Week 0 schedule Find it here: http://ocfoa.org/members-area/weekly-schedule/
Keep Your Availability Current – Please keep your calendar accurate in Arbiter so the assignor doesn’t have to assign twice
Targeting, Late Hits, Unnecessary Roughness & Illegal Contact – Let’s not forget to refer to illegal contact fouls with accurate terminology. Many fouls are simply Personal Foul – Late Hit or Personal Foul – Blocking a Player Who is Clearly Out of the Play. Targeting is taking aim, initiating contact, with the helmet, shoulder, arm, wrist or hand, above the shoulders. Spearing is taking aim and initiating contact with the crown of the helmet. And a Personal Foul – Illegal Contact is a hit or block against an opponent, including a defenseless player, that is judged excessive and/or unnecessary and which incites roughness.
Overtime The most current version of the CALIFORNIA TIEBREAKER- 25YD OVERTIME PROCEDURES can be found here http://ocfoa.org/2020/08/16/the-25-yard-line-overtime-procedures/ All White Hats and Grey Hats should print off a copy and have it in their game bag.
Legal Uniforms and equipment – Address them in pre-game. They do not have to be legal in warm ups, but inform them that they WILL be sent out of the game for one play once it starts. Items to address include FACE PAINTING INCLUDING CROSSES (SYMBOLS ARE ADORNMENT), untucked shirts, jerseys tucked up under shoulder pads, knees uncovered, bandanas protruding out the back of the helmet, long skinny streamers or long belts, towels that are not solid color without any messages. Team must use same color of towel (not yellow). Hoodies are legal but no foul if the defender tackles him by his hoodie!
Communicating with Your Coach – If you have a complaint or question from your coach let your referee know. One of the most frequent complaints I get from coaches is that the flanks do not communicate their concerns to the referee. Use your radios! This builds frustration and adds to the original issue. By the time the referee does get to the sideline he now has to deal with an upset and frustrated coach. There shall be two officials present for all meetings between the referee and the head coach, but only one speaks – the referee!
Sportsmanship PSA – There will be a CIF produced PSA regarding sportsmanship shown or played over the PA prior to every game. It’s incumbent upon us to enforce the sportsmanship rules diligently. We’ve done a great job in the past let’s keep it up
Bits and Pieces
How to use the website search tool – If you are searching for a particular document on our website do not go to download area or anywhere else. Click on the magnifying glass at the top of the page a white box will appear type in the document you’re looking for or a word in the document title that you’re looking for. I.E. Overtime, Mechanics. Hit enter and you will get all the results that match your search.
Pregame checklist – I have templates for each position of a pregame checklist. These are college checklists, so they need to be modified for HS, but they are very well done. I need volunteers from each position (2 or 3) to help me get these in order. The HL checklist has been modified but not finalized. To get an idea of what these look like, check the HL version here http://ocfoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/OCFOA-HLChecklist-2022-Rev-1.docx If you want to collaborate with others from your position, email me.
The idea is to print one page double sided, laminate and have it in your bag. Review the checklist day of and just prior to your game.
Quiz – I’ll be sending out a quiz under separate cover. It’s not mandatory but could bring us some good talking points for pregame, Big thanks to Don Ariosto. If you have an issue with an answer or rule reference, email me at mandrews92626@gmail.com. Do not bother Don.
Arbiter Bug – The Arbiter bug has been fixed…sort of. My master shows everyone that has passed (most of you). On your personal Central Hub, it may still say failed. Do not worry about that. Arbiter is working on it.
Gear webpage A big shout out to Steve Carter for putting together this excellent document which covers all the required uniform and equipment to properly officiate a game in OCFOA. It has examples and places to get that particular piece of equipment. Please take a minute and check it out. New officials should bookmark it! http://ocfoa.org/members-area/officials-uniform-and-equipment/
