There are many times when officials experience unforeseen obstacles to a well-run football game. When situations beyond their control interfere with a smoothly worked game, generally it’s because the officials failed to “take care of business” before the game. It has been said, “Get there early enough to iron out any poor preparations on the part of the game administrator.” One could have included insufficient anticipation on the part of the officials, too. There is a much higher probability for a well run contest when the official takes proper precautions. This can be done when packing his bag, when care is taken to make some pre-game inquiries an inspections, and when ball boys are properly selected and tested.

To illustrate, the following are some actual case histories from a veteran football of official’s season:

• An official is extremely excited after receiving his first-ever playoff assignment as a referee. The day of the game, he unexpectedly has to work late and rushes home to pack his bag. He arrives at the distant game site on time, but while getting dressed discovers his knickers are missing from his bag. Embarrassed, he borrows a pair from the umpire who is six inches shorter and fifty pounds heavier, but is the only one with an extra pair. This small annoyance takes the referee completely out of his game plan.
• For a game started on a mild and sunny afternoon, the officials wore short sleeves, and even joked about wearing short pants though it was nearing the end of the fall season. Predictably, before the day was over, the weather turned into a nightmare of cold wind, rain and snow. The back judge was tormented unmercifully for leaving his long sleeve shirt at home because it looked like such a nice day.
• A game was being played on a terribly muddy field. On the very first play, the line judge called for a ball, but no ball boy was in sight. Play was resumed after a lengthy delay for the umpire to wipe off the ball, and the line judge was happy to receive help from the sideline in locating the ball boy before the next play was over. Unfortunately, the next time he called for a ball, the youngster wound up and threw the brand new ball directly into the mud puddle.
• A hotly contested game ends after several highly controversial calls. The officials promptly leave the field not speaking to anyone although there are several agitated individuals questioning their integrity. They arrive at their safe haven locker room door, followed by these same people. Unfortunately, the door is locked, knocking brings no response, and no one with a key is in sight.
• The star tailback returns the opening kickoff before 10,000 screaming fans and numerous big time college scouts. He breaks a tackle at midfield and is knocked out of bounds in front of the visiting team bench. He lands on a hard tar surface that was covered with a mat just before the game when it was discovered during the referee’s pregame field inspection. It is homecoming night and the athletic director was reluctant to cover this area until the referee insisted. The star running back advances to collegiate fame and became a star running back in the professional ranks.

In these examples, only in the final narrative did we witness a favorable conclusion. Observe how each of these potential surprise situations could have been avoided with a minimum of pregame organization.

Packing Your Bag

There probably is no valid excuse for an official coming to the game without the necessary equipment or clothing, but it happens frequently. Without a doubt, the most important element in packing a bag properly is to always pack your bag yourself. No one but the game official knows what is needed or favored for that day’s contest.

Make a checklist of items to carry in your bag and check your bag against this list before every game. Carry extra clothes, extra equipment and cold-weather gear in another bag in your car. There are many times when these extra items will be needed, such as when there is a sudden change in the weather, when clothing tears, when a shoelace or belt breaks, or when you or another official forget something. Why have the equipment at home when it could be utilized at the game?

One other technique veteran officials find very helpful is to repeat dressing and undressing in their own certain order so that this pattern automatically becomes its own checklist. Additionally, savvy officials carry some extra “wet” bags or plastic bags with draw strings for wet clothes and dirty shoes.

Another important element to remember about packing a bag is to never wait until the last moment. Most veteran officials have learned to pack the night before the game when they are more telexed. Here are some extra items that are nice to have in your bag:

• a roll of toilet paper
• shoelaces
• fingernail clippers
• adhesive-strip bandages and adhesive tape
• safety pins
• insect repellent
• an extra car key
• a dollar, or two
• a cell phone charger
• an association roster with telephone numbers
• league secretary’s assignor’s telephone numbers
• game contracts and with current and future schedules

Pregame Inquiries

Additionally, logical pregame inquiries will go a long way in reducing your potential for disaster. Some things to know before the game are:

• Who is the on-site manager?
• Who has the keys to the locker room?
• What is the game starting time?
• What special events will occur before the game or at halftime?
• What is halftime length?

Some questions to ask the on-site manager include:

• Is the clock working properly?
• Is communication with the timer possible from the field?
• Is there security for the players and officials?
• Are there towels for a wet ball?
• Has there been any previous trouble between the schools?
• Who is on the chain crew?
• Who is the medical person for the home team? Visitors?
• Who are the ball boys for the home team? Visitors?
• Where are the dressing rooms for both teams?
• What are the proper team names and colors?
• What are the coaches’ names?

Pregame Inspections

There also are pregame inspections that can eliminate the change for mismanagement. Things to inspect before the game include:

• Game balls
• Player equipment on both teams
• Field markings (e.g., condition of the field, year-line markings, hash marks, goal lines, try spots at the 3-yard lines and any extra lines such as soccer markings)
• Team bench areas
• Hazards to be removed or covered
• Pylons
• Location of the scoreboard
• Location of the press box
• Loaction of the timer (press box or on field)
• Condition of the chains and down marker and accessibility of replacement equipment

Selecting and Testing Ball Boys

Finally, an official can concentrate much better on the game and the participants when competent help relieves him of the job of chasing the ball on incomplete passes and kicks out of bounds.

Competent ball boys (they can be girls, too) can contribute to a smoother flow and much more consistent tempo of the game. Nowhere is this more true than in inclement weather when the ball must be wiped dry after almost every play. Any officials can get the most from a ball boy by:

• Recording their name on his game card before the game to remember it
• Calling the individual by name, not as “ball”
• Impressing upon them their importance to the game
• Making sure the ball boy knows he or she is part of the game crew, not high or her team
• Making sure the ball boy has enough dry towels to do the job
• Testing the ball boy before the game by:
• Making sure the ball boy can catch the ball reasonable well
• Making sure the ball boy can accurately throw the ball underhanded a reasonable distance
• Disqualifying the ball boy if he or she can’t perform adequately … even if the ball boy is the coach’s child … or get him or her some capable help
• Normally only changing the ball on incomplete passes, after kicks, or on balls outside the numbers
• Keeping the ball boy off the field but ahead of the ball
• Moving toward the ball boy to receive the ball and not making them throw beyond their range
• Showing the ball boy the wet ball before throwing it
• Complimenting the ball boy sincerely when they have done a good job
• Remembering that there is a wide range of ball boys-don’t expect perfection – just be thankful for cooperation

An official who follows these or similar procedures almost certainly will contribute to a smooth, well-run football game.

Prepare before the game. Don’t leave yourself open for surprises.

Take care of business.

Excerpted with permission from the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Football Official Training Manual.