Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 11.4.15 1. Playoff Assignments: Playoff assignments for Round 1 will go out by 4 pm on Sunday, November 7 and each succeeding Sunday through the playoff series. All assigned officials will need to go to the Arbiter site and accept the assignment by noon on Monday of the succeeding week. (The White Hat CANNOT accept for the entire crew.) Assignments not accepted by noon Monday will be re-assigned. Do not wait for an email from Arbiter----check the site for your assignment after 4 pm on Sunday of each week. 2. Crew Listing on the Assignment: The Arbiter assignment may or may not have the officials assigned to the correct position on the crew. The Referee will make corrections necessary within the crew. When accepting the assignment, officials are accepting the assignment to the game---the White Hat will insure all officials are in the correct position on the crew. 3. Playoff Payments: All payments for football playoff assignments will be done by OSSAA through the ArbiterPay system. (ArbiterPay is the new name for RefPay; if you had an account with RefPay you have the same account with ArbiterPay.) Each official will need an account with ArbiterPay to receive payment. When setting up the account be sure you have indicated you will accept games through the Arbiter assigning system. Payment for first round assignments would be sent to ArbiterPay on November 16. Officials would then be able to draw from their account by November 18. 4. Playoff Instructions: Game management instructions for all OSSAA playoff games will be posted on the OSSAA/Arbiter site on the Football page by Monday, November 9. The Referee should contact the game manager (Athletic Director/Principal of the Home Site) to double check game time, arrival time and site location and then verify this information with the crew. 5. Extra Official: If you plan to take an extra official to your playoff contest to chart fouls; communicate to both head coaches prior to the contest. If either coach has an issue with the extra official being present on the sideline please notify me immediately. 6. Band/Noisemakers/Air Horns/Cow Bells Playing During the Game: Bands, noisemakers, air horns, cow bells and any other device that generates sound of any type may not be used during the contest IF THEY INTERRUPT PLAY. Bands may play and noisemakers may be used unless the White Hat determines the noise interrupts the game on the field. At that point that interruption of play is determined, the White Hat should stop the contest and contact the on-site game manager and request the interruption ceased. 7. Inclement Weather and Stoppage of Play: Review the document on Inclement Weather located on the home page pf the OSSAA website under the Sports Medicine tab on the toolbar. 8. Time Outs and the Media: During the playoff cycle, media may be covering the contest. Be sure that all timeouts granted are given a full 60 seconds to allow media to schedule appropriately. Also, be sure that a full 60 seconds is allowed after the try/field goal and before the next free kick. 9. Playoff Assignments: Many of you will be disappointed in not receiving a playoff assignment for this Fall or may be disappointed in the number of games you are assigned. I have no issue with officials that want to call more or at least some playoff games. I would ask that you please read the following before contacting me to voice your displeasure. **Be sure your crew met the standard portion of the criteria that has been established. (Refer to the
Football page and the link "Selection Process for Football Officials") **Over 130 crews made themselves available for the playoffs this season. Each crew was ranked in four categories---points, crew test, 3-year ratings and 1-year rating. (Refer to the Football page and the link "Selection Process for Football Officials") **Each of these categories roughly composes 22% of the officials' data. The remaining 12% of the data on each crew comes from observer's observations, assignors and coordinators recommendations and input from the director of officials. **Game assignments are then made considering these factors---geography, game level experience, coaches scratch lists, officials conflict lists and crew's game 10 assignments. **First round requires 88 crews. Second round 44 crews...third round 22 crews...fourth round 6 championship crews and 6 semi-final crews, and the last week 3 championship crews. **Due to some conflicts it would not be uncommon for some crews to skip a week during the playoff cycle. Some crews may not work week one but will work later in the playoff cycle. **This process is roughly 88% objective and 12% subjective...the process is not perfect but it is the process I have implemented. Does it have flaws---i am sure it does. However, I am comfortable with the process. Should you not be pleased with your assignment or lack of assignments---direct all your questions to me. I respectively would ask that you wait till the end of the playoff cycle to inquire on your crew's situation. 10. Crew Test Results: The correct answers and scores from the 2015 Football Crew Test are available through the link on the Football Page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site, 2015 Football Crew Test Results.
Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 10.23.15 Playoff Availability: To be considered for 2015 playoff assignments, White Hats should enter the crew s availability through the Playoff Availability Program. Entry to the availability site is through the same entry used to place game reports on the football page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. The White Hat should use his email address to log in. Availability will close at 4 pm on October 23. Playoff Uniform: In all OSSAA playoff football games, officials will wear the two-inch vertical striped shirt. Shirts should be of the same sleeve length. Positioning placards are optional but should be uniform within the crew. Play Cards: A reminder to review NFHS Rule 1-5-3-c-8. I have had several calls from coaches that have said officials are allowing the play cards to be worn on the belt. Play cards must be worn on the wrist or arm. Extra Official: If you plan to take an extra official to your playoff contest to chart fouls; communicate to both head coaches prior to the contest. If either coach has an issue with the extra official being present on the sideline please notify me immediately. Crew Test Results: The results from the crew test are now posted on the Football page of the Arbiter site. Note from Jerod Phillips, OSSAA Football Mechanics Interpreter: We are seeing a lot of crews working the new mechanics and they are working good. I have seen several crews on video and we are making a big improvement across the board as the season goes on. Keep working hard stay focused as the season heats up for some and gets closer to the end for others. Good luck this week and have FUN!! Remember the flow of the game is the most important!
Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 10.2.15 Playoff Availability: To be considered for 2015 playoff assignments, White Hats should enter the crew s availability through the Playoff Availability Program. Entry to the availability site is through the same entry used to place game reports on the football page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. The White Hat should use his email address to log in. Availability opens at 6 am on October 16 and will close at 4 pm on October 23. Standards for Football Playoff Officials: 1. All crew members enrolled and good standing with OSSAA. 2. Availability for playoff dates turned in to OSSAA office. 3. All crew members have passed NFHS Football rules Part 1. 4. Must take OSSAA Football Crew Test for the current year. 5. Non-final contests, 4 of 5 crew members must have a C classification. Finals, all crew members must have a C classification. 6. All crew members must have taken the NFHS Course Concussion in Sports: What You Need to Know during each school year (June 1 to May 31.) 7. All crew members must have taken the NFHS Course A Guide to Heat Acclimatization and Heat Illness Prevention. Playoff Uniform: In all OSSAA playoff football games, officials will wear the two-inch vertical striped shirt. Shirts should be of the same sleeve length. Positioning placards are optional but should be uniform within the crew. Rules and Mechanics Change Proposal for 2016: Proposals for changes in NFHS Football Rules or NFHS Football Officiating Mechanics should be submitted by email to me by October 23. Burl Neighbors, Comanche: I regret to inform you that L. Burl Neighbors, OOA Hall of Fame Official Inductee in 1995, recently passed away. Burl was a long-time member of the Duncan Sooner Football Officials Association. As a 40-year veteran of football officiating, he was responsible for mentoring numerous new officials in southwest Oklahoma. His impact on the game of football and those who officiate the contests on the high school level was substantial. He will be greatly missed.
Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 9.25.15 Unsportsmanlike fouls: By definition, an unsportsmanlike foul is a non-contact foul. (See NFHS Rule 2-16-2f.) Two unsportsmanlike fouls by the same player would result in the player being ejected. Ejections of coaches and players: Once a player or coach has been ejected, the protocol for ejection begins for the member school. Sit-out is required and other sanctions may be put in place. Officials CANNOT un-eject a player or coach by not writing up the ejection report. Officials cannot determine sanctions or remove sanctions for ejections. Targeting: A targeting foul is a contact foul. Targeting is not an automatic ejection. An ejection could occur on a targeting foul if the official deemed the targeting a flagrant foul. (Rule of thumb for targeting fouls: If in doubt if the action is targeting; drop your flag for targeting. If in doubt on ejecting the player for a flagrant targeting foul; do not eject.) Comments from OSSAA State Football Mechanics Interpreter: The following is from the Jerod Phillips. Now that we have a couple of games under our belt let s focus on game times and the mechanics that can help reduce the lengths of our games. Everything we do from the start of the game until the end is game management. We need to focus on reducing the time we are allowing teams to have in timeouts and also speed our penalty enforcement up just a little. There will always be those situations that cause us to go slower, but the majority of penalties can be enforced with very little time taken. Please continue to focus on your mechanics as they are designed to put us in the best place to rule on plays. We adjust our mechanics to officiate plays that happen with a high percentage. It is always important to remember those four to five plays a game that no mechanic can help with, you just have to officiate them the best you can. We want to stress safety once again. When in question it is a foul in regards to safety. Good luck this week and have fun!! Rules and Mechanics Questions: During the season, should you have a Rules question, contact David Gore at dgoreref910@hotmail.com. During the season, should you have a Mechanics question, email Jerod Phillips at jphillips@ridgerunners.net. Mike Whaley Director of Officials 405-840-1116
Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 8.26.15 Inclement Weather: Please review the Guidelines for Inclement Weather and Outside Activities found under the Sports Medicine tab of the OSSAA home page. Enter Schedule: The link to enter your schedule, 2015 Football Officials Schedule Entry, is on the football page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. This link will close on August 28. Heat Awareness: Be mindful of heat issues and precautions with players and officials as we begin the season with warm and humid environments. Discuss in your pregame meeting with coaches the protocol for hydration breaks during the contest. Identifying Players Committing Fouls: Many stadiums have access to a field microphone for the referee. Our protocol in Oklahoma is to NOT identify players by number that commit fouls when announcing the infraction over the stadium public address system. Rules and Mechanics Questions: During the season, should you have a Rules question, contact David Gore at dgoreref910@hotmail.com. During the season, should you have a Mechanics question, email Jerod Phillips at jphillips@ridgerunners.net. Mike Whaley Director of Officials 405-840-1116
Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 8.18.15 ------------------------------------------------------------ Unnecessary and Excessive Contact: Please review David Gore s comments in regard to Rule 10-2-5-b on Unnecessary and Excessive contact. You can find his information on the Football Page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site in the David Gore Area. Assignors: Assignors may find the List of Eligible Officials on the Football Page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. Assignors may contact Sheree at sriddell@ossaa.com for the code to the site. Observation and Evaluation: Please take a moment and read the information at the link 2015 Observation and Evaluation Guidelines for Officials and Observers located on the Football page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. This information is for both the OSSAA Observers and football officials. 2015 NFHS Football Rules Interpretations and Clarifications: The 2015 NFHS Football Rules Interpretations and Clarifications are available at the link on the Football Page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site in the David Gore area. Weekly Notes: A link to a current log of the OSSAA Notes is on the website on the Football page. Crew Test Sign Up: Crews may sign up for taking the Crew Test at the link on the Football Page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. Heat Awareness: A reminder to all officials to hydrate properly before contests and to be mindful of heat issues for players, coaches and officials during contests. NFHS Football E-Books: The NFHS only offers an e-book in the Rules Book and in the Case Book for 2015. The cost is $5.99 each. The direct link to place an order is: www.nfhs.org/ebooks Arizona Football Training Videos: Our friends in Arizona have shared several links to Football Training Videos. David Gore and Jerod Phillips have reviewed these videos. These links are available on the OSSAA/Arbiter site on the football page under the link 2015 Arizona Football Training Videos. Scrimmage: The fighting/ejection rule is the same in scrimmages as in games. Rules and Mechanics Questions: During the season, should you have a Rules question, contact David Gore at dgoreref910@hotmail.com. During the season, should you have a Mechanics question, email Jerod Phillips at jphillips@ridgerunners.net. Mike Whaley Director of Officials 405-840-1116
Subject: OSSAA FB Official Notes 8.4.15 ------------------------------------------------------------ You are receiving this email because you are or have been enrolled as a FOOTBALL official with OSSAA. If you no longer wish to receive email from OSSAA in regard to FOOTBALL officiating, contact Sheree at sriddell@ossaa.com to have your name removed from the list. Submitting 2015 Schedules: Crews should submit their 2015 schedule on-line through the link 2015 Football Officials Schedule Entry located on the Football page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site. Schedules should be submitted prior to August 28. Observation: If your crew wants to request observation by an OSSAA observer this fall, please notify me by email as soon as possible at mwhaley@ossaa.com Official s Shirts: Playoff crews will wear the 2 vertically striped shirt to officiate OSSAA playoff games. During the regular season, crews may wear other approved vertically striped shirts as long as the entire crew wears the same style shirt. Zero Week: This Fall schools may begin playing games during the Zero Week. Zero Week is the week of the second scrimmage. Schools that choose to play in Zero Week are limited to one scrimmage and still may only play ten varsity contests. Crew Test: Information on the Crew Test is available on the OSSAA/Arbiter site on the football page at the link 2015 Crew Test Information. Only crews interested in working the 2015 OSSAA Football Playoffs are required to take the Crew Test. Concussion/Heat Video: Officials are required to watch the Concussion Video each school year, a school year being defined as between June 1 and May 31. Fax the certificate of completion or email the certificate number to Sheree Riddell at OSSAA. (Fax number 405-840-9559 or email sriddell@ossaa.com) Currently, the Heat Illness video must only viewed once during the official s career. Rules Meeting: The OSSAA Football Rules meeting will be posted on-line on the football page of the OSSAA/Arbiter site by August 12. The list of the remaining face-to-face meetings is on the OSSAA/Arbiter page on the left hand column. Comments from OSSAA State Football Mechanics Interpreter: The following is from the Jerod Phillips who will be serving this Fall as the OSSAA State Football Mechanics Interpreter, similar to David Gore s role as OSSAA State Football Rules Interpreter. With the 2015 season here it is once again time to fine tune our rules knowledge and focus on our mechanics as a crew and from our individual positions. As most of you know we have made a few changes to our mechanics. These changes were made with the sole purpose of improving 5-man mechanics and increasing the coverage of officials. The mechanics list I am referencing is on the Football Page of the Arbiter site in the link 2015 Football Observers Mechanics Check List. Each official should understand that these are suggestions to improve officiating and also protect officials from injury. It is my hope that you spend time discussing mechanics as they are in place to provide for maximum coverage. Scrimmage: The fighting/ejection rule is the same in scrimmages as in games. Rules and Mechanics Questions: During the season, should you have a Rules question, contact David Gore at dgoreref910@hotmail.com. During the season, should you have a Mechanics question, email Jerod Phillips at jphillips@ridgerunners.net. Mike Whaley Director of Officials 405-840-1116