NCHSAA / IPFO News

1. Position MeetingWing Officials - 2014NCHSAA / IPFO NewsIPFO Wing PositionsAssignments & ProfessionalismEjections & DisqualificationsInteractions with CoachesPenalties & DefinitionsWing MechanicsEvaluations & ObservationsJudgmentQ&A

2. NCHSAA / IPFO News • All game fees will increase $6.00 beginning this season. • JV - $66.00 • Varsity - $76.00 • Playoffs - $86.00 • Eligibility for Assignment / Minimum Test Score • Raised to 75/ Regular Season (*Last year we had 2 officials below 75) • 80 / Class 1 or 2 for Playoffs • POD seeding in all sports has been discontinued • Seeds will be placed on brackets and teams will travel based on those seeds and not within geographic parameters. • E-Cigarettes • Added to the Tobacco/Alcohol/Controlled Substances area for coaches, players and officials. Don’t use them on school property. • HUDL • The IPFO now belongs to NCHSAA West. (Metrolina, North State, Southwestern, Western Carolina) • Important Dates: • First day of “7on7” workouts – June 17 • NCHSAA rules clinic – July 30 (Maiden HS @ 6:30PM) • IPFO association meeting – August 3 (Ashe Co. HS @ 2:00PM) • First day for scrimmages – August 11 • First regular season game – August 22 • First round of playoffs – November 14

3. IPFO Wing Positions • Your job is difficult and requires concentration and precision. • Wing officials determine the forward progress of the ball. This is the entire basis for the game, advancing the ball to the oppositions goal line, therefore you must be precise. • Wing officials must be able to move downfield quickly when the play requires it, and then make judgments that are easily witnessed by everyone at the stadium. • Wing officials must work in concert with each other from across the field. • Wing officials are the sideline communicators with the coaches and therefore must have these attributes. • Verbal skills • Rules knowledge • Ability to tune out criticism AS AN OFFICIAL MATURES AND GROWS WISER HE TALKS LESS AND SAYS MORE.

4. Assignments & Professionalism • Allassignments are put together with a purpose. • Assignments are made based on what the RSO believes is in the best interest of the crew, the schools involved, and the IPFO. • The RSO knows where the skeletons are buried. • Crew members have the right to be placed in a setting that will allow them to work their game without distractions or negativity. • Any official that elects to openly complain about his or someone else's assignment, the crew makeup, or make comments that are destructive to the Association as a whole, that official will no longer be assigned by the IPFO for the remainder of the season and will have lost my confidence in him. • Simply put, “Cancers will be removed”. TREAT YOUR CREW AS AVERAGE AND THEY WILL REMAIN AVERAGE; TREAT THEM THE WAY YOU WANT THEM TO BE AND THEY WILL BECOME SO.

5. Ejections & Disqualifications • Once a player is given an ejection or a disqualification, regardless of the level of play, it: • Must be properly identified as either a “disqualification” or an “ejection” before notifying the Head Coach. Have a discussion with the Referee before escorting the player from the field of play. • Avoid embarrassment, be sure of your call. • Properly determine if it fails to meet the NCHSAA sportsmanship ideals. • Must be enforced on the field of play at the time of the infraction. • Both the Referee and the ejecting Official to notify the Head Coach • If the Referee is the penalizing official, the closest wing official to witness notification. • Opposite wing official to notify the other Head Coach of the removed player’s status. Don’t get into specifics. • Must be promptly reported to the NCHSAA on the web site. (Within 24 hours / $100.00 fine) Once reported, copies go to: • NCHSAA Supervisor of Officials • Athletic Director & Principal of Penalized Player’s School • IPFO Regional Supervisor of Officials

6. Ejections & Disqualifications • Steps to file a report • 1. Go to www.nchsaa.org • 2. Hover mouse over the heading “Officials” • 3. Click “Ejection/DQ report” • 4. Click the link that says “ Official-Player-Coach Ejection-Disqualification Report” • 5. Select which report (click either ejection OR disqualification) • 6. Fill out all areas of the report • 7. Click Submit • 8. You will receive a confirmation email that reads, “Thanks for submitting your report………. “

7. Ejections & Disqualifications • If you have a unique ejection(s), please let the RSO know. Examples: Head Coach ejection; bench clearing fight; you’re not sure • Ejection Criteria - Examples of conduct that will result in an ejection: • Fighting • Flagrant Contact • Leaving the bench area- coming on to playing area when there is a fight • Biting observed or determined by an official • Taunting, baiting, spitting toward an opponent or official • Profanity (directed at opponent or official) • Obscene Gestures • Disrespectfully addressing an official • Disqualification Criteria -Examples of conduct that will result in a disqualification: • Second unsportsmanlike foul in contest

8. Interactions with Coaches • A coach does not think as an official does, and they don’t react to situations as you would. Coaches are partisan. • Use care when you select your words with a coach. Be direct and precise, particularly if the coach is upset. • Do not try to be funny, use sarcasm or similar choices of words when addressing a coach or player. • Usethe brief officials conference after a score to get messages to the coach if needed. • You don’t have to tolerate unsportsmanlike conduct directed at you from any coach or player. Be clear in your mind that there is a violation, then act accordingly. Don’t react without taking pause first, particularly if a call is being debated. IF YOU TRY TO STRETCH THE TRUTH WHEN COMMUNICATING WITH A COACH, IT CAN BECOME FICTION.

9. Penalties & Definitions • At a Minimum, Know the Definitions Associated with Your Position • What is a catch? • What is forward progress? • When is a player considered OB? • What is the difference between a “Safety” and a “Touchback”? • When is it necessary to stop the clock? • Consult with the Crew – When there are penalties involving double fouls, fouls during scoring plays, fouls during turnovers……….discuss the administration with the Referee and others in the crew. If it looks wrong, say something. This is a crew decision, use them. • Know Penalty Administration – Know penalty administration, don’t rely on the Referee. You will have to explain it to a coach on the sideline. By knowing it, you will build up credibility. WHEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE “WHEN IN DOUBT” CALLS, USE COMMON SENSE AND DON'T CREATE A NEW PROBLEM.

10. Mechanics • Coin Toss • Incomplete Pass Signal: • Process what you see and take your time when making the call. • Remain stationary when giving the signal. Do not give it on the run. • One wave of the arms in a controlled manner. Two will be permitted if it’s necessary to sell it. • Do not follow-up with a time-out signal, an incomplete pass stops the clock. • Time-out signal can be given by the non-covering officials. (S-3 twice) • Sideline Mechanics: • Remain on the sideline at the snap. • Drift no further than the bottom of the numbers if the ball is on the opposite side of the field. • If the goal line is involved, the play will dictate coming in after the snap. • Plays to the interior line, move in to get sight of the ball & runner. (Don’t get trapped if the play breaks down and the runner reverses to your sideline.) • Plays to the outside, remain at your position and treat as any other play.

11. Mechanics • Sideline Signals: • Do not use any visible penalty signals when throwing dead ball penalty flags prior to the snap. Throw the flag on the penalized team’s side of the LOSthen come in and report the infractionto the Referee. • Ball status “inbounds”; palms toward field of play, forward movement. • Ball status “out-of-bounds”; palms toward sideline, backward movement. • TD signals are given at the goal line. • Do we really need to “wind the clock” when the play ends near the sideline? • Spots: • Use your downfield foot to give all spots. • Soft Spot • Come to the numbers and give the spot. • The down and ball position between the chains will dictate the spot. • Hard Spot • Come in beyond the numbers and sell the spot. • Usually on 3rd/4th down plays when close to the line to gain. • When there is a fumble or change of possession.

12. Mechanics • Keep the Sideline Clear • Keep coaches in the box. • Chain crew / equipment to remain 2 yards off sideline after setting the chains. • Working Your Position – Linesman: • Always go to the sideline to mark the first down spot. • With respect to 5 yard penalty/first down situations, HL will signal position of the down marker vs. tape on chain with one hand on leg. (Marker is either beyond or behind tape) • Working Your Position – Line Judge: • Accompany Linesman for chain crew conference. (BJ will gather footballs and instruct ball boys.) • Assist R with ball location near LTG. • FG/PAT • Remain at LOS until kicking formation is identified. • Position yourself at a comfortable location for viewing kick. (Upright) • Confirm status of kick with BJ, using “Yes” for successful, “No” for failed. • Take one step onto the field of play, shoulders parallel with the end line, and signal in unison. • One S-10 signal for failed attempt. • S-5 signal for successful. Hold this signal (around 3 seconds) until BJ yells “OK”.

13. Mechanics • What is a Catch? • Act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball or having the forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds. • What is an Incompletion when a Receiver Makes a “Catch”? • When a player in the air possesses the pass and alights so that his first contact is with the ground or with anything other than a player or game official is on or outside a boundary. • *NCHSAA Mercy Rule • Removes the conflict of how to “control” the clock when the game score is “out-of-control”. • Point differential of 42 or more by halftime. • Start of the second half and any point thereafter, the game will resort to a “running clock” or be terminated by mutual agreement. • The clock will only stop for charged timeouts, injuries and scores. • The “try for point” will always be an un-timed down. • The clock will start when the ball is legally touched on the kickoff. • The clock will start on the snap after a timeout.

14. Evaluations vs Observations • Observations made by Technical Advisors: • An “observation” is the result of a TA’s comments after reviewing a play on a HUDL video. • TA Video review Report • Each play is reviewed with the purpose of identifying your performance within a 6-12 second interval, that’s it. Nothing is assumed, nothing is implied. • When appropriate the TA will highlight both positives and negatives. (Think of it as a practice exam.) • Evaluations made by Technical Advisors: • Are made when a TA attends a game and witnesses your entire body of work. (Pre and post game, live and dead ball intervals) • Are used for post-season assignments. • New format will be used which minimizes gray areas in TA grading. Evaluation Form • Average evaluation score of 130 or more will make the official eligible for the final three rounds of the playoffs. (150 max.) OFFICIALS WISHING TO IMPROVE LISTEN CLOSELY TO OBSERVERS WHILE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF PROFITING FROM PRAISE AND ACCEPTING CRITICISM.

15. Officiating Judgment • Every Official Must Do His Best to Exercise Proper Judgment • The difference between a good official and a great official is being in proper position and exercising proper judgment regardless of the game situation. • If avideo shows something that was thought to be missed, the RSO/TA may point it out on the report for you to review. • Judgment will not be second-guessed when the official is properly positioned to make the call. Remember: You own the call. • You may be asked to explain your judgment so the RSO/TA can understand your position in what you saw. This is important when a coach/school complains about a call or how your evaluation is prepared. • The camera doesn’t have your angle. • Your decision is made within seconds and you don’t have the luxury of slow motion or replay. • Honesty with yourself is important. If your judgment was wrong on a particular play, analyze it, learn from it and move on. That’s all that can be asked of you. Mistakes are made, your job is to reduce the number of them. • Judgment can’t be taught, but proper mechanics can be.

16. Questions? “AN OFFICIAL MUST BE BIG ENOUGH TO ADMIT HIS MISTAKES, SMART ENOUGH TO PROFIT FROM THEM AND STRONG ENOUGH TO CORRECT THEM.”