Better Officiating

A great article on my best friend growing up and his little (albeit bigger) brother: 

Next Saturday in the visitors’ locker room at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium, South Carolina tight end Jared Cook will take a marker and write the word ‘Mom,’ on the white athletic tape wrapped around his cleats.

It is a small gesture to honor a woman who has been a model of strength for her family during what has been an exciting, but exhausting fall.

Yulinda Cook is a breast cancer survivor who scheduled her chemotherapy treatments around the football schedules of her two sons — Jared and Jason, a fifth-year fullback at Mississippi.

Some days have been easier than others. Some trips have been easier than others for the mother of four, who, fittingly, will celebrate her 53rd birthday next weekend watching one of her boys play football.

When Cook runs out of the tunnel at Death Valley, Mom will be there cheering.

“She just goes day by day and continues to get blessed each day,” Jared Cook said. “She’s really my inspiration.”

Not long after surgery last May to remove a 2-inch, malignant tumor from her left breast, Yulinda and her husband, Carl, began plotting a travel schedule so one or both of them would be at all of the USC and Ole Miss games.

Yulinda set her chemotherapy for Mondays, hopeful her body would be recovered by Saturday. The chemicals would take care of any lingering cancer cells; football would treat her soul.

“I made all of the games. It was rough, but I was determined,” she said. “It gives you something to look forward to.”

– — – — – — – — –

It has been an eventful season for the Cook brothers, who starred in football and basketball at North Gwinnett High in suburban Atlanta.

Jared, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound redshirt junior, has caught 34 passes for a team-leading 548 yards and two touchdowns for the Gamecocks. He is one of eight semifinalists for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top tight end.

Jason, 14 months older than his brother, is the blocking back for a Rebels’ team that upset Florida 31-30 in September and last week became bowl eligible for the first time since he arrived in 2004.

The Cooks threw a family reunion in Oxford, Miss., in October for the Gamecocks’ 31-24 victory against Ole Miss. About 40 friends and family members ate homemade barbecue before the game, wore matching T-shirts featuring pictures of the brothers and watched Jared haul in a 63-yard catch that was USC’s longest play in two years.

“It was my mom’s joy to see both of us on the same field,” Jared said.

Yulinda Cook, who has worked for Social Security for 22 years, began feeling sick last February while in New Orleans with her husband for Mardi Gras. Around that time she noticed a small lump in her breast.

After returning home to Suwanee, Ga., a doctor told her she likely had the flu. But when her symptoms persisted, she went back in several weeks later for a mammogram, which an ultrasound technician told her appeared normal.

Yulinda had undergone three previous surgeries to have tumors removed from the same breast, and each time the biopsy result was benign. But when a specialist ordered a biopsy on the new growth in April, the test revealed she had cancer and would need surgery.

“At first it was devastating. … I did cry,” she said. “I quickly tried to pull myself together because I know I am considered as the strong one in my family.”

Yulinda and Carl waited before sharing the news with their two older daughters and two sons, who were in the midst of finals. They told Jason during a graduation trip to Myrtle Beach and word eventually reached Jared, who learned of his mother’s condition in May on the day of her surgery.

“I actually cried that night and I was worrying because cancer is an ugly disease,” Jared said. “I was worried, real worried.”

Yulinda was concerned how Jared, her youngest child, would handle the news. Within an hour or two of her surgery, she talked to him over the phone and tried to ease his fears.

“Jared and I are very close. I’m close with all of my children. But with the baby, they tend to worry a little more because they’re a little less experienced with things,” Yulinda said.

“All of my children are very strong Christians. I wanted to wait to tell them when I knew something definite. I said I don’t want any tears. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, but I want you to be strong in your prayers.”

Two weeks after the surgery, doctors went back in to remove some surrounding tissue to ensure all the malignant cells had been removed. About 10 days later, Yulinda was back at work.

“My mom’s a strong woman, very strong,” Jared said. “After her first chemo treatments and after her surgery, she started going right back to work. She didn’t miss a day. I know at times she gets real weak, (that’s) what I worry about. But she still continues to push on like nothing ever happened.”

– — – — – — – — –

Yulinda recently completed her last round of chemo, which often left her feeling nauseous and weak. But she has not missed a game all season.

With the exception of the USC-Ole Miss game and weekends like this one when one of her sons’ teams had an open date, Yulinda and Carl have split up so at least one of them was in the stands for their boys.

At the family’s Suwanee home, Yulinda keeps two plastic containers filled with the pompoms, car magnets and flags of the two schools. Most weekends, the Cooks decorate their cars and head separate ways.

When Yulinda travels west out of Atlanta, she stops by her hometown of Leeds, Ala., to pick up her father and at least one other family member, who keep her company and help with the driving.

The only concession she has had to make this fall is avoiding the sun during day games. Jerri Spurrier, the wife of Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier, helped Yulinda find a seat in the shade at Williams-Brice Stadium. Other than that, Yulinda has held up pretty well.

“In terms of her resilience. … she’s determined she’s not going to miss any games,” Carl said. “It’s a blessing. Sometimes during the fall it gets to be a little tiring, but what an opportunity to be able to experience your sons playing in the Southeastern Conference.”

The Cooks might get to watch their sons play in the NFL one day. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper ranks Jared Cook as the No. 2 junior tight end, while Scouts Inc. rates Cook as third-best prospect at the position overall.

Cook’s combination of size and speed has scouts and coaches gushing. After Cook ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds two years ago, Spurrier compared him to former Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, the second pick in the 2007 draft.

Florida coach Urban Meyer called Cook a first-rounder, while Gamecocks tight ends coach Ray Rychleski is sure Cook’s 66-yard touchdown reception against Arkansas — on which he caught a short pass and outran several defensive backs — turned a few heads.

“People know we do some drag routes with him. They think they can cover him,” Rychleski said. “They know he’s fast, but don’t know how fast he really is until game day.”

Cook has not yet decided whether he will forgo his final year of eligibility to turn pro. Rychleski said if Cook is projected as a first-round pick, he should leave — after he completes his retail degree in May.

Both of his parents have good jobs, and Cook said his decision would not be driven by dollars.

“I don’t think it’s all about the money. It’s about doing what you love to do,” he said. “For most guys it might be about the money. But in your heart it’s knowing it’s the right time for you to stay or go. And that’s something you really have to talk with the people that’s close to me, which is my family.”

Carl Cook advised his son to focus on his coursework until after the season.

“I told Jared concentrate on academics. We want you to get through your finals,” Carl said. “If you want to think about football, think about what you’re going to do to beat Clemson next week.”

– — – — – — – — –

Yulinda Cook has much to be thankful for this week. Doctors believe they got all the cancer. She is done with the chemo and will begin radiation treatments in December.

And she is feeling strong enough to tackle a Thanksgiving-week itinerary that will include a day of cooking, four days and 1,300 miles of driving to three college campuses, and two football games.

The Cooks plan to deliver Thanksgiving dinner to Jared on Wednesday or Thursday in Columbia, take the turkey and stuffing to Jason in Oxford and stay for the Ole Miss-Mississippi State game on Friday, before turning around and heading east again to make it to Clemson by Saturday.

Given what she has gone through this fall, Yulinda’s family would forgive her if she chose to sit on the couch, prop her feet up and watch the games on TV next weekend.

Not going to happen.

“My main focus is them and just making sure they have what they need while in school,” she said. “And anything we can do to take any pressure off them, my husband and I, we do it.”

The Cook brothers appreciate their mother’s love and determination, and have created a prayer network that stretches across the SEC. Rychleski said at every chapel service this season the night before a game, at least one person has asked to put Yulinda Cook on the prayer list.

And with every step Jared takes at Clemson next weekend in his Under Armour cleats, ‘Mom’ will be with him.

“I figure if she can be strong through all her chemo (and) radiation, the little things that I have to deal with that aren’t life-threatening on the field and in the classroom, I can get through easy,” Jared said.

“If I can see her get through these things with a smile on her face and be happy and still encourage us and still support our family, that’s just more encouragement and motivation for me to go out on the field and do what I have to do.”

This season was my 4th full varsity season officiating football.  I started calling games as young as 15 years old, but couldn’t “officially” referee until I turned 18.  My father used to take me to games, quiz me on football rules, and have me critique the officials on tv as young as 10 (I think he tried to sooner but I didn’t care. I just wanted a hotdog from the concession stand).  

This year, I increased my rules knowledge immensely.  My first year, I knew what the fouls looked like because I had done so many youth and JV games, but my rules mastery was lacking.  I also learned that when you know you are right, you have to speak up.  It isn’t one official that messes up, but an entire crew. In my last game we had this happen.  Two receivers on my side (I was field judge). My key runs an “in” route. Quarterback roles to our side and throws the ball. The ball is tipped and about that time there was slight contact from a defensive player on my receiver. B intercepts the ball off the tip and runs 10 years before being tackled. The HL throws a flag. He goes to meet with the Referee and says he has a pass interference on B.  I run up to hear the conversation. HL says B contacted A before the tipped ball. He is adamant about the call. I knew it was my key and that I felt strongly it wasn’t pass interference, but I didn’t say anything because he was so sure of the call. 

I should have questioned him. It was my key, the ball was tipped, and the contact was a “high school” pass interference call (One that doesn’t affect the play at all, but that many high school referees call).  

I learned from that game. 

Now my HL is a great official with 20+ years experience and he might have seen DPI, but I still should have spoke up.

Is there anything you have learned this year that you can share?

This is the Region 7-AAA Championship Game - Gainesville (10-0) vs. Flowery Branch (9-1)

Region Championship Crew

Come on Mike. Blaming the refs for your weak FB up the middle play call??  Sad.

San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who publicly blamed the officials for the chaotic ending to the Nov. 10 game against the Arizona Cardinals, has been fined $20,000 for those comments.

The league confirmed the fine to ESPN.com. The fine was first reported by CBSSports.com.

NFL.com Video

49ers react following game with Cardinals

Martz made his comments after the 49ers, unable to bulldoze the last 2½ yards into the end zone with time running out, lost to the Cardinals 29-24.

The 49ers had called for a running play, believing the ball was spotted at the 1, when in fact it was at the 2½-yard line.

At issue was Martz’s contention that the 49ers never got a chance to change their play after they found out the spot had been moved back, following a review.

Martz said on Nov. 11: “It cost us the game. We go to the 1 — or the half-yard line — then spike the ball when, all of a sudden, officials tell us they’re going to look at the replay. While they’re looking at it, the ball stays at the 1. So we send in a play. Then, when they make their decision, they move the ball back to the 2½ and tell us they’re going to start the clock on the official’s wind.

“We couldn’t change the play. We had to go with what we called. If it would’ve been at the 1, we would’ve made it. But they moved it and didn’t give us any time. So what are we going to do? If they would’ve moved it to the 10 we still would’ve had to run the play that was called. We got screwed because of the spot, first and foremost.”

Mike Pereira, the league’s vice president of officiating, said the 49ers were notified of the spot when referee Tony Corrente made an announcement over the PA system, but one member of the 49ers’ organization who was on the sideline that evening said it was difficult, if not impossible, to decipher announcements in the last minutes of the game.

“Obviously, if we had had time we wouldn’t have called that play for that situation,” Martz said, according to CBSSports.com. “We would’ve called a double fade and passed it. I didn’t expect anything like that. We had no recourse. We got screwed every way possible.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

A sad day indeed, but what a fantastic season!! I had the opportunity to work the Region 7-AAA Championship game as well as a first round of playoff game. I met some great officials and I learned a lot about myself as well as my abilities. I will be posting on my memories of this season as well as tips and pointers to help everyone improve. I will also be using this blog to keep track of my progress to become an NFL official. 

Yes I said it, an NFL official. That is my goal. Aim high or don’t aim at all. My journey begins…now. Hope you will join me

Hello Everyone!! Today marks the first meeting of not only the Lanier Football Officials Association, but of many other officials’ organizations around the country.  That means it is almost football season. The brisk fall air, the bands playing their fight songs, the rowdy fans, and the players taking the field.

 I cannot wait for friday nights. 

Honestly, as much as I feel I cannot wait for friday nights, it is a good thing it is “almost” football season because I have a lot of stuff I need to do to prepare for the upcoming season. Here is a list of what is going to get you prepared:

1. Get in Shape - The most important thing you can do to prepare for the season. It doesn’t matter if you know all the rules in the book, have called 4 State Championship games, and have been an official for 20 years. If you can’t run up and down the field because you are out of shape, what’s the point. Look at it this way, getting in shape will not only help your officiating, but you will feel better, live longer, and be healthier as well.  It’s a win win!  Start out with 30 minutes walking/jogging 3 times a week.  As you progress, add some weightlifting.  Remember to limit sweets and fast food and you will be slimmed and ready come football season.

2. Study the Rules - Having a strong knowledge of the rules is imperative to your success on the field. By spending just 20 minutes a day reading the rules, taking old tests, and reading the case book will have you ready to go.  You can stop by our forums (see link in the “Blogroll” section) for a Question of the Day, online quizzes, and rules questions asked by other officials. This tool is a great way to stay sharp.

3. Get to know your crew -  Football officiating, just like football, is a team activity.  Getting to know the people you will be working with will develop friendships and camaraderie, making the individuals and crew better.  Knowing what my partner is thinking and where he is going to be enables me to focus on what I need to focus on.  It is a beautiful thing to see an established crew working together on the field in harmony.  How you do get to know your crew? Have study groups or invite them over for dinner before the season. Most importantly: encourage, teach, and help!!

4. Attend the Meetings - Meetings are a great place to meet other officials, learn strategies and tips from more experienced people, and get yourself in the “football” frame of mind.

If you commit to doing these four things, this will be your best officiating season yet. 

Have a great year and check back often!!

Many officials at the high school level do not realize the importance of a pregame.  Did you know that NFL and major D-1 college officials spend between 20-30 hours a week preparing for their games?! Now obviously that would be far-fetched for your run-of-the-mill high school football game, but you get the idea.  

Pregame should be used as a time to focus on the task before you: calling the best game you possibly can call.  It is a time for the crew to get acquainted with one another and to go over the little things. It is a time to take your mind off your job, kids, wife, bills, etc and get focused on the game.  A good way to do this is to have an outline of the responsibilities of each official and read them out-loud.  Here’s an example for a 6 Man High School Crew:

PREGAME CONFERENCE - 6 MAN CREW

PREGAME

Referee:

All walk to the home team’s 50 together unless home team is available first.  Ask head coach, in the presence of the Umpire, if all players are legally equipped. Get captains names and numbers and ask “who’s the speaking captain.” Check for any unusual plays or formations.  Synchronize the time before kickoff and determine their team’s location at halftime. Explain the halftime length and cover the 3:00 warm up period.  Check game balls and remind coach about sportsmanship.

Umpire:

Accompany Referee and examine player equipment if coach has any question on legality. Secure game balls.  Identify ball boys and chain crew.  Be sure Referee asks all pertinent questions.  Record the captain’s number and name. Visually check players before game time. Must see, sign, and date any physician’s release for any cast.  Afterwards, keep the release form.

Linesman: 

Check line-to-gain equipment and meet crew.  Make sure that you have a clip for the chains and tape to make the 5 yd spot on the chains.  Instruct the crew to drop the chains and get out of the way when necessary.  Also ask that they not change down marker until instructed to and to hustle at all times.  Make sure that they know they are a part of the official’s crew and should conduct themselves accordingly.  Instruct your ball boy.  Check you sideline.

Line Judge: 

Review starting time with game management. Locate band director / ROTC advisor and let them know that the National Anthem needs to be completed 7 minutes prior to game time. Make sure that the home team has a lightening detector. Instruct your ball boy.  Check your sidelines.

Back Judge:

BJ has the official time. Check your 25 second timing device. Look at clock to make sure it is working properly. Check end zones, pylons, & padded goal posts. Check 3 yard marks and inform Umpire if incorrect. Direct the game management to remove any hazards on or near field. Work with FJ to ensure teams stay inside the 45. Kickers may kick from the opponent’s 45 only towards their own goal. Survey the entire field for danger spots. Instruct your ball boy. Secure your team’s game ball for Umpire. BJ is responsible for all timing situations including 25 second clock.

Field Judge:

Work with BJ to ensure that neither team encroaches over their 45, except the kicker. Survey the entire field for danger spots. Secure your team’s game ball for Umpire. Instruct your ball boy. Assist the HL with checking the chains.  Introduce yourself to the chain crew.

Clock Operator:

Review signals with Referee. Be sure you know how to start, stop, and reset the clock.  Run clock to 0:00 and let crew hear the horn, the set clock to 12:00 and wait for the kickoff. Do not reset clock until Referee raises ball. 12:00/quarter, 20:00/halftime, followed by a 3:00 minute warm-up.   

The NFL is looking into a postgame comment by Baltimore cornerback Samari Rolle, who contends an on-field official called him “boy” during the Ravens’ 27-24 loss to New England.Rolle identified the official by his number rather than by name following the Monday night game, which was marked by several disputed officiating decisions.“The refs called me a boy,” Rolle said, according to a transcript of postgame comments provided to the media by the Ravens. “No. 110 called me a boy. Both Rolle and the official, identified in the NFL official guide as head linesman Phil McKinnely, are black. The 53-year-old McKinnely played in the NFL as an offensive [Read more →]

Your Mind Must Process Info Before You Throw a Flag

By Jon Bible

There’s an art to properly calling a foul. Instead of just instantly whipping out your flag when you see what you think is a foul, you should follow a step-by-step reasoning process. Admittedly, that must be done in a very few seconds. One of the main reasons veteran officials harp on the need for younger ones not to want to advance too quickly is that one cannot learn the elements of that process and how to apply it overnight.

Step one involves the ability to recognize that the action you witnessed violated the letter of the rulebook (spirit will be addressed later). Obviously, to do that you must be on sufficiently intimate terms with the book. Contrary to the other steps in the process, learning the rules can be done rather quickly; the problem is that not knowing how to apply the rules can only lead to trouble. For years, the veterans in my local football chapter have joked that they quickly find out on Thursday, when they work sub-varsity games with rookie officials, which rule the latter studied at the Monday meeting, for there are so many flags flying for supposed violations of that rule that it looks like Armistice Day. The odds are that many of those flags should not have been thrown.

Step two requires us to be able to instantly recognize what must occur for the action to be illegal. Was the block truly in the back or was it in the side? Was the cornerback making a legitimate effort to catch the pass when he and the receiver collided, so there is no pass interference?

To be able to know in a nanosecond whether a sequence of events did involve a foul comes only after one has seen a ton of plays, if then. Things become harder, moreover, as one advances from youth games to junior high, high school, etc. That’s because the players are bigger, move faster and become more adept at walking the tightrope between what is legal and illegal and at concealing the illegal things they do. NFL receivers know, for example, which official is keying on them, and learn how to push off a defender without that official being able to see it. Players in college and lower are becoming more sophisticated in that area.

It is far worse to make a “phantom” call (flag a facemask, for instance, when it was actually the jersey that was grabbed) than it is to miss a foul that should have been called. NFL and college grading policies reflect that, in that lower scores are awarded for incorrect calls than for incorrect no-calls. It is essential, therefore, that when you throw a flag, action that technically violates a rule did occur.

Step three involves the word “technically.” In any game, quite a bit of action occurs that literally violates a rule; that is especially true of holding. No one, however — coaches, players, fans, supervisors — wants flags thrown for every infraction. Instead, the participants want and expect us to call the fouls that matter — enforce the rules in terms of their spirit, in other words. As I heard from older officials for years as I moved through the ranks, “Make it big. Leave the picky stuff alone.” Don’t call holding, for example, on the opposite side of the field from where the play goes, or just because a lineman grabs a defender. Instead, the advantage-disadvantage philosophy that applies at the professional and college level (and, in my book, ought to apply at every level) says to call holding at the point of attack and only if the offensive player materially restricts the defender by twisting, jerking or spinning him around, or dragging him to the ground.

In step three, therefore, we must decide whether action that violates a rule ought to be ignored because it had no effect on the play and did not put the opponents at a disadvantage. In that area, I advocate treating safety and non-safety fouls differently. If, in other words, the issue is whether to call offensive holding, I pass if I’m not sure there was enough restriction or, perhaps, that I saw the whole play. But if the question is whether the quarterback was roughed or the runner was speared or hit out of bounds, I err on the side of throwing my flag. If I pass on safety fouls, I run the risk of the game degenerating into a near-riot and a player being seriously injured because of retaliation. Putting the pieces together, these questions ought to go through our minds before we call a foul: Did I see something that violates a rule? Did what I thought I saw really happen? If so, did the foul affect the play enough to warrant calling? A flag should be thrown only if the answer to all three questions is yes.

Sometimes that may mean that your flag comes late. For example, you may have seen a receiver get held off the line but read the play as a run, so you were going to ignore the foul until it turned into a pass play. In that case the fact that the receiver was held seven or eight seconds ago is an issue because he is not where he would have been, and where the quarterback expected him to be, due to being held. Also, if you throw a flag but then realize you did so too quickly, and that what you thought happened didn’t (it was a side block, for example, not an illegal block in the back) or the foul had no effect on the play (the offensive back pulled a defender to the ground but in the process the quarterback was sacked) do not hesitate to pick up your flag. You and the referee may have some explaining to do, but better that than to call a phantom foul.

Finally, if you see a crewmate throw a flag for something that you know didn’t happen the way he saw it, get him off to the side and ask him if he’s sure of what he called. You can, of course, do that only if you know that you know he’s wrong. Ultimately, it’s his decision whether to stick with the call, but you’re doing the right thing by planting a seed and making him think things through. Sometimes he will back off of his call because of your input, and if the foul really didn’t happen, you’ll have contributed mightily to the success of the crew in that game.

Jon Bible is a veteran football official from Austin, Texas.  He is a referee in the Big 12 Conference.

Welcome to Become A Better Official.com! I sincerely hope this website can become a resource to help you become the best official you can be.  This blog will be the home of in-depth instruction, amazing articles,  engaging interviews, crazy plays, and a whole lot more.  Whether you call for the NFL, College, High school, or Youth football, here you will be able find tips, knowledge, and encouragement.  Be sure to bookmark us and come back often!!

Sincerely,

 Lee