A Few Notes from State Meeting-2011

Thanks to those 800 + members who attended the State Meeting in San Antonio.  Your football Board of Directors continues to look for ways to increase attendance at the State Meeting, especially by the less experienced members of the organization who probably stand to gain the most from attending.  If you have any ides as to how to increase attendance, please get them to your District Director or post here.

Special recognition is due to Beau Hicks who was at his 56th State Meeting, an incredible accomplishment!

There were some rules issues discussed at different points during the meeting which indicated possible confusion regarding proper rulings so we will attempt to clear those up here.  If you are aware of any others which popped up in any of the breakouts, please share them with us.

1 – Enforcement of penalties  for Team A fouls during kicks when there is also an illegal touch by Team A.  As many members correctly noted, when Team B chooses to enforce the penalty for Team A’s foul, they give up the right to take the ball at the spot of illegal touching (6-1-3-c and 6-3-6-a).   However, sometimes a kick will become dead in the possession of the kicking team but it actually will BELONG to the receiving team, i.e a free kick, untouched by receivers which is caught/recovered by kickers before ball went 10 yards (6-1-6-a) or a scrimmage kick that has crossed the neutral zone and is untouched by the receivers beyond the neutral zone (6-3-6-a).  In these cases, since the dead ball actually BELONGS to Team B, penalties can be enforced from that spot.  While accepting a penalty negates the right for receivers to take the ball at the spot of illegal touching it does not negate the right to take the ball at the spot of “illegal recovery” (10-2-4).  Rom Gilbert has done a great 1-page summary of play situations covering these types of plays.  You can see it at   Rom Gilbert’s Page.   Some other rule references which might help explain the ruling are 5-1-1-b, 5-1-1-c, 5-1-4-b, 5-1-4-f.

2- During discussion of the new rule regardng intentional grounding (i.e. the passer can simply throw the ball to “the area” of an eligible receiver and avoid an intentional grounding foul),  the question arose as to how far from the eligible receiver is still considered to be in “the area” .  Thanks to Dotson Lewis for pointing out a recent CFO Bulletin which may incorrectly cause some to judge that “magic distance” to be 7 yards.   The following is the section of the Bulletin he refers to:

“There is not, nor will there ever be, an exact yardage distance between the receiver and where the pass lands that will absolutely determine whether a foul has been committed. That distance can vary significantly based on the circumstances of the play and the direction of the pass. This phrase “direction of the pass” is emphasized as it provides the crucial piece of evidence that allows us to determine the “intentional” aspect of the play. For example, the quarterback in the pocket throws the ball toward eligible receiver A88 who is five yards downfield, but the pass lands seven yards short directly in front of A88. This would not be a foul. However, if the pass is thrown away from A88 and lands seven yards to his left as A88 crosses to the right, this would indeed be a foul. Note: seven yards is used simply as an example—it is not intended to be “the yardage guideline.” In making this determination, officials are to use “direction of the pass” to judge how far away from an eligible receiver the ball must be before calling a foul. We should stretch this distance as much as reasonably possible based on the direction of the pass. For a foul to be called it should be clear to everyone that the passer throws the ball into an area not occupied by an eligible receiver. Do not be overly technical.”

As the Bulletin notes, we should NOT use 7 yards as the distance at all times which will be used to judge “in the area.”  In some plays, that might be the proper distance to use.  But not in others.

The Bulletin correctly notes the intentional grounding call will now require even more crew communication than previously as the R will rarely be able to assess the distance the ball is from an eligible receiver since he must maintain coverage of the QB who was under pressure when he threw so is at risk for being fouled after the pass.

Thanks again to those who joined us in San Antonio.  Plan now to attend next year’s meeting which will be in McAllen and the 2013 meeting, planned for Dallas.

Update from S.A. Chapter re State Mtg

We are excited about the events we have scheduled for you at this year’s State  Meeting. There are still slots available for the Zebra Golf tournament. If you  are interested in golfing and have questions contact Rockey Crews at 210-854-4755 or rockeycrews@yahoo.com . There are  still plenty of slots available for the Zebra Lope, if you are interested and  have any questions regarding the course please contact Mike Graham at 210-412-1192 or mike_d_graham@yahoo.com. This event  is growing and growing with participants as they are looking forward towards a  challenging course.  The rooms in the dorm are steadily filling up.
People are figuring out that we have a pretty good offer staying on campus. Keep  in mind that the rooms are fitted with linen and towels. If you stay on campus  meals are included and you do not have to pay for parking. We have all of the  Clinicians assigned and we have a pretty nice line up. Speaking of Clinicians,  there are still plenty of slots available for the 7-on-7 man mechanics, 5 man  mechanics and the 6 Man Football mechanics. If you have not made any of the  On-the-Field clinics in your area this is a must place to  participate. Points given and evaluation received as well. Don’t forget to bring  your sub-varsity uniform. We will have dressing rooms available for you to  change and shower, same goes for the Zebra Lope participants. The committee  toured the area for the Shoot the breeze position breakouts and let me tell you,  Trinity has it going on. A spacious meeting room overlooking the campus and San  Antonio has been reserved for this event. You have the opportunity to speak to  creditable officials in the college ranks that can give you the insights on the path to take to advance in your officiating careers. Adult beverages will be  available, provided by TASO, in a relaxing and spacious atmosphere. This event  is FREE, so is the Saturday Night Social, sponsored by the
host Chapter, San Antonio Football Chapter. This event will be in the courtyard,  centrally located in between the three auditoriums that we will be in during the  breakouts. If you have not registered do so soon, as the late fees will soon take effect. Don’t wait to sign up when you arrive. Please keep in mind that if you plan to eat lunch on campus Saturday, ONLY those who have prepaid can eat on campus. Walk-ups will NOT be allowed! The on campus catering company will only prepare meals for those who have prepaid and or are staying on campus. Other eating establishments are available in the immediate area but you will have to drive to get there. Another activity offered and filling up is the FCA Luncheon.  Priced reasonably and the guest speaker is ex-NFL football player Richard Garza, located in the Skyline dining facility overlooking the San Antonio skyline.  Save yourself the time and
effort in standing in line. We have not yet heard from some of you. We look forward in seeing you and meeting you. We have heard from a lot of you around the state already, to include officials from Japan as well. That’s right! Japan!
So don’t procrastinate visit us at www.tasozebras.com to register.   One last thing before I leave you. When you arrive, look for the volunteers in the white shirts. They will direct you first to the registration area and anywhere else you need to go. WE want to hear from you! See you soon!

San Antonio Chapter

7 on 7 Clinic at State Meeting

Message from Ken Roan:

The TASO 7 on 7 tournament at the state meeting has grown every year and will again have evaluators from the NFL, several College conferences as well as several Lonestar and ASC crew chiefs. In the past several officials have been able to move up into the  college ranks by participating in our 7 on 7 tournament. Crew Chiefs from the Lone Star and ASC will also be looking for alternates or perhaps even spots on crews to fill. There is also a good chance that an official who does well will have the opportunity to work an ASC game this year. So if you are an official looking for exposure to next level or just  want to get better and learn from some great veterans it would be a great idea to participate in the 7 on 7  tournament in San Antonio.

 

TASO Member Helps Our Wounded Servicemembers

Rusty Hicks, a crew chief out of the Houston Chapter, is a member of Combat Marines Outdoors (CMO). CMO supports our men and women in uniform by providing Dream Hunts and Outdoor Adventures for severely wounded Marines, Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Navy Corpsmen. These hunting and fishing excursions play a vital role in the rehabilitation of these American heroes. They allow these heroic warriors the opportunity to have an outdoor adventure of a lifetime. Also, to make sure that they understand that their service and sacrifice to our country are deeply appreciated. CMO members have witnessed hearts that have been mended, wounds that have been healed, hope for the future and lives that have been changed forever.

There is a video with some incredibly moving moments from CMO’s recent trip to Sagemont Church with wounded servicemembers on Memorial Day.

http://www.sagemontchurch.org/learn/legacy-blend/vid/2011-05-29.htm”
CMO escorted a group of wounded servicemembers to Sagemont Church on Memorial Day.
Time Table on Video
00:00- 18:10- Sermon by Sr. Pastor Chuck Sermon
18:00- 26.20- CMO Video
26:20- Rusty addresses audience, Master Guns and Marines talk and perform their special Flag Ceremony for Pastor John Morgan

From Rusty:

It is so truly amazing with all that has been happening for Combat Marine Outdoors. We have been blessed in so many ways but probably the biggest blessing of them all is Sagemont Church. Pastor John Morgan, Pastor Chuck Schneider, Media Pastor Ron Ingram, the entire Sagemont Staff along with all of the members have been so incredibly kind and generous. This link is the Sermon from Memorial Day Sunday where CMO was allowed to be a part of a great day. By the way, the Sanctuary was filled and the overflow area had over 400 additional members and guests.

Please enjoy as Cpl. Chris Bryde, LCpl Brandon Pelletier, LCpl Steven May, Sgt. Nate Rolens(US Army) who were all in the original CMO Video join Master Guns Garcia, GySgt Jeffery Allen and I at Sagemont Church for one of three services. Colonel Alan Orr could not be there as he was deployed but sent his best to all.

I think you’ll agree, that this sermon from Pastor Chuck and the ceremony by our wounded heroes was powerful and patriotic.

Thank you Pastor John Morgan and all of Sagemont for allowing us into your home

God Bless and Semper Fi.

Rusty, Master Guns and Colonel Orr
& the CMO Board of Directors
www.combatmarineoutdoors.org

2011-12 Rulebooks Available

2011-12 Football Rulebook

2011-12 NCAA Football Rulebook is now available from the NCAA

Rogers Redding on Rules Study

Rogers Redding has recently posted some great advice on how to study the rules. As we all get ready for the 2011 season, here is his advice:

Subject: STUDYING THE RULES
COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC
ON STUDYING THE RULES
Quite often officials will ask me for advice on studying the rules. Many times I hear officials say, “I study that rule a lot, but I still have a very hard time with it.” When someone tells me that they “study” the rules, often what they really mean is they “read” the rules. “Reading” is an important part of “studying,” of course, but it is not the only thing. Reading and studying are different. They are related, to be sure, but they are definitely not identical.
What’s missing from this picture is writing. In my opinion, writing is an extremely important part of studying that most folks overlook, partly because they find writing to be hard work. And it is. But the payoff is powerful. A very smart friend of mine frames it this way, “If you read an idea, you rent it. But if you write the idea you own it.” This principle can be applied to studying the rules.
Here are some steps that I encourage you to try. When you have settled on a particular rule or portion of the rule book to study, do these:
1. Read the rule.
2. Write it out in your own words. Don’t use “rule-speak,” the jargon of the rule book. Instead, write out the rule by using words with which you are comfortable.
3. Explain or describe the rule (without looking at the book!) to someone else—a fellow official, your wife, a coach, and especially to someone who would not be expected to know it. If you can’t explain a rule to someone else, then you don’t really understand it yourself.
4. Make up two or three play situations that illustrate the rule. Try to use plays that you have personally seen, ones that have some chance of actually happening, rather than off-the-wall stuff that you are extremely unlikely of ever seeing. Lots of folks love to play “rule book trivia” by concocting outlandish plays, but I don’t find this especially helpful.
Scotty Reston, a former editor of the New York Times, once was asked what he thought about a certain issue in foreign policy. And his answer was, “How can I know what I think about it until I read what I have written about it?” This applies very well to understanding the rules of football: until you read what you have written about a rule, you are very unlikely to have a clear understanding of it.

Dave Parry Has Passed

After a long struggle with Parkinson’s, Dave Parry passed to his final reward yesterday. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who has done more for college football officiating over the years.

From the College Football Officiating website:

David M. Parry, the first CFO national coordinator, passed away on Monday, May 16, 2011, at about 6:00a.m. As we all know, Dave devoted his life to football officiating, including officiating in the NFL and serving as the coordinator of officials for the Big 10. The family has asked for privacy during this difficult time. They will certainly appreciate the prayers of the entire officiating community.

Rogers Redding
National Coordinator

From ESPN:
ESPN article:

INDIANAPOLIS — David Parry, who was the head of football officiating in the Big Ten for 19 years and the NCAA’s first national coordinator of officials, died Monday from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 76.

The NCAA announced Parry’s death.

Parry was an on-field college football official for 20 years and worked in the NFL from 1975-1990.

He was assigned to 14 NFL playoff games, including four conference championship games, and was the side judge for the 1983 Super Bowl.

He became coordinator of football officials for the Big Ten in 1990 and helped the league become the first in college football to use instant replay.

“Dave was a leader in the game of football and had the unique ability and temperament to move seamlessly between officials and coaches both at the professional and collegiate levels, earning the respect of all,” Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said in a statement. “Dave was an educator at his core, and we will miss him terribly.”

He left the Big Ten to become the first national coordinator of officials in 2008. He resigned that position in February.

“Dave’s many contributions to college football and specifically officiating were significant,” Dennis Poppe, NCAA vice president of Division I football and baseball, said. “The sport of college football has lost a great man.”

Earlier in his career, Parry also officiated college basketball games in the Big Ten and Mid-American Conferences.

He graduated from Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1957 and is a member of the school’s athletics hall of fame.

He lived in Michigan City, Ind., with his wife, Pat.