Official turns back to potential tinderbox
Week 1: Packers at 49ers There were many controversies between the Packers and 49ers, but one of the more minor disagreements in the game could have erupted into a major fracas partly due to a lack of...
View ArticleCan umpire make calls for referee?
Since the umpire is in the backfield, I wondered if the umpire is now permitted make calls that historically fall within the referee's purview. Continue reading →
View ArticleThe eyes have it
Officials double check with each other on tight and routine calls NFL officials each have a specific area and specific player or players to watch during each play. But do you know that officials also...
View ArticleFloat like a butterfly…dodge like a ref
How NFL officials stay out of the way to preserve life and limb We’ve all seen it. For the fans it is a funny sight but for anyone who has been knocked down by a football player always cringes when …...
View ArticlePackers say refs confused them in final seconds in loss to Steelers
Packers say officials told them to not snap ball before winding the clock (video) The Steelers-Packers Week 16 game had its fill of controversial plays, but the last play didn’t seem controversial –...
View ArticleFun with flags, NFL style
Believe it or not, there is a science to making, throwing penalty flags Last week, back judge Todd Prukop became a mini-celebrity by throwing his penalty flag a whopping 31-yards, impressing announcers...
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When officials’ jobs are on the (goal) line
Officials, especially the line judge and head linesman, always work to get the forward progress spot. In order to do so, they are taught to trail the play by a few yards and then square up once the...
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Surprise: The enemy of officiating
Officials try to prepare for everything Former baseball umpire Jim Evans used to run an umpire’s school. One of his biggest lessons to his students was “an umpire’s biggest enemy is surprise.” That...
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Back to basics: The foundation of good officiating
View image | gettyimages.com The individual and collective psyche of NFL officials may be shaken after several rough games in the 2015 season. There are a few techniques that officials can use to help...
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Calm signals: the sign of under-control officiating
The use of calm, deliberate signals conveys an image of complete physical, mental and emotional control.Read more →
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Concentration is key to avoiding wrong-way flags and other errors
Detroit Lions fans were aghast and pundits hooted at Jeff Triplette’s crew during Week 14 as umpire Shawn Smith called an illegal hands to the face foul. The foul was there, but Smith called it on the...
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Making the impossible call
Embed from Getty Images Nothing compares to the speed of a NFL game. While I’ve never been on the field for one, I worked on the chain gang at a Division I NCAA game one level down from the pros. The...
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Active offseason for NFL officiating
We hope you were able to survive the first weekend without football. While there won't be any games until August, there will be a lot of activity to prepare for 2017. Read more → The post Active...
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Which comes first: Time out or delay of game?
When the the play clock winds down, the officials hone in.
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5 observations from Super Bowl LII
Another season is in the record books, capped off by one of the best Super Bowls ever. Here are five officiating takeaways from the big game. Communicate! Twice we saw very close touchdown catches and...
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Centralized replay could take active role in ejecting, un-ejecting players...
NFL instant replay could take a more active role in ruling on player ejections.
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3 observations from the Hall of Fame Game
After a turbulent off-season that saw many rule changes and other officiating challenges, here are three observations of the laid back night.
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No eight-person crew experiments this preseason
The NFL will not experiment with eight-person crews this preseason.
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NFL trying out two new kicking game mechanics this preseason
The NFL is using with two new kicking mechanics this season on field goal and extra point attempts and on free kicks.
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A slow flag is not always a bad flag
Officials pass on inconsequential fouls to keep the game moving.
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