SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOOTBALL OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION - THE WEEKLY BULL - July 16, 2025 Wednesday’s Agenda 1) All 1st and 2nd year and transfer officials meet Wednesday night at Mira Mesa High School in rooms 713 and 714. Park in the back (south) parking lot and walk through Gate 7 to get to the rooms. The meeting will go from 7:00pm – 9:00pm
2) All certified officials are invited to attend Wednesday Night’s Zoom Clinic focusing on the Referee and Umpire positions. Steve Coover will be discussing Crew Development, the important role that the crew chief and the umpire play in that process, and discuss how to evaluate and improve overall vision patterns in yourselves and the crew. Below is the Zoom Invitation for all three of our Position Clinics. I will share this same invitation prior to all 3 meetings: SDCFOA Position Clinics 2025 July 16, 2025 7:00 PM (PST) Every 2 weeks on Wed, until Aug 13, 2025, 3 occurrence(s) Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system. Weekly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZAlcOmuqTMuH9LRjVNPhfa1QvIm76oIthN3/ics?icsToken=DDus0xZxgfDQXCY50wAALAAAANxYzEoSk4xXmexok_SYm5I_MYas1j8r9wPl_NUMphECefmhjxhV2QTmAu35qFOioJb-riGiPSpF8Oad2DAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=pnLFj--nTQedLMB5sXVgEw Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84870678456?pwd=unMZfYg7SaitsaeaRztJyxFyyEvkp7.1 Meeting ID: 848 7067 8456 Passcode: 901010 One tap mobile +16694449171
New Shirts – I have attached an up-to-date spreadsheet indicating which crews have ordered our new striped shirt. If you or someone on your crew has not responded I would encourage you or your crew members to do so immediately. We have a very large order, and the shirts are custom made and will take some time to produce. I will be placing our second order tomorrow which hopefully will insure the shirts will be here by the start of our season. I have also attached the order form which can be filled out electronically and emailed to me. Payment for the shirt is not required at this time but appreciated in advance. MOST IMPORTANTLY IF SOMEONE IS A VETERAN ( Please check the box on the order form). WE NEED TO KNOW AS THEIR SHIRT WILL INCLUDE THE VETERAN LOGO PRINTED ON THE SLEEVE UNDER THE FLAG. Shirt orders will be picked up at our future meetings when available. If anyone has any questions, please call me . Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Bob Hood Hood Promotions Group Inc. 13049 Caminito Point Del Mar Del Mar, CA 92014 P 858 279-8600 C 858 405-8600
Ump-Attire – They are also selling our new shirt (Smitty brand) and are offering us a 10% discount for our Association orders. This discount is good from 7/21 – 8/30. The discount code is: SDCFA25
Final Foul Data – Thanks to Robert Bezverkov, I now understand our final numbers from last year compared to 2023 data. This is a cumulative tally so Week #3 data includes Weeks 1-3. So, when we get to week #11 we are looking at the final totals for the season. I was reading each week as a separate total for the week, which made my report to the crew chiefs incorrect. Our final average as just under 13 fouls/game. Even better than I reported, and down one-full foul from 2023! We will be collecting this data again, on officials and schools so we have accountability and transparency. If your foul count is well outside of these averages, the crew must evaluate the game, the teams, and closely evaluate all fouls called to fully understand what happened, or make corrections. Good luck this season and remember to turn in your foul reports to Robert by the first of every week.
Recruitment – We are up to 26 new officials but need to continue to recruit friends, family, fellow workers, and former athletes. Remember, our best new officials tend to come from the recruitment efforts of our members.
Thank You David Middleton – The presentation was very helpful in our understanding of how our work as a crew is so dependent upon the building of TRUST! Our crews continually work, so let’s emphasize the need to trust one another, and the need to earn other’s trust. Our best crews are the most prolific in their basics, communication, and cohesive trust! Congratulations and good luck to David on his work in both the MAC and BIG10 this year.
Justin Joseph – Congratulations to Justin as he has just been hired onto a full-time crew in the Mountain West Conference. This promotion is well deserved and a result of consistent, hard work!
Meeting Attendance, Clinics, and Tests – You must attend 9 meetings and pass the mechanics and rules tests with scores of 70%. First year officials do not take any tests, but your attendance is closely monitored. All officials will get credit for the banquet, so count that as one of your meetings! You will also get credit for attending your Position Zoom Clinic. That leaves attending at least 6 regular meetings. If you attend more than one Clinic and come up one meeting short, I will credit you with the extra Clinic and your attendance will meet the standard. If you missed your clinic, it will be available on the website under Instructional Videos, and you will get class meeting credit if you watch it online.
Pre-snap and Dead Ball Routines – Our pre-snap and dead ball routine must be as complex and thorough as the coaches’ and players’ play-calling and pre-snap adjustments. Every play has three separate phases: Pre-Snap Live Ball Dead Ball (dead ball culminates with the movement of your down indicator on your hand – once you move that, you now begin your pre-snap routine!) Base your routine on the SDCFOA Pre-Snap Routine which is in the mechanics manual page 134. Each position’s pre-snap, live ball and dead ball routines are listed by position. The live ball portion is listed in the general mechanics for 4-man or 5-man. The list provided is just that, a list. Re-order according to your own style and crew. Write it out…Memorize it…use it every play! Remember, it changes slightly for kicks, short yardage, red zone, goal line, etc.
When in Question - Do No Harm! - There are four and only four reasons to throw a flag: Safety Sportsmanship Administration (LOS fouls, procedure, delay of game, etc.) Effect on the play (at point of attack with definite, material restriction and advantage gained) Accuracy in judgement comes from strong, consistent mechanics, mastery of the rules, and a deep understanding and appreciation for the SDCFOA Philosophies (Officiating Standards) located in our mechanics manual page 157. “Accuracy and consistency come from a strong foundation. It is the bedrock of our association!” - George Schutte
Illegal Equipment (VARSITY Games) – Please be consistent as an Association. Follow the procedure prior to each and every varsity game. Fill out your equipment card and present it to your umpire. Referee and Umpire will present the card to the head coach. This serves as the warning. Then, first series for each team, including kick off, send out any player not properly equipped. After that, any equipment issue will be a surprise to you, and you can send them out.
Coach’s Cards - Coach’s Cards can be filled out and downloaded at www.sdcfoa.org under Educational Resources and Football Mechanics. They are also in RefMasters app. These cards are to be presented to the head coach at the Pregame Meeting or at the sideline meeting between the flank officials and their head coaches at EVERY high school VARSITY game.
Do you have any conflicts of interest? Here are some possible conflicts of interest which may cause you to block yourself from working a particular school: Your alma mater – Don’t work games at your high school if you’ve graduated within the last five years. If you still have ties to the school, were a noted athlete, or still good friends with members of the coaching staff, 10 years or longer would apply. Family connections – Don’t work games at a school if you have a family connection. Business ties – If you are employed by a school, don’t officiate that school. Also be careful of bosses whose kids play for a particular school.
Blocks in Arbiter – Scrimmages and Week #1 assignments are out! Don’t forget to block the dates you cannot work. If a game comes up on a Thursday and you’re not blocked, Tom will assign assuming you are available. A phone call or email saying you’re not available doesn’t do well for you the next time a game comes up and it’s your turn. Conversely, if you block a Saturday and a big game comes up, you will not show up as available for that “big assignment”. So, keep your blocks honest and up to date! AND DON’T FORGET TO ACCEPT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS IMMEDIATELY!
Gently Used Equipment and Uniforms – Every year we get a chance to update our equipment and uniform. If you have some extra equipment or uniform pieces that are still in good shape our 1st year officials would LOVE it if you’d donate to Room 714.
Referee and Umpire Pregame Conference - Confer with coaches and check game balls. Be businesslike and cordial but not overly friendly with the coaches. During the Pre-Game meeting with the coaches, the REFEREE shall confirm (but not be limited to) the following information starting with the HOME TEAM and in no particular order: Introductions (hat off) – My name is (your name) and I’ll be your referee tonight. (Coach’s Card) Everyone legally equipped? Any unusual plays or formations? Will you be going in before kickoff? Where will you go at halftime? As you know we will expect good sportsmanship tonight. Let’s agree on how we’re going to communicate tonight…. Who is your “Get Back Coach”? In order to hear and see a signal from the sideline for a Time Out, you may enter the field so as to alert any/all officials to stop the clock. Can we see your game ball, please? My watch/the game clock has the correct time; we will come for the captains in 15minutes. Good luck, coach
Reminders from Mike Carey – Here are a few of Mike’s words from his 2016 presentation to our association. I’m sure you’ll find them still relevant for your goal setting this year! Improvement comes with hard work. There are no short cuts. You must have a passion for the game – otherwise the hard work is too hard. We must support each other and work hard on behalf of our fellow officials and our crew. It’s all about the 2 hours on the field. Be prepared…then enjoy it!
HUDL Video – New officials, we are extensive users of video and have chosen the HUDL software for this purpose. The HUDL video can be found at www.hudl.com. If you are new to HUDL, you will be sent an email message from HUDL which will allow you to log in and then will direct you to change the temporary password. You will be receiving a weekly instructional video with 12-20 plays. It is expected that you watch and study each weekly instructional video.
