

23% YES

77% NO

SOURCE: 2019 SURVEY OF 288 OFFICIALS

Tell Us What You Think Send email to letters@referee.com Send letters to: Editor, Referee, 2017 Lathrop Ave. Racine, Wis. 53405 Opinions expressed in “The Gag Rule” are not necessarily those of Referee. Unless otherwise stated, letters sent to Referee are intended for publication and become the property of Referee.

© DAVID BUTLER II-USA TODAY SPORTS; © THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER-USA TODAY NETWORK

SIDELINE Hundreds gathered in Broomfield, Colo., to honor Irv Brown, who officiated six NCAA men’s basketball Final Fours, and passed away in February. Former coaches and officials memorialized him, including Bobby Knight, who had this to say: “From an officiating standpoint, there was no one even close to Irv Brown. He was the best there was, and he’s the best there ever will be. … One time I was needling him a little bit. He said, ‘Hey, coach, your fly is unzipped.’ I automatically looked down. Then I look up, and he’s 25 feet away from me.”

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THE NEWS New York Association Sticks With NCAA Rules LATHAM, N.Y. — New York state will continue to use NCAA rules for high school girls’ basketball and softball, and boys’ and girls’ volleyball.

That was the result of a 12-10 vote in early May by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) executive committee that turned down a request to change its rules of governance from that of the NCAA to that of the NFHS in all sports.

The committee also rejected adopting NFHS rules for girls’ gymnastics, which currently follows USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Rules.

It is the third time the proposal to move to NFHS rules has been turned down this decade (2011 and 2014 previously). New York is the only state in the country that plays girls’ basketball and volleyball at the high-school level by NCAA rules; other states use NFHS rules.

The vote was largely well received by referees and basketball coaches throughout the state as the rule change would have resulted in the state’s 2,200 referees having to be retrained and tested on NFHS rules in order to be certified.

The matter was brought back

for discussion by the executive committee in October 2017 and has been discussed at seven different NYSPHSAA-related meetings since January 2018.

A survey by the NYSPHSAA leadership showed that 409 out of 481 girls’ basketball referees were in favor of keeping the NCAA rules.

Keeping the status quo was equally popular among coaches, as a 2018 survey reported that 521 out of 547 wanted to continue to use NCAA rules with modifications for high school play.

If the switch had been approved, the rules changes would have gone into effect in the 2022-23 season.

The New York State Girls Basketball Officials Association (NYSGBOA) cited at least 28 major differences between NCAA and NFHS rules.

NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas told the Niagara Gazette, “It was a philosophical issue. The question was, ‘Do we play by the NCAA rules that are made for adults like basketball and volleyball play by, or do we play by NFHS rules, which are made for the kids?’

“My hope is that we are making this decision with the intent that we’re preparing kids for the next level of life, not just the next level of competition.”

CONTRIBUTING SOURCE: LOHUD NEWS

Former Football Official Paganelli Sr. Dies at 82 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The patriarch of a prominent football officiating family and “godfather of Grand Rapids (Mich.) area officials,” Carl Paganelli Sr., died at the age of 82 on May 20.

A longtime Wyoming, Mich., resident, Paganelli Sr. spent his retirement years in Florida. He had been a 28-year survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was diagnosed with it again in 2016.

Paganelli Sr. had a long officiating career that included preps and small colleges as well as the Arena Football League, the World Football League and the United States Football League.

He had also served as head of officials for the Mid-American Conference.

His World League work was highlighted by an amazing story in which he was observing from the press box when the referee was taken out by a crushing blindside block that knocked him out of the contest. Paganelli Sr. then calmly left the press box, See “Paganelli” p.10

Bolivian Soccer Official Dies During Game Bolivian soccer referee Victor Hugo Hurtado collapsed due to a heart attack in the 47th minute of a May game between Always Ready and Oreinte Petrolero.

The 31-year-old was tended to immediately by medical officials, but then died a short time later at the hospital following a second heart attack, according to Always Ready’s club doctor. The game was played at Municipal Stadium

in El Alto, which sits 12,795 feet above sea level. Both Bolivian President Evo Morales and the Bolivian Soccer Federation shared public condolences.

The Bolivian Soccer Federation declared a week of public mourning for Hurtado.

Williamson to Supervise ACC Hoops Officials Debbie Williamson, the former NCAA national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating

and secretary rules-editor, was named in June the Athletic Coast Conference supervisor of women’s basketball officials. Williamson currently serves as the coordinator of women’s basketball officials for the American Athletic, Atlantic 10, Big East, Big South, Colonial, Ivy League and Metro

Atlantic Athletic, Southern conferences. She also serves as the chair of the board of directors for NASO. In the ACC, Williamson will oversee and maintain the women’s basketball officiating staff, including all evaluations and ratings, while seeking training and educational opportunities to promote the recruitment and development of a highly skilled and diverse roster of ACC women’s basketball officials, including a player to referee

REFEREE (PAGANELLI). COURTESY DEBBIE WILLIAMSON

THE WIRE

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THE NEWS

Former NCAA Basketball Referee Crowley Dies CALABASH, N.C. — A member of six Halls of Fame, known for his “gift of gab” and his workaholic nature, longtime NCAA basketball referee Christopher Thomas “Mickey” Crowley died May 5 at the age of 85.

Crowley worked more than 1,000 games in his career, which spanned from 1963 to 1991. He worked in many conferences including the Big East, SEC and ACC. He officiated the NIT Finals 10 times, worked 21 consecutive NCAA Tournaments and earned two NCAA Final Fours.

His last game was the 1991 national championship game in which Duke beat Kansas.

A Queens, N.Y., native, Crowley served in the U.S. Army from 195457 where he played on the All-Army baseball team. He was so good at baseball that he kicked around the New York Yankees’ farm system for a few years in the early 1960s.

He tried working as a baseball umpire, but complained “that the games were too long,” said friend Ralph Wimbish, who co-authored Crowley’s 2017 autobiography, “Throw the Ball High.”

Crowley then got into basketball and it was a match made in heaven.

His son Tim Crowley said that his father’s ability to keep things light with a joke or a sly remark helped make him the success that he was.

“He was able to build good relationships,” said Tim Crowley.

“Mickey had a feel for whether it was a close game, a national TV game or a play with 30 seconds to go,” said former coach and longtime friend P.J. Carlesimo.

Aside from officiating, Crowley was the assistant executive director of officiating for high school athletics for more than 20 years in Nassau County, N.Y., working with officials in all sports. He was honored with a Distinguished Service award by the Metropolitan Basketball Writers’ Association of New York in 2003.

After he retired from officiating, he remained active as supervisor of officials for the Atlantic 10, the Ivy League and the Patriot League. He also co-ran a high-level referee camp with hall of fame women’s basketball referee Phyllis Deveney.

He retired to North Carolina in 2015, where he continued his neardaily passion of playing golf.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Pat, four children, 11 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

Paganelli

continued from p.8

put on his uniform and called the rest of the game.

He will likely be best remembered for his three sons, Carl Jr., Perry and Dino, all of whom have gone on to officiate in the NFL. The trio have seven Super Bowl rings among them.

“He is the strength of our entire family,” said Dino Paganelli to Grand Rapids Sports in 2017 when his father was honored by the West Michigan Officials Association (WMOA) with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “He’s a fantastic person.

He can be described as having humility, dedication, loyalty and a commitment to excellence.”

Carl Sr. was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2018 along with Carl Jr., Perry and Dino, and was the WMOA’s Official of the Year in 1977. He is also inducted into the Arena League Football Hall of Fame.

Carl Sr. was a veteran of the Korean War and a major supporter of youth sports.

“He is, as everyone says, the godfather of officials in the area,” said Brad Brunet of the WMOA to the Grand Rapids Press in 2017.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary, his three sons and five grandchildren.

program. Williamson takes over for Charlene Curtis.

Iowa Referee Ejects Team’s Spectators An Iowa high school soccer referee officiating a May 25 state-qualifying match between Marshalltown and Southeast Polk ejected Marshalltown’s entire fanbase after its response to a call. During a final round of penalty kicks to decide the game, a Southeast Polk player

took his shot and Marshalltown keeper Jesus Munoz made what appeared to be a save, sending the Bobcats to state. But a whistle came in and the referee ruled that Munoz had come off his line. It resulted in a yellow card and Munoz was sent off.

The goal was counted and the Marshalltown fan base became irate. So much so that the referee ordered the entire Marshalltown fan base to leave the stadium.

The match resumed after 15

minutes. After another round of penalty kicks, the Marshalltown back-up keeper made the save to send the team to state.

NBA Official Garretson Arrested for DUI In an incident that caught national media attention, veteran NBA referee Ronald Garretson, 60, was arrested May 29 in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., for an extreme DUI after crashing his car into a tree. He was treated

on site for minor injuries and refused transport to an area hospital. At the police station, he took a breathalyzer test, which recorded a blood alcohol content of between 0.192 and 0.195, according to police. Garretson is a 32-year veteran of the NBA having worked more than 1,900 regular season games, 238 playoff games and 11 Finals games. He was not selected to work this year’s playoffs or Finals.

REFEREE

THE WIRE

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TSSAA Ups Discipline for Ejected Coach NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) increased the punishment of the Haywood High School baseball team and its coach James “Dusty” Rhodes for Rhodes’ bad behavior during a loss in a May state tournament elimination game.

During Haywood’s 6-4 loss to Sequatchie County on May 22, both Rhodes and assistant coach Alex Whitwell were ejected, and Rhodes had to be physically restrained by players and other staff as he argued about an illegal pitch call.

The situation deteriorated as Rhodes kicked dirt on the umpires and followed them around the field.

The umpires reported in a letter to the TSSAA that they initially restricted Rhodes to the dugout and that Rhodes

tripped and chest-bumped one of them.

Further, they reported that Rhodes’ arguing lasted more than 10 minutes.

TSSAA asked Haywood to review the incident, report its findings and then take appropriate disciplinary action. Haywood suggested a two-game suspension for Rhodes and a $250 fine, which are near-minimum punishments under TSSAA guidelines.

The TSSAA found that punishment wholly inadequate and responded with much harsher penalties. Both Rhodes and his assistant are to sit out the first two games of next season and the baseball program was placed on restrictive probation for two years with the athletic program being placed on probation for two years.

Under the TSSAA’s restrictive probation clause, a team is not eligible

to participate in the postseason and cannot receive any award recognizing its regular-season accomplishments.

Further, the baseball program was fined $2,000 and the athletic program was fined an additional $2,000 along with Rhodes and Whitwell being fined $250 each. Haywood planned to appeal.

TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress told local media that a point needed to be made in this case: “It’s up to the administrators to take action that is appropriate for whatever the violation is, and in this incident, the action that the school administration had submitted was not appropriate for the behavior of their coaches. We have to penalize appropriately so we can send a message to others that this will not be tolerated.”

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: THE TIMES FREE PRESS, THE JACKSON SUN

WNBA, Referee Union Reach Two-Year Contract NEW YORK — The WNBA and the National Basketball Referees Association (NBRA) reached agreement on a new contract for the next two seasons, running through March 31, 2021.

The new contract, announced May 1, includes an increase in total compensation for the officials, including gains in game fees, benefits, lodging and staff training, according to an announcement by the NBRA. Exact terms were not disclosed.

Early Bell Leads to Unique Decision The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) declared a new winner in its May Class 1A boys’ 3,200-meter track championship after an official mistakenly rang the bell for the final lap with two laps to go, causing confusion among the competitors. When that

“The WNBA referees unionized with the NBRA a little more than two years ago, and with ratification of this second CBA since unionizing, continue to make significant strides toward securing a refereeing profession commensurate with officiating the highest level of professional women’s basketball in the world,” said Lucas Middlebrook, partner at Seham, Seham, Meltz & Petersen, LLP and NBRA representative in a statement.

happened, Gehlen Catholic’s Will Roder and others took off like it was the final lap and concluded running when the seventh lap was completed (there are eight laps to a 3,200-meter race). George Little Rock’s Joe Anderson went with Roder, but continued running, completing the required eight laps, finishing first and being declared the winner. A day later, the IHSAA made the unique decision of declaring Roder the winner,

In a separate statement on NBA. com, NBA Deputy Commissioner and COO Mark Tatum said: “We are pleased to extend the WNBA’s partnership with the NBRA for two more seasons. WNBA officials are part of our world-class referee program which features state-of-theart development and training. We are fortunate to have this excellent group of referees representing our league.”

stating in a release that the confusion adversely affected the eighth lap and therefore the race was completed after seven laps.

Youth Player Exposes Himself to Referee Referee abuse mixed with blatant sexism as Italian female soccer official Giulia Nicastro was bombarded with abuse from Treporti supporters during a May contest. She was then subjected to a 14-year-old Treporti player

dropping his shorts and exposing himself. He then challenged her to expel him or perform sexual acts upon him after she awarded a corner kick to Treporti’s opponent Miranese. She issued the red card immediately, which enraged the Treporti supporters even more. Treporti did nothing to stop its fans during the match but did later issue an apology to the organization and the referee.

CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: NOLA.COM, THE ADVOCATE, MILESPLIT, THE TELEGRAPH, ABC15.COM, THE SUN, WHO-TV

REFEREE August 2019 |

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FOOTBALL

EDITOR: JEFFREY STERN

jstern@referee.com

RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY

Is that a grasp and twist? Or just a grasp? And what is being grasped? Facemask? Helmet opening? Depending on the code, the covering official may or may not have a flag on this play.

RARE RULINGS WELL DONE

By George Demetriou

N

o one has ever attempted to rank fouls in the order of the difficulty in calling them. However, it’s clear there is a pecking order. For example, encroachment is easier to call than holding. There are some fouls that are understandably called inconsistently, primarily because it’s often difficult for a single official to see everything that transpired.

Holding would be on such a list,

but arguably targeting and pass interference would be headliners.

There is another group of fouls that often do not receive a lot of attention, probably because they don’t happen very often. Some officials, who are conscious of advantage/ disadvantage, struggle to call these fouls because their impact on the play is seemingly indiscernible. It is no surprise the codes do not agree on these subjects.

Incidental facemask. Although

pulling the facemask did not become a foul until several years after helmets were made with facemasks, there is now unanimity on the severe injury that can be caused by a tug or twist on any portion of the helmet. Touching the facemask or the helmet is not a foul. Therein lies the challenge with the NFHS incidental facemask foul, which is the mere grasping of the facemask (9-4-3h Pen.). Did the opponent actually grasp or did he merely touch it?

DALE GARVEY

Plays Not Often Seen Will Challenge Officials

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In either case, player safety is not compromised. The NCAA had that foul on the books for a short period and abandoned it, likely because of the difficulty in discerning the foul and the lack of consequences.

Calling that foul should be avoided unless the official is certain there was a grasp and not just a touch. That is very difficult to distinguish during a night game on a typically lit high school field.

Invalid fair catch signal. There are very specific requirements for a valid fair catch signal. The reality is anything bearing some resemblance to a valid signal is likely to be interpreted as a signal. Players are taught that when a receiver signals, don’t question it and don’t hit him.

A valid fair-catch signal is the extending and lateral waving of one arm at full arm’s length above the head. NFHS specifies at full arm’s length, which is roughly 18 inches above the head. NCAA stipulates more than one wave (NFHS 2-9-3; NCAA 2-8-2). The foul carries a fiveyard penalty in NFHS but is not a foul in NCAA. Very few prep receivers meet the established standard. First, it’s very difficult to wave an arm without bending the elbow and one swing of the arm is technically not a wave.

Nonetheless, any movement of the arm with the hand held above the head is going to be interpreted as a fair-catch signal and the covering official should respect it as such.

If the signal is so weak that an opponent doesn’t recognize it and contacts the receiver, the defender’s actions should be excused and the receiving team penalized for the invalid signal.

The most important part of that call is to recognize that once any signal is given, the ball should be whistled dead as soon as any player gets possession. If team K possesses the ball, a different rule applies, but the ball is still dead.

Helping the runner. For some fouls the illegal act need not be successful. For example, attempting to jump over an upright player is a hurdling foul (the runner in NCAA may legally hurdle an opponent).

It does matter whether the player actually makes it over the opponent.

In other cases, the intent to commit an illegal act isn’t necessarily a foul. A player who tries to illegally block low and dives at an opponent’s ankles but falls short has not committed an illegal block below the waist.

The helping-the-runner rule is very narrowly written. NFHS prohibits pushing, pulling or lifting the runner, while NCAA prohibits grasping, pulling or lifting. Both require the act “assist forward progress” (NFHS 9-1; NCAA 9-3-2b).

Consequently, what may appear to be a helping-the-runner foul will rarely be an actual infraction. First, the rule requires direct contact with the runner, so pushing the pile should probably be overlooked. In NFHS, the “pusher” would have to get his hands on the runner in the pile which is difficult to discern, and in NCAA, pushing the runner is not a foul.

The key to getting that type of play correct is noting the progress of the runner. It is highly likely that if someone is trying to help the runner, his forward progress has been stopped, and the play should simply be whistled dead.

Intentional pass interference. That foul is unique to NFHS rules (and for good reason the least-called foul of them all). If the previous spot is outside team B’s 45 yardline, it would result in a 30-yard penalty.

Fouls that require an official to determine intent usually incur inconsistency and that’s not a surprise because humans are not mind readers. If a defender who has been beat makes a diving tackle of a receiver who is about to catch a pass, a large majority of officials would judge the act to be intentional. It could happen, but it’s highly unlikely.

Anything other than the preceding should simply be pass interference.

Regardless of what position an official works, if he/she can make it through an entire career without having called any of those fouls, he/ she can likely still boast that he/she never missed one.

George Demetriou has been a football official since 1968. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. 

SIDELINE Hantak Enshrined Retired NFL referee Dick Hantak was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame on May 23.

Hantak was hired by the NFL in 1978. He worked 25 seasons, including two Super Bowls, but is perhaps best remembered for the Dec. 22, 1996, Carolina-Pittsburgh game, when he had to admonish Panthers mascot Sir Purr for falling on a punt in the end zone that was still a live ball.

BILL GREENBLATT/UPI

TOOLS Friday Night Stripes Podcast Don VanDemark is the host of Friday Night Stripes, a podcast on which he interviews officials on a number of topics. Previous episodes have featured Big Sky Conference official Mike Bezner on officiating philosophies; Orrin Anderson, director of the Sioux Empire Football Officials Clinic; and John Mantica, president of the South Georgia Football Officials Association, who discussed officiating rugby as well as football matters. You can find the podcasts at fridaynightstripes.com

BY THE NUMBERS

15 1986 1988

Before 1985, yardage penalty in NFHS rules for an ineligible receiver downfield on a forward pass play.

Year in which the penalty was changed to five yards and a loss of down.

Year in which the loss-ofdown portion of the penalty was eliminated, creating the rule currently in use.

REFEREE August 2019 |

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FOOTBALL

TEST YOURSELF In each of the following you are given a situation and at least two possible answers. You are to decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS and NCAA rules, which might vary. Note: In kicking situations, K is the kicking team, R the receiving team.

Solutions: p. 81.

1. Fourth and goal on team B’s eight yardline. A1 runs to team B’s six yardline, where he is hit and fumbles.

The ball rolls into team B’s end zone, where it is recovered by A2. After the ball is dead, B3 slugs A2. a. It will be team B’s ball, first and 10 on its own three yardline. b. It will be team B’s ball, first and 10 on its own 10 yardline. c. It will be team A’s ball, first and goal on team B’s three yardline. d. Team A will attempt a try from team B’s 1-1/2 yardline. e. Team A must decline the penalty to keep the touchdown. f. The penalty is declined by rule.

2. Team A scores a touchdown on the last play of the fourth quarter, making the score 13-13. On the try, holder K1 muffs the snap and the ball rolls to team R’s 11 yardline.

As K2 reaches for the ball, R3 intentionally kicks the ball over team R’s endline. a. The game proceeds to overtime or extra periods. b. Team K wins, 14-13. c. Team K wins, 15-13. d. Team R wins, 15-13. e. Team K will obviously take the penalty and retry from team B’s 1-1/2 yardline.

3. Same as question 2, except R3’s kick sends the ball out of bounds at team R’s four yardline. a. The game proceeds to overtime or extra periods. b. Team K wins, 14-13. c. Team K wins, 15-13. d. Team R wins, 15-13. e. Team K will obviously take the penalty and retry from team B’s 1-1/2 yardline.

4. Second and 18 on team A’s 20 yardline. Eligible receiver A1 is at team A’s 23 yardline when his jersey is grabbed by safety B2. A3 throws a forward pass in A1’s direction but it falls incomplete. The next play will be … a. First and 10 from team A’s 35 yardline. b. First and 10 at team A’s 33 yardline. c. First and 10 at team A’s 30 yardline. d. Second and eight at team A’s 30 yardline.

When Football Really Is a Game of Inches I

t’s second and goal from team B’s three yardline. A run off right guard gains more than two yards, but not quite three. The third-down play is run over the left guard. The runner is immediately hit and is buried under a pile of players. The referee comes up to the goalline as the wings belatedly pinch in. Neither wing has a call. The referee asks, “What do you have?”

Each shakes his head, indicating he doesn’t have a call: neither a touchdown nor a spot short of the goalline.

What would you do? Better yet, how can you avoid having that happen in your game?

Goalline situations are similar to what is called a “short-yardage” situation. While there is no formal definition for that term, it is generally understood to mean third or fourth down with less than a yard to go for a first down.

Generally, short-yardage and goalline situations can be handled the same way. With short-yardage, the front stake of the chains is treated similarly as you would treat a goalline; any differences will be pointed out.

Here are some things the crew should be on the lookout for in those situations.

Getting set. In its haste to get the play off, the offense may snap the ball before the offense properly sets, particularly if the play is a quarterback sneak. After the huddle (and any subsequent shift), all team A players must come to an absolute stop and remain stationary simultaneously for at least one full second before the snap. Watch for the quarterback rushing the play to gain an advantage from a rolling start. If he approaches the snapper, reaches for the ball and gets the snap all in one continuous motion, it’s a foul.

Shifts. Short-yardage is an excellent time for a shift. A shift

gives the defense less time to react to a new formation and prevents the defense from anticipating the snap count. If the defense encroaches (NFHS) or jumps offside, the first down comes easy. In an NCAA game, the center will have to prematurely snap the ball to take advantage of the defensive faux pas.

The half-the-distance provision may reduce the utility of that technique for a goalline play.

Long count. Another technique favored by teams in a short-yardage situation is the long or hard count. The purpose is to increase the chances that the defense will jump into the neutral zone. There is nothing wrong with a vigorous count, but if it’s accompanied with a head bob, a shoulder hunch or arm thrusts at the snapper, it’s a foul on the offense. The downside is the long count also gives more time for the offense to false start. The umpire must be mindful of offensive deception by the snapper such as subtle arm spasms or tensing of muscles.

Deception with substitutes. In goalline or short-yardage situations, there may be confusion on the offense as to which players should be in the game. Be on the lookout for the use of replaced players or substitutes in an effort to deceive opponents and make sure both teams are counted.

Helping the runner. When only a few inches are needed, a player may succumb to temptation and assist the runner. Pulling a player forward is fairly easy to spot.

Fourth-down fumble. Finally, if it’s a fourth-down play, NCAA officials must keep in mind that the fumbler is the only team A player who can advance such a loose ball before a change of possession.

Mechanics tips. Short-yardage and goalline situations mandate modified positioning from routine scrimmage downs. One attribute of

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a successful game is to not have a runner cross the goalline without an official already standing there.

Ideally both wings should be there first. On snaps inside team B’s 10 yardline, both wings should break to the goalline at the snap and work back to the ball if necessary.

On goalline plays, the wings must close in on the ball and square off to mark forward progress. In short-yardage situations, treat the line-to-gain as a goalline. All officials must be aware when the ball becomes dead near the line-togain. The line judge, who is facing the stake, has the best view and should be the first to declare, “Hold the spot.” That keys the rest of the crew to leave the ball at the exact spot it became dead in the event a measurement is necessary. Tossing the ball in to the umpire and then having it returned to a wing for a measurement looks uncoordinated and creates doubt the ball will be

August_19.indb 15

placed exactly where it became dead.

Both wings must move quickly toward the spot and as far toward the middle of the field as possible to sell the forward progress. In those situations, it’s usually safe to be a little closer in at the snap, but not past the bottom of the numbers.

With all of that information in mind, let’s go back to the opening scenario. It actually happened in a prep game a few seasons ago. The

referee turned out to have the best view of the play. After the ball was flipped to the umpire, the referee knew he had to call something. He went with a touchdown because it appeared the forward thrust of the runner put the ball over the goalline. The game film was inconclusive because of the severe angle, but showed the referee was probably right. Probably should not be good enough for your crew. 

Goalline situations are similar to what is called a “short-yardage” situation.

While there is no formal definition for that term, it is generally understood to mean third or fourth down with less than a yard to go for a first down.

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FOOTBALL

Think Drink or Wither in the Weather

By Jeffrey Stern

D

ehydration is arguably the most dangerous side effect of officiating in hot conditions for prolonged periods of time. Dehydration not only dramatically affects performance, but can lead to heat stroke, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Drinks containing sugar and salt are an official’s best fluid replacement.

A number of those “sports drinks” are available. All contain reasonable amounts of both carbohydrates (sugars) and electrolytes (salts). Avoid soda-type drinks since most contain too much sugar and not enough salts. Soda also contains caffeine, which increases urine production and counteracts your body’s effort to conserve water.

Ideally, you should consume four to six ounces of fluid for every 10 to 15 minutes of activity to effectively avoid

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dehydration. That avoids filling the stomach with large quantities of fluid at one time. Most officials cannot stop activity every few minutes to take a drink. A more practical technique is to drink three to four cups (24 to 32 ounces) of fluid about once an hour.

Use that method in your preseason workouts in order to get your body accustomed to performing activities with fluid in your stomach.

Drinking about two or three cups of fluid 10 to 15 minutes before a game is also recommended. Overhydration will not only decrease the chance of dehydration but will also help your stomach start emptying and force your body to absorb the fluid. If it’s a very hot or humid day, increase fluid intake to as much as one to two quarts an hour.

Replenishing lost fluids after a contest is important when an official

has an assignment the following day.

Even under ideal circumstances, it’s difficult to end a long day sufficiently hydrated. If you start the next day a little “dried out,” you’ll have a hard time catching up with your body’s needs.

As soon as possible after the game, take a cool (rather than hot or cold) shower. It feels good and it helps cool the skin.

Remember that alcohol promotes dehydration. Consider limiting or eliminating alcohol for 24 hours before a contest if extreme weather is expected. The beer you skip after the Friday night game may lead to a more comfortable Saturday afternoon.

Jeffrey Stern is Referee’s senior editor. He officiates high school football. He previously officiated collegiate football. Medical information in this column was provided

by Dr. Emilio Vazquez, M.D. 

6/19/2019 10:27:29 AM

You Can Keep a Good Kick Down T

here is a subtle but important difference between NFHS and NCAA rules when it comes to downing a scrimmage kick.

In both codes, a free kick or scrimmage kick becomes dead when it comes to rest and no player attempts to secure it (PlayPic A). In NFHS, in order

A

to down such a kick, a team K player must simply touch the kick (PlayPic B). The team R player in PlayPic C is advancing a dead ball (4-2-2f).

Under NCAA rules (4-1-3e), team K must actually possess the ball in order to down the ball and cause it to become dead. 

B

COMES TO A STOP

K TOUCHES

C

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FOOTBALL

CASEPLAYS Roughing Foul?

Play: R1 and R2 attempt to block a field goal. R1 deflects the ball and contacts R2, who lands on the holder. Ruling: In NFHS, unless the official judges R2’s contact was unnecessarily rough, there would be no foul. Fouls against the kicker and holder are excepted when team R touches the kick near the kicker and contact is unavoidable and when contact is caused by a team R player being blocked into the kicker or holder (9-4-5b and d). In NCAA, R2 has roughed the holder. The penalty is 15 yards from the previous spot and an automatic first down. If the kick is blocked or partially blocked, only the defensive player(s) who blocked the kick may be exempt from a foul (9-1-16 Pen., AR 9-116 I-VII).

Illegal Pass Thrown From the End Zone Play: Fourth and 10 from team A’s five yardline. A1 drops into his end zone and fumbles. The ball rolls to team A’s two yardline and is nearly at rest when B2 muffs the ball back into team A’s end zone. A1 recovers and, while still in his end zone, throws an illegal forward pass. Ruling: In NFHS, an illegal forward pass is treated as a running play. That means the run ended in team A’s end zone, and the result is a safety. In NCAA play, team B scores a safety if it accepts the penalty. However, declining the penalty gives team B the ball at team A’s five yardline, which is the previous spot (NFHS 7-5-3, 8-52c; NCAA 7-3-7c Exc., 8-5-1b, AR 7-3-7 II-III).

Offsetting Fouls Play: Third and 10 on team B’s 34 yardline. After the snap, A1 drops back to pass. To hinder B1’s rush, lineman A2 swings his leg and contacts B1 at his knees. B1 stumbles but regains his balance and charges into A1 well after he released the pass. A2 catches the pass and is tackled at team B’s 20 yardline. Ruling: A2 is guilty of a personal foul. Because B1 had recovered from the illegal contact, he is guilty of roughing the passer when he charges into A1. The fouls offset and the down is replayed. It will be third and 10 at team B’s 34 yardline (NFHS 9-4-3, 9-4-4, 10-11; NCAA 9-1-2c, 9-1-9a, 10-1-4).

Positive Reception for This Exception

By Mark Bradley

M

ost football officials are familiar with the term “momentum exception,” but when pressed to articulate the rule’s components, many are confounded by the nuances, both in description and application.

Rules that contain multiple “and” and “or” statements, where several variables are part of the code, are often hard to fully comprehend.

To understand the momentum exception rule, it’s helpful to break it down into multiple discussions: Why does the rule exist? What does the rule state? How do we officiate the momentum exception? Who will like the call?

Identifying to which rule the momentum exception applies is an important first step in understanding why the rule exists. It is an exception to the rule describing action that results in a safety (other than by penalty) (NFHS 8-5-2a; NCAA 8-5).

Both NFHS and NCAA rulebooks employ a single sentence to describe a safety: If a ball becomes dead in a team’s end zone and the defending team is responsible for the ball being there, it is a safety.

Based on that simple definition, and without an exception, if a defensive player carries the ball into his own end zone, the opponent is awarded two points. A player makes a critical fumble recovery or spectacular interception on team B’s three yardline and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed. Two points for the opponents. That doesn’t seem fair, but prior to 1982, high school players could make an apparent game-changing play and be personally responsible for adding two points to the opponent’s score. Recognizing that incongruence, the NFHS added the momentum exception to the safety rule. They realized to uniformly apply the strict definition of “safety” would sometimes result in an unfair outcome

of the play for the defensive team (an unreasonable consequence for making a good play). The momentum exception provides some clemency when a defending team player possesses the ball close to his goalline and his original momentum takes him into the end zone.

Like other complex rules with multiple components (i.e., postscrimmage kick enforcement) the momentum exception must be examined in distinct segments. The NFHS and NCAA rules are worded differently, but contain the same essential elements: The momentum exception applies between the defensive team’s five yardline and goalline.

The defending player’s original momentum must take him into the end zone.

It applies to both a catch and a recovery.

It applies to a forward or backward pass, kick or fumble.

It applies only to the catch or recovery of an opponent’s pass, kick or fumble.

The ball must be declared dead in the end zone in the defending team’s possession or the ball must go out of bounds in the end zone.

NFHS added a wrinkle to mirror NCAA in that the ball must remain in the end zone in order for the exception to apply. Here’s a play in which that matters.

Play 1: B1’s original momentum carries him into his end zone after he intercepts team A’s forward pass at team B’s three yardline. While running with the ball in the end zone, B1 fumbles. The ball (a) is recovered in the end zone by B1, or (b) rolls to the two yardline, where it is muffed

by B2, rolls back into the end zone and is recovered by B3. Ruling 1: In (a), the momentum exception applies.

Even though team B fumbled, the ball remained in the end zone, team B recovered and the ball became dead in team B’s end zone. It will be

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FOOTBALL

3. BALL GOES OUT OF BOUNDS 2. FUMBLE

1. INTERCEPTION

defensive team in the field of play, or if the ball is carried out of the end zone, the momentum rule expires.

The most significant answer to the “how” question is a mental one.

It’s important for officials to keep surprises out of the game, and mental preparation and conditioning are key to recognizing and responding to that rare occurrence. Referees should PRESS BOX

team B’s ball, first and 10 at its own three yardline. In (b), team A scores a safety. When the ball was fumbled into the field of play, momentum was canceled. When it became dead there in team B’s possession, the result in both codes is a safety.

In NCAA, a fumble that goes out of bounds between the goallines in advance of the spot of the fumble belongs to the fumbling team at the spot of the fumble (3-3-2-e-2). So in NCAA, the momentum exception applies to a fumble that goes from the end zone into the field of play and out of bounds.

If all of the above play conditions are satisfied, the ball belongs to the defensive player’s team at the spot where he gained possession.

Identifying the spot of possession as the succeeding spot is an acceptable compromise for both teams. For the opponents, it is an equally unjust result to award a touchback to the defensive team for the play.

Note: In NFHS, if the ball leaves the end zone for any reason (the ball is carried, fumbled, or muffed), the momentum exception expires.

In NCAA, if the ball is fumbled or muffed in the end zone into the field of play and is recovered by the

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include a momentum exception discussion in every pregame. Before every play, officials should consider potential scenarios: Referees should mentally prepare for a possible momentum exception during free kicks. Back judges and side officials should mentally prepare to rule on defensive player possession location when the defensive team’s goalline is threatened.

Another important “how” component is proper positioning. The covering official should be stationary on the goalline to rule if a defensive team player physically possessed the ball between the five yardline and the goalline.

The covering official must toss a beanbag at the spot where player possession was gained between his five yardline and the goalline.

When in doubt, the ball was possessed inside the five yardline, the kick reached the end zone, the fumble was caught recovered in the end zone, or the interception was caught in the end zone. In other words, when in doubt, it is not a safety.

Neither team will like the call. The defensive team will want it ruled a touchback and their opponents will want it to be a safety.

Play 2: As seen in the MechaniGram above, R1 intercepts a pass on his own two yardline. His

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original momentum takes him into the end zone where he is hit while in the end zone and fumbles out the back of the end zone. Ruling 2: The momentum exception applies. It will be team R’s ball first and 10 on its own two yardline.

Play 3: B1 intercepts a pass on team B’s four yardline and his original momentum takes him into the end zone. He is hit while in the end zone and fumbles. The ball rolls out of the end zone and out of bounds on team B’s six yardline. Ruling 3: In NFHS, it is team B’s ball, first and 10 on team B’s six yardline. The momentum exception expired when the ball left the end zone and the ball is spotted where it went out of bounds. In NCAA, it is team B’s ball, first and 10 on team B’s four yardline. Because the fumble went out of bounds and did not remain in the field of play, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble and the momentum exception still applies (8-5-1a Exc. c).

Play 4: R1 intercepts a pass on team R’s four yardline and runs parallel to the goalline. He is hit and fumbles on team R’s four yardline.

R2 catches the fumble and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed.

Ruling 4: The result of the play is a safety. The momentum exception does not apply as R2 caught a teammate’s fumble.

Play 5: R1 muffs an in-flight free kick in the end zone and the ball rolls into the field of play. R2 recovers the ball on team R’s four yardline and his momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed. Ruling 5: In NFHS, the ball is dead when it breaks the plane of R’s goalline (6-3-1). First and 10 for team R on its own 20 yardline.

In NCAA, the loose ball retains its status as a kick until R2 recovers (6-1-7a). The momentum exception applies. First and 10 for team R on its own four yardline.

Play 6: Second and eight from team B’s nine yardline. A1 fumbles at (a) team B’s four yardline, or (b) team B’s six yardline. B1 bats A1’s fumble at team B’s three yardline. B2 recovers at team B’s two yardline and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed. Ruling 6: In (a) and (b), the momentum exception applies, so the result of the play is not a safety. To determine if the momentum exception applies, it does not matter where A1 fumbles or where B1 bats the ball; it only matters where B2 recovers the fumble. The penalty for B1’s illegal batting foul will be enforced at the end of the run (NFHS 10-4-4; NCAA 10-2-2d-1(b)). It will be second and two from team B’s three yardline.

Mark Bradley is a retired Air Force officer and lives in Colorado Springs, Colo.

He has officiated football for more than 10 years and has served as a Colorado Springs Football Officials Association area director and crew chief. 

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Award

TOM LO P E S L E A D E R , M E N TO R , E D U C ATO R

BY PETER JACKEL

M

ore than a dozen years before a future iconic spokesman from their turf named Bruce Springsteen would sing, “We’ve got one last chance to make it real,” four wayward New Jersey kids were on Keansburg Beach seeking some semblance of a wind to fill their limp sails one summer day in 1962. Their names were Tom, Bob, Pete and Bubby, and even though the optimism of John F. Kennedy’s New Frontier had captivated this country, they didn’t know what the hell they were going to do with themselves as summer rapidly worked its way to autumn.

Perhaps most prominent for the wrong reasons in this fizzling foursome was Tom Lopes. He had spent two years at St. John’s University in New York City from 1959-61, underachieving and wasting the limited finances of his parents, Thomas and Caroline, who raised their six kids in a three-bedroom house in Keansburg, N.J. When Tom dropped out in 1961, his father somberly informed his eldest child that he had squandered his only

chance. With five more kids awaiting their college opportunity, the Lopes parents were in no position to dilly dally with someone who wasn’t going to apply himself.

“My father said, ‘Well, you had your chance,’” Lopes said. “I knew I couldn’t put the burden on them again. I accepted that. It was my fault. I blew it. I really was a lost soul there for a while. I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I sat down with the superintendent of schools and asked him to write me a letter of reference to start over and get back into school.

And he said, ‘Honestly, I don’t know if it’s going to help you. You really messed up pretty bad.’”

But Tom, Bob, Pete and Bubby would spiritually be nudged in the right direction that afternoon on that New Jersey beach. In Lopes’ case, it was nothing short of a miracle. Going on 57 years later, this grandfather of five is able to look back on remarkable achievements both as an educator — yes, an educator — and as a basketball official and mentor for those entering the profession.

Around the time he celebrates his 77th birthday in July, Lopes will be in

Spokane, Wash., to receive the Gold Whistle Award, the most prestigious honor awarded by the National Association of Sports Officials. He made this possible because, starting in the fall of 1962, this New Jersey kid took his last chance and made it very real, stumbling upon what he genuinely ended up wanting to do and then rapidly ascending through the officiating ranks. And then he went on and influenced countless others as executive director of the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials.

“Tom’s leadership in training basketball officials has set an especially high bar for our industry,” NASO President Barry Mano said.

“He’s taken many of the best teaching methods and established continuous training for officials from their rookie year through high school.”

What a paradox it is. A young man who once went through the motions during two costly years at St. John’s would go on to attain the positions at Keansburg High School of, in order: guidance counselor, vice principal, assistant superintendent and acting superintendent, before

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GOLD WHISTLE AWARD

retiring in 1996. As an official, a man with an uncanny knack of being a calm voice of reason during tense situations worked 20 straight NCAA Tournaments from 1988-2008, including the Final Four in 1995, 2002 and 2007. Throughout those years of achievement, he’s been married to his wife, Nancy (since 1966), raised sons Thomas and David and daughter Jennifer, and is now lavishing attention on his grandchildren. For Lopes, it’s been one wonderful life, even if his life was stalled on the side of the road with seemingly no road service to be found nearly 60 years ago.

“Tom is deserving for a number of reasons, and the first and most important one is he’s been solid in everything he ever did in his life, whether it’s officiating, whether it’s being a family guy, whether it’s being a school administrator or running IAABO,” retired NCAAM D-I college basketball official Tim Higgins said of Lopes receiving the Gold Whistle Award. “He’s just a solid, solid person. And I think this is recognition of a solid career.”

Doug Shows, another longtime NCAAM D-I official, feels the selection of Lopes only heightens the magnitude of what the Gold Whistle Award represents.

“I know that Tom Lopes is highly deserving of this award,” he said. “This epitomizes him and it also epitomizes the award, having Tom Lopes as the recipient. Tommy Lopes is a great person on and off the court, and that’s an attribute that makes you a first-class official as well as a strong leader. I’m a big fan of Tommy and developed a strong relationship with him years ago. He’s essentially the quintessential mentor for young officials. When I first got

Tom Lopes was a master negotiator on the court, using his educator skills to help work through highoctane situations with coaches.

Upper left: Lopes with grandson Jacob, who was serving as ball boy for the SEC men’s basketball tourney.

to the SEC and then to the Big East, he was helping me out as the new guy. He was helping me navigate the turbulent waters of being a new fellow, a young guy, in major Division I basketball. He helped me a lot being a sounding board in travel situations, dealing with different coaches, dealing with supervisors of officials. Tommy is just a great guy.”

John Clougherty, who officiated with Lopes in the SEC, remembers a humble man who commanded deep respect and had a natural feel for the game.

“One night I came into a game and my adrenaline was

says made everything possible with his career, that Gold Whistle Award will be a lasting symbol for someone who took his last chance and made it real.

“It’s the highest award any official can get and I was very surprised,” Lopes said. “As I talked to people, I asked, ‘How come? What was the reasoning behind this? It’s for your body of work. It’s not just for officiating. That was the thing.

My organization is IAABO and we have 16,000 members. My staff and I are instructors. We train officials and my role is to find the best training materials to provide for our membership and give them all assets to make them better. We train the trainer so they can go back and train — Doug Shows, longtime NCAAM D-I basketball official the officials, from the beginning flowing,” he said. “Maybe I was officials to the veteran officials. too assertive early and, at the I put together each year a first timeout, he said, ‘John, you national film which has 35 plays need to take a deep breath and on it and shows whether the slow down. Let the game come official is right or wrong and if to you.’ And this is a guy who they’re in the right position.” could say that to me. He would recognize that. And it helped. I The Right gathered myself and went on.”

And now comes the golden Position in 1962 The right position. That’s years for Lopes, who retired as exactly where Lopes was in executive director of IAABO the late summer of 1962, even this year. As he lives his if he didn’t realize it at the retirement years in Ocean Pines, time. He had been working a Md., with Nancy, the person he

“HE’S ESSENTIALLY THE QUINTESSENTIAL MENTOR FOR YOUNG OFFICIALS.”

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dead-end job at Westinghouse since dropping out of St. John’s, keeping the assembly lines moving by making sure parts were continuously available.

It was mind-numbing for someone who just knew he had infinitely more to give, but at least it kept money in his pocket. In the back of his mind, Lopes thought he might want to be a teacher, making for an especially tenuous future considering he may never have qualified for college again. But he had to at least try. And as the four buddies walked along the Keansburg shore that day, they had a directory of colleges that they were going to peruse since each of them was sensing makeor-break time had arrived.

“We were looking for some place and there weren’t a lot of places that would take us because of our grades,” said Bob Brunner, who remains close friends with Lopes to this day. “Tom had essentially been kicked out of St. John’s University. There was a book we had. It might have been something the guidance counselor gave me because I was about two years behind him and we just kind of looked.

We came to Fairmont State (in West Virginia) and we said, ‘Why not?’ That’s about the

way it went. It was a small college and we thought we might be accepted because no one had ever heard of it! We certainly weren’t going to go to the name schools, not with our backgrounds. Two of us got in, Tom and I did. And poor Petey and Bubby did not.”

Before the two pals even embarked on what may very well have been their last chance, Brunner couldn’t help but feel Lopes would get it right this time. Hey, the young man was talented. And if one year in a dead-end job didn’t inspire Lopes to start making the most of himself, nothing would.

“Tom was a guy who was very smart,” Brunner said. “Not just intelligent smart. You knew that Tom was not just going to get along in life, he was going to get ahead in life. He was very intelligent, but he didn’t crack the books as much as other people cracked the books.”

If Lopes’ St. John’s experience was a weak tapper back to the mound, his do-over 400 miles away at Fairmont starting in the fall of 1962 was a line shot into the gap for extra bases. Lopes wasn’t going to blow it this time. He connected with professors and even pursued tennis at Fairmont, although Brunner playfully

From left: David Lopes, Thomas Lopes, Nancy Lopes, Jennifer Lopes, Tom.

notes that, “It was interesting that he chose tennis because that’s where all the girls were playing by the boys’ dorm!” He made the Dean’s List starting his first semester, was elected president of the student body and developed his own system for studying and preparing for tests. Good grades became an expectation with him. He was required to wear a tie at tea servings while the women wore dresses and white gloves.

“They actually taught us manners!” he said. Lopes even tried out for the basketball team all four years, although he had never been talented enough to play the sport at Red Bank Catholic High School in New Jersey from 1955-59. The coach who rebuffed him was Joe Retton, Fairmont State’s coach from 1963-82 who was the uncle of 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton. The man they called “Joe Joe” was so impactful in Lopes’ life that one can’t help but wonder if it was somehow written in the stars that Fairmont State is what happened to catch his eye that day on the beach.

“He grabbed me my senior year,” Lopes recalled,” and he said, ‘Look, you’re not going to make the team. Why don’t you take my officiating class? Maybe you’d like that so you can stay

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GOLD WHISTLE AWARD

close to the game.’ So I took his class and one of my fraternity brothers was the assistant coach at the high school next door and he gave me all his JV games.

That’s how I started. I was making $2.50 a game. At that point in time, remember, beers were a quarter and hot dogs were 20 cents.”

That fraternity brother was Jim Seamon, a student teacher at Fairmont who was also the junior varsity coach at nearby Mannington High School.

This undertaking served a greater purpose than putting some bucks in Lopes’ wallet.

Officiating quickly connected with him and, after graduating from Fairmont State in 1966 with a degree in science, he returned to Keansburg with a promising future. What a contrast it was to five years earlier, when Lopes had returned from St. John’s with his tail between his legs.

“I found out the local board of basketball officials was having their classes, so I signed up for that,” Lopes said. “It was 10 weeks; I got approved that year and I refereed freshmen and JV ball. The Shore Athletic Conference in New Jersey had 52 high schools and they were looking for officials. I became passionate about it and studied the rules, got approved, and the second year got two varsity games, which was unheard of in your second year.”

His ascent was steady. One of his first big breaks came in 1973 when Edgar Cartotto, supervisor of officials in the East College Athletic Conference, gave him his first Division I opportunity.

Ten years later, Norm Van Arsdalen, supervisor of officials for the East Coast Conference, gave him another career-defining moment. He continued to branch out. Frosty Francis went on to hire him for the Ivy League and then Lou Bonder, who turned out to be a real game-changer in Lopes’ career, put him into the Atlantic 10.

Top photo: (from left) Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim, Lopes, Donnie Eppley and former Maryland men’s basketball coach Gary Williams with an IAABO fundraising contribution.

Bottom photo: After a fulltime career in education, Lopes continued his teaching mastery in the training arena, bringing skilled presentations to the classroom, DVDs and online to spread best officiating practices.

The Big Break in 1990 “You’ve got to get a break,” Lopes said. “Someone has to discover you.”

That ultimate break occurred on Feb. 4, 1990 in Baton Rouge, La., when Shaquille O’Neal and LSU hosted the high-scoring juggernaut Loyola Marymount.

Neutral officials were wanted for that game and Bonder recommended Lopes. It was one month to the day before Hank Gathers, LMU’s dynamic forward, collapsed and died during a game from a heart ailment, and this game turned out to be one for the ages.

Despite 48 points from Gathers, Loyola couldn’t overcome O’Neal’s 20 points, 24 rebounds and 12 blocked shots and lost 148-141 in overtime.

“I didn’t know much about Loyola Marymount until I got there,” Lopes said. “They were coached by Paul Westhead and they had Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, who are leading the country in scoring. It turned out to be a classic game. I had to assess a technical foul to the coach from LSU (Dale

Brown) and this guy comes in the locker room after the game and said, ‘Can I ask you why that technical foul was called?’ I said, ‘I don’t know who you are so I can’t answer that question.’ He said, ‘I’m an observer for the SEC,’ and I said, ‘OK,’ and explained it to him. And I get a call at the end of the basketball season. Would I like to work in the SEC? I was the first official from the north to get into the Southeast Conference. Then I get a letter from the Big East that said, ‘Obviously, we missed one of the better officials around the country, blah, blah, blah.

Would you like to work in the Big East?’ So I’m working Big East, ACC and SEC. It doesn’t get any better than that!”

It could also be said college basketball officials didn’t get better than Lopes during his run. He received the Naismith College Official of the Year Award in 1997.

He also served as supervisor of men’s basketball officials for the Northeast Conference, starting when he retired from officiating in 2007 and

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continuing until 2014. During his run as executive director of IAABO, Lopes had a vision that enormously impacted countless officials.

“He was an outstanding communicator besides knowing the rules,” retired NCAAM D-I official Bob Donato said. “When he took over IAABO … there was an overwhelming improvement, in my opinion. I think he’s got 15,000 or 16,000 participants in the program and besides being a great communicator with his supervisors and the like, he had these instructional films where he could get some consistency throughout the area from the high school referees. It’s one thing to tell somebody. I think they remember 10 or 15 percent. But when you show somebody, it increases to 50 or 60 percent.

The instructional videos were outstanding and I think they were bought by a lot of people in the business.”

Donnie Eppley, who worked under Lopes at IAABO, marvels at the impact his boss made.

“One of his main focuses every year is to improve the training for young officials,” he said. “He does a great job at the IAABO schools in the summer because he’s so personable. He relates to everyone. If there’s a board issue within IAABO, I let him handle that because he

has a way of negotiating with people. He normally works it out without it ever being escalated. He always has an answer for everything.”

Connecting With Underachievers

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOM LOPES

Meanwhile, Lopes was creating a dual legacy in education, which he never could have suspected during those three lost years from 1959-62. There were so many components in place that he drew from to succeed in a career that started as a science teacher at Raritan High School in Hazlet, N.J., from 1966-68 and concluded with a four-year stretch as acting superintendent of Keansburg Schools from 1992-96. He was a smart man who learned the hard way how to tap into his enormous reservoir of ability years earlier. He was a kind, low-key man who can connect with underachievers in an area of the state that struggled. Olga Kupczak, who worked with Lopes in the Keansburg School District, remembers a man who consistently achieved results, “in a place that was constantly reinventing itself.”

“The state department classified the school district as one of the 30 out of 300 needy districts in New Jersey and therefore provided extra funding through the years to try to make up for some of the deficiencies that the community could not provide,” she said.

“In order to survive there as an administrator, you had to have great interpersonal skills.

And Tommy had those great skills. He was a team player.

He always worked with people where they had their needs.”

When Lopes accepts his Gold Whistle Award on July 30, nearly 57 years will have passed since those four lost kids were walking Keansburg Beach with few answers but with that life-altering college

The Gold Whistle Award

was created by the NASO board of directors to honor an individual or organization that has gone above and beyond in overall integrity and has made significant contributions to the betterment of officiating. The Gold Whistle is among the most coveted awards in the world of sports officiating.

To be selected as the award recipient by the NASO board of directors, consideration is given for: • Significant contributions to the betterment of officiating.

• A high degree of integrity and ethics.

• Qualities that are held in high regard by the industry.

• Consistent record of presenting officiating in a positive light.

• Exhibiting a “service above self” attitude.

Public service to officiating, having a motivating effect on others and/or strong community involvement are considered.

The award can be made posthumously.

catalogue. Bubby went on to a successful career as an electrical contractor before passing away a few years ago. Pete became a wealth management accountant who includes Lopes as both a client and close friend to this day. Brunner is a professor at Northern Virginia Community College and works on the same staff as Jill Biden, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. And then there’s Lopes, who may have been the most impressive of the impressive lot.

“It’s unbelievable, but very true,” Lopes said when asked how the four each found themselves in such a dramatic way.

And now there’s that Gold Whistle Award as a lasting symbol to celebrate someone who made a shoestring catch with his life.

“I’m not sure there’s anybody more deserving,” Clougherty said. “He’s been recognized through education.

He’s received different recognition awards, but he’s remained humble and doesn’t take himself too seriously.

He’s never been a guy to have a big ego and he’s always been willing to help younger guys. He was a terrific partner and a sincere individual without a big ego. Tom always appreciated everything he got.

He never felt any game was too big or too little for him.

Everybody should have his qualities.”

Perhaps Lou DeGeorge, Lopes’ high school officiating partner, said it best.

“This could not be awarded to a more deserving person,” he said. “To summarize the whole thing with Tommy, he never forgot where he came from. That’s what I admired about him as he went up the ladder to Final Fours. He always remembered his roots.”

Peter Jackel is an award-winning sportswriter from Racine, Wis. 

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VOLLEYBALL

COORDINATOR: MARCIA ALTERMAN

malterman@referee.com

RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY

Paul Albright, Naperville, Ill., assists a team in checking the playing court for moisture. A slippery court can present a playing hazard for players, the second referee or line judges. Officials should be especially cognizant of condensation forming on the court during high humidity conditions. Keeping towels in close proximity to the court can save time during an official’s timeout to wipe up moisture.

DON’T LET THEM SLIDE

By Jim Momsen

H

ow many of you have seen an inadvertent water spill on a court or in a playable area in front of a team bench? When does it typically occur? When is it appropriate to issue a delay sanction?

Let’s examine the definition of a delay for each of the volleyball rule sets. It’s important to know when the delay sanction should be assessed, versus issuing a verbal warning.

First the rules and sanctions ... the definition of a delay depends on the rule set being used for the match,

but there are only slight variations between NFHS, USAV and NCAA. Let’s first look at each rule.

Note: For the sake of brevity, we have only included situations that pertain to water spills. There are many other reasons for delays.

DEAN REID

Moisture on a Court Can Make for a Dangerous Situation

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NFHS In Section 9, Article 1, the NFHS defines a delay as, “An unnecessary delay results in any action by a team or team member that causes a delay in the start or resuming of play within a set. An unnecessary delay includes, but is not limited to: a. Delay by a team not being immediately ready to start play when directed by the first referee; and, i. Delay in returning to play after a timeout, or delay caused by cleaning up liquid or other substance used by a team(s) during a timeout.”

Penalties: 1. The first unnecessary delay by a coach, player, substitute, replacement or team results in a warning (administrative yellow card), but shall not result in a head coach being required to remain seated during play.

2. For any subsequent unnecessary delay during the same set by a coach, player, substitute, replacement or team, results in an unnecessary delay penalty (administrative red card) with a loss of rally/point awarded to opponent.

The head coach is not required to remain seated during play.

USC SPORTS DEPARTMENT

USAV Rule 16.1 USAV defines a delay as, “An improper action by a team that defers resumption of the game is a delay and includes, among others: 16.1.2 prolonging interruptions, after having been instructed to resume the game, 16.1.5 delaying the game by a team member.”

Sanctions: 16.2.1 “Delay warning” and “delay penalty” are team sanctions.

16.2.1.1 Delay sanctions remain in force for the entire match.

16.1.1.2 All delay sanctions are recorded on the score sheet.

16.2.2 The first delay in the match by a team member is sanctioned with a “DELAY WARNING.” 16.2.3 The second and subsequent delays of any type by any member of the same team in the same match constitute a fault and are sanctioned with a “DELAY PENALTY”; a point and service to the opponent.

16.2.4 Delay sanctions imposed before or between sets are applied in the following set.

NCAA Rule 6.3.1 defines a delay as, “A delay is an action by a team or team member that delays the start of or resumption of a set. Such delays are sanctioned and must be noted in the comments section of the scoresheet.”

Rule 6.3.2 states, “The following are delays: 6.3.2.5 Failure to report to the court when directed to do so at the start of each set.

6.3.2.6 Delay in returning to play after a timeout, or delay caused by cleanup of liquids or powders at the end of a timeout.”

6.3.3.2 The first delay in the set by a team member is sanctioned with a delay warning (yellow card).

The second and subsequent delays of any type by any member of the same team in the same set constitute a delay penalty (red card) and loss of rally.

Sanctions: 6.4.2 Sanction Procedures During Play 6.4.2.3 The first referee indicates a delay sanction by showing the appropriate sanction card, and the captain approaches the first referee’s stand when directed to acknowledge that the sanction has been assessed.

The second referee clearly and immediately communicates the sanction to a coach.

6.4.3 Sanction Procedures Between Sets 6.4.3.1 Any sanctions assessed between sets are administered before the start of the next set.

6.4.3.2 When sanctions are assessed to team members or teams before the start of the match or between sets, the referees clearly and immediately communicate the sanction to the captain/coach.

6.4.3.3 The sanction is recorded on the scoresheet for the next set after the lineup sheets have been received and recorded.

6.4.3.4 When the teams are called onto the court for the next set, the first referee displays the appropriate card to begin the set.

SIDELINE Volleyball Advocate Retires Anna Collier, who is credited with being a pioneer and advocate for beach volleyball to be recognized as an NCAA sport for women, announced her retirement from coaching at USC on June 6.

DID YOU KNOW? Illinois College announced it would add a men’s volleyball program starting in the 2021 season. The Blueboys, who are in Jacksonville, Ill., will be the 12th NCAA Division III school in Illinois to sponsor men’s volleyball. Only the states of New York and Pennsylvania have more D-III men’s volleyball programs. There continues to be an increase in boys’/men’s volleyball programs in the Midwest on both the high school and collegiate levels.

QUICKTIP When serving as the second referee, listen for inappropriate comments from players on the team benches. Many unsporting conduct actions take place not from the players on the court, but rather from taunts coming from the bench.

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VOLLEYBALL

TEST YOURSELF In each of the following, you are given a situation and possible answer(s). You are to decide which answer(s) are correct for NFHS, NCAA or USAV rules, which might vary. Solutions: p.

81.

1. Player A8 is back to serve.

A8’s serve goes directly over the antenna near the second referee.

What can happen next? a. The first referee can blow the whistle and award a point to team B. b. The second referee can blow the whistle and signal out of bounds. c. Line judge on the side with the second referee should wave his/her flag and point at the antenna. d. Line judge on the side of the first referee can wave his/her flag and point at the antenna. e. All of the above.

2. A live ball is in play after it was served by team A. On team B’s second contact, the ball contacts the ceiling and comes to rest on the top of an air conditioner unit over team B’s playable area.

What should the first referee do? a. Blow the whistle, signal out of bounds and award a point to team A. b. Blow the whistle and issue a replay. c. Blow the whistle and award a point to team B. d. Allow play to continue. e. Blow the whistle and issue an administrative delay to team B.

So, is a water spill an automatic delay sanction?

If the spill is cleaned up prior to the normal time, play should be resumed (e.g. before the end of the timeout or before the end of the interval between sets). No delay has occurred, so no sanction is warranted.

What if they miss the deadline by a few seconds?

As a match facilitator, in the case where any of the possible delay situations has occurred, typically give the team a verbal warning (first referee via the captain, second referee via the coach) to be on time in returning to the court. If delays

continue after the warning, issue a sanction.

There are some matches in which an excessive amount of floor wiping occurs due to players perspiring or high humidity in the gym. Wiping the floor delays the resumption of play. What should the referees do in this case?

Player safety is most important, and a dry playing surface is a must.

Obviously, wiping the floor maintains a safe environment. Typically, no delay sanctions are issued in situations such as this, unless it is clearly a delay tactic by the player or team.

Jim Momsen is the USAV Badger Region president. He lives in Hartland, Wis. *

K.I.S.S.

By Jason Palmer

K

eeping it short and simple should be your approach during the prematch conference. Chances are the players and coaches have heard most of this before. Always state what is required by the rules of your state association or the rules governing your level of play, but most of a prematch conference script is up to

the first referee. Knowing that most players are probably going to check out after 30 seconds, unless you are really giving some earth-shattering news like, “Today we’re going to play the best four out of seven,” they just want you to flip the coin. While officials have their own style and will develop what works best for them through trial and error, I’ve found See “K.I.S.S.” p.32

John Smyser, Sunland, Calif., and Eriks Tetris, Thousand Oaks, Calif., both are presenting a pleasant demeanor during a prematch conference, which relaxes the participants.

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REFEREE

4. The libero of team B is behind the attack line and uses finger action to set the ball to a teammate. B15, a front-row player, contacts the ball as it is completely above the height of the net and completes the attack.

This is illegal. a. True. b. False.

BOB MESSINA

3. Which is required for a volleyball to be considered legal for competition? a. An NFHS Authenticating Mark. b. The ball must be all green. c. The ball must be all white. d. The ball pressure should be between 4.3 and 4.6 pounds/ square inch.

5 MINUTES WITH DAN SWENSEN The first-ever PAVO director of line judge training & development talks about the importance of the position, how to improve the line judge cadre and how he fell in love with the job.

Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah Experience: Introduced to volleyball at age 10 while living in Brazil. University of Utah volleyball alum. Former high school coach.

Became an official in 1998 and has worked five NCAA Volleyball Championships.

REFEREE

August_19.indb 31

REFEREE: How has the role of line judges in the women’s collegiate game changed in the years you’ve been involved with the sport?

SWENSEN: When I started line judging, I did not use flags, did not have rally scoring, and it was common to pull someone from the stands last minute to stand on a corner. In my opinion, line judges were not valued much. Because the sport has come so far, so fast, the need for better line judges has resulted in better training and development. This is evident as PAVO created a new director position for training and developing line judges (a position I now hold). Other notable changes are increased match fees, more camps offered and local/national certifications. The role of line judges will only become more prominent as the game continues to evolve.

REFEREE: You’ve worked the NCAA Division I National Championships several times; describe that experience.

SWENSEN: I have been privileged to work five NCAA Division I Championships (men’s and women’s) and was fortunate enough to work both the Men’s and Women’s Championship in the same year (2015). It was an honor to be selected out of a large pool of qualified line judges. The feeling and vibe of walking into that arena for the first time with all the banners, marquees, players, etc. is ahhhfreakin’-mazing! Each championship had its own identity with the venue, staff, crew and teams. I wish every line judge could experience at least one national championship — it truly is indescribable.

REFEREE: What motivated you to consider the job of Director of Line Judge Development?

SWENSEN: Two years ago, I was asked to co-author a line judge training tool hosted on the NCAA Central Hub entitled “Ask the Judge.” This gave me first-hand experience with the array of questions being asked by line judges and the various methods and standards

used across the country. I was also asked to host line judge camps at major club tournaments and realized the deep passion I had to educate, mentor and challenge up-and-coming line judges. I was quickly aware of the critical need for a seat at the table for line judges. I do want it noted that I did not seek out this position; I was appointed to the position/opportunity to share my passion with others through the PAVO organization. I am extremely humble and grateful for this privilege to represent the line judge’s voice.

REFEREE: Do you have some specific goals for your first years in the new position?

SWENSEN: As dedicated as I am to improve the training and development of line judges, I am realistic about the magnitude of this task. However, one goal of mine is to increase the number of sites where line judges can obtain national certification. More schools and conferences are expecting nationalcertified line judges, so the demand is astounding. Another desired goal is to provide an advanced training program for line judges who want to take their skills to the highest level. One thing I do know, PAVO is very supportive of my vision and goals and will ensure my success as a newly appointed director. I also want to continue placing greater emphasis on the role of a line judge. Their involvement is paramount to the officiating team and referees are seeing the value in what they offer — especially now with the use of CRS (video review).

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VOLLEYBALL

CASEPLAYS Net Action Play: During a live ball, A7 and A15 are both going aggressively for a ball that is falling near the net. On the team’s third hit, A7 contacts the ball sending it over the net. After the attack, A7 crashes into the net pole, which violently shakes the net. A15 then crashes into A7 and forces the player underneath the net, across the centerline, outside the court. The ball lands inbounds on team B’s side. The first referee awards a point to team A as team B argues for a violation of the centerline by team A. Ruling: Correct. A7 contacted the pole which is legal. While A15’s momentum forced A7 to team B’s side of the net, A7 crossed the centerline outside the boundaries of the court, which makes it a legal play (NFHS 9-58; NCAA 15.2.1.2 & 15.2.4.4; USAV 11.2.2).

Collective Block Play: During a rally, B17, B50 and B19 all jump as part of an attempted collective block. There is a completed attack by A5.

The ball completely misses the block and a defensive save is made by the team B libero. The first referee allows the play to continue. Ruling: Correct. Since the ball was never contacted by any player who was part of the attempted collective block, no violation has occurred and play should continue (NFHS 9-5-1c-3; NCAA 14.6.1.3; USAV 14.1.4).

Uniforms Play: Team A is wearing multicolored white uniform tops with a solid black stripe that goes down the side panels along with solid yellow shorts. The libero for team A is wearing solid yellow shorts with a multi-colored black uniform top with solid white stripes that goes down the side panels. The first referee rules team A’s uniforms illegal because none of the players on team A are wearing a solid-colored uniform top. Ruling: Incorrect.

Solid-colored uniform tops are not required. The libero’s top contrasted from that of his/her teammates (NFHS 4-2-1a & 4-2; NCAA 7.1.1.1 & 7.1.1.2; USAV 4.3.1).

K.I.S.S.

continued from p.30

that focusing on one or two areas of interest based off the circumstances that day yields the best results.

It is a good idea to remove the boring, stale pregames that all sound the same. Focus on the uniqueness of the facility, any areas that could present a player hazard or anything out of the ordinary like high humidity that can lead to a slippery playing court.

Curtailing your talk to specifics of that gym or situation also keeps everyone engaged. Members of the visiting team appreciate you pointing out the jungle gym hanging from the ceiling that is over a playable area, which they may not have noticed during warmups. If there are multiple colored lines on the floor when a game is being played in the fieldhouse, both teams like to know which colors apply to them. If the match is for a championship of some sort, congratulate both teams for getting to this point and let them know you are excited to be officiating this match. It lets everyone know you understand the gravity of the situation.

Your speech should conform to the level of players. Freshman coaches and players may not be seasoned to organized volleyball, so reminding players where to go and to wait until they are beckoned to sub, or reminding coaches they may stand during play in the libero replacement zone, is probably necessary. Whereas a varsity team might need to be

reminded on more advanced rules or sportsmanship expectations in what is expected to be a tough rivalry match that day.

If the match is part of a weekend tournament or the state playoffs, there could be some modifications to the normal rules. If this is the case, they should be mentioned at your prematch meeting. Providing this information keeps players, coaches and officials all on the same page and eliminates confusion.

Many schools during October have special events for Breast Cancer Awareness month; this might include special uniforms being worn or a program during one of the intermissions that will need some extra time, as allowed for in the rules code. Be accommodating to the needs and make sure the visiting team is notified of what is happening.

One of the best things you can do is smile. It puts everyone at ease and shows players and coaches you are happy to be providing the crucial service of officiating at their match.

Completing a successful prematch conference is the first correct call you will make for your match when interacting directly with both teams.

They know your expectations, have evaluated your demeanor and have a good idea of what to expect during the match. If you find yourself contemplating what to discuss during a prematch conference, just remember the old acronym; K.I.S.S. (Keep It Short and Simple).

Jason Palmer is a high school official in Illinois and USAV official from the Badger Region in Wisconsin. 

Heads Up Before Ruling Overhead Obstructions

By Katrina J. Meyer

B

e sure to look up as part of your pre-match routine. Why? Because one of your primary duties as an official is to survey the facility and the playing area to familiarize yourself

with any “ground rules” unique to the competition venue. This must include a general understanding of the height of the ceiling above the “playing area” and any objects attached. Some of the more common overhead obstructions that you may notice include basketball

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backboard systems (some retractable, some not), speakers, banners, flags, lights, score/video boards, and even ceiling tiles or beams that may make up or define the overhead space.

No matter what rules set used for the match (USAV Rule 1.1, NCAA Rule 1.1.2.1, or NFHS Rule 2.2), it is essential that you are familiar with the rules that apply to the playing space above the playing area. Armed with this knowledge, officials can more accurately identify overhead obstructions and then determine the potential results of a ball contacting an overhead obstruction during play.

Referees should expect to address this information in the pre-match meeting with the team captains/ representatives.

Once the facility has been surveyed and overhead obstructions clearly identified, what are some of the most important elements of the rules that apply when a ball contacts an overhead obstruction during play?

Again, it all depends on the rules set in use. In the end, there are three official’s decisions that can result from a ball contacting an overhead obstruction: no fault (play continues), fault (ball ruled out), or replay.

It’s important to note in all rule sets, if a ball illegally contacts the ceiling or overhead obstruction, regardless of ceiling height, over nonplaying areas, it must be ruled out.

A team that causes the ball to contact the ceiling or obstruction above the opponent’s playing area is at fault. A ball that crosses the plane of the net into the opponent’s court is also ruled out.

There are two instances when the official must consider ruling a replay: when low-hanging objects, in playable areas, interfere with play of the ball, or when a ball comes to rest on an overhead object above the team’s playing area and is still a playable ball.

However, play should be allowed to continue if a ball, other than a

served ball, contacts the ceiling or any obstructions on a team’s same side and the team has any remaining legal contacts.

If, in the referee’s judgment, a ball contacts the ceiling or an overhead obstruction that is less than 15 feet above the playing area and the obstruction interfered, a replay should be called.

For NFHS, a ball striking the ceiling or an overhead obstruction above a playable area shall remain in play provided the ball contacts the ceiling or obstruction on the side of the net of the team that contacted it last and that team still has legal contacts remaining.

Beyond the rules, however, it is incumbent upon officials to also understand the application of them in each of the unique venues in which we work. So, remember to look up … your good judgment is dependent on it.

Katrina J. Meyer is the executive director of the PAVO and an NCAA official. 

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SOCCER

COORDINATOR: JOE BEAN

jbean@referee.com

RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY

PROVIDING AN ASSIST

AR’s Pregame Mechanics Contribute to a Successful Match

By Michael G. Davros

A

Josh Lewis of Burien, Wash., is completing one of the pregame duties of an assistant referee, which is checking the air pressure of the balls to be used in the match. Handling those duties well before the match begins can be the first step in having a successful match that day.

s an assistant referee (AR), it’s not enough to recognize the mechanics of your primary responsibilities — raising the flag to indicate the direction of the throw-in or to signal offside. Often, experienced referees tell their youth counterparts that those are their only two responsibilities, suggesting that youth referees should not be involved in signaling fouls, communicating with players and coaches or providing important information to the center referee (CR). These kinds of issues can usually be resolved in pregame discussions.

Similar limitations sometimes are extended to crews that haven’t worked together or haven’t gained an accepted degree of trust with each other’s tendencies, habits and practices. Those conditions should be worked out in advance, but a conscientious AR can have a significant impact on play, on the deportment of coaches and players, and even upon fan participation and enjoyment.

In a three-person crew, both ARs have a vital role to play that goes far beyond making the right call, because it starts with properly executed pregame mechanics.

For example: How can an AR who arrives at the field first — perhaps earlier than NFHS or state association requirements — assist the referee team by helping make sure the game can start on time? If NFHS or your state rules indicate that the officials’ authority and responsibility begin upon arrival, usually 30 minutes ahead of the game, your early arrival suggests you are already in control. This is an opportunity to check the field markings and nets, to walk the field, and to get and check game balls. Don’t delay the kickoff by making a repair to a net

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that could have, and should have, been attended to during a careful pregame examination of both nets.

An attentive walk-around of the field can identify possible hazards and sources of player confusion, such as sharp stones or, on a field used for multiple sports, the presence of confusing lines or colors, and goal placement with respect to football goals.

Observing the team warmups might provide some information about each team’s on-field leadership. Astute ARs can develop at least a speculative sense of the skill levels of players and the seriousness with which they address practice and warm up. Identifying the obviously skilled players gives some insight about the level and quality of play that could be expected.

It also gives you the opportunity to check the players’ equipment, bearing in mind that on a cold day, for example, some players might wear sweatshirts or caps during their warmups yet be properly equipped at kickoff. You also can acknowledge the presence of both coaches and their assistants without interfering with their pregame routines. Let each coach know you will request copies of their team rosters before the kickoff. Passing on the rosters to the center before he or she requests them from the coaches earns some respect from the center that you have come prepared.

Ask the host school coach or an assistant to direct you to the location of the site administrator, as required

by NFHS regulations, or give you the responsible person’s name and contact information. Does the school have qualified medical personnel at the field and how can that person be contacted if needed? If your state

rules require recording the name of the trainer, save your center some time and record that information, perhaps on the back of a game card.

If the skies are threatening, consider where the players and spectators should go for shelter if needed.

Ask the coach, site administrator or another person, such as maintenance personnel, about a weather warning system on the field: What does it signal as a warning and as an allclear and is it positioned within sight of the field? With heat extremes, will players need to take a water break?

It’s the job of the officiating crew to err on the side of caution, so if a water break is a possibility, inform both coaches at the coin toss and again before the second half begins.

As these “mechanics” become part of your pregame routine as an AR, you can become a more effective member of the officiating team, confident that the kickoff can start as scheduled. Remember that it’s important to get to the pitch early, especially if one of the other referees is delayed. Traffic doesn’t care about soccer games, so if a late start can be avoided and if you’re in contact with each other, you may be able to make arrangements to start as a two-man crew and then shift to the full crew. If a field location changes without advance notification, being in touch with the referee team via phone or text can make sure the crew is alerted to the new site.

Conscientious early arrival facilitates these adjustments as needed and can earn greater respect from your fellow referees and facilitate a smooth, on-time kickoff.

Michael G. Davros is an Illinois High School Association referee from Cook County, Ill., with 20 years of experience. 

DID YOU KNOW? Legendary soccer coach Tim Schum has proposed an officiating experiment in upstate New York where the three-person system of officiating would include all three persons having whistles and an equal ability to make calls in their prescribed areas of the field. Schum’s rationale is that the current three-person system does not allow for officials to keep up with the speed of the game.

BY THE NUMBERS According to the latest NFHS data for the 2017-18 school year, more than 100,000 high school students participated in soccer in California, representing 2,660 high schools, the largest numbers in the United States. Boys’ soccer teams were fielded in 12,393 schools nationwide; 2,007 high schools fielded girls’ soccer teams. Nearly 850,000 students participated in high school soccer, including approximately 456,000 boys and 390,000 girls.

THEY SAID IT “Any call made by an official usually brings the wrath of 50 percent of the fans and participants. And on this point, all can agree that will never change. The participants will never agree on all the calls. If the disagreements between players/ coaches and officials stopped there, it could be acceptable. But the relationship between the two parties has become antagonistic and even counterproductive.”

— Dr. Jay Martin, Ohio Wesleyan head coach

Second Whistle a Priority

By Joe Bean

R

egardless of the level of play, effective soccer officiating must be built on a thorough knowledge

of the appropriate rules or laws governing the competition. Stopping the game can seem simple: Just blow the whistle to stop play for a foul, injury, or when the ball leaves the

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SOCCER

TEST YOURSELF Decide which answer or answers are correct for IFAB, NFHS or NCAA rules. Solutions: p. 81.

1. As time expires, the referee awards a penalty kick to team A. The referee shall: a. End the game if team A is leading 1-0. b. Extend time for the taking of the penalty kick if team B is trailing 1-0. c. Allow the penalty kick and play until the ball leaves the field of play. d. None of the above.

field of play. But restarting the game challenges the referee’s knowledge and ability to make a decision correctly — and quickly. Is it a goalkick or a corner kick? A throwin for team A or team B? A direct free kick or an indirect free kick?

Call the foul or play advantage?

And significantly, when is a second whistle required as an essential part of a correct restart? When is it optional?

Failing to blow the whistle a second time, as required, can adversely affect the referee’s game management and results. An astute coach, for example, might call attention immediately to the failure to blow the whistle a required second time to restart the game with a throw-in — which could nullify the opposing team’s subsequent goal.

Every decision to stop play requires an immediate restart

2. Before a penalty kick is taken, A3 is behind the penalty arc. At the referee’s whistle, A2 kicks the ball forward, but it moves just a few feet. A3 enters the penalty area, kicks the ball and scores.

The referee shall: a. Disallow the goal and award an indirect free kick to team B. b. Disallow the goal and caution A3 for unsporting behavior. c. Allow the goal. d. Award a goalkick to team B. 3. The clock shall be stopped for: a. An injury. b. Awarding a penalty kick. c. Issuance of a caution or disqualification. d. All the above.

4. B3 realizes only two teammates are in position to defend A4’s attack inside the halfway line.

He grabs A4’s shirt in an attempt to slow him down. What is the referee’s decision? a. Award an indirect free kick to team A. b. Allow play to continue if an advantage develops for team A. c. Award a direct free kick to team A if there is no advantage. d. Both b and c.

5. B3 is issued a caution for dissent. As B3 is leaving the field, and before a replacement is beckoned onto the field, B3 spits toward the referee. The referee shall: a. Allow the substitution and take no other action. b. Issue a second caution to B3 and allow a replacement for B3. c. Immediately issue a red card to B3 and allow a substitution for B3. d. Immediately disqualify B3 and deny a replacement for B3.

Richard Meeks of Maple Valley, Wash., prepares for a restart after an injury. Restarting the game challenges the referee’s knowledge and ability to make a decision correctly and quickly.

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decision by the referee, who must know if the restart has unique conditions or requirements. For example, player A2 last touches the ball before it rolls over the touchline; if necessary, the center referee (CR) can use the whistle to declare that the ball is out of play. The assistant referee (AR) indicates correctly that team B is to take the throw-in and then uses his or her flag to notify the CR of the substitution opportunity.

Both teams have properly checked in substitutes at the halfway line. The correct restart: First, the CR must beckon the substitutes onto the field of play. Then, after the substituted players have left the field of play, the CR must blow the whistle to initiate the proper restart. Use of the whistle is required for a restart after a substitution — or to signal the team B player to restart play by a throwin, if there are no substitutes.

When an injury occurs on the field, regardless of its apparent cause, the CR is required to stop play by blowing the whistle and stopping the clock. The injured player must leave the field and can be replaced by a field player, at the coach’s option. A goalkeeper must be replaced. In either situation, the CR must blow the whistle a second time to restart play. It is important to emphasize that nothing changes a proper restart. Consider a sequence of events that might follow such an injury. After the CR’s whistle, a teammate of the fouled player strikes the defender she considers having

committed a foul in the penalty area. While the teammate can be disqualified for violent conduct, the restart — such as a direct or indirect free kick, throw-in, or corner kick as decided by the CR at the time the whistle was blown and the clock stopped — is unchanged. Had the injury occurred in the penalty area as the result of a foul as decided by the CR at the time he or she blew the whistle and stopped the clock, the correct restart must be a penalty kick. After the injured player is replaced, or if the coach decides not to replace that player, the CR must initiate the penalty kick procedure by blowing the whistle.

Quick and correct decisions are essential to a well-managed and officiated game, but there are times when making the right call takes precedent over making a quick call.

When the CR’s vision is blocked and he or she must decide if the restart is a goalkick or a corner kick, for example, it can be helpful to have agreed in the pregame how the appropriate AR can communicate helpful information to the CR. The AR can use the correct flag signals, or other movements, as agreed upon.

In such a situation, the CR can use the AR’s information to indicate his or her decision that the ball is out of play by blowing the whistle and simultaneously pointing to the corner or to the goal for the location of the restart. If the CR has beckoned substitutes onto the field, a second whistle is required to restart play with

a corner or goalkick, as indicated.

Three more restarts require that the referee blow the whistle a second time, following a foul, injury or other stoppage: after a yellow or red card has been shown to a player, coach or bench personnel; and after setting the wall. When an attacking player requests that the referee position the defenders at least 10 yards from the placement spot of a direct or indirect free kick, the ensuing ceremonial restart must be initiated by the referee’s whistle. It is common practice for the referee to hold the whistle above his or her head and point to it to tell the players the restart will take place on or after the whistle is blown.

Like so many aspects of effective officiating, use of the whistle is another opportunity for the knowledgeable referee to communicate with players. The length, intensity and volume of a whistle can “speak” for the referee.

A sharp, loud whistle stopping play for a foul might suggest a verbal warning or card is in the offing, while a long and loud whistle might alert every player on the field that a restart is underway. * Joe Bean is the soccer coordinator for Referee. He is a 20-year high school soccer referee and clinician with the Illinois High School Assocation. For more than two decades he was a United States Soccer Federation State Referee and State Instructor. He currently resides in Kent, Ohio. 

Be Dogged About Your Homework

By Paul Rojas

O

ur state offers soccer officiating and rules clinics like many other states, and I believe we do a good job following a curriculum that would give an official a good chance at finishing a competitive match on a positive note. As an instructor at many of these clinics, I see new soccer referees and the returning veteran referees; young officials hopeful about

making their move up the ladder, and older officials who realize the material might be the same as years past, but still hope to learn something a bit more meaningful, delivered with a different twist.

I also have the opportunity to serve as the instructor in advanced recertification clinics during the instructional season where the attendees are not new to officiating.

I was asked to do a popular clinic

this season and was happy to say yes because some of those attending would be people I know and have worked with on the field. I prepared the material for presentation, including an article from Referee magazine, which I read to the class as part of a lesson. The article I picked for this class presented useful information about preparing for some “firsts” that might come up in a match. I believed the information

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SOCCER

CASEPLAYS Direct Free Kick Play: The center referee (CR) blows the whistle to signal a foul as A7, the attacker in control of the ball, steps on the penalty area line parallel to the goalline. After the CR quickly places the ball on the line and indicates a direct free kick, the attacking team sees the defending team starting to set a wall and takes a quick kick.

The ball goes into the net. The CR signals a goal and points to the center circle for the kickoff.

Ruling: Incorrect. Placing the ball on the penalty area indicates the CR decided that the foul occurred on the line. The correct restart is a penalty kick when a direct free kick foul occurs within the penalty area (NFHS 1-2-5; NCAA 1.3.1; and IFAB 1.2). Boundary lines are part of the field of play, and the lines demarcating the penalty area are part of the penalty area. The goalline, endlines and touchlines also are part of the field of play.

Indirect Free Kick Play: Team A takes an indirect free kick just outside the penalty area. The kick strikes the center referee, who is inside the penalty area, and goes directly into the goal. Ruling that an official on the field of play is “just another blade of grass,” the referee allows the goal and signals a kickoff as the proper restart. Ruling: Incorrect. An indirect free kick must be touched by another player before entering the goal. The correct restart is a goalkick for the defending team (NFHS 9.1.2b; NCAA 13.1.3; IFAB laws specify a dropped ball as the restart 9.1).

Advantage Play: Player A9, in control of the ball, is fouled just outside the penalty area. The referee correctly signals advantage with one hand and calls out “play on” and the attacker continues into the penalty area, still in control of the ball. She is fouled inside the penalty area and the referee signals for a direct free kick at the spot of the original foul. Ruling: Incorrect. Because the second foul incurs a greater penalty than the first — penalty versus direct free kick — the referee must award a penalty kick (NFHS 5.3.1; NCAA A.R. 5.6.3.c; IFAB 5.3 Powers and Duties).

would hit home to the veteran referees and to the younger officials wishing to learn more about new techniques to use in the upcoming season. I started this clinic reading a small paragraph from the article; I got a good response from the people in front of me along with the usual head nods from others. I was keenly disappointed to learn that not every referee in attendance read Referee magazine — and that few ever looked at reading materials related to soccer officiating. Something’s wrong, I told myself.

I needed to bring the attendees back to where I started, so I showed them the agenda for the day and highlighted the rules of the game we would discuss. I asked a question or two about these laws and was met once again with blank stares from almost all the referees sitting before me. I asked if someone could identify a few laws. and it was obvious most of them could not. I recited all 17 and asked if anyone could do the same. I lost them again with this request. Reciting all the laws without a mistake brought back memories of the time I went through clinics in order to advance as a USSF instructor and was asked to present a lesson to the class that was not the usual lesson one would see at a clinic. The idea I had back then was if you can recite each law and give a word or two on how it is important to the game, this technique would give you a better chance of remembering that information when needed. A few of my classmates, instructors also looking to get to that next level, liked where this was going and gave me the thumbs up to present it in front of the class. The lesson I presented was quite simple, something I learned in Boy Scouts when we sat around a campfire. One Scout would start a story with a sentence and the second camper followed with another sentence making sure the story flowed and make sense. It continued until every Scout had made a contribution, when the story would end. I wondered if this technique could work with the referees sitting in front of me?

I gave them a homework

assignment that could take a full year to complete; open up the rulebook or access it on online and start memorizing each of the 17 rules or laws in order. Make up a sentence that explains each one and then find a magazine or online source and read an article or two relating to our sport.

It was a simple two-part assignment and one I felt should be accepted by any person wishing to get better as a soccer official or player. This is the kind of assignment useful to anyone wishing to move up the ladder in almost any profession or vocation.

It is not enough to just get by with taking a course and passing a test to be certified in a certain area. A dedicated professional needs to go beyond the basic requirements. Take on that assignment and you will acquire more knowledge as you read about what others are doing in your sport, what they did to get over an obstacle, what are they doing today to add enjoyment to the sport, and how they leave something behind for others to follow.

Whether or not I am assigned to this clinic next year, I probably won’t see if all the members of this group completed their homework. If each of them completed the assignment, they must ask themselves if it made a difference in their last match. And if they did their homework, were they more confident in contributing to the pregame discussions and in approaching each match during the season with greater poise?

Obviously, I won’t be “grading” this year-long homework assignment.

But if referees who attended the clinic did put in the extra hours of reading about what others are doing in our sport and knowing the rules inside and out, I’m certain they have a better approach to their upcoming games and to how they relate to players, coaches and officials. That is the point where they can grade themselves as true students of the game who did their homework.

Paul Rojas from Morton Grove, Ill., is an Illinois High School Association Certified Referee and former United States Soccer Federation State Director of Instruction.

He has been a high school soccer referee for 31 years. *

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Carl Schwartz 1953-2019 Carl Schwartz, longtime Referee soccer editor and coordinator, died April 29 in St. Petersburg, Fla., after a battle with cancer. He was 66.

Schwartz worked for Referee fulltime in our Racine, Wis., office from 1996-2000.

After moving back to Florida, he worked as our freelance soccer coordinator from 2000-14. After his 2014 coordinator retirement, he continued to contribute soccer articles, as recently as the February 2019 issue.

“I knew Carl almost from my first exposure to Referee magazine,” said former Referee Soccer Coordinator Dan Heldman. “He was kind enough to encourage my writing for the magazine, which led to his sending me drafts of articles to review which had been written by others, and to assuming responsibility for being the liaison with U.S. Soccer to ensure that what was being published was correct as a matter of law. Along the way, I edited his major book on refereeing and joined with him as a co-author of another book of articles on officiating. Carl was one of the most level-headed, sincere and kindest persons in this field, and the variety of his experiences as a soccer official was unmatched for someone who was not a FIFA referee.”

Schwartz was an accomplished official and assessor with U.S. Soccer. During his time with Referee, he wrote and edited hundreds of soccer columns. Schwartz also authored many books, including Soccer Officials Guidebook, Smart Soccer Officiating and Rules for Refs: Soccer. He also officiated basketball and softball.

Schwartz split time in Treasure Island, Fla., and Boise, Idaho, each year, and is survived by his wife, Bonnie, and other family members.

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GETTING IT RIGHT

INSPIRATION, MOTIVATION, ELEVATION

Guay Skates Ahead for Women Hockey Officials

By Steven L. Tietz

V

eteran NCAA hockey official Katie Guay is climbing the ladder, and she wants other women to follow.

An official since 2006, she has completed eight assignments for the International Ice Hockey Federation, including the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. In 2015 she became the first female to officiate NCAA D-I men’s college hockey, and she has served as an official in various other NCAA and USA Hockey events.

(From left) Amanda Tassoni, Kelly Cooke, ECAC Supervisor of Official Paul Stewart, Katie Guay and Delaney Harrop at the historic NCAA D-I women’s hockey finals.

She is also the USA Hockey Foundation’s head of recruiting and donor relations in New England.

But the 2018-19 season took the Mansfield, Mass., resident to new heights, as she became the first woman to work the prestigious Beanpot men’s collegiate tournament in February. In March, she made history again when she joined three other women at the NCAA women’s D-I final between Wisconsin and Minnesota.

It was an emotional event for Guay, Amanda Tassoni, Kelly Cooke and Delaney Harrop as they became the first women to work the final since Guay’s mentor Julie Piacentini did it in 2010.

“That was a moment I’ll never

forget,” Guay said. “I was quite grateful for it because I got to follow in her (Piacentini’s) footsteps.”

It’s been an amazing ride for the self-proclaimed hockey nerd.

“I have an older brother and sister and I got pulled along to the rink when they played,” Guay said. “At some point, I just said, ‘It’s my turn now,’ and it turned out to be a lot more fun that way.”

A self-proclaimed “grinder,” Guay played hockey at Brown University and was also a member of the U.S. Women’s U-22 team.

Officiating started after college.

“I gave it a shot doing adult recreation leagues and in the space of a year I was working college,” Guay said. “The adrenaline flow is similar to playing and I found it fun to have a front-row seat again.”

Piacentini was an enormous help, as was Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Supervisor of Officials Paul Stewart.

“She (Piacentini) introduced me to the international game, really gave me the opportunity to prove myself,” Guay said. “I set my goals high and in 2011 I was in France for the World Championships.”

Her dedication eventually landed her in the 2018 Olympics. That drive led to Guay’s day job with USA Hockey, which she sees as a way of expanding opportunity. “(I’m providing) a way for the next generation,” she said. “Trying to grow the game at the grassroots level for women and the disabled.”

That concept took a major step forward when she worked the NCAA women’s final with that accomplished all-female crew.

“This (assignment) sheds more light on the women’s game,” Guay said, “because on the officiating side, there are a lot of quality women referees who have skill and ability. They just need to be given the opportunity.”

Steven L. Tietz is an award-winning writer from Milwaukee. 

Two Officials Inducted Into IWCOA Hall Longtime wrestling officials Rob Zielinski of McHenry and Scott Blankenship of Milan were part of the most recent 15-person class for the 2019 Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Hall of Fame. Zielinski has been an Illinois High School Association certified official for 30 years, working 25 regionals, 15 individual sectionals, 10 team sectionals, plus numerous team and individual state tournaments.

Blankenship followed in the footsteps of his father Dave, a 25-year veteran official. He has been a certified official for 27 years, working 20 regionals, 15 sectionals, 10 team sectionals, four team state championships and six individual state championships. The IWCOA Hall of Fame was founded in 1972 to honor athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and media. A total of 577 people have been honored so far.

Indiana to Suspend Ejected Fans The Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) overwhelmingly passed a proposal that calls for fans who are ejected from a given contest to also be suspended from that team’s next home contest.

The proposal was expected to receive about 97 percent of the vote in the session that was held in April, according to USA Today High School Sports. “The idea is to treat the fans like the kids and the coaches,” said IHSAA Commissioner Bobby Cox to USA Today. “They asked about away games, but those schools don’t know who your knucklehead fan is, but you do.

You can bring that fan in and tell them not to attend the next road game too, but the home game will be the rule.”

Have you heard an inspirational or motivational officiating story?

Send your ideas to GettingItRight@referee.com

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THANK YOU 2019 SUMMIT SUPPORT TO OUR SUMMIT SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS ORGANIZATIONS LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

OFFICIATING DEPARTMENT

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PROFILES

PERSONALITIES PLUS

Dinkel Family Raises Bumper Crop of Officials

By Steven L. Tietz

T

o understand the need for and the schedules of those who officiate in Alaska, consider what two of the three Dinkel siblings put themselves through for a recent three-day youth hoops tournament.

Younger sister Mckenna, 20, and older brother Graham, 22, made a fivehour drive from the Wasilla Valley with an officiating friend to cover the event in Valdez.

Siblings Mckenna, Graham and Kyla Dinkel are young, sought-after and fast-rising basketball officials from Alaska.

“At the end of that drive there were about 60 games that awaited us (other officials did work the event too),” Graham said. “The organizer told us he had a real shortage (of officials) so I wound up working about 23 games in three days.

“Needless to say, I was really sore, really tired by the time we got home.”

But he, Mckenna, and fellow official and oldest sister Kyla, 24, wouldn’t have it any other way. The three hail from the Wasilla Valley (Kyla now lives in Anchorage) where their family has a successful produce farm (famed for its giant cabbages at the state fair).

All have serious hoops credentials too as Kyla and Mckenna were part of

state title-winning teams in high school, while Graham was an all-league pick.

It was Kyla who started everyone down the officiating path while she was still in high school, and they credit retired official and assigner Dennis Boddy for instilling a love of the vocation.

“He asked if I was interested,” Kyla said. “I was still in love with the game (she also played college ball) and had devoted so much time to it that I wanted to give back to the kids because without referees the games won’t go on.”

All three siblings quickly ascended the ranks, starting with kindergarten basketball.

“It’s more like babysitting,” said Mckenna with a laugh.

They reached a pinnacle this year when Kyla and Graham worked the Alaska School Activities Association 2A March Madness state tournament together. The siblings had all worked games together before, but state was a family dream come true, Kyla said.

“My association nominated me and that was special,” she said, “but I was more excited when I found out Graham was on the list too.”

The trio stays sharp with weekly family phone conversations where they candidly discuss difficult calls and challenges.

“We’re best of friends (so honesty rules),” Mckenna said, “and we see a lot of games with a lot of weird situations.”

Credit goes to Boddy for getting the trio this far, Graham said.

“He’s still my scheduler,” Graham said. “He started us all with the basics.

‘Always blow your whistle loud so everyone can hear. Be confident in your call.’”

Now the trio are encouraging others to get involved.

“There aren’t many younger officials like us,” Kyla said. “We talk to our friends to see if we can get them to try it out.”

Steven L. Tietz is an award-winning writer from Milwaukee. 

One Last State Tourney Steve Francois Age: 61 Dundee, Iowa

Every Tuesday and Thursday night and Saturday during the day in the winter for the last 44 years, you could find wrestling official Steve Francois on the mat awarding back points and slapping pins.

Francois finally called it a career with his 20th and final Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) state tournament in February. His love for wrestling can be summarized by an incident four years ago when during a match he suffered a heart attack.

He not only finished the match but then drove himself to the hospital.

He recovered and was able to retire on his own terms. “We’re one big community,” he said of his fellow officials to KCCI News.

“We’ll do anything to help one another.”

Family Makes the Call Tom and Alan Skinner Ages: 53 and 25 Gwinnett County, Ga. According to Gwinnettprepsports. com, the Georgia-based fatherand-son football officiating duo of Tom and Alan Skinner have often been mistaken for brothers, a situation which dad Tom gets a big kick out of. He is a 13-year veteran of the Multi-County Football Officials Association and he also umpires and officiates basketball. He started officiating for exercise and extra income and now he is a white hat most fall Friday nights. His 25-year-old son, Alan, started in officiating when he was 19. He and his father worked a few games together this past fall and Alan has ambitions of working at the collegiate and professional levels.

Do you know a person or group who should be profiled?

Send info to us at profiles@referee.com

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N AT I O N A L AS S O C I AT I O N

OF SPORTS OFFICIALS

VISION ACTION IN

Your Season-Long Training Solution

M

any local officials association trainers spend their time in the months leading up to the season desperately trying to cobble together lesson plans and scraps of low-resolution video plucked from the Internet, trying to piece-meal it all together into some semblance of an effective training program.

It’s a tough and thankless job when you’re responsible for training the officials in your group.

After all, if your group is like most around the country, the entire effort is done by volunteers – men and women who are passionate about officiating, but who have to juggle their association work with their day jobs, families and other commitments.

When resources are stretched thin, why not let the National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) help solve the problem?

Part of NASO’s mission is to provide resources for local officials associations through our Association Advantage program.

At the Diamond level, NASO’s Association Advantage provides a complete turnkey training and insurance solution for any football or basketball officials association in the country.

Those solutions include a full slate of training resources with an emphasis on video, comprehensive training presentations on specific topics designed for up to six specific educational topics featuring stateof-the-art video and voiceovers with enhanced teaching points and

points of emphasis. Other sports will be added in the near future.

Here’s how it works: Your association’s members join NASO as a group for the reduced NASO membership rate of $85 per official (regular NASO membership price is $116). Because all of your association’s officials joined together, your association receives: • A fully-formed training curriculum ready to use immediately, including six lesson plans, accompanying video, online testing and an instructor’s guide, all packaged together as “Meetings in a Box.” • Your officials receive an officials manual, the latest copies of both Mechanics Illustrated and Rules By Topic, as well as a preseason and postseason online newsletter.

• Comprehensive liability insurance for both your association and your officials, along with bonus insurance coverages for assigning, play calls and assault protection.

• A complete package of association leadership and administrative resources, including The Guide to Local Association Management, a subscription to the Association Advantage Advisor newsletter and access to the world’s largest database of officials association articles and resources.

To get started immediately or for more information, go to www. naso.org/advantage or phone us at 800/733-6100.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!

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roller r o coaster l coa ler rid ste ride e Officials need to find the right rhythm to keep all aspects of their lives in balance.

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DR

ney ela bd bo

by DR. joelffis ish h aand bo l e b de o nd j . la

ney

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ler

hythm generally means a movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite/different conditions, and every sports official knows there is a rhythm to games as well. However, have you given thought to the rhythm of your officiating season? The term “life-work balance” has been a corporate mantra since the 1980s that in today’s world causes the rolling of eyes because people know it is merely a slogan. We think a more realistic approach is understanding how to navigate the intersecting rhythms of your personal life and your officiating life.

Think of your season as an imaginary trip to the best amusement park ever built that has the most amazing roller-coaster ride known to man. The long line to the ride allows us time to prepare for the ride — we feel the excitement, our mind projections can be overwhelming, yet with every step closer, the anticipation grows like when your season is about to begin. We finally get to the starting point and see the machine that will carry us — our focus and awareness is at a high level.

We get in and buckle up — like you do as you prepare to officiate. The snail-like movement to the top seems to take forever — similar to preseason scrimmage games — then the downward speed seems beyond control.

There are twists and turns, our stomach gets wheezy, the head is spinning and the season is in full swing. For some, the excitement of the ride may wear off before the ride ends, and how do we interact with those feelings?

At times we may want the ride (season) to end before it does. How do we navigate those feelings?

Like every roller-coaster ride, the rhythm of your sports officiating season will eventually come to an abrupt halt. It may be due to injury or some other life event, and there will be a last game of the season for sure. Do you recognize the need to refresh and reconnect with family and friends?

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The challenge

weekends off. If not exactly those hours, most jobs have a more structured and predictable rhythm to the work day. The work for officials is anything but predictable.

For an official, each day is different from the day before. Each game is unique. Within any moment of a game, there can be a play that is controversial. Whereas in most other jobs, one’s attention and focus can lapse for a few minutes and there are no consequences to it, for an official, even a momentary lapse in judgment can significantly change

the outcome of a game.

In addition, stress is cumulative. Therefore, as a season progresses, the stress inherent in an official’s job can build each day from the beginning of a season to the end of the season. In many other jobs there is no carryover of stress from one day to the next, but stress for an official can be like a snowball rolling down a hill — it gets bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Also, in most jobs, there may be a vacation to break up the 12-month work year. For officials, however, there is the in season and out of season.

Therefore, for an official, it can feel like you’re going 100 mph in season, then, overnight the season ends and you’re going zero mph. This kind of change for an official can be an emotional jolt to the mind and body.

For all of the above reasons, it is important for an official to practice self-awareness during CARIN GOODALL-GOSNELL

If you are not working a high school state tournament, a college postseason game or a championship game, do you feel unfulfilled?

Let’s take a closer look at the officiating roller-coaster ride. An official must learn to deal with the erratic behavior of coaches, players and fans. Officials must learn how to control their emotions in the heat of competition, rather than have their emotions control them. Stress management and anger management are also mental skills that are crucial for officials to develop to be effective in their work. Another area that is challenging for officials, and is less discussed, is the need to learn how to handle the feelings and thoughts that come along with a job that has a very different emotional rhythm. That is to say, most jobs are typically 9-5, Monday-Friday, with

for many officials is to learn how to develop a more balanced life style, both in season and out of season.

Knowing how to deal with a partner is important in maintaining a healthy emotional officiating outlook.

Sharon Winzler, Sneads Ferry, N.C. (left) and Martina Plafcan, Grandy, N.C.

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stay on track

T

he 21st century approach to learning is similar to how we should eat — small bites for proper digestion and absorption to nourish our bodies.

The same process will allow us to create effective mental health habits for emotional balance, allowing us to better navigate the unique rhythm of an official’s life. We are not suggesting major drastic changes; rather think of change as one percent at a time that eventually leads to a larger percentage change over time. The following areas may be of help: Positive self-talk is a first step — monitor how your inner voice speaks to you; we are not suggesting that positive selftalk will make life full of gumdrops and lollipops, however we do know that negative self-talk will create negativity. Negative thoughts will create a negative environment.

Resiliency can be broken down to three sections: 1) Confront the reality (we must identify an issue before we can respond to it). 2) Search for meaning — look at the why/how — why a habit works and how it can be repeated/why a habit

causes problems and how it can be changed. 3) FIA = flexible, innovative, adaptive — a willingness to have all those in our lives will promote resiliency.

Techniques and exercises for visualization, mental conditioning and relaxation strategies to help manage emotions, on and off the court, include:

Positive Self-Talk

Having a key word or key phrase to say to oneself during stressful moments of a game can help officials to remain calm and to maintain their composure in the midst of a competition.

Key words and phrases can serve as an “anchor” for an official’s thoughts in moments of game intensity. Examples of key words and phrases include: “Give me the courage to do the best I can do,” “trust myself,” and, “stay cool.”

Relaxation

Identifying the signals that your body gives you that you’re feeling anxious, tense or stressed is the first step toward an official being able to calm down. Common body signals that indicate stress include rapid breathing, body stiffness, pressured speech and frustration coming out in angry speech patterns. Strategies for officials to use when feeling anxious, tense or stressed include: deep breaths — slowly breathing in relaxation and exhaling tension; slowing down — pausing, standing still, waiting three seconds before responding to a player or coach; relaxing body language — taking an “at ease” posture, bending the knees, squeezing a tense muscle and then relaxing it.

Focusing

An official is better able to focus when coming from a place of choice. For example, instead of saying to oneself, “I should have made that call differently,” say, “I choose to move on to the next play.” Other examples of officials coming from a place of choice would include saying to oneself: “Choose to let go of a mistake,” “choose to move on to the next play,” “choose to be in the present moment.”

Visualization

The night before the game, or an hour before a game, imagine three game situations that are likely to come up during a game — an easy call, a controversial call and an end-of-game call. Imagine yourself making these calls with confidence, pride and conviction. When you visualize yourself being in a situation, if during the game you are in that situation, you can feel as if you have been there before. This can lead to officials making calls with more confidence and certainty.

Remember, the above mental skills, strategies and techniques take practice in order to be effectively applied in game situations. Develop a plan to practice positive self-talk, focusing, relaxation and visualization as a way to manage your emotions. If these strategies and techniques help you as an official in one out of 10 game situations the first week, the goal is to have them help you in two out of 10 game situations the second week. That’s the way mental skills develop — one step at a time.

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ROLLER COASTER RIDE

a game, between games and after games to better process “what am I feeling, what am I thinking?” By doing so, an official can learn how to act on his or her feelings and thoughts in the most professional way. Mental skills and strategies such as positive self-talk, relaxation, focusing and visualization can be very valuable for officials learning how to better manage their emotions. In terms of dealing with the unique rhythm of an official’s work/life, balance is the key. It is important to develop effective habits to sustain one’s emotional balance and not to wait for emotions to pile up. In our experience, the challenge for many officials is to learn how to develop a more balanced lifestyle, both in season and out of season.

For officials, a season is often mentally and physically described as a marathon, as opposed to a sprint. The rhythm of an official’s in-season and out-of-season life is also significantly

different from the average person’s.

As in other challenges, there is also opportunity. In this respect, the unique rhythm of an official’s work life can be an opportunity to learn how to develop mental skills and lifestyle rhythm that can improve an official’s on-court/field performance, as well as off-the-court/field life satisfaction.

We want to be recognized as one of the best and in our minds that means

tournament games.

Dr. Joel Fish is a sport psychologist and licensed psychologist who has worked for more than 25 years with sports officials/ referees/umpires in all sports from youth through the Olympic and professional ranks. He is the director of the Center for Sport Psychology in Philadelphia. * Bob Delaney, retired NBA referee and former NBA vice president of referee operations/director of officials, is currently an SEC special advisor for officiating development/performance and NASO board vice chair. *

CARIN GOODALL-GOSNELL

Close judgment calls are a part of every official’s life, and knowing how to deal with their fallout is crucial for an official’s well being. Haywood Dillahunt, New Bern, N.C.

There are three teams in every game — the two competing and the officiating team. Being part of the competition is part of an official’s driving force and we cannot discount our own competitive drive. We want to be recognized as one of the best and in our minds that means tournament games.

However, there are only so many assignments and not everyone will or can work. Disappointment is part of every officiating career and the ability to use disappointment as motivation is key. Sports officials experience rejection every game from fans, coaches and players, yet when rejection comes from a supervisor, the feeling is different.

Unlike most professions where promotions are made a few times a year, an official knows it will be one full year before he or she gets this opportunity again. Our belief is that every sports official is a professional referee or umpire; it just so happens that some work professional sports games. Embracing and addressing your intersecting personal and officiating life will bring higher levels of happiness to both.

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BASEBALL

EDITOR: BRENT KILLACKEY

bkillackey@referee.com

RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY

Ben Gray of Highland Park, Ill., goes to the mound to break up a conference.

TRIP ADVISOR

By George Demetriou

T

he emphasis on pace of play in both pro and NCAA has resulted in significant changes to the traditional rules on conferences to include visits to the mound. Even at the high school level, where there have been no recent changes, umpires have been confused as to the legality of a mound visit. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules.

Under NFHS rules, three charged defensive conferences are allowed for a regulation game. A conference is a visit between a coach (or anyone else from the dugout) with at least one player (2-10-1). Those conferences can be used at any time to include during the same at-bat with the same pitcher.

Once the allowed conferences are used, the pitcher must be removed on any subsequent visits to the mound.

In extra innings, each team receives an additional conference per inning; unused conferences do not carry over (NFHS 3-4-1).

NCAA and pro consider any meeting between defensive players as a conference. Each team is allowed six defensive conferences per game in NCAA; five in pro. In NCAA only, no more than three of them may include a coach. If the game goes into extra innings, each team receives one extra defensive conference and any unused conferences from the first nine innings (NCAA 6-5f, pro 5.10m).

What is a conference? In NCAA and pro, a charged defensive conference can be any act that

delays a game. The three non-coach defensive conferences are primarily for the catcher, but also apply to any player who leaves his position to confer with the pitcher, including a pitcher leaving the mound to confer with another player, regardless of where the visit occurs or the length of the visit. The pitcher need not be involved. If a manager or coach confers with another defensive player, it constitutes a “coach trip� whether the player goes to the mound or not. Also, simply calling timeout could be a conference.

The following are not considered visits: discussions between pitchers and players that occur between batters in the normal course of play and do not require either the player or the pitcher to relocate, or

DEAN REID

Know When They Get Charged When They Go Out to Talk

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delay the game; visits by players to the mound to clean spikes in rainy conditions; visits to the mound due to an injury or potential injury of the pitcher; visits to the mound after the announcement of an offensive substitution; or any other incidental communication.

In the event of a possible injury, such as immediately after the pitcher has been struck with a batted ball, the umpire should monitor the discussion to ensure strategy, etc., is not discussed. Any such chat should be immediately stifled and the coach warned that a visit will be charged if he continues.

In the event a team has exhausted its allotment of mound visits and the home plate umpire determines that the catcher and pitcher did not have a shared understanding of the location or type of pitch that had been signaled by the catcher (crossed-up signals), the home plate umpire may, upon request of the catcher, allow the catcher to make a brief mound visit. However, any mound visit resulting from a “cross up” prior to a team exhausting its allotted number of visits shall count against a team’s total number of allotted mound visits.

In all cases, if all conferences have been used and an infielder requests time to talk to the pitcher, the umpire should remind him no conferences remain. Preventive officiating is paramount and it’s important for base umpires to know the number of visits taken. Inadvertent conferences should be immediately stopped without penalty. If an extra conference is held, the non-pitcher is removed from the game; however, if a player continues to confer in defiance of authority after an umpire has advised no visits are remaining, the player is ejected.

A mound visit that results in a pitching change is not a charged conference; however, if the pitcher is removed after the third free trip, he must be removed from the pitcher’s position for the remainder of the game (NCAA 9-4b Nt 1, pro 5.10m1).

In NCAA and pro, a second trip can be made in the same inning to talk to the same pitcher, but the pitcher must be removed from the

pitcher’s position for the remainder of the game (NCAA 9-4b, pro 5.10L2).

A second trip cannot be made in the same inning to talk to the same pitcher while the same batter is at bat, except if there is a pinch hitter, the second trip is legal, but the pitcher must be removed from the pitcher’s position for the remainder of the game (NCAA) or from the game (pro). For purposes of this rule, the next batter is the batter as soon as the previous batter finishes his at-bat (NCAA 9-4c, pro 5.06L3, 4). The coach need not wait for the new batter to step into the box before coming out. As mentioned, in high school play, the preceding is not applicable as all three conferences can be held in the same inning with the same pitcher and the same batter.

If an attempt is made to visit the pitcher in violation of the rules, the umpire should so advise the coach. If the coach continues to the mound, the only recourse is ejection.

If the coach is mistakenly allowed to go to the mound for a conference that dictates removal of the pitcher, there is no penalty. In either case the pitcher may remain until the batter completes the turn at bat and the umpires should announce the consequences so a new pitcher can warm up.

In NFHS, if a coach visits with his pitcher between half innings, it doesn’t count as a trip unless the game is delayed. If there is a delay, it is recommended the coach be warned that he will be charged with a trip on the next occurrence. In NCAA, such a visit is permissible subject to the 120-second count. In pro, it is a charged visit.

If the offense asks for time, and a coach visits the pitcher, it counts as a trip in NCAA and pro, but not in NFHS. However, NCAA rules specifically allow a coach to chat with his pitcher during a prolonged injury timeout without a charged conference. In a prep game, the coach may come out and talk to his pitcher during an offensive conference as long as the game is not delayed (NFHS 3-4-5, NCAA 9-4a6).

George Demetriou, Colorado Springs, Colo., is the state’s rules interpreter. *

QUICKTIP When clearing the catcher, the plate umpire should step back with the back foot (right foot with a right-handed batter; left foot with a left-handed batter).

That will increase the distance from the catcher and give room to adjust to the catcher’s movement. Next, step with the opposite foot and move to the left, back from or around the catcher.

SIDELINE MLB Umpire Graduates

MLB umpire Greg Gibson has worked nine division series, five NL Championship Series and the 2011 World Series. In May, he added another significant accomplishment. Honoring a promise he made to his parents 30 years ago, Gibson walked across the stage at Eastern Kentucky University’s College of Business and Technology Commencement Ceremony and received his college degree. Gibson went through the risk management and insurance program at EKU, becoming the first in his family to pursue and complete a degree.

After graduating high school in Boyd County, Ky., Gibson started attending Ashland Community and Technical College. But college got put on hold in 1991 after he attended the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires in Florida and was offered a job umpiring minor league baseball. In 2015, with an eye toward something he might do after he retires from umpiring baseball, Gibson took up a second career selling insurance.

Gibson is a licensed insurance agent in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. In the offseason, he works for the Thornburg Insurance Agency in Huntington, W.Va. CONTRIBUTING SOURCES: EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, DAILY INDEPENDENT (ASHLAND, KY)

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BASEBALL

In each question, decide which answer is correct for NFHS, NCAA or pro rules. Solutions: p. 81.

1. Bases loaded. B1 hits a Texas Leaguer into short left field. F6 picks up the ball and throws wildly toward the plate. The ball goes into deadball territory. When F6 released the throw, all runners had advanced to and touched the next base, but B1 had not yet touched first. a. One run scores. b. Two runs score. c. Three runs score. d. B1 is awarded first. e. B1 is award third.

2. With an 0-2 count and two outs, B3 swings and contacts the ball on a pitch that is thrown in the dirt and bounces into the air. The tipped ball goes directly into F2’s glove and is caught. a. Strike three, B3 is out and may not attempt to advance. b. Strike three, B3 becomes a runner and may attempt to advance. c. Foul ball.

3. With a runner on second and a 3-2 count, B1 swings and misses.

The ball hits F2’s glove and then becomes trapped inside the umpire’s plate coat. a. B1 is out. b. B1 is awarded first. c. R2 is awarded third only if he was attempting to advance.

4. Which of the following runners are out when hit by a batted ball? a. A runner who is on his base and is hit by a fair line drive. b. A runner who is on his base and is hit by an infield fly. c. A runner who is hit by a ball that previously hit another runner. d. A runner who is hit in foul territory by a deflected fair ball. e. None of the above.

5. With a runner on first, one out and a 3-2 count, B1 checks his swing. The plate umpire calls, “Ball four.” F2 asks for an appeal and fires to F4, who tags R1, who was trotting to second. The base umpire says, “He went,” and the plate umpire calls B1 out. a. R1 is out. b. R1 is awarded second because a walk was initially declared. c. R1 is returned to first because of the reversed call.

Focal Point

By Jon Bible

A

friend and College World Series veteran tells the story of working the plate in a game that was dragging and letting his mind wander to his daughter’s tee ball game, the need to mow his yard and similar things. Suddenly the righthanded pitcher picked off a runner at first base without lifting his stride leg one iota. Balk? You’d think so, but my buddy slept right through it.

Oops.

Stuff like this occurs when we lose our focus even for a split second. Unlike football and basketball, in which there’s constant action, baseball involves a lot of down time; then, in the snap of a finger, something like my friend’s balk can happen. We must constantly be prepared for such events, even when the pitcher tries to lull us to sleep by throwing to first base eight times in a row.

Maintaining our focus requires that we come to the park with uncluttered minds. All of us have things going on in our lives, like bills to pay and projects with looming deadlines; if we let them affect us, we can’t keep the focus needed to do the job properly. But how do we put these things aside and be prepared to focus only on the task at hand?

In 1973, I was in the Texas League facing a 140-game schedule after several weeks of spring training. My partner, an older guy who went on to have a long MLB career, impressed on me that we’d never survive the long grind of the season unless we had a way to flip the switch after the game was over.

He said he had learned that in 10 years as a high school football coach.

The year before, he said, he found that he could use his car for this purpose. He vowed that when he got in it to leave the park after a game, he would flip the switch and forget about the game.

Conversely, when he got in it to go to the park the next day, he would put everything in his personal life

Ryan Verver of Chicago Heights, Ill., keeps his focus during a game. Baseball, unlike some other sports, can sometimes challenge umpires to keep their minds on the action, especially if it’s a game with little action.

(wife and two kids, bills to pay on his meager salary, etc.) on the back burner until the game was over. If he perceived even a hint of a thought from one life trying to penetrate the wall into the other, he would force it out of his mind. Mind over matter, in other words.

That’s what we did all year.

When the game was over, we’d debrief in the locker room, sometimes for quite a while, but when we got in the car to leave, that was it. Not a word about baseball until we got in the car to go to the yard the next day. And not a word about personal stuff from then until it was time to go back to the hotel after the game.

I quit after that year and got into collegiate umpiring, and I did that throughout my career. Get in the driver’s or passenger’s seat to go the park and I become 100 percent umpire from the parking lot to the dressing room, field and back to the

DEAN REID

TEST YOURSELF

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car, where I become 100 percent notumpire. You may think things can’t be this simple, but it has become so automatic that I almost laugh when I see my car. When I’m wearing one hat, I just refuse to let thoughts from my other life take over.

As for maintaining focus once the game started, I’m not going to claim that I never let my mind drift. Maybe something (or someone) going on in the stands caught my attention.

But for the most part, I was good.

When I was a newer umpire, I was so anxious not to screw up that focus wasn’t a problem. But as I matured and things became more routine, I had to come up with new devices to keep my mind where it needed to be, especially when the game dragged.

It’s easier to stay focused behind the plate because there’s more action going on. When it was time to get down to business, I found that the

surest technique was to focus on the pitcher. Not rigidly, for being tense can cause us to lose our focus and adversely affect us in other ways, others’ perception of us being one. Instead, I mean watching him rather than turning away so my gaze could fixate on something in a dugout or the stands. I stayed upright in a relaxed manner, facing him until he toed the rubber and took his sign, and then settled (not abruptly dropping) into my stance as he began his delivery. This kept my attention on the ball, and it’s harder to screw up when we do this.

On the plate and bases, I constantly thought about what my partner(s) and I needed to do when the ball was hit depending on where it went and where the runners were, the count, and number of outs. We then signaled such things as “I’ve got third,” infield fly or a possible

time play. We’re supposed to do this anyway, but mentally running through the litany of possibilities and consistently communicating non-verbally not only made it more likely that we’d be in the right place at the right time, but also kept our minds from wandering. I never used an indicator on the bases, but I did try to keep track of the count as another way to stay focused.

Even purists will concede that games can at times be so slow that the most devoted mind can wander.

If we don’t develop techniques for coming to the park focused on umpiring and keeping our heads in the game at all times, we’ll find ourselves in the position my friend was in — the only person in the park who didn’t see something blatant that happened right before his eyes.

Jon Bible, Austin, Texas, worked six Division I College World Series. 

Dropped Third Point of No Return O

n a dropped third strike (as shown in the PlayPic) when the batter-runner is permitted to attempt to advance to first (i.e., less than two outs with first unoccupied or with two outs), when does that ability to run end?

The answer is not the same in all three rules codes.

In NCAA and pro, the batterrunner is out if he does not try to advance to first base before he leaves the dirt area surrounding home plate heading toward his dugout (NCAA 7-11u; pro 5.05a-2 CMT).

NFHS rules give greater leeway to the batter-runner. The batterrunner may try to advance to first until the time of the next pitch, until he reaches his bench or other dead-ball area or until the infielders have left the diamond when the half-inning has ended (8-4-1i).

Depending on the dugout’s location and when the batter-runner begins running to first, that can result in a strange route to first base — but the unusual path would still be legal. 

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BASEBALL

CASEPLAYS Lodged Ball Play: B1 hits a sharp onehopper to the mound. F1 discovers the ball is lodged tightly between the fingers of his glove. F1 removes his glove and throws it, with the ball still lodged, to F3 in time to retire B1. Ruling: B1 is out (NFHS 8-33c, 2.9.1D; NCAA 8-3k; pro interp.).

Award Origin Play: With a runner on first, B1 hits to F6, who throws to F4 at second, but not in time to get R1. F4 throws to first after B1 has crossed first base; the ball goes into dead-ball territory. Ruling: R1 scores. Since B1 was past first base when the throw was made, he is awarded third base (NFHS 8-3-5; NCAA 8-3o3 Nt 1; pro 5.06b4G).

Unintentional Force Play: B7 is at the plate with bases loaded, two outs and a 3-2 count. B7 swings and misses at the next pitch, but F2 fails to catch the ball cleanly. As F2 picks up the ball, his foot unintentionally touches home plate. F2 then throws the ball into right field as R3, R2 and R1 score. B7 advances to second.

Ruling: Whether intentional or not, F2 touched home plate while in possession of the ball. That constitutes a force and B7 is out, with no runs scoring. All codes agree (NFHS 8-4-1e, 8-4-2j; NCAA 7-11h, 8-5j; pro 5.09a3, 5.09b6).

Wild Pitcher Play: B1 leads off in the top of the first. The starting pitcher throws two wild pitches and his coach goes to the mound to take him out. Ruling: Not allowed. F1 must pitch to the first batter or his substitute until such batter is put out or reaches base. Injury is an exception. (NFHS 3-1-1; NCAA 5-5b; pro 5.10f).

Reverse Gear Play: With a runner on first, F3 is playing shallow, expecting the sacrifice bunt. B1’s bunt is fielded

by F3. B1 stops to avoid being tagged. As F3 approaches, B1 retreats back toward home plate.

Ruling: Legal, until B1 reaches home plate. At that time he shall be declared out for leaving the baseline to avoid a tag. R2 is entitled to whichever base he advanced, second or third (NFHS 8.1.1A; NCAA 7-11p Nt 3; pro MiLB 7.32 Nt.).

R1 + R2 + Fly to Right I

n the two-umpire system with runners on first and second and a fly ball down the right-field line (MechaniGram A), the plate umpire (P) has responsibility for the fly ball.

P will move up the line and get the best position possible to view fair/foul and catch/no catch. Communication between umpires is important in these situations. P should let U1 know that P is on the line — and thus not available to cover third if R2 tags up and advances to third. After ruling on the fly ball, P returns to the plate.

U1, who starts in the “C” position, will take a step toward the mound to open up the view of the runner.

U1 is responsible for both R2 and R1 tagging up. U1 also retains F9

A

CATCH

responsibility for all plays on the bases.

In the three-umpire system (MechaniGram B), coverage changes slightly. U3 starts in the “C” position and U1 starts in the “A” position.

U1 goes out to cover the fly ball. U3 retains responsibility for R2 and R1 tagging up.

P will take a play on R2 at third base if the ball is caught and R2 tags up and advances. P should communicate to U3, “I have third if he tags.” U3 has responsibility for all other plays on the bases, including any plays on R1 or the batter-runner at third. If R2 does not tag up, P stays at home for any plays there and U3 has all plays on the bases. * F9

B

NO CATCH

THROW

BR

BR

R1

R1

U1

U1

R1 R2

R2

U3

U1

R1

R2

THROW

U1 BR

Correction In the 6/19 issue, Test Yourself No. 4 included a “not” in the knotty question that should have resulted in a different correct answer. The question involved R1 on first and R3 on second with the hit-and-run on.

B1 hits a line drive back to F4, who then chases R1 back to first and tags him before he returns to first. R3 scores prior to the tag of R1; but R3 failed to retouch third after F4’s catch. Which of the following is not true?

R2

BR

a. This is a force play. b. R3’s run counts unless it is properly appealed. c. An appeal must be made before all fielders leave fair territory.

The correct answer should have been “a” and “c.” The third out is not a force play and the appeal must be made before the pitcher and all infielders leave fair territory.

We’re not happy we failed to spot this, but glad we can set the record straight.

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SOFTBALL

RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY

In the simplest of terms, obstruction occurs when a fielder without the ball gets in the way of the runner. But the rule is more complex than that, making obstruction a rule worth examining in depth.

OBSTRUCTION DEDUCTION

By Brad Tittrington

U

mpires are tasked with making thousands of split-second decisions over the course of their careers. Some of those calls are obvious, while others aren’t so black and white. One of the more difficult and controversial calls an umpire must make is obstruction.

Calling obstruction often leads to a runner either being awarded a base or an out coming off the board, or both. In contrast, failing to call obstruction puts the offense at a huge disadvantage and can lead to erroneous out calls. This is further highlighted in those crucial endof-the-game situations, especially close plays at the plate in the last

inning. Getting this call right is what separates good umpires from great umpires.

Obstruction has always been a hot topic, but it was thrown back into the spotlight due to the Women’s College World Series in 2017. Several calls, and non-calls, led to the NCAA re-examining the rule and ultimately changing it in 2018.

DALE GARVEY

How to Recognize and Penalize a Defensive Gaffe

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One purpose of the new rule was to eliminate unnecessary collisions, especially at home plate, but also at the bases as more and more defenders were blocking bags without the ball. Eliminating umpire judgment and having the call become more consistently enforced were two other reasons for the rule change.

The rule change by the NCAA actually brought it closer to the rules in the other codes. All of them generally define obstruction as the act of a defensive player, not in possession of the ball or in the act of fielding a batted ball, impeding a batter’s attempt to make contact with a pitch or impeding the progress of a runner who is legally running the bases during a live ball. While the definition is pretty cut and dried, there are several things that can happen during a play that make it a very difficult call. There are several moving parts on any given play and an umpire must get into a position to see all of them in order to get this call correct.

Obstruction by the catcher on a pitched ball. While that can be a difficult call to see or hear, it is generally easier to determine than obstruction that occurs on the basepath. The most important part for the umpire is positioning at the time of the pitch. The plate umpire must get set in the slot to get an unobstructed view of the entire strike zone and be able to see the pitch in its entirety from the pitcher’s hand to the catcher’s glove.

There will often be a second sound when the bat makes contact with the glove. That can be tough to determine on a foul ball off the catcher’s glove as the two sounds will occur nearly simultaneously. An umpire needs to determine if the bat hit the glove or if the second sound was simply the ball hitting the catcher’s glove.

Generally, the sound of the bat hitting the glove is a different sound than the bat hitting the ball, and the umpire has to determine which sound was heard first. Sometimes, there will be more obvious clues that obstruction occurred such as the catcher recoiling her glove arm, the catcher’s glove getting knocked

off or the bat being stopped from continuing its momentum because of the obstruction. Picking up on those clues separates good umpires from superior ones.

Obstruction on the bases. There are more elements and moving parts on the bases, especially if there are multiple runners. The most important factor is positioning. An umpire must constantly move in order to see the entire play and keep all the elements — the ball, the fielder, the runner and the base/plate — in focus.

More than one umpire may be watching the play, depending on how many umpires are working the game and how many runners are on base.

As seen in the photo that accompanies this column, the fielder is clearly blocking the base without the ball, preventing the runner from having any path to the base. The runner has already started her slide and has no access to the bag.

While contact in that situation isn’t necessary to rule obstruction, it makes the call much easier to make and sell. However, if the fielder impedes the runner’s progress at all, obstruction should be ruled since she doesn’t have the ball, nor is she making an initial play on the batted ball. If the runner’s RMBQ (rhythm, momentum, balance or quickness) is affected, even if there isn’t contact, obstruction should be called to protect the runner.

Obstruction can happen anywhere on the field and often happens in the middle of the basepath while the ball is in the outfield. Some fielders tend to watch the ball and ignore the runners around them. It is imperative that umpires focus on runners to ensure they aren’t obstructed while running the bases. Once the delayed dead ball signal is given, it is important to keep umpiring as several other plays can still happen while the ball is live. Umpires will also need to know what base awards, if any, to give once the play is over.

One of the toughest calls to make concerns obstruction at a base where a runner is thrown out. That tends to happen at home plate. In the past, fielders were taught to block the bag, catch the ball then tag the runner.

SIDELINE ‘Perfect’ Perfect Game Mahopac (N.Y.) High School sophomore Shannon Becker pitched a rare “perfect” perfect game May 8. Becker struck out all 21 batters she faced in an 8-0 victory over Carmel. It is believed to be the first feat of its kind in state history. When she finished her season May 30, she had a 19-4 record, 0.39 ERA, and 369 strikeouts in 163 innings.

DID YOU KNOW?

In USSSA slow-pitch rules, the catcher must remain in the catcher’s box while and until a pitched ball has reached or passed home plate or is batted. But in fast pitch, the catcher must remain in the catcher’s box from the time the pitcher steps on the pitcher’s plate until the pitch is released.

QUICKTIP A catcher who waves at the ball or pulls every pitch to the center of the plate or strike zone is telling you the pitch isn’t a strike. If it were, the pitch wouldn’t need to be manipulated. Don’t be fooled by those machinations; call them balls. Likewise, don’t put up with a catcher who repeatedly holds the ball after catching it. That’s showing you up and it’s not acceptable.

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SOFTBALL

TEST YOURSELF Each of the following includes a situation and possible answer(s). Decide which are correct for USA, NFHS, NCAA or USSSA rules and which might vary. Solutions: p. 81.

1. With no outs and R1 on first and R2 on second, B2 hits a ground ball to F4. F4 throws to F6 at second for the force. F6 throws to F3 to try to turn the double play. B2 beats the throw by a step. B2, thinking she had been put out, walks off the field and enters her dugout. a. The ball is live. b. The ball is dead. c. B2 is out for abandonment. d. B2 may return to first base. e. This is an appeal play.

2. With one out and R1 on first, B2 hits a ground ball to F4. F4’s throw forces R1 at second. F4’s relay throw to F3 hits R1 in the helmet as she pop-up slides into second. The ball rolls into the outfield. a. The ball is live. b. The ball is dead. c. This is interference by R1. d. This is not interference by R1. e. B2 is ruled out.

3. In the top of the third inning, the defensive pitching coach requests time to have her first conference of the game with her pitcher. Later in that same half inning, the same coach requests time and holds a second conference with her pitcher. a. This is legal. b. The pitcher must be removed from the pitching position. c. The defensive pitching coach holding the second conference shall be ejected. d. The defensive head coach shall be ejected. e. The pitcher is ejected.

4. In the top of the fourth inning, Team A substitutes A2 for A12 as a pinch runner. In the bottom of the fourth inning, A12 returns to her spot at first base, however the head coach forgets to notify the home plate umpire of the re-entry. B1, with a 3-2 count, hits a ground ball to F4, who throws to F3 (A12) at first base for the out. Team B’s head coach notifies the plate umpire that A12 was never re-entered into the game. a. B1 is out at first base. b. B1 is allowed to stay at first base. c. This is an unreported substitute and the substitute is now officially declared in the game. d. This is an illegal substitute and the substitute is now ejected. e. The offensive coach may take the result of the play or have B1 return to the plate with a 3-2 count.

Now, defensive players must catch the ball first. Umpires must get in proper position to make sure the fielder does not impede the progress of the runner to the bag or plate if she doesn’t have the ball first. The one exception is in NCAA, which states if a runner is clearly beaten by the throw, the runner may still be called out. The key in all codes is for umpires to let the play develop, see the entire play, then determine what happened.

Dispelling myths. One of the biggest myths is that a runner cannot be called out if obstruction is called.

A runner who advances beyond the base she would have reached had obstruction not occurred is advancing at her own risk and is liable to be put out. If a runner creates interference after the obstruction, she is called out as interference takes precedence.

Another myth is a fielder may block the bag if a play is imminent.

The rules have changed; no fielder may block the bag or plate without the ball.

Another part of the rule often

misunderstood is what to do to a fielder who moves to catch a poorly thrown ball. Coaches often cite that their players have the right to go catch a ball. That is true, provided they do not impede the progress of a runner. A fielder has protection on a batted ball, but not on a thrown ball.

Fielders may move through the path en route to catching the ball, provided they do not stop in the runner’s path or impede their progress.

There are a couple of misconceptions as well when it comes to contact. There does not have to be contact for there to be obstruction.

Runners will often intentionally deviate their path in order to avoid contact. Also, contact in and of itself doesn’t equal obstruction. If a runner intentionally alters her path to create the contact, obstruction should not be called.

Brad Tittrington lives in Lawrence, Mass.

He umpires collegiate and USA softball.

He also officiates women’s college and high school basketball as well as high school volleyball. 

Getting the Ruling Right Isn’t a Travesty

By Corky Carter

O

ne of the “catch-all” rules in softball refers to “making a travesty of the game.” That was put in place to take care of those players who try to make an umpire’s life unbearable. It ensures the shenanigans of a player do not cause so much confusion that an opponent winds up doing something that enables the offending team to gain an advantage.

Just the sound of the words on paper conjure the notion of the “sacredness” of the game.

But what happens when a team accuses an umpire of making a travesty of the game? Surely you’ve heard, “You’re a joke!” While that disparaging remark is usually directed toward your alleged poor performance, the accusation that you

are making a travesty of the game is more severe.

Perception, based on which side of the officiating ledger you are on, can be interpreted as “fairness” by an umpire and “travesty” by the team that wants a ruling to go its way.

While one might think there is a broad line between what can be construed as a travesty versus what is deemed fairness, there really is a fine line between the two. Being able to discern between the two and being able to sell the ruling as fairness rather than travesty is an acquired skill by an umpire.

The situation in which those options come into play most often occurs when a veteran umpire is working with a rookie umpire. As a veteran, the decision to correct a rookie’s error can be difficult.

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A play this close would likely not result in a partner telling Glenn Brown, Whidbey Island, Wash., he had an obvious miss.

That difficult decision is based on the charge that umpires are not supposed to let either team gain an unfair advantage. When a rookie umpire totally blows an obvious ruling, the veteran must decide how to respond.

A veteran can respond by letting the ruling stand. The philosophy might be, “The rookie has got to learn from mistakes. If the new umpire takes enough heat, he or she will bear down and get the ruling right next time.”

That is faulty logic by the veteran.

If the ruling is blatantly bad, the veteran has a responsibility to right the wrong. This isn’t about a bang-bang play in which the veteran might think the out was made and the ruling was safe. I’m referring to a play on which the team that benefited from the error in judgment knows the ruling isn’t right. And if it happened the other way, that team would want it corrected as well.

Some veterans would argue the rookie’s ruling has to be honored or you’ll change every close ruling.

Again, we aren’t talking about the close rulings; we are talking about obvious blunders. If the veteran handles the situation appropriately, the

teams will know what is going on.

And what is going on? Actually, it’s on-the-job training. You don’t always have the luxury of rookie umpires honing their skills on practice games.

They enter the umpiring ranks in realgame situations and the pressure is great. That is why it behooves veterans to tactfully ensure the game is being played as close to right as can be.

The veteran might argue that overruling the ruling will embarrass the rookie. Yes, that is a possibility.

However, my experience tells me the last thing a rookie wants to happen is for his or her erroneous ruling to have a bearing on the game. My experience also tells me that most teams that have even a smidgen of good sportsmanship in their hearts would rather the ruling be corrected. At least that’s the case in recreational leagues.

Teams know who the rookies are.

They know there is a new face on the diamond. They notice that the veteran plate umpire is directing the rookie by gesturing to get in the correct position. They know the rookies by their tentative nature. So, I don’t think the embarrassment issue is really an issue. Teams are more forgiving than some veteran umpires would lead you

to believe.

So, how do you tactfully handle the situation when you’ve got to help change an obvious erroneous ruling?

First, call time. At the moment of the ruling, the offended team is already going to be soliciting your help. After time is called, head out to confer with your rookie partner. That indicates to the team that you are considering doing something, which usually quells the dissention. Then tell your partner, “That runner was really safe. We are going to change the ruling and get it right together. You’re going to change your ruling to safe and after the game we’ll talk about it.”

What has been the response from the rookie umpires I’ve worked with?

Overwhelmingly it has been one of appreciation. Maybe he or she made the ruling too quickly. Immediately after the ruling even they knew they’d missed it badly. Maybe they got confused that the runner could leave the base on a fly ball when it was first touched rather than having to stay until the catch was completed.

As a veteran umpire, there have been times I’ve wanted my partner to overrule my blatantly bad ruling.

There are some advantages to being a rookie.

Anthony “Corky” Carter is a longtime umpire and instructor from Brentwood, Tenn. 

CORRECTION In the 7/19 issue in the Test Yourself, there was an erroneous answer to a question regarding obstruction at home plate. In the scenario presented, the runner was out on a close play at home plate where obstruction occurred at home plate. In that scenario, and in all codes, it is a delayed dead ball and the umpire would place the runner at the base he/she would have attained had obstruction not occurred. The answers given were for a longer question where obstruction was ruled on the catcher for blocking the plate without the ball well before the runner reached home plate and the runner was thrown out by a large distance. In that scenario, in USA Softball, NFHS and USSSA, the play would be ruled dead at the time the runner is tagged out and the runner would be placed back on third base. In NCAA, the runner would be ruled out.

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SOFTBALL

CASEPLAYS Catch and Carry Play: With one out and R2 on second base, B1 hits a fly ball down the right-field line. The ball continues to hook as F9 leaps from live-ball territory, makes the catch and then lands in deadball territory. R2 was standing on second base attempting to tag up when R9 makes the catch. Ruling: In all codes, that is a catch and carry. The ball is dead, the batter-runner is declared out and R2 is awarded third base (USA Softball 1-Catch/No Catch, 8-5J; NFHS 2-9, 8-4-3K; NCAA 9.2, 9.4; USSSA 3-Catch, 8-14-D5).

Batter-Runner Interference Play: With one out and R3 on third, B1 hits a ground ball to F6. F6’s throw to F3 retires B1. F3 steps off first base and takes a step toward home plate in fair territory to make a throw home as R3 tries to score. As F3 releases the throw, B1 collides with her, causing the throw to sail offline. F2 catches the ball, but the tag on R3 is late. Ruling: In all codes, that is interference by a retired runner and the ball is dead at the time of the interference. B1 is out on the initial play and R3 is ruled out due to B1’s interference with F3 (USA Softball 8-7P Effect; NFHS 8-6-16C Effect; NCAA 12.17.3.1 Effect; USSSA Softball 8-18H).

Leaving Early Play: With two outs and an 0-2 count on the batter, R1 tries to steal, but leaves early. The pitch is ruled a strike by the home plate umpire. Ruling: In USA Softball, NFHS and USSSA, the ball is dead at the moment R1 leaves early and no pitch is declared. R1 is ruled out for leaving early and the same batter will come up to start the next inning (USA Softball 8-7S Effect; NFHS 8-6-18 Penalty; USSSA 8-18K). In NCAA, the defensive coach has the option of taking the result of the play or “No pitch” is declared and the offending runner is out (12.14.2 Effect).

It’s a Good Time to Think About Timing Plays G

ood umpires have good timing.

They are also knowledgeable about rules regarding timing plays.

All codes address situations in which a runner does or perhaps does not touch home plate before the third out is made on the bases.

For example, no run can score on any play when the third out of the inning is made by the batter-runner before she touches first base.

Play 1: R3 occupies third with two outs when B1 hits a ground ball to short. F6’s throw retires B1. R3 touches home just before B1’s out.

Ruling 1: The third out of the inning was made by B1 before she reached first base. No run scores on the play.

Play 2: The bases are loaded with two outs when B4 hits a home run over the fence. B4 misses first base.

The play is properly appealed by the defensive team and B4 is declared out. Ruling 2: Though everyone circled the bases, all runs are nullified because the third out of the inning was made by B4 before she legally touched first base.

Runs are also canceled when the third out of an inning is made by a runner who is forced out.

Play 3: R3 is on third and R1 is on first with two outs when B5 singles.

R1 misses second but slides safely into third. The defense properly appeals that R1 missed second. Ruling 3: R1 is out and because the third out was a

A

ss

B

w 1

T g o p

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force out, R3’s run does not count.

Additionally, no following runners can score when the third out is made by a preceding runner or when the third out is made by a following runner before a leading runner touches home plate.

Play 4: With R3 on third, R1 on first and one out, B4 hits a fly ball to right field that’s caught by F9. R3 legally tags up and scores before R1, halfway between first and second, is retired as she returns to first. Ruling 4: The run by R3 counts because she reached the plate before R1 was put out. The out on R1 was a timing play and not a force play. There can never be a force play on a play when a fly ball is caught. That’s because a force play occurs only when runners are forced to advance because the batter becomes a runner. On a timing play, the run counts when a runner advancing to home reaches the plate before the third out occurs on the bases.

According to the USA Softball and CCA manuals, the signal seen in PlayPic A is to be used on a timing play when the runner touches the plate prior to the last out of the inning and the run will count. The umpire points to the plate emphatically and says, “The run counts,” or “Run scores.” On a timing play where the runner does not touch the plate before the last out of the inning is made and the run will not count, the umpire verbalizes, “The run does not count,” or “No run.” The CCA signal, seen in PlayPic B, calls for the umpire to stand at the plate, raise both arms above the head as if giving a foul ball signal. Cross the arms back and forth (not too quickly) while saying, “No run! The run does not score!” Be sure to watch the scoreboard to make sure a run is not recorded.

The CCA manual provides an umpire-to-umpire signal when a timing play is possible. As seen in PlayPic C, it’s two fingers touching

C

the left wrist. The signal is to be used when there are two outs with a runner on first or second (although other bases may also be occupied). The signal may also be used as a substitute for the “wipe off” to indicate the infield fly rule is no longer in effect. 

success starts here what to expect in the first 12 months of your officiating The first year is the most critical for all sports officials. This guide is perfect for anyone thinking about becoming an official, rookies on your crew or as part of the welcome packet for new members of your local officials association.

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NCAA national coordinators host inaugural Next Generation Officiating Seminar for select area basketball officials during the Final Four.

By Scott Tittrington

T

he Roman philosopher Seneca is credited with the line, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

Some might say that would make for a catchy T-shirt slogan, or to be printed on one’s favorite coffee mug.

And given the tenor of the inaugural Next Generation Officiating Seminar, it might be a good theme to consider for the swag handed out to participants moving forward.

Take the example offered up by J.D. Collins, the NCAA national coordinator of men’s

basketball officiating, during his remarks to the group of 60 high school and collegiate officials gathered the first week of April on the campus of Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn. As a young official trying to navigate his way into the NCAA Division I ranks, Collins had his name presented to a new coordinator responsible for assigning games in the Horizon League. The assigner was familiar with the handful of officials whom he would be using as referees, or crew chiefs. For the umpire positions, it was a different story.

The assigner’s wife looked at the list of names on her husband’s officiating roster.

“J.D., I like that name. Give him games.”

If that story isn’t kismet enough for you, try this one presented earlier in the day by Mark Wunderlich, the NBA’s director of referee development and performance. Back in the 1980s, while working a playground basketball game in a Philadelphia park, he caught the eye of a curious neighbor — Joey Crawford.

The longtime NBA playcaller,

in his trademark brusque, Philly manner, told Wunderlich he had much to learn about officiating, but that he saw potential.

Sure, both Collins and Wunderlich were lucky.

Neither would tell you otherwise. But they didn’t get to where they are now by accident, by simply allowing the basketball officiating gods to offer up a nod of approval without any expectations of them doing their own part.

“When somebody opens that door for you, you better be walking through it,” Collins said.

Perhaps the Next Generation seminar will be that door. Collins doesn’t remember exactly who was responsible for the genesis of the event, just that in the midst of discussions at the NCAA level about a variety of “Next Generation” initiatives for players, an idea was hatched to provide some type of opportunity and training for officials.

“And I was like, ‘yeah, absolutely,’” Collins said.

“The thought is that we come into a town, work with smallcollege officials, high school

COURTESY OF JOHN BLAZEK

MAKE

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KE WAY officials, and try to help make them better for their local communities.”

The decision was made to center the seminar on officials local to the site of the NCAA Men’s Final Four, held this year at U.S. Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

Collins reached out to Jason Nickelby, coordinator of officials for the Minnesota State High School League, as well as NCAA Division II and Division III officiating coordinators in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Their recommendations led to invites for 60 officials, ranging in experience from green high school newbies who nonetheless showed an aptitude for officiating to seasoned NCAA D-II officials who worked the 2019 postseason. There was no cost to attend, other than expenses incurred getting to and from the event.

The primary focus of the seminar came on the Thursday preceding the Final Four, as those 60 officials gathered on the Concordia campus to receive instruction and guidance from Collins, fellow national coordinators John Blazek

Matt Roesner, a basketball official from Omaha, Neb., works a camp game as part of the Next Generation Officiating Seminar held this past April in Minneapolis, site of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Final Four.

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make way

CBS rules analyst and former NCAA basketball official Gene Steratore.

“It’s very important for me to put a face and name together, to find out who’s committing to getting better and what they’re doing,” said Haney, the national D-III coordinator since 2017. “By showing up here on a Thursday morning, taking a day off of work and away from their family, shows me the commitment that they’ve made, and that’s very important to me.”

The three NCAA coordinators focused on teaching points, including discussions about taking care of the “little things” and the proper way to handle coaches.

At one point, the group of 60 broke into two, with each receiving an on-court mechanics tutorial, before Collins brought everyone back together to close with an in-depth film study and discussion of plays.

Wunderlich’s remarks centered on “sequencing” and how officials must train themselves to look at plays in order — “every time in order” — while Steratore, whom Haney affectionately called, “The Closer,” offered up a passionate defense of the need for officials to be the “parents of the game.”

“The feedback that I’ve received from the participants — and as you’re speaking to them, you know whether they’re engaged or not — these guys and gals were really engaged,” Collins said. “Any time you listen to a classroom setting presentation, if you can pick up 10 percent, maybe 15, it’s a win.

“I think it’s extremely important because the whole issue is, does the participant respect the individuals who are presenting? And you can’t argue … with the talent that we had here today speaking to different segments of the game.”

While the tightly packed,

Mark Wunderlich, the NBA’s director of referee development and performance, addresses participants at the Next Generation Officiating Seminar held in April in St. Paul, Minn.

“The feedback that I’ve received from the participants — and as you’re speaking to them, you know whether they’re engaged or not — these guys and gals were really engaged.”

one-day classroom presentation was the primary focus of the Next Generation event, the reason for choosing to offer it in the same city as the Final Four was due to the many ancillary officiating benefits available.

First, it allowed Collins to not only take a central role in planning the seminar, but to engage with the participants as well in the midst of arguably his most important week of the entire college basketball season.

“Having J.D. here for a day is huge for these referees,” Blazek said.

“I’m obviously passionate about officiating,” Collins said. “For me to personally share some things with the guys, for other really good teachers and trainers to share information and see lightbulbs come on … and for me to see the advancement of each individual and their awareness of situations, this time was more than well spent.”

Another benefit is that several organizations, including USA Basketball and the NBA Academy, play games in conjunction with the Final Four, and this year the Next Generation officials were allowed the opportunity to work those contests, make a little cash and receive some additional evaluation and instruction.

That meant Blazek and Haney had an additional four days to watch the seminar participants who were invited to work those games practice their craft on the floor and incorporate some of the concepts and instruction shared

during the classroom setting.

“What I’ll do is try to reinforce the things that we taught and they heard, to get them starting to focus on what’s going to be at their readiness to make them better,” Haney said. “I don’t worry about an evaluation process. … My point right now is let’s figure out what we can do to get better and what we can start working on so that when summer really comes and the camps are around that you’re ready.”

“This is the geographical area where I have quite a few D-II teams,” Blazek said. “So I’m going to work real hard for the next four days watching these guys, evaluating them, and it’s kind of interesting, when a guy gets in front of a national coordinator, that’s good for them.

If they can do it, they’ll show it.

So I think Jim and I are looking really forward to watching.”

While Collins made it clear he would wait until he had an opportunity to completely delve into the surveys and feedback to see how the seminar might change in the future, one thing was clear before everyone left the Concordia campus that Thursday: A plan is in place for a second class of Next Generation candidates to receive an education in April when the Final Four moves to Atlanta.

“It’s just going to get better,” Haney said. “The first time … you saw the effort we put into it. Today was terrific.”

Scott Tittrington is an associate editor at Referee. He umpires college and high school baseball, and officiates high school basketball and football. 

COURTESY OF JOHN BLAZEK

(NCAA D-II) and Jim Haney (NCAA D-III), Wunderlich, and

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RULES, MECHANICS, PHILOSOPHY

The NFHS Basketball Rules Committee voted to allow headbands of up to three inches in width beginning with the 2019-20 season, so long as they meet all other requirements including color and logo restrictions. Kyle Irion, Kirkland, Wash.

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS NFHS Rule Changes Center on Uniforms, Headbands

F

or a second consecutive year the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee opted for subtle updates, not massive overhauls, during its annual April meeting in Indianapolis.

Six minor rule changes, new verbiage related to last season’s

update of the backcourt exception, a new signaling requirement and a handful of points of emphasis will go into effect for the 2019-20 season. The changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS board of directors and made public in May. Referee thanks Theresia Wynns, NFHS director of sports, officials and

staff liaison to the rules committee, for reviewing this information.

Uniforms (3-4-3e) Beginning with the 2024-25 season, uniform numbers will no longer be allowed to be the same color as the primary jersey color. Current NFHS rules allow the sameness in color so

DALE GARVEY

By Scott Tittrington

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long as the jersey number is bordered by a contrasting color. However, that allowance has still sometimes failed to alleviate the issue of the number being difficult to see for game officials and table personnel. The two other provisions for number colors, each featuring a number of a solid contrasting color, remain in effect. The five-year implementation date should allow schools time to budget for purchasing new uniforms for teams at all levels.

Play 1: Team A’s jerseys are red, and include uniform numbers that are also red, bordered by a 1/4-inch solid white border. Ruling 1: Beginning with the 2024-25 season, this will be an illegal uniform, as the number on the jersey will no longer be allowed to be the same color as the jersey itself.

Play 2: Team A’s jerseys are dark green, and include uniform numbers that are solid gold, bordered by a 1/4-inch sold white border. Ruling 2: These uniforms are and will continue to remain legal, as spelled out in Rule 3-4-3e option 1.

Team Member’s Equipment, Apparel (3-5-4b, 3-5-4d, 3-5-5, 3-5-8 NEW) Headbands are now allowed to be up to three inches in width (3-5-4b).

Prior to the approved rule change, headbands could be no more than two inches in width. The change was suggested in order to mirror the rule requirement in girls’ volleyball.

However, additional restrictions on headbands, including that the item goes around the entire head, must be a circular design without extensions, must be worn on the forehead/ crown, must be nonabrasive and unadorned, and that only one headband is permitted, remain in place, as do the previous color and logo restrictions.

Play 3: One team A player is wearing a white headband that is three inches wide, while another team A player is wearing a white headband that is two inches wide. Each of the headbands meet all other rulebook provisions. Ruling 3: Both headbands are legal.

Play 4: One team A player is wearing a white headband that is three inches wide, while another team

A player is wearing a black headband that is three inches wide. Each of the headbands meet all other rulebook provisions. Ruling 4: Only one of the two headbands is legal. While both white and black are legal colors, all participants must wear the same color.

Play 5: One team A player is wearing a red headband that matches the predominant jersey color of her team, is three inches wide and features no extensions. A second team A player is wearing a red headband that is three inches wide, tied in a knot and has two extensions hanging free. Ruling 5: The first headband is legal. The second headband is illegal, as no extensions are allowed.

Hair control devices are not required to meet color restrictions (3-5-4d). The difference between a headband and a hair-control device is that a headband goes around the entire head, while a hair-control device goes around the hair only. Hair control devices still must meet additional restrictions in that they are rubber, cloth or elastic bands, and hard items such as beads, barrettes and bobby pins are prohibited.

Play 6: Team A is wearing jerseys with light blue as the predominant color. One team A player is wearing a light blue headband. One team A player is wearing a green hair control device to keep a ponytail in place.

One team A player is wearing two red hair control devices to keep pigtails in place. Ruling 6: Legal in all cases, as the headband meets the color requirements according to rule 3-5-4b and the hair control devices have no color restrictions according to rule 3-5-4d.

Players are not prohibited from folding or rolling uniform shorts at the natural waistband seam (3-5-5), provided the shorts are not in conflict with the restrictions listed in rule 3-4-5 that only one manufacturer’s logo/ trademark/reference be visible, and that no drawstring or other part of the shorts intended to maintain them in normal position causes potential harm to the player or others, and wearing of the shorts is not objectionable in exposing the anatomy. This provision eliminates the need for game officials to make an interpretation about

QUICKTIP Basketball officials should always carry a second whistle in the pocket of their pants. The first reason for doing so is obvious: You don’t want your whistle to break during a game and find yourself without a replacement.

The second reason helps with game management: Alternate which pocket the whistle is in to match the alternating-possession arrow at the scorer’s table.

Whenever a held ball occurs, the extra whistle will help you immediately know which team has the next possession.

BY THE NUMBERS NBA Finals appearances by the 12 officials selected to work the 2019 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors:

16 — Mike Callahan 12 — Scott Foster 8 — Tony Brothers, James Capers, Marc Davis 7 — Ed Malloy 6 — Jason Phillips, Zach Zarba 3 — John Goble 2 — David Guthrie 1 — Kane Fitzgerald, Eric Lewis (Josh Tiven and Sean Wright are the two alternate officials.)

SURVEY SAYS ...

In the NASO National Officiating Survey, basketball officials were asked who causes the most problems with sportsmanship. The survey results were as follows:

40.5% 27.89%

21.12% 7.86%

parents coaches

fans

However, when asked who is most responsible for improving sportsmanship, the results are much different:

51.28% 24.25%

11.19%

coaches parents schools

REFEREE

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BASKETBALL

TEST YOURSELF In each of the following, there are at least two possible answers. You are to decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS, NCAA men’s and NCAA women’s rules, which might vary. Solutions: p. 81.

1. Which of the following are true of headbands? a. The maximum width is 2 inches, and permissible colors are white, black, beige or the predominant color of the jersey. b. The maximum width is 3 inches, and permissible colors are white, black, beige or the predominant color of the jersey. c. The maximum width is 2 inches, and permissible colors are white, black, beige or any color contained within the jersey. d. The maximum width is 3 inches, and permissible colors are white, black, beige or any color contained within the jersey.

2. Which of the following are allowed on a jersey? a. Manufacturer’s logo. b. Conference logo. c. School logo. d. School mascot. e. All of the above are allowed.

3. A player may dribble a second time if the first dribble ended in all of the following ways, except which? a. A pass has touched another player. b. The player attempted a try for goal. c. An interrupted dribble. d. An opponent touched the ball.

4. Which of the following is true if A1’s three-point try is legally touched in flight by B2? a. The ball is dead. b. Only two points may be scored if B2 was inside the three-point circle. c. Only two points may be scored regardless where B2 was located. d. The touching is ignored.

5. All of the following are true of timeouts, except which? a. During a 30-second timeout, players must remain standing. b. A charged timeout may be reduced in length if the charged team is ready to play. c. Timeouts must be conducted within the confines of the timeout area. d. If A1 and B2 are injured on the same play, and medical personal enter the floor from both teams, both teams must be granted a timeout if A1 and B2 are to remain in the game.

A change approved by the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee for the 2019-20 season requires officials to use the proper signal for stopping the clock (signal 2, left) before using the signal for a held ball (signal 3, right).

whether rolling the waistband violates the edict that apparel shall not be modified from the original manufactured state and shall be worn in the manner the manufacturer intended it to be worn.

Play 7: Several team A players roll their uniform shorts at the seam.

The game officials have no concerns about drawstrings or that the rolled shorts are objectionable in exposing the anatomy. Only one manufacturer’s logo is visible. Ruling 7: The rolled shorts are legal.

Play 8: Several team A players roll their uniform shorts at the seam.

The game officials have no concerns about drawstrings or that the rolled shorts are objectional in exposing the anatomy. Multiple manufacturer’s logos are visible on the rolled waistband. Ruling 8: The rolled shorts are not legal as they violate the provisions of rule 3-4-5. If rolling the shorts a second time corrects the logo issue, and all other provisions are met, the shorts are legal.

Play 9: Several team A players roll their uniform shorts at the seam.

Doing so causes the drawstrings to dangle in what the game officials believe to be an unsafe manner. Only one manufacturer’s logo is visible.

Ruling 9: The rolled shorts are illegal until the issues with the safety of the drawstring are rectified.

A new rule provides recommendations for the use of a mouthguard (3-5-8). While a mouthguard is not a required piece of equipment by NFHS rule, state associations may deem it a required piece of equipment. If used, it must adhere to specific requirements for design and construction.

Bench Technical (10-5-5) Assistant coaches are now able to go onto the court in addition to the head coach in an effort to restore order when a fight breaks out among players. Previously, any assistant coach stepping onto the court in such a situation would necessitate the disqualification of each offender and an indirect technical foul charged to the head coach, who is responsible for the conduct of the team’s bench personnel.

Play 10: Following a hard foul

by A1 against B2, players from both teams begin to fight. Assistant coaches for both team A and team B step onto the court to separate the players and restore order. Ruling 10: Technical fouls and disqualifications are

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administered against the players for fighting as prescribed by rule. There are no penalties to either team related to the assistant coaches coming onto the court.

Play 11: Following a hard foul

by A1 against B2, players from both teams begin to fight. Assistant coaches for both team A and team B step onto the court, and in the process of separating the players and trying to restore order, one assistant coach from each team begin to fight with one another. Ruling 11: Both of the assistant coaches involved in the fight are disqualified and an indirect technical foul is administered to each head coach.

Updated Backcourt Language (9-91 Exception) The language for the rule 9-9-1 exception related to backcourt violations that was approved prior to the 2018-19 season has been updated to read as follows: “A ball in team control of team A in the frontcourt that is deflected by a defensive player, which causes the ball to go into the backcourt, may be recovered by either team unless the offense was the last to touch the ball before it went into the backcourt. If the offense was last to touch the ball in its frontcourt, only the defense can legally recover the basketball.”

The updated wording more accurately explains the original intent of the proposal.

Stop Clock for Held Ball (NFHS Basketball Officials Manual) The final change approved by the committee requires that game officials, when ruling a held ball, first stop the clock using approved signal No. 2 (the stop clock signal with straight arm and opened palm) while simultaneously blowing the whistle, then using approved signal No. 3 to indicate there is a held ball. The rationale is to improve consistency when the clock should be stopped as a stop-clock signal is used in all other scenarios.

Scott Tittrington is an associate editor at Referee. He umpires college and high school baseball, and officiates high school basketball and football. 

5 MINUTES WITH GINA CROSS Final Four standby discusses taking the floor following a crewmate’s injury.

Resides: Clearwater, Fla., and Nicholasville, Ky. Experience: NCAA Women’s Final Four rookie in 2019 who, as standby official, was pressed into action in the national semifinals between Connecticut and Notre Dame when an official went down with an injury. NCAA Division I official for 18 years. Works in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC. REFEREE: What was your mindset on the sideline before Michol Murray’s injury?

CROSS: Being the alternate is a tough position. If the officials on the court have a question or problem, they come to you, and you have to be prepared for that. I’ve been the standby official in other tournaments, and you prepare the same way you would if you were one of the three on-court officials: grab my morning coffee, get a workout in, grab a nap, have lunch, look at the teams’ tendencies, who the top scorers and rebounders are, have they met before.

REFEREE: When you saw the injury and knew you were coming into the game, how did your mindset change?

CROSS: I was sitting there watching the play and saw Michol go down, grabbing her knee. June Courteau (the NCAA Division I national coordinator of women’s basketball officiating) was sitting behind me and I’m already ready.

I tell June, “I gotta go calibrate my whistle.” Then I began warming up like any other game. There was no time for me to get nervous. My friends told me later they wished I’d had a heart monitor on so they could check my heart rate. … When I got to the game site that day, I prepared like I always do, changed into sweats, put on heat cream, put on the Precision Timing pack and stretched. When I told my friends later, they laughed that I’d put on the heat cream since I was scheduled to be the alternate. A partner’s injury is not the way you want to get on the court. Michol’s a go-getter and she will come back stronger than ever. I was comfortable with my partners

because I’d worked with both Joe (Vaszily) and Beverly (Roberts) before.

They are two veterans and helped me get over any nervousness.

REFEREE: When you went onto the court, what was your initial communication like with your partners?

CROSS: It occurred quickly because we only had about 15 seconds. We were in a media timeout and the training staff quickly took care of Michol and took her off in a wheelchair. I warmed up, Joe and Beverly came up and we talked about positioning, they looked at me and said, “Welcome, let’s rock this out.”

REFEREE: What about the pregame? Did you go over what happens if the alternate comes in?

CROSS: You participate in the pregame as the standby official. We didn’t go over what happens if the alternate comes in, but I’ll certainly put it in my pregame for these situations in the future. We had a morning meeting back at the hotel for all four officials.

At the game site, I participated in the pregame before the first semifinal game, but couldn’t for the second because I was serving as the alternate on the first game when they went through it.

The talk at the hotel helped me get comfortable with the matchups.

REFEREE: What were your thoughts about Michol when you saw her go down?

CROSS: My first thoughts were emotional. We’re an officiating family.

I was more nervous for Michol when I saw her go down, but I still had a job to do. We all work hard to get in that arena. Michol’s a tough one and I have no doubt she’ll be back next year in New Orleans (site of the 2020 Women’s Final Four).

REFEREE: Tell us a personal story that sticks with you from the game.

CROSS: My first memory was Michol going down. It’s something you don’t forget, seeing that pain. But a fun story I’ll remember is this. I chew gum when I referee. I followed my routine, and had been chewing gum from the start of the first semifinal game. With the excitement of transitioning to the court, I had worn out the piece of gum. So, I went to Beverly and said, “I sure do need a piece of gum.” Sure enough, she’s got one, but it’s in her back pocket. We laughed about her pulling something out of the back of her pants and me putting it in my mouth. We kind of wondered what others would think, but had a good laugh about it. 

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BASKETBALL

Saving Ball Back Inbounds Play: A1 makes an errant pass toward A2, and the ball sails well over A2’s head and is heading out of bounds. A2 runs toward the ball, leaps from inbounds, grabs the ball while airborne, and throws it back onto the court inbounds.

A2 lands out of bounds, re-enters the playing court, and A2 is the first to the ball and (a) grabs and holds it, or (b) dribbles it. Has A2 violated in either scenario? Ruling: The play is legal in both cases.

When A2 secured the ball in the air after jumping from inbounds, he or she remains inbounds while airborne, and throwing the ball to the floor starts a dribble. After A2 legally returned to the floor, the player may grab the ball to end the dribble as in (a), or continue the dribble as in (b). Furthermore, this play is not an example of a violation where a player steps out of bounds for an unauthorized reason (NFHS) or under his or her own volition and then becomes the first player to touch the ball after returning to the playing court (NCAA), as A2 did not intentionally step out of bounds to gain an advantage (NFHS 4-15-1, 9-3-3; NCAAM 4-13.2, 9-3.1; NCAAW 4-12.2, 9-3.1).

Free-Throw Mistake Play: A1 is fouled on an unsuccessful try and is awarded two free throws. A1’s first free throw is unsuccessful, players A4 and B5 forget A1 has an additional free throw, and both try to gain the rebound. B5 grabs the ball, and A4 fouls B5 by grabbing his or her arm. At this point the officials blow the whistle to halt play. How shall play resume? Shall A4’s foul be ignored? Ruling: Failing to award the second merited free throw is a correctable error.

When the officials fail to stop play immediately to award the second free throw, any points scored, time consumed and additional activity shall not be nullified. A4 shall be charged with the foul. A1 shall be awarded the second merited free throw with no players lined up in the marked lane spaces, and then play is resumed at the point of interruption, which would be free throws for B5 if team B were in the bonus, or a throw-in to team B if not in the bonus (NFHS 2-10-1a, 2-10-5, 2-10-6, 2.10.1G; NCAA M/W 2-12.1.a, 2-12.5.a).

g n i h t e m o s ? e r o m

en ct betwe Any conta t with nen one oppo onent’s face pp o r up anothe ould send h s d or hea g a iate red fl an immed icials. off for game

We’ve all seen incidental contact at the basket where a defender makes contact with a shooter’s head while legitimately trying to make a play on the ball. That is nothing more than a personal foul.

And we know that aggressively swinging elbows after corralling a rebound and catching an unsuspecting opponent in the jaw falls on the opposite end of the spectrum, as it clearly fits the parameter of a flagrant foul (NFHS), a flagrant 2 personal foul (NCAAM) or a disqualifying foul (NCAAW).

But what about the contact shown here? Is the defender making a legitimate attempt to block the shot and just happens to contact the offensive player directly in the face? Did the defender first make contact with the ball and then the face on the follow-through? Or did the defender

make no effort to make a play on the ball? Does the severity of the act solely determine what type of foul should be called? If this were a collegiate contest, do the officials have enough information to decide between a possible flagrant 1 and flagrant 2 (NCAAM), or an unsportsmanlike and a disqualifying foul (NCAAW)?

All of these factors must be considered before making a ruling on this type of contact. It is important for officials to understand the definitions of fouls for the rules code they are working — spelled out in rule 4 for both NFHS and NCAAM, and in rule 10 for NCAAW — and to then be able to use that understanding, paired with on-court judgment, to determine the vast difference between penalizing No. 20 with a personal foul or determining that her participation is finished for the evening.

DALE GARVEY

CASEPLAYS

ECOME L FOUL B A N O S R E RIETY P RDEN-VA A G A S E O WHEN D

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RIPPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT YOU ARE THERE

MLB umpire Steve Rippley ejects 17 during one ’84 game.

IT

may happen that an umpire can go through an entire career without a “hat trick.” That’s baseball parlance for ejecting three participants in a single game. Imagine what it would be like to eject 17 players, coaches and managers in a single game!

Say hello to Steve Rippley, who had the unfortunate experience of doing just that during an Aug. 12, 1984, game between the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves.

Rippley, who would go on to a 21-year, three-WorldSeries career as an NL umpire, was in his second season. On the crew were crew chief John McSherry at first base, Fred Brocklander at second and Charlie Williams at third.

Sadly, all three of Rippley’s crewmates are now deceased.

Thanks to a couple of rain delays,

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that game started about two hours late. The first batter of the game, San Diego’s Alan Wiggins, stepped in and was hit in the SEAT ribs with the first 7 pitch from Pascual Perez. The normal thought here would be, “Hmm, interesting way to start a game.”

Boy, was it!

“I knew right away what was happening,” Rippley said. “The night before, Wiggins bunted a couple of times to get on base.”

That played as well with the Braves as someone cutting in line at a soup kitchen. Wiggins’ biggest tormentor was Perez, who had observed the previous day’s game from the end of the dugout. “Perez and Wiggins had words,” Rippley recalled, “so the next day when Wiggins was hit with the first pitch of the game, I knew exactly what was going on.”

Padres Manager Dick Williams also knew exactly what was going on. He made it very clear that

By Ken Allan

the Padres would be looking forward to Perez’s first plate appearance. Because of the rules of the day, Rippley could do no more than give San Diego its due. Unfortunately, for Rippley and the game itself, the Padres failed miserably. “They couldn’t hit him in three shots,” Rippley remembered. Players from both teams came to the front of their dugouts, so Rippley warned both benches.

In the fourth inning, Perez was up again. This time Ed Whitson attempted to hit him. But Perez was ready and backed away, and Whitson and Williams were gone. Before he left, Williams told Rippley, “We are not going to be the only ones you are going to run today.”

That comment may have prompted the league to fine Williams $10,000 and suspend him 10 days.

The game moved to the sixth inning, and relief pitcher Greg Booker took his turn trying to hit Perez. Like the other Padres pitchers, he couldn’t find the mark. By then, the Braves had had enough and it was on. Booker and acting manager Ozzie Virgil joined the growing list of ejectees.

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In the eighth inning, with tempers near the breaking point, it was up to the Padres fourth pitcher of the game, Craig Lefferts, to deliver longawaited justice. By then, the very alert Perez was ready for anything. He backed out as Lefferts went into his windup.

Lefferts came through with a fastball and nailed Perez in the elbow and it was on again.

This time the party was joined by a new participant, Braves third baseman Bob Horner. Horner’s route to the field was a little unusual. “He was on the disabled list and was watching from the press box,” Rippley remembered.

Horner had the presence of mind to drop by the Braves clubhouse and get out of his street clothes and into uniform. When Horner got to the field, things had pretty much calmed down so Horner was watching the activity in front of the Braves dugout.

Enter Champ Summers, who raced across the field to try to get to Perez, who was standing on the steps of the Braves’ dugout. Horner was standing in the way so Summers gave Horner a push. A fan then tossed what appeared to be a cup of beer at the two and the brawl was reignited.

The severity of all this activity was evidenced by McSherry being knocked to the ground twice in his attempt to get things under control.

Things did calm down. For a short while.

New Braves pitcher Donnie Moore wasted little time in hitting leadoff hitter Graig Nettles, and for the third time in the game, both benches emptied. After it appeared order was restored, Padres pitcher Goose Gossage went after Moore, setting off more pushing, shoving and fisticuffs.

McSherry then ordered both benches cleared, sending the remaining players to their clubhouses. It was reported on the website Retrosheet.org that McSherry thought about forfeiting the game but decided not to do so since the Braves had started the last brawl and McSherry did not want to give the game to the Padres, who were the instigators of the series of events.

Rippley was scheduled to join Bob Engle’s crew the next day in Houston.

“Ejection reports had to be written before midnight, so I wrote my report on my flight to Houston,” Rippley said. “I was sitting between two nuns so I had to be careful what I wrote. We had no computers those days, but I did write most of the information before midnight.”

When asked his thoughts on what has often been described as one of the most talked about brawls in MLB history, Rippley paused, smiled for a moment and said, “You know, you can blame this on

Umpires Steve Rippley, John McSherry and Charlie Williams confer following one of the brawls during the BravesPadres game on Aug. 12, 1984.

“SO THE NEXT DAY WHEN WIGGINS WAS HIT WITH THE FIRST PITCH OF THE GAME, I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON.”

Ed Whitson for not doing his job.”

Despite the long delays, the game, played at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in the summer heat and humidity, lasted two hours, 56 minutes, about 25 minutes longer than the average game time in 1984.

In what would turn out to be an afterthought, the Braves won, 5-3.

San Diego returned to Atlanta for the final three games of the regular season. The NL, wanting to avoid a repeat of the series in August, assigned a “take no prisoners” crew of Doug Harvey, Joe West, Frank Pulli and Jerry Crawford. As one might imagine, there were no incidents the entire series.

The Padres went on to win 92 games and capture the NL West championship by 12 games over Atlanta and Houston. The Padres’ success did not end there. After losing the first two games of the NLCS to the Cubs, San Diego won three straight to make its first appearance in the World Series.

The Padres lost to Detroit in five games.

So, 35 years ago this August, the Padres and Braves went at it in one of the most notable brawls in baseball history. A Braves fan summed it up about as well as anyone.

“It was just awesome!”

Ken Allan, Diamond Bar, Calif., a retired 30-year D-I umpire, is the California state rules interpreter for high school baseball. 

REFEREE August 2019 |

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ALL SPORTS

EDITOR: JEFFREY STERN

jstern@referee.com

FOR ALL SPORTS, ALL LEVELS

Who says all interactions with coaches have to be nasty? Brandon Bubar, Coeur d’alene, Idaho, shares a chuckle with a coach during a break in the action. Humor is a tool to be used with extreme caution, but it is one way to head off confrontations.

NO ARGUMENT ABOUT IT N

ot all arguments with coaches end perfectly. The goal of all officials is to resolve volatile conflict quickly and to an extent that allows the contest to continue with as little interruption as possible.

Your demeanor, body language, what you say and how you say it are all critical components in successfully ending arguments.

A phrase that will end most arguments regarding judgment calls is, “Coach, if it happened the way you say it did, I got it wrong.” It

works because you’re not admitting a mistake, putting up a defense or ignoring the coach completely. Only a coach who wants to argue for the fun of it or is trying to intimidate an official will continue an argument after hearing that phrase. Any coach with those motives deserves to be ignored.

That statement also works when the dispute involves a rule. If the coach doesn’t volunteer his or her take on how the rule is interpreted, the official can ask for it. By eliciting

information from the coach, the official turns the argument around and becomes the questioner, the person who actually controls the argument. Once the coach has offered his or her interpretation, the official can tell the coach that if that interpretation is correct, an error was made.

Sometimes resolving an argument has to wait or you may want to delay a discussion with the coach. A typical situation that can escalate into an argument is when

DALE GARVEY

Top Tips to Terminate Tiffs and Tough Talks

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a coach has a question that doesn’t get answered. Try not to ignore a question; a coach will only get angrier if he or she feels ignored.

If play is continuing and doesn’t allow for a protracted conversation, you can say, “I’ll get back with you, coach.” But then be sure to follow up at first opportunity.

Doing everything right doesn’t mean you’re going to eliminate all arguments. Sometimes we need to understand a coach just wants to vent. That’s OK … within reason.

Consider the phrase, “I’ve heard enough.” Ever use it on the field or court? Sure, we all have.

Nine times out of 10, when you say, “I’ve heard enough,” your message will be clear to the recipient, but that example underscores the need to be very conscious of your language during a game. There are hundreds of other situations that arise during games when you have the opportunity to say something to coaches. You have to know how to manage your responses so that you do not make matters worse. And that means always choosing your words carefully.

Using barked-out orders like “Shut up!” “Sit down!” and “Back off!” are antagonistic and likely won’t do much to help you manage the game, much less your reputation.

Change directives to requests whenever possible and avoid issuing threats.

Instead of ordering players or coaches to stop complaining (“Be quiet! Not another word out of you!”) or threatening them (“Stop complaining or you’ll be sorry!”), you can accomplish the goal more gently, yet just as effectively, by making a request: “Would you please stop making those comments? They are inappropriate.”

Ultimatums, too, will only get you into trouble. All “if-then” statements should be avoided. For example, a coach is continuously ranting at you from the sidelines. Fed up, you finally walk over and say, “Coach if you say one more word — just one more word! — I will throw you out of this game.” No problem if the coach doesn’t say anything in response. But what if the coach says, “You’re right; I’m sorry.” Uh oh. He or she apologized but in doing so said not just one word, but four.

You now have one of two choices that the coach has determined for you — accept the apology and not follow through with your threat or give him or her the thumb even though you got an apology. Either way you lose.

When coaches blow up and things start to get heated, you must be at your most vigilant with your words. It takes a lot of practice to listen to an irrational person and then respond rationally. Make sure your responses are deliberate and well thought out. 

Rules Study by the Book

By Tim Sloan

W

JAY SPENCER

hen James Naismith wrote the original rules of basketball, he rambled on for 10 whole lines on a single sheet of paper. Today, more than a century of false multiple technical fouls later, the NFHS rulebook describes 20 “fundamentals” of basketball alone — if you can find them way back on page 77. The problem for officials is that while the rulebooks get bigger, our modest brains stay the same size. And we

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only have a finite amount of time in our hectic lives to keep up with the changes. How do we make most effective use of that time to learn the rules?

Start at the beginning — When you’re just getting started (or if it’s been awhile since you cracked the good book), breeze through the entire rulebook once to familiarize yourself with the structure and organization.

If you’re a new official, start at the beginning of the book. When you get to each section, go back and

DID YOU KNOW? Most of the late Ogden Nash’s poems were about people. He once said, “My field (is) the minor idiocies of humanity.” Nash even took a poke at those who heckle umpires in this untitled limerick:

There was once an umpire whose vision Was cause for abuse and derision.

He remarked in surprise, “Why pick on my eyes?

It’s my heart that makes the decision.”

CREDIT METAWEB

QUICKTIP Rehearse your game mentally.

Players and coaches go over mental game plans all the time, and officials should too.

Visualize yourself making a great block-charge call or calling the play at the plate. See yourself dealing properly with tense game situations with players and coaches. Visualize how you successfully handled tough situations in the past. Positive mental reinforcement can give you confidence in your assignment ahead.

THEY SAID IT “During the week I practiced law.

On Sunday, I was the law.”

— The late Tommy Bell, attorney and NFL referee

6/19/2019 10:30:03 AM

ALL SPORTS

forth between the rulebook and the casebook. That’s how you learn game situations in which the rules apply.

Identify key areas and applications — Identify a situation like pass interference and read through all the sections in the book that deal with it. Even when you know the answer to a case in the book go back and read the rule anyway.

Often it will connect you to other rules that you can still learn more about.

Now the real studying begins — For each category of the rules (Definitions, Live Ball/Dead Ball, Fouls and Penalties, etc.), here’s a step-by-step guide for maximizing retention: 1. Visualize — For every rule and

subsection of every rule, immediately after reading it, imagine a specific play related to that rule and visualize yourself applying the rule.

2. Quiz yourself — After visualizing a play, write down a short quiz question related to the rule and the play you visualized. That will not only reinforce the rule in your head by writing it down, but you’ll also have a handy quiz for later review after every rules study session.

3. Cross-reference — Have your casebook handy when studying.

After you’ve jotted down your quiz question, look up that same rule application in your casebook and read through it, making adjustments as needed in your quiz questions.

The right frame of mind — Rules

experts believe strongly that learning the rules ought to be a daily activity.

Pick up the rulebook every single day and read it. Just because you know the rules inside out doesn’t mean you’re going to be a good official. The most important thing to mastering them is to have a good feel for fair play and common sense.

Study where you feel comfortable and when you can be undistracted.

Read in brief increments during idle time while waiting for a plane, waiting on a client or even while in the bathroom.

Adapted from a column that appeared in the 4/04 column. Tim Sloan, Davenport, Iowa, is a high school football, basketball and volleyball official, and former college football and soccer official. 

Don’t Let the Dog Days Bite You C

ongratulations! It has been another successful season. And count yourself lucky. You were one of the select officials to be chosen for postseason playoffs. That is clearly a testament to your skill as an official, along with your hard work and dedication.

The problem we face at the end of the regular season is that in many cases, we are very ready for the season to end. With preseason camps and rules study beginning two months before the season, and sometimes longer, and continuing through a long grind, a regular season can be a difficult and challenging path. Finishing it healthy and happy is no small task. Even if we are fired up and ready for more games, our bodies and minds (and sometimes friends and family) are screaming for space.

Another jump ball is airborne and another game is underway for Cheryl Flores of Los Angeles. Once the season ends, finding a way to unwind and recover from the grind is important for an official’s physical and mental well-being.

So, how do we balance the relief of the completion of a successful season with the excitement of the postseason? How do we maintain our edge? What if we are too tired and we simply just want the postseason to be over? It is actually this time lapse that creates opportunities for officials to be at their very best.

Take a mental break. We all need time to recharge and refresh after a long season. There are endless weeks of preparation, travel and stressful game-time decision making that can prove emotionally exhausting. Take a short break from the sport. Read some fiction, spend time with friends and family, or get started on that long-delayed home improvement project. This neurological shift in thinking will give you the muchneeded mental space you need in order to be better prepared for an intense playoff game.

Take a physical break. A season takes its toll on the body, and a week or two without the quick vertical and lateral movements repeated endlessly in the previous three months will be welcome. If you still haven’t started to practice yoga, now would be a good time to do so. Its physical and mental benefits are without question.

P

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• • • • DALE GARVEY

By Patrick Malone

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Start now, and you will begin to feel the benefits of this amazing and ancient practice even before the first playoff game begins.

Do a little mentoring. Our profession tends to be very strong on networking, and light on mentoring.

During your break between the regular season and the postseason, reach out to a junior or rookie official and offer to spend some time with them talking about their season.

What did they learn? What could they have done better? What is it they would like to ask you? What call would they like to have back?

Perhaps go as far as to invite them to your playoff game to see a skilled crew working together.

Meet with your crew in advance.

A crew that knows each other works better together. Depending on your organization, you may be joining a new crew for the postseason. Why not take the opportunity to meet

with them in a relaxed social setting to get to know one another, swap a few stories and generate some excitement about the upcoming game. After all, you all have reason to celebrate being selected for postseason games. If your crew works together for the entire year, that’s an even better reason to celebrate your success and build enthusiasm for the upcoming playoff game.

Sort through your gear. Over the course of a long season, our officiating equipment gets dirty, rusty and outdated. Take a few hours to sort through your uniform components and identify signs of wear and tear. Perhaps identify a few well-preserved pieces you can hand off to young, up-and-coming officials in your association as a thank you for a job well done. For the remainder, either donate to a charity, or toss altogether.

Then, gear up again! One thing about postseason play, you are assured of talented athletes and competition at the highest level.

What’s not to love? This is what all sports officials are hoping for. Take comfort in knowing that not only are the athletes at the top of their game, you are too!

Scheduling some downtime, doing a little mentoring, meeting with your playoff crew and then getting your gear ready for the next game will certainly fill in the time lapse between the end of the regular season and a playoff game. Not only will this offer multiple benefits for you and your crew in the interim, it will make you better on gameday.

Don’t forget the yoga.

Patrick S. Malone is a professor at American University in Washington D.C. When he’s not grading papers, he officiates football. 

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FOR THE RECORD AWARDS, ROSTERS, NOTABLES

POSTSEASON ASSIGNMENTS

HIGH SCHOOL

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• The following officials were selected to work the Illinois High School Association 2019 boys’ volleyball state championships: Floor officials — Denis Bergstedt, Oak Lawn; Jonathan Heldmann, Bolingbrook; Terri Narantic, Palatine; Jason Palmer, Kenosha, Wis. Line judges — Tarah Dickerson, Chicago; Paul Wilk, Aurora; Rhonda Williams, Naperville; Aaron Woods, Bolingbrook. Bench officials — Julie Cowell, Lincolnwood; Looie Green, Evanston; Tim Monahan, Elk Grove Village; Mike Riedy, Palatine; Mark Trapp, Villa Park; Ed Vesely, Aurora.

• The following officials were selected to work the Kentucky High School Athletic Association’s 2019 spring sports championships: Baseball — Jim Chapman, Andy Thomasson, Jeremy Smith, Eugene Pikes, JD Young, Mark Harvey, Dane May, Frank Hall. Softball — Brian Epperson, Chris Brawner, James Frans, Ed Smith, Steve Chasteen, Nathan Hall.

• The following officials were MEXIC EW selected to work the New Mexico Activities TI C ES ASSO Association 2019 spring sports championships: Baseball — Abram Anaya, Santa Fe; Tony Armijo, Las Cruces; Gerald Baca, Las Vegas; Luis Bayardo, Silver City; Albert Boognl, Farmington; John Brusuelas, Albuquerque; Solon Cousins, Albuquerque; Rick Day,

Albuquerque; Patrick Devine, Alamogordo; Mike Fulkerson, Carlsbad; Thomas Litchfield, Albuquerque; Jaime Lopez, Roswell; Anthony Martinez, Rio Rancho; Matthew Martinez, Santa Fe; Travis Mitchell, Clovis; David Rast, Albuquerque; Mark Smith, Albuquerque; Mark Soriano, Albuquerque; Stephen Swift, Clovis; Dominic Toledo, Albuquerque; Jeff Varela, Rio Rancho; Benjamin Vega, Las Cruces; Carl Vigil, Las Vegas; Todd Wildermuth, Roswell. Softball — Fernando Apodaca, Albuquerque; Bob Armijo, Albuquerque; Alan Arthur, Gallup; David Bates, Albuquerque; Richard R. Carbajal, Los Lunas; Michael Garcia, Los Lunas; Larry Grant, Roswell; Ronnie Ladon, Gallup; Herman Lovato, Albuquerque; Enedina ‘Dino’ Martinez, Las Cruces; Culbert Medina, Silver City; Burton Melancon, Albuquerque; Shawn Mowdy, Ruidoso; Israel Padilla, Taos; Anthony Parra, Los Lunas; Willie Patterson, Albuquerque; Adolph Perea, Albuquerque; Jeffrey Quintana, Santa Fe; Stanley Rich, Albuquerque; James Romero, Las Vegas; Joe Romero, Albuquerque; Joseph Ruiz, Silver City; Jovito Sabal, Gallup; Richard Salazar, Santa Fe; Gerald Sanchez, Silver City; Vernon Sandoval, Gallup; Alphonso Santistevan, Taos; Randall Schulz, Santa Fe; Silas Wilson, Silver City; Darin Wright, Farmington.

• The following officials were selected to work the Ohio High School Athletic Association 2019 spring sports championships: Boys’ lacrosse — Zach Bolt, Jeffrey Csank, Jeff Koepfler, Tyler Mikolajewski, Brady

Designate NASO as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or life insurance policy.

L E A R N M O R E AT N A S O . O R G / L E G A C Y O R C A L L 8 0 0 - 7 3 3 - 6 1 0 0

Ollier, Michael Pcikarski, Brian Shar, Jim Shaw. Girls’ lacrosse — Bill Andrews, Ronald Bate, Jessica Cemate, Marc Dunker, Lissa Fickert, William Gardiner, John Hunt.

Track and field — Mike Althoff, John Austin, Andrew Babula, Andris Baltputnis, Timothy Barrett, Michael Beam, Bruce Benedict, Jamie Bialecki, Louis Brown, Steve Bruns, Rick Campbell, Stephen Canby, Joseph Chester, Renay Choma, Larry Cogan, Larry Dellosa, William Duckworth, Kelley DunkleDetillion, Wayne Ferne, James Fox, Julie Gavreau, John Gibbons, Douglas Gilbert, Joseph Graf, Harold Grice, Donald Groubert, Thmas Halbedel, E.C. Harrell, David Hershey, Sharon Hikade, Robert Hodgson, Roger Hosler, Barbara Hunter, Steven Hurley, Margie Iagulli, Robert Jones, Ed Katzman, Jim Keyser, Kip Kinn, Amy Kramer, Jackie Krieger, Kent Lamberson, Troy Lewis, Tony Longino-Thomas, David Madaras, Karen Mckeehan, David Meuleman, Ed Miller, Tony Mollica, Deb Molnar, Nick Molnar, Gary Muckenthaler, Danny Neely, Mike Nissenbaum, David Pearce, Kenneth Prince, Dave Richards, Rodney Russell, Dennis Sabo, Thomas Sapp, Mary Lou “Corky” Scherer, Robert Smalling, Glen Smith, William Swank, Terri Tutt, Ronald Weaver, Thomas Weaver, Sharon Wiegand, Lois Wright, Penny Zuber.

• The following officials were selected to work the Ohio High School Athletic Association 2018 football state championship games: Division I — Greg Gompf (referee), Frank Grubb (umpire), Joe Vulpio (head linesman), Rick Barnes (line judge), Myron Shorter (back judge), Phillip Colflesh (field judge). Division II — James Johnson (referee), Richard Fox (umpire), Robert Cowles (head linesman), Billy Willis (line judge), Justin McCulla (back judge), Shawn Isaac (field judge). Division III — Kevin Katafias (referee), Jimmie Shaw (umpire), Ryan Bowers (head linesman), Jeffery Clere (line judge), Devin Aller (back judge), Mark Piorkowski (field judge).

Division IV — Kevin Sulecki (referee), Morgan Stevens (umpire), Ben Mauch (head linesman), Michael Lemons (line judge), Zane Summers (back judge), Rick Mielcarek (field judge). Division V — Bill Tilker (referee), Nathan Leigh (umpire), Kevin Szink (head linesman), Daniel Nero (line judge), Robert Sutyak (back judge), Lawrence Bass (field judge). Division VI — Michael Dame (referee), Richard Neale (umpire), John Mandula (head linesman), Gartrell Bentle (line judge), Bobby Bolin (back judge), Bruce Slicker (field judge). Division VII — Mark King (referee), Dan Hill (umpire), Lance Rice (head linesman), Matt Karpinski (line judge), Scott Welker (back judge), Kris Myers (side judge).

• Christopher Buccella and Steve Cho were selected to work the Ontario Provincial Quad A Championship basketball game March 16 in Hamilton, Ontario. Pine Ridge Secondary School of Pickering defeated La Salle Secondary School of Kingston, 51-48.

POSTSEASON ASSIGNMENTS

COLLEGE • The following officials were selected to work the men’s and women’s Southern Conference tennis championships April 18-20 in Macon, Ga: Referee – Reliford Sanders Jr., Blacksburg, Va. Deputy Referee – Meg Farrelly, Isle of Palms, S.C. Officials – Kathy Zimmerman Barrell, Roanoke, Va.; Adam Dalton, Warner Robins, Ga.; Paula Fridley, Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Jay Hanshaw, Kansas City, Kan.; Jonathan Jones, Shreveport, La.; Hoyt Mabry, Suwanee, Ga.; Eva Marie McCravy, Lawrenceville, Ga.; Michael Maye, Auburn, N.Y.; Joy Nagata, Niceville, Fla.; Courtney Potkey, Powder Springs, Ga.; Seande Pulley, Dallas; Andy Sarver, Bland, Va. • The following officials were selected to work the Mountain West Conference men’s tennis championship April 25-27 in

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Fresno, Calif., where Fresno State defeated San Diego State, 4-2: Referee – Mike Standrod, Fayetteville, Ark.; Officials – Nancy Baty, Napa, Calif.; Rick Bewley, Terry, Miss.; Don Bragonier, Merced, Calif.; Susan Burns, Las Vegas, N.M.; Pua Johnson, Gilroy, Calif.; Kim Kilgore, Joplin, Mo.; Carol Linden, Lewisville, Texas; Bonnie Parreria, Fresno, Calif.; Mike Reichman, St. Louis; Reliford Sander Jr., Blacksburg, Va.; David Smith, Bella Vista, Ark.; Doug Walt, Rogers, Ark.

AWARDS & HONORS • The Iowa High School Athletic Association recognized several

officials during its 25th annual Officials’ Awards Reception and Banquet on April 27: Officials of the Year — Mike Botts, Davenport (baseball); Jennifer Dunn, Central City (boys’ soccer); Jack Jaspers, Cedar Rapids (football); Tom Kealy, Council Bluffs (boys’ swimming); Jim Patterson, Cedar Rapids (boys’ cross country); Dr. Shawn Petersen, Atlantic (boys’ basketball); Ray Wilden, Clinton (boys’ track); Mike Winklepleck, Sioux City (wrestling); Ira Dunsworth, Davenport (girls’ track); Carrie Harjes, Ankeny (girls’ volleyball); Daniel Kealy, Des Moines (girls’ swimming); Steve Rutz, Farley (girls’ cross country); Marlin Schoonover, Ireton (girls’ basketball); Naser Sinanovic, West Des Moines (girls’ soccer); Gary Wax, Macedonia

(softball). New Official of the Year — Dan Beeding, Ankeny (Central District); Don Brittain, Earlham (Southwest District); Jeffrey Gacke, Sergeant Bluff (Northwest District); Brenton Hamm, Mount Vernon (Northeast District); Joshua Ragar, West Point (Southeast District). NFHS Distinguished Official — Steve Wick, Le Mars. 50-Year Officials — Tom Buresh, Decorah; Father Craig Collison, Pocahontas; Mike Dick, Urbandale; Brayden Grimm, Farley; Al Huntzinger, Iowa City; Dick Lineweaver, Arnolds Park; Glen Smith, Beaman; Jack Smith, Gilman; Gene Vineyard, Kalona; Mike Vint, Marshalltown.

• Curtis Green was inducted June 1 into the Roland Park Baseball League Hall of Fame.

Green was recognized for

his 30 years of umpiring with the Baltimore Metro Umpires association.

OBITUARIES • Steve Lyles, 50, of Oconomowoc, Wis., died unexpectedly May 28. Lyles was president of the Wisconsin Basketball Officials Association and spent more than half his life as a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association basketball official. He worked three WIAA state boys’ basketball tournaments, including the Division 4 championship game this past March.

Do you have any rosters, assignments or awards that warrant mention?

Send info to us at ForTheRecord@referee.com

ROSTERS Short-Season Minor League Baseball Here are the 2019 umpire rosters for the short-season minor leagues.

Appalachian League Adam Clark, Toney, Ala. Kenneth Cullipher, Greenville, N.C. Kaleb Devier, Newton, Ala. Chandler Durham, Phenix City, Ala. Harper Hyer, Canton, Ga. Thomas O’Neil, Lexington, Ky. Adam Pierce, Ayden, N.C. Zachary Robbins, Durham, N.C. Malcolm Smith, Bartlett, Tenn.

Caleb Stone, Graham, N.C. Arizona League Luis Avalos, Nuevo Casas Grandes, Mexico Michael Corbett, Monroeville, Pa. Cas Cousins, El Segundo, Calif.

Steven Craze, Bethesda, Md. Larry Dillman Jr., Lakeside, Calif.

Bailey Dutton, Loganville, Ga. Demetrius Hicks, Frankfort, Ky. Kenneth Jackson, Metamora, Mich.

Christopher Jenke, Berwyn, Ill. Kyle Levine, Union Pier, Mich.

Alec Mendez, San Antonio Jarred Moehlman, Brenham, Texas Luke Morris, New Baltimore, Mich.

Austin Nelson, Omaha, Neb. Jesse Segura, Albuquerque, N.M. Sean Sparling, Salem, Ore. Tyler Wall, Corvallis, Ore. Joshua Williams, Magnolia, Ohio

Gulf Coast League Zdenek Zidek, Zruc-Senec, Czech Republic Christian Argueza, Pembroke Pines, Fla. Matthew Barrett, Nashville, Tenn.

Matthew Blackborow, Stoney Creek, Ontario Denver Dangerfield, Panama City Beach, Fla. Chris Ford, Dillon, S.C. Daniel Glidewell, Daviston, Ala. Casey James, Cumming, Ga. Tre Jester, Atlanta Alex Lawrie, Mineville, Nova Scotia Zachary Martin, Blue Ridge, Ga. Trevor Mathews, Venice, Fla. Jacob McConnell, Gainesville, Ga.

Conor McKenna, Mississauga, Ontario Chad Patterson, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Ryne Sigmon, Danville, Va. Northwest League Andrew Clark, San Diego Nathaniel Diederich, Victorville, Calif.

Kellen Martin, Moscow, Idaho Nick McFarland, The Woodlands, Texas Guillermo Rodriguez, Princeton, Calif.

Kyle Stutz, Leander, Texas William Traynor, Newark, Calif.

Bryan Van Vranken, Sarasota, Fla. New York-Penn League Joseph Belangia III, Mauldin, S.C.

Jesse Bush, Ballston Spa, N.Y. Benjamin Engstrand, Cumming, Iowa Ethan Gorsak, Toms River, N.J. Justin Juska, Chicago Kevin Levine, Sawyer, Mich.

Joseph McCarthy, Destrehan, La. Glen Meyerhofer, Kaukauna, Wis. Christian Roemer, Finksburg, Md. Cliburn Rondon, Guatire, Venezuela Jon-Tyler Shaw, Conyers, Ga. Mitchell Trzeciak, Lansing, Mich.

Rainiero Valero,

Puerto Cabello, Venezuela Tyler Witte, Pearl River, N.Y. Pioneer League Hector Cuellar Jr., Camarillo, Calif.

Brandon Dinslage, Omaha, Neb. Rene Gallegos, San Antonio Matthew Herrera, Katy, Texas Shin Koishizawa, Kamiijiri, Japan Quentin Motte, North Phoenix, Ariz.

Robert Nakamura, Monrovia, Calif.

Nicolas Schmittou, Vina, Ala.

REFEREE August 2019

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LAW

ISSUES AFFECTING OFFICIALS

Legal Calls on Your Court

By Ben Glass In February, a Wisconsin high school wrestling referee disqualified a wrestler for unsportsmanlike conduct in a conference championship, leading the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) to suspend the wrestler from further participation in regionals, sectionals or the state tournament.

That case ended up in court after the wrestler’s father told the press that he was “going to lawyer up and fight for [his son] to get back into action.” A judge, after watching video and hearing testimony, later overruled the referee and reversed the disqualification, telling the WIAA that “the possibility of litigation may just have to be something that the nonprofit is

It’s possible an official will be sued for ruining an athlete’s scholarship chances by an alleged “blown” call. going to have to contend with going forward, if parents, fans or schools are willing to go through legal process to plead their case.”

In New Jersey, another high school wrestling referee found himself the subject of a civil rights investigation after giving a wrestler the choice of cutting his dreadlocks or forfeiting his match.

Sports officials have been sued for causing high school teams to lose games, for making (or not making) calls that lead to injury and, in one instance, for causing a store owner to lose profits on the sale of college merchandise after the local team was eliminated from the conference playoffs.

It’s possible an official will be sued for ruining an athlete’s scholarship chances due to an alleged “blown” call.

In a world where videos are taken

of nearly every sporting event and where many parents believe that youth and high school sports are the path to a college scholarship, it is increasingly likely that an official will either be drawn into expensive litigation or forced to hire an attorney for a defense.

Even if the claims lack merit, officials may incur the direct expense of hiring an attorney and the indirect expense of taking time off from work to attend hearings.

What should you do if you get a notice, formal or informal, that you may be drawn into postgame legalities?

Don’t ignore the notice, thinking “this is silly and it will never go anywhere.”

Write out what you recall having happened and label the document.

Contact your assigner and let the assigner know what you have received. Ask if the organization you were working for has insurance or other assistance to offer. (Your association may be able to connect you to another local official/attorney who can offer guidance.)

NASO members should promptly contact NASO because the organization’s “Sports Official’s Security Program” offers broad protection for officials, including claims involving “an incorrect officiating call made while officiating sports events organized by a recognized sanctioning body.”

All insurance policies require prompt notice of a claim. Failure to do so may result in the loss of coverage that might have been available.

Officiating is stressful. Being drawn into the legal world for decisions you made in a match can be enormously stressful. Following the steps above will help lower the stress by getting you advice from the professionals who operate in the legal world every day.

Ben Glass is a soccer referee and attorney in Fairfax, Va. This column if for information purposes and not legal advice. 

When an Association Intervenes Historically, too many officials take the approach that the official just has to worry about one thing: officiating. Too many associations believe their sole role is to train or assign.

Unfortunately, the associations that hold this innocent view of officiating are occasionally surprised by various disruptions.

Those disruptions could be an injured official, an official upset over game assignments, an official who wasn’t paid, a sportsmanship problem, officials raising discrimination claims, and any of a host of other problems.

Intervention must be ongoing and occur before problems arise.

In a modern officials association, intervention should become a continuation of the ongoing education, training, discussion and feedback.

Know When the Game Is Over For officials, knowing when the game is over can limit their exposure to untoward legal consequences. When serious injuries happen, what more convenient lawsuit targets are there than those wearing stripes or blowing whistles?

Officials could be castigated for continuing a game having notice of dangerous, reckless or unsafe actions being committed by players, coaches or onlookers. The sad truth is that in games like that, the remaining officials might continue the game “for the kids.” The same kids whose parents would sue the officials if their children had been injured by rough play or other circumstances that a full crew of able officials should have and could have prevented.

Continuing a game by officials whose ability to officiate is impaired by the irresponsible and sometimes criminal actions of other participants simply normalizes the bad behavior.

PRESENTED BY

Go to www.naso.org and click on member benefits for more on MICP.

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CLASSIFIEDS CAMPS/CLINICS/ SCHOOLS  ATTENTION ASSOCIATION LEADERS! — Are you holding a camp or a clinic? Do you know of a camp or a clinic coming up?

Referee can help get the word out!

Call our sales department at 262632-8855 for more information.

EQUIPMENT/APPAREL  Formerly Dalco Officials Clothing “Is On The Move” and now offering an expanded product line at prices affordable for all sports officials, including CLOSEOUT SPECIALS. Visit our website at officiallydalco.com or call 800-231-2995 to place your order today. Free shipping available on all orders over $89.  Purchase Officials Supplies — Everything for Life Inside the Lines. Call 800-767-2233 or visit our website purchaseofficials.com for the best products and prices in the market.  Ump-Attire.com — The #1 website for officials’ sporting goods. Now serving free returns

to go along with more brands, product reviews, same-day shipping and world-class service.  Smitty Outlet Store Visit the NEW Smitty Outlet Store featuring discontinued, factory seconds and individual slightly defective items at great prices. Go to smittyoutletstore.com to shop now!  For 30 years, Honig's has been the most trusted name in officiating apparel. Our new state-of-theart facility will allow us to serve you even better. Visit us online at honigs.com or call 800-468-3284 for a free catalog.

LEADERSHIP RESOURCES  Association Advantage Membership to Association Advantage provides officials, associations and their leaders the tools to conduct well-run meetings, education resources for officiating training and access to years of association management articles.

Member associations also receive 12 issues of Referee magazine,

monthly Advisor newsletters, Click e-newsletters, massive discounts on training materials and optional insurance coverage exclusive to membership. For additional membership information, contact Ken Koester at 262-632-5448 or visit the Association Advantage website at nasoadvantage.com.

TRAINING RESOURCES  Referee Training Center — The largest library of officiating training materials in the world.

Rules study, mechanics updates and materials on important topics can all be found in one location 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with sample chapters and video samples. Discover it all at refereetrainingcenter.com.

SOCCER 1 — All – d (NFHS 14-1-6; NCAA 14.4.2; IFAB 14) 2 — All – c (NFHS 14-1-2; NCAA A.R. 14.2.6.b, legal only if the kick is taken in normal time; 14.4.3, only the goalkeeper and kicker may play the ball in extended time; IFAB 14) 3 — All – d (NFHS 7-4-1; NCAA A.R. 9.3.2.1, injury; AR 14.3.1, penalty kick; A.R. 12.3.3.b, issuance of a caution or disqualification. IFAB Laws of the Game. Practical Advice for Game Officials. 1. Referee) 4 — All – d (NFHS 13-2-1-f; NCAA:

A.R. 12.1.9.a. Caution the offending player and award a direct free kick or penalty kick if the offense occurs in the penalty area; IFAB 5) 5 — All – d (NFHS 3-3-3 Situation F; NCAA 5.6.4; IFAB 12)

BASEBALL 1 — All – b (NFHS 8-3-3c2; NCAA 8-3o3 Nt. 1; pro 5.06b4G) 2 — All – a (NFHS 2-16-2, NCAA 2-37, pro Foul Tip Definition) 3 — All – b (NFHS 8-3-3d; NCAA 8-2c, 8-3k; pro 5.06b4I) 4 — All – a (NFHS 8-4-2k; NCAA 6-2e, 8-5k Nt 1 & 2; pro 5.09b7) 5 — NFHS – c (10-2-3L); NCAA, pro – a (NCAA 3-6f, App E; pro 8.02c Cmt.) FOOTBALL 1 — NFHS – d (10-1-5, 10-4-5b); NCAA – a (4-1-3j, 10-2-2a, 10-2-6) 2 — Both – b (NFHS 2-13-1, 8-1, 8-5-2b, 9-7-1; NCAA (8-5-1a, 8-7-1, 8-7-2b-1, 9-4-4) 3 — Both – e (NFHS 9-7-1, 10-42b; NCAA 9-4-4, 10-2-2e) 4 — NFHS – d (9-2-3c Pen.); NCAA – c (9-3-5 Pen.)

FLASHBACK 40 YEARS AGO …

1979

• A change in the constitution and bylaws of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission empowers the executive secretary to authorize the use of nonregistered officials for athletic contests where work stoppages over wage disputes between schools and registered officials were taking place.

MISCELLANEOUS  Follow Referee magazine on Facebook and Twitter Get officiating-related news from around the country, participate in conversations with Referee staff and fellow officials, and find out about new products and special offers from us and our partners.

QUIZ ANSWERS BASKETBALL 1 — NFHS – b (3-5-4); NCAAM – a (1-24.1); NCAAW – c (1-24.1) 2 — All – e (NFHS 3-4-2; NCAA M/W 1-25.2) 3 — All – c (NFHS 9-5; NCAA M/W 9-7) 4 — All – d (NFHS 5-2-1, 5.2.1C; NCAA M/W 5-1.4) 5 — NFHS – b (3-3-6, 3-3-7 Note 1, 5-11-2, 5-11-3); NCAAM – d (5-14.2, 5-14.3, 5-14.12.a, 5-14.14, A.R. 56); NCAAW – d (5-14.3, 5-14.4, 5-14.12.a, 5-14.14, A.R. 72)

AUGUST

SOFTBALL 1 — USA Softball – b, c (8-7U Effect); NFHS, NCAA, USSSA – a, c (NFHS 8-6-19; NCAA 12.11.4; USSSA 8-17J) 2 — All – b, c, e (USA Softball 8-7P Effect; NFHS 8-6-16C Effect; NCAA 12.17.3.1; USSSA 8-18H) 3 — USA Softball, NFHS, USSSA – a (USA Softball 8-7P Effect, R/S #9; NFHS 3-7-1; USSSA 4-8A); NCAA – c (6.12.4 Effect; 13.2.1) 4 — USA Softball, NCAA – c, e (USA Softball 4-6C-8 Effect; NCAA 8.3.3.5.1 Effect); NFHS, USSSA – a, c (NFHS 2-57-2, 3-3-4, 3-6-7 Pen.; USSSA 5-5) VOLLEYBALL 1 — All – e (NFHS 5-5-3b-1, 5-43c-15 & 5-9-3b; NCAA 19.3.7.1.3, 19.2.4.1 & 19.5.2.1.3; USAV 23.2.3, 24.3.2.8 & 27.2.1.3) 2 — All – b (NFHS 9-8-1f-1; NCAA 4.2.3.3; USAV 8.4.2e) 3 — NFHS – a, d (3-2-3); NCAA, USAV – d (3.1.3; USAV 3.1) 4 — All – b (NFHS 9-5-6b; NCAA 12.1.2.4; USAV 19.3.1.4)

MISSION Referee is a magazine written from an officiating perspective, blending editorial credibility and business viability. It educates, challenges and inspires officials at the youth, recreational, high school, collegiate and professional levels in all sports, with an emphasis on baseball, basketball, football, soccer, softball and volleyball. Referee is the journal of record for officiating and takes informed positions on selected issues. The magazine provides a forum for its readers, facilitates the flow of information, raises public consciousness about officials’ roles and serves as a catalyst for improved officiating worldwide.

30 YEARS AGO …

1989

• A poll conducted by the Detroit Free Press queries 500 professional sports figures and asks the question of who is the best official in pro sports. Earl Strom (NBA) was the most-cited official across the board.

20 YEARS AGO …

1999

• One day after veteran NL umpire Frank Pulli utilizes a video replay during a May 31 Florida-St. Louis game to determine if a hit is a home run, MLB officials released a statement saying, “use of video replay is not an acceptable practice.”

10 YEARS AGO …

2009

• PaymentsFirst, the online payment service for officials associated with AssignByWeb, is shut down as a result of an investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Banking after numerous complaints are filed against the company by schools whose officials had not been paid.

REFEREE August 2019 |

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LAST CALL

A PERSONAL STORY BY NICK STABILE JR.

Old School Air Force basic training was a walk in the park compared to the regimen I was put through at the Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires.

My wife always tells me, “Nick, everything is relative.”

I went through basic training 60 years ago. I went through Wendelstedt’s school earlier this year.

The umpire school damn near killed me, LOL. I received the Tom Gorman “Inspiration Award.”

It should have been called the “Perspiration Award.” When I researched the school, I talked to

Not only did the school make me a better umpire, it made me a better person. guys who had completed the course in the last two years and they related to me that the school was 70 percent classroom and 30 percent working the field and doing what they called “formations.” Not! It was the other way around.

My Fit Bit wristwatch told another story. It said that I personally averaged eight to 10 miles per day, every day, six days per week for five consecutive weeks. It was very difficult, to say the least, trying to keep up with those students who

were one-fourth my age. The two young men in the room right next to mine in the hotel were 18 and 19 years old. The 18-year-old shaved for the first time in his life during school and his mother had to sign for him to attend the school.

Conversely, I grew a white beard because I didn’t even have time to shave prior to getting myself together every single day before going to the classroom, which was 10 miles away from the hotel. After the classroom session, everyone walked an additional fifth of a mile to the fields to start formation; after formation we had to do two-person mechanics for six hours with 30 minutes off for lunch.

If I hadn’t watched the movie “Rocky” and sequels II, III and IV, I would have never made it through the school. I am not joking. I would stay up until two in the morning just to watch the “Rocky” movie and/ or movies on television in my hotel room while taking Advil in multiple doses. I averaged about five Advil per day, six days per week for five straight weeks, totaling 150 Advil, not to mention the Tylenol and Lasix and Flomax water pills I’ve been on for 20 years.

I forgot to mention some minor little facts. My body resembles an erector set or the front bumper of a 1955 Buick. From 1962-66, I served as an enlisted man (medic/x-ray technician). During that time, I decided to become a guinea pig for astronaut experiments.

As a result of these experiments, I currently have a titanium right knee, a titanium left hip, 54 pieces of titanium in my spinal column (died once while on the table during a nine-and-a-half hour surgery).

I have a stent in my heart from a heart attack on July 31, 2013, from 99 percent blockage. “Technically” died once at home. Wife brought me back. Made me chew eight nonchewable aspirins. “By definition,” died a second time in the ER at

St. Anthony’s North Hospital in Westminster, Colo. Brought me back again.

Johnson & Johnson stock went up 20 percent as a result of my attendance at the school. Not to mention Bayer. The instructors, all minor and major league umpires, 24 total, felt so sorry for me they actually drove me from the classroom to the fields every day in their van so I wouldn’t get winded before doing formations.

The instructors knew I was hurting from the beginning, and they all wagered that I would wash out within one to two weeks from the program only because of my age.

Three students out of approximately 97 said “Bye Bye Dolly” and took the first plane out of Dodge and headed for home. Not this pit bull. Papa Nick lives by the code: “It’s not the size of the man in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the man.”

The only thing that got me through besides “Rocky” was God. I attended Bible study class once a week with Dr. Steve Dorsey, M.D. He made a few house calls to my room and drove me to the ER on one of those house calls at approximately 2:30 a.m. The Holy Spirit carried me the entire five weeks.

Not only did the school make me a better umpire, it made me a better person. For that, I will forever be grateful. Look out Hunter Wendelstedt, Papa Nick is starting to save up for next year to attend the class of 2020. Can you give me some kind of a discount since it was so rewarding and the greatest learning experience ever?

Nick “Papa Nick” Stabile Jr. is a 74-yearold baseball umpire from Arvada, Colo.

He has officiated baseball for the past 40 years, mostly at the semi-pro level. 

Do you have a personal officiating story to tell?

Send your story or queries to lastcall@referee.com

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