SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION - THE WEEKLY BULL – September 2, 2026
WE ARE MEETING THIS WEDNESDAY at Mira Mesa High School – We will all be meeting together live on Wednesday at Mira Mesa HS. We switched the Zoom meeting scheduled for September 2nd, to August 19th. So, we will now all meet at Mira Mesa meeting in person! It will be great to get back together and share plays and stories. Crew Chiefs will meet at 6:00 and everyone else will meet at 7:00pm.
Incomplete Pass Signaling Mechanics Manual P.116 -
Do not bend forward at the waist when giving the signal
One signal by covering official(s) for an obviously incomplete pass. All other officials stop the clock
Two or three strong signals for an incomplete pass when it is necessary to “sell” the call. All other officials stop the clock
If the receiver is barely out of bounds, signal incomplete and then, using both hands, make a sweeping motion toward the sideline
Use a “juggling signal” when the receiver juggles the ball as he crosses the sideline and then possesses the ball out of bounds
Use a “slap the ground signal” when the ball makes contact with the ground prior to possession by the receiver. The official will go to their one knee while slapping the ground with one hand
The official covering the play and signaling incomplete does not also give the STOP THE CLOCK signal
Running Clock in the 3rd Quarter – Be careful when bringing up any hint of a running clock prior to the 4th quarter. I might mention to the coach to let me know if he wants “help with the clock” at any time. Most times the coach will politely acknowledge and state that he’s good with a normal clock, but at least you offered.
Have Your Uniform With You in Your Car – If you always have your uniform with you in your car, you will be able to accept a last second assignment from Tom Ables. We have the famous stories of officials not showing up, canceling or getting injured, and another official has his/her uniform in the car and works the game!
9/11 Remembrances or Special Ceremonies – I know I’m planning ahead but if there is something organized in remembrance of 9/11, we will work with the home team coach and administration to make every effort to adjust the kickoff time accordingly. Once a kickoff time is agreed upon the officiating crew is responsible for seeing to it that we kick off on time!
Looking Ahead - Board Meeting Before the 9/16 Regular Meeting 5:30 pm – There will be a regularly scheduled board meeting at 5:30 in room 706. The board will select the officers for the 2027 season, discuss the SDCFOA Overtime Award, Board Elections, and a variety of other awards and reports.
Game Film – When I send out the game film, I’m assuming that the crew is the Referee’s crew. I simply do not have the time to examine every assignment to make sure the right individuals are getting the game film. So, referees are to make sure that, if it’s not your crew or you have a fill in, that you share the film with the individuals who worked the game with you. Conversely, if you worked on a game and did not get a game film, please check with your referee to see if he got the film and can share with you. There will be no game film for 8-man football games.
Injury Time Outs – If necessary, the referee may grant an official’s time out for an apparently injured player. If granted, that player shall be replaced for one down. If we grant an official’s time out then players could go to the sidelines and confer with the coaching staff just as they do for an authorized time out (if time permits). The flanks will then see to it that both teams are back on the field and ready to play when the injured athlete leaves the playing area.
Plays at the Goal Line – We’ve had some exciting and close plays at the goal line. The first key for officials is to be in proper position at the goal line. The umpire should never block the goal line view of either of the flanks…stay off the goal line. Our flanks must use proper goal line mechanics and be off the pylon at the goal line (2-3 yards). These proper mechanics will place us in the best position to make the correct call. Be confident in your call but don’t hurry. In some cases, closing into the middle of the field will allow the umpire to help if appropriate. Remember, we’re a team!
Concentration – Please review the importance of concentrating the entire game! Sometimes we get lulled into comfort and unconscious complacency. We don’t mean to do this, it just happens after 100 good plays by the crew. But remember, you could be facing 10 seconds of sheer terror on the next play! As a crew, remind your crewmates to focus, especially when the game situation warrants it…like the last 5 minutes before halftime or the end of the game. It can help “focus us” for a critical, game changing play!
Undershirts – If there are linemen with undershirts that are not close to the same color as the jersey, have them tuck them in.
Pulling Opponents Off of the Pile – This can lead to bad things happening! This can be a personal foul for unnecessary roughness.
Home Team Game Information – Use the Google Doc to gather information about the home team facilities and administration for your crew as you prepare for your game. You can update that info in the google doc if you discover any changes for the 2026 season.
Food for Thought
1. 4th Quarter – 1:45 on the game clock and running. Team A’s ball 3/10 at the B-45. A11 takes the snap and runs to the B-40 where he is tackled inbounds. Team A is called for an illegal formation at the snap. B50 is called for a PF facemask making the tackle at the B-40. Ruling: Offsetting penalties as there are live ball fouls on both teams. Who do we ask if they want to start the clock on the snap? Rule 3-4-7 “When a foul is committed with less than 2 minutes remaining in either half, the offended team will have the option to start the game clock on the snap.” So fouls have been committed by both teams, so you ask the Team B coach first for the illegal formation foul against him, then the Team A coach and if either requests that the clock start on the snap, then it starts on the snap.
2. Team A is in shotgun and the ball immediately leaves the free blocking zone at the snap. Then the offensive linemen immediately, with their initial movement, dive low and block below the waist. Ruling: Legal Blocks. The status of the ball and the free blocking zone is no longer part of the definition of blocking below the waist Rule 2-2-3-7.
3. Fourth and 10 at Team K’s 20-ydl. K1’s kick is caught by R2 at Team K’s 45-ydl and he advances to Team K’s 30-ydl before he is downed. During R2’s run, R3 blocks K4 below the waist at Team K’s 40-ydl. Ruling: Post Scrimmage Kick (PSK) does not apply since the kick has ended when the foul occurred. The penalty is enforced from the spot of the foul, yielding 1/10 for Team R from its own 45-ydl.
