SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION - THE WEEKLY BULL – November 11, 2026
Make Up Meeting – There will be no makeup meeting this year as I’m in Indianapolis on NFHS business. I will be contacting all who are missing meetings to resolve any discrepancies. If the makeup meeting is all that you’re missing we will fix that when I contact you. Thank you!
Week #2 of the Playoffs – This year’s games are proving to be extremely competitive. Have you reviewed the overtime procedure? Work hard, prepare, and focus on every play. One team advances, and one team ends their season, so the stakes are extraordinarily high! We must be at our absolute best for each play. Work as a crew…then celebrate afterwards as a crew!
An Offer from the Youth Fund - The Youth Fund is offering $100/family member for Thanksgiving and $150/family member for Christmas to any official who needs assistance. They can text Mike Downing at 619-888-6430 or email me at docdowning@aol.com to request assistance, no background on their request is needed. Thanks, felt like everyone had a good time.
Semifinal Games (not 8-man) Will be 7-Official Crews – I’m just giving coaches a “heads up” as the two deep flanks are traveling quickly through the restricted / white area. Coaches must be alert for two officials on their side. We do have a couple of semifinal games this week, but the majority of them will be next week. Do you have a “Get Back Coach”? If you don’t know what that is, here is a short, funny explanation on YouTube, https://youtu.be/JZHpNPWvcWQ
Wilson Football – Wilson footballs (any type of Wilson football) must be used every snap of the playoffs.
Halftime – Halftime will be 15 + 3. We are not to use 12+3 unless both coaches come to us and request it. We must never suggest a shortening or lengthening of halftime.
Uniforms and Adornment – Please stay the course in this important area. We’ve done so well this year. Don’t stop now. Remember it’s about consistency!
Playoff Film – Thank you for your patience as I was able to get game film from almost every team that is advancing in the playoffs so the crews have at least one film from their game last Friday. Thank you to all of the coaches! So far the coaches are being very accommodating at their busiest of times!
Referee Microphones – These are proving to be extremely helpful to the fans and the teams as well as the officials. More and more schools are purchasing their own systems which makes their use much easier and no officials are plugging stuff into their press box equipment. We hope even more schools will be purchasing their own systems over the off-season. We will be reaching out to schools and providing our consulting services to assist any interested schools.
Pre-Game Warm Up – Please be alert for teams attempting to intimidate their opponents during the warmup period. We are on the field 45 minutes prior to the kickoff just for that purpose.
Punts Out of Bounds – When a punt lands in the white, restricted belt (2-yards) just out of bounds, the flank official and/or back judge should mark the out of bounds spot on their own. Line this up with the help of the referee is unnecessary. Just take it.
Reminder – Defensive Pass Interference (DPI) is not an automatic 1st down. Review all of the automatic 1st downs, and the loss of down penalties before Friday night.
Communicating with Head Coaches – This starts with your first conversation and should continue to develop as the game unfolds. I made a mistake last week and engaging with an assistant coach who was complaining loudly about the legality of the opponent’s game ball. Wrong move, Coover! As that conversation when nowhere, the head coach calmly walked up and asked, “What’s going on?” I explained and he calmly said, “I’ll take care of it.” And he did. Use your head coach, he can be very effective in maintaining his sideline.
Celebrations – I believe we’ve been very consistent with penalizing excessive and choreographed celebrations this year. Please continue to tolerate the spontaneous celebrations of big plays and TDs. We know the difference between a quick and excited player’s celebration vs a delayed, excessive or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself. And of course, nothing choreographed and don’t spike or spin the ball. Thank you.
Illegal Substitutions - A procedure has been adopted to provide an equitable penalty as it relates to illegal substitution. The following are examples of the most common situations and rulings:
1. If a replaced player or substitute attempts to leave the field, but does not get off prior to the snap, the foul is considered as having occurred simultaneously with the snap and the penalty is enforced from the previous spot. (3-7-4, 10-4-2a)
2. If a replaced player does not leave the field within three seconds, it is a dead-ball, illegal substitution foul. (3-7-1)
3. If a replaced player or substitute goes off the field on the wrong side of the field during the down, it is an illegal substitution (live-ball foul). (10-4-2a)
4. If an entering substitute is not on his team's side of the neutral zone at the snap, illegal substitution is considered to have occurred simultaneously with the snap. If he then participates, it becomes a live-ball foul, illegal participation. (3-7-5, 9-6-4a)
5. When a replaced player or substitute leaves on the wrong side of the field or goes across the end line prior to the snap, it is a dead-ball foul for illegal substitution. (3-7-2, 10-4-5b)
6. If a replaced player or substitute enters the field during the down, but does not participate, it is a foul for illegal substitution by a nonplayer, a 5-yard penalty from the succeeding spot. (3-7-5, 9-6-4a
Illegal Participation – Remember, we do not drop our hat when a player goes out of bounds. A procedure has been adopted to provide an equitable penalty as it relates to illegal participation. The following are examples of the most common situations and rulings:
1. If there are more than 11 players in the formation at the snap, either offensively or defensively, the foul is considered as having occurred simultaneously with the snap and is illegal participation. The 15-yard penalty is enforced from the previous spot. (9-6-4c)
2. If a substitute enters the field during the down and participates, it is illegal participation and enforced from the basic spot using the all-but-one principle unless post-scrimmage kick enforcement applies. The spot of the foul is where the substitute participated, not necessarily where he entered the field. (9-6-4a)
3. If a nonplayer hinders an opponent outside the field of play, it constitutes illegal participation. The spot of the foul is on the yard line directly inbounds. (9-6-3)
4. Prior to a change of possession or when there is no change of possession, a player of A or K who goes out of bounds and then comes back in during the down commits illegal participation. (9-6-1)
Payment of Officials for the 2026 Football Playoffs - Per the CIF Football Championship Bulletin, "The CIF-SDS will pay the officials for all tackle football playoff contests." Consequently, schools will not be paying officials in any round of the playoffs. Payment from the CIF - SDS may not be made until the end of the championship tournament as many officials are working multiple games and it is more efficient for the section office to make just one total payment at the first of December.
Championship Games – We will again have a hospitality section in the EZs at Southwestern and Escondido HS. Snacks and drinks will be available. They do charge for parking. Working officials, chain crew members, and the timers will be receiving free passes for parking (no reserved spots or location) and credentials for access for your game day only. You will get them at the 7-Person Mechanics Workshop on 11/18
OPEN Championship Saturday 11/21 at Southwestern
Division IV and Division I Championships - Friday 11/27 at Southwestern
Division V, Division III, and Division II Championships - Saturday 11/28 at Escondido HS
7-Person Mechanics Workshop Wednesday November 18th at 7:00 pm at Mira Mesa High School Library – This is a mandatory meeting for all officials, and alternate officials, who are assigned a 7-man semifinal or 7-man final. Chain crew members and timers do not attend. Open Division Semifinal games will take place this Friday, November 13th, prior to November 18th, so you must conduct your own pre-game and prepare your crew for those important games. The Open Division finals crew is expected to attend this meeting and to pick up your passes. The 8-Man finals crew is excused from attending this meeting. Our 7-Person Mechanics Manual is posted on our website.
Congratulations and Thank You to the Flag Football Championship Game Crews –
Division IV - Imperial H S vs Oceanside
Referee Greg Covington
HL James Hammett
LJ Torrence St. Romain
BJ Jeffrey Bauer
Division III - Patrick Henry vs Santa Fe Christian
Referee Bob Flavin
HL Matt Fratus
LJ Gary Hanson
BJ Ryan Lanz
Division II - Escondido Charter vs Vincent Memorial
Referee Charlton Lynch
HL Brandon Page
LJ Anthony Nelson
BJ Edward Delos Reyes
Division I – Cathedral Catholic vs Scripps Ranch
Referee Jon Cima
HL Erik Bryan
LJ Domitilo Mason
BJ Nick Motta
Open Division - Helix Charter vs Torrey Pines
Referee Mike Andrews
HL Jerry Reimers
LJ Ron Gillenberg
BJ Dennis Gildehaus
