Count the Laterals Video

Click below to catch the unbelievable final play of a small college game. Some of us think there are 15 laterals. The video quality is not the best, but it would be worthwhile to just listen to the audio and visualize the movement of the ball throughout more than half of the football field. Yes, this is football, but it sure looks more like rugby to me.

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/10/28/count-the-laterals-if-you-can/?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Imagine how difficult it would have been covering all the blocks making sure that the team deserved the yardage gained! Actually, how can a play last that long and have every block be legal? Happy viewing!

Crazy Game Rulings

Do you have any (or hear of any) strange and/or difficult rulings that had to be made during a football game?  Share some of your plays so that we can learn some new interpretations and dig deeper into our rulebooks and casebooks.  My goal with this blog and my other sports officials’ blogs is to encourage officials to spend some additional time thinking about their work on the fields and courts around the world.  The basic premise is simple: Spend more time spent thinking about your officiating and you will naturally improve.

Basketball and baseball officials visited our blogs regularly after getting home from games and were checking their email and assignments (basketball, soccer, and baseball arbiters in the area all use TheArbiter.net for making online assignments).

If you are interested in visiting the basketball and baseball officials’ learning blogs, click on them in the blogroll to the right.  Happy blogging!

Appeal for On-Field Improvement Suggestions

This morning via email I finally got around to requesting some information from local officials to help one another improve their work.  I want everyone to think back over our past season(s) of officiating football games and reflect upon your experiences.  I want a good list of comments (constructive criticisms) of self and fellow officials that we can share here for all to look over now and when we get ready for next season.   These comments should not include names as this blog will not ever allow anyone to embarrass or discredit fellow officials or coaches in this blog.

The emailed request also asked:

•  What do you think is the single most important aspect of football officiating?  It takes a whole package of skills and knowledge, but what can you pinpoint as being most important to officiating success?
• What are your goals (personal and local association) for next season?

Please feel free to post your feelings here.  You will need to register with wordpress sharing your name and email address.  This keeps the anonymous readers from blasting officials.  (Note: Do not request your own blog as it may further confuse you when you log in to respond in the blog.)

If it is easier or you prefer to do so, email your comments, suggestions, and goals to ShawnKball@gmail.com or kimballs@glenburnschool.us.