7/23/14

 They graciously volunteer their time!

     1. John Crispino (SW) 2. Ron Fuller (NE) 3. Tom Graham (C) 4. John Keener (E/SE) 5. Ken Myers (NW)  THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS HELP!!

 1. Current Class 1 or Retired OHSAA FB Official  2. 10 or More Years Experience as an OHSAA Class 1 & 2 FB Official  3. 1 or More Years Experience as an OHSAA State Tournament FB Official  4. Recommended by the DCO  5. Attended the OHSAA State Observers Clinic

 1. Assist in the recruitment of Observers.

 2. Weeks 8 - 10: Determine availability of Observers for Weeks 11 -14.

 3. Weeks 11 – 14: Schedule Observers to State Tournament Games -- their District only.

 4. Notify Observers of their assignments.

 5. Attempt to assign 2 Observers to each game, if there are enough Observers.

 6. Notify each Observer on Tuesday or Wednesday prior to the game that weekend.

 7. Will identify the “Lead” observer when there are 2 observers.

 8. Goal: We observe 217 of 217 games.

 Years of Officiating or Number of State Playoff Games Worked Does Not Equate to becoming a Good or Great Observer.

 Becoming a Good or Great Observer has a different “skill set” versus a person’s officiating skills.

 Our ability to concentrate on the 5 Crew Positions, Gold Book Knowledge, & Ability to RELATE to the Crew Being Observed – YES!!

 1. Lead Observer will contact Site Mgr. (AD – Week 11) by Wed., via email, to confirm & ask about the PB, Parking, & Officials Locker Room Location.

 2. Due to PB size, there might be no seats or only 1 seat for the Observer. Do not bring friends & expect to sit in the PB. Determine PB location on HT or VT SL.

 3. Highly recommend that if the weather is “ok” you sit in the stands away from the fans.

4. Dress professionally – especially if sitting in the PB.

 5. Contact the R midweek to see if it is ok to attend part of their Pregame.

 6. Pregame (PG): Introduce yourself; confirm the crew names; answer questions only; listen to some of the PG; how does the R interact with crew; do NOT tell Crew what you expect.

 7. Pregame: No individual conversations with crew members.

 8. CT: Coin tossed at 20 minutes?  9. Crew walks & inspects the field; talks with chain crew, ball persons, etc. (P.10- Gold Book). R seeks out Medical Professionals.

 10. PB: Be courteous to everyone.

 11. PB: Do NOT talk to the Press (“No Comment” if asked question about the game).

 12. PB: Be reasonable with food & drink.

 13. PB: 2 Observers Conversing: Be VERY careful as to what you say. Talk Softly!!

 1. CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS ONLY!!

 2. Beginning 8/8/11 we NEVER again use the word criticism.

 3. We are teachers, mentors, role models, & educators.

 4. We are there to HELP the officials rather than rate or evaluate them.

 5. CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS ONLY!!

 6. Print or Write Clearly on the OHSAA Observation Form so it can be read!!

 1. ½ Time Adjustments (similar to a Coach).

 2. Meet Crew & walk with them into the the LR.

 3. Discuss IP, R&R then Flow, Signaling, & Communication only unless the Crew has questions for you.

 4. Limit the number of constructive comments for each official to 2!

 5. Do NOT discuss judgment, controversial plays, or penalty enforcement unless they ask for your opinion. Save this for the Post Game Review (PGR).

 6. Limit time to a maximum of 10 minutes. Adjust time if LR is far from the FB Field.

 7. Spend time the 2 suggestions you made at ½ time – Did they listen & apply them?

nd half observing

 1. Post Game Review (PGR): Meet Crew coming off field & walk with them into LR.

 2. Give them time to cool down, grab a drink, & some food.

 3. If the chain crew are officials, invite them to be part of the PGR.

 4. If the Crew has fellow officials at the game, invite them in, if the Crew says yes.

 5. If LR allows, ask the Crew to gather in a group (rather than spread out in the LR).

 6. Find a chair or bench & sit down so a discussion can ensue rather than a lecture.

 7. Crew members give their undivided attention to the PGR – no undressing, etc.

 8. Please treat the Crew as we would want to be treated.

 9. If 2 Observers, the “Lead” does most of the Review & Discussion.

 10. Ask them “How the Game Went”. Ask them if they have any questions.

 11. Give them your overall impressions, generally speaking, before specifics.

 12. Be open & honest with them. They want & need your feedback to become better.

 13. Ask Questions on their IP & R&R for the Play Types. Do they know the Gold Book?

 14. Be SPECIFIC: Comments such as “you need to hustle more” are too general!!  15. If you are an “atta boy” person & want to only be “buddy/buddy” with Crew, stay home!

 16. Judgment Calls: We need to discuss them as “What did you see” followed by asking other “near” officials “What did they see”.  17. Then discuss it in the context of the Rule, Judgment, & Improved Mechanics. Be careful, we are usually a long way from the field!

 18. Limit PGR to 15 to 20 minutes unless they really need your help.

 19. Yellow Copies are given to the Crew after the PGR – NO EXCEPTIONS!! Observers who do not will not be assigned games.

 20. Leave your email address/phone # with the Crew for any follow-up by them.

 21. If you want to email the Crew a “cleaner” copy the following week that is ok.

 22. Scan/Email ( [email protected]

) or mail white copy to the DOD at his home.

 23. EMAIL SUBJECT: Indicate Week #, Crew #, Division #, Home Team, & Visiting Team.

 24. EXAMPLE: Week 13, Crew 14, D- II, Gahanna vs. Hilliard Davidson.

 25. DO NOT mail or email copies to OHSAA.

 1. If only 1 Observer is assigned, check with another official, if qualified, to help you.

 2. All observations & comments follow the OHSAA GOLD BOOK 100% - NO exceptions!!

 3. Bring a hard surface to write on & 2 medium pens.

 4. Bring 2 copies of each Observation Form (P. 1– Crew, R & U); (P.2 – LM/LJ/BJ).

 5. Bring the Gold Book & NFHS Rules Book.

 6. Refer to the Gold Book often (I do)!!

 1. Record the Qt. & Time for Each Comment.

 2. General Crew Observations are recorded in the Crew Column.

 3. Goal: Observe the IP & R & R, then Flow, for each official a minimum of 8 – 10 downs.

 4. Plays: Run, Pass, GL, Reverse, KO, Punt, Try, FG, etc. You MUST know the IP & R&R.

 5. Discipline: Observers tend to observe the position they work. Break that habit.

 6. Discipline: Observers tend to watch the officials closest to them. Break that habit.

 7. Abbreviations: Learn them & record them.

 8. Consistency: If the official’s IP needs help, watch him additional times. He might have been in the correct IP every time, but one. Forget the one time he was not.

 9. Write a comment every 2or 3 downs.

 10. KO: Observe the U & BJ on 1 KO then the LM/LJ/R on the next KO.

 11. Ball Becomes Dead: Sweep the field – does each official immediately signal the next down? Do they officiate the DB Action?

 12. GLM: Observe LM on a down then the LJ on the next down. Do they move off the SL?

 13. Reverse: Same as # 12 above. R on EL?

 14. 1 st Down – Do all officials stop the clock?

 15. Restricted Area: Is it being ENFORCED?

 16. Do they know R&R1, R&R2, & R&R3 for Pass Plays? Do they R&R differently as they “read” a Pass Play versus a Run Play?

 17. Signaling: Are the OHSAA Signals being used at all times by all officials?

 18. Whistles: 1 or 2, OR TOO many? Listen. Whistle out of mouth until ball is dead during the down.

 19. Discipline: 1 st half -- usually watching specific officials rather than “the game”.

 20. Game Management: How did the Crew in general & the R in particular manage it.

 21. Glaring Judgment Calls: Record what happened to ask questions later after the game only during the PGR.

 22. What Just Happened? Record Qt. & Time to review it later.

 23. Handout: Excellent examples of reports.

 1. Sit Together & Communicate. It is a MUST so no one else hears what we are saying.

 2. “Lead” Observer records all observations (so he can read & understand his writing).

 3. “Delegate” the plays: KO – 1 takes U/BJ & the other observer takes R/LM/LJ. Next KO – Switch.

 4. GLM: 1 takes LM & 1 takes LJ. Then switch on the next down.

 5. Punt: 1 takes LM & 1 takes LJ. Then switch on the next punt.

 6. Constantly ask the other observer “What Did You See”?

 7. Communicate: Who are you observing?

 8. Communicate: Who do we need to watch?

 9. Lead Observer: Does all of the talking at halftime & most in PGR.

 10. Do NOT have 1 Observer take 2 or 3 officials during the game. We are a team!!

 1. Injured Official: Contact the DOD on Sunday or Monday: Name, Position, Phone #, & Status of Injury.

 2. Weak Official (Not qualified to work this level): Contact DOD on Sunday or Monday: Name, Position, Phone #, & Rationale. Also, Name & Phone # of the R.

 3. MOST IMPORTANT: Check OHSAA Website for the FB Brackets – Determine the Game Number & Record it on the Observation Forms (hopefully!!!).

 The 2015 OHSAA Observers Clinic will be held on Sunday, August 9 th , Site TBD.

 Folks who have not attended an OHSAA Observers Clinic will meet at 9AM.

 Observers who have attended an OHSAA Observers Clinic previously will meet at 10AM.