““What officials wish What officials wish coaches knew more aboutcoaches knew more about””

EPLCAEPLCA Annual Clinic Annual Clinicpresented bypresented by

Craig Burnett KLOA/PIAA officialCraig Burnett KLOA/PIAA officialMarch 1, 2014March 1, 2014

Contributions by:Contributions by:

Dennis Runyon, Lee Stevens, Bill TwohigDennis Runyon, Lee Stevens, Bill Twohig

Kevin Schaefer and Jeff HewlingsKevin Schaefer and Jeff Hewlings

The number one reason why The number one reason why an official is on the field?an official is on the field?

SAFETYSAFETYThe safety of all the participants

* The players * The coaches * The table personnel * The spectators * Their partners

What coaches can do to What coaches can do to helphelp

Provide a safe playing fieldProvide a safe playing field * Correct field markings* Correct field markings

* Correct limit lines* Correct limit lines

* True surface and goals* True surface and goals

Promote safety with your playersPromote safety with your players

* Properly worn * Properly worn unalteredunaltered equipmentequipment

* Proper attitude toward opponents* Proper attitude toward opponents

The other reason officials The other reason officials are on the fieldare on the field

““To enforce the rules, and shallTo enforce the rules, and shall

exercise authority in an impartial,exercise authority in an impartial,

firm and controlled manner”firm and controlled manner”Page 112Page 112

Coaches and Officials Coaches and Officials responsibilities are clearly responsibilities are clearly

defined in the rule bookdefined in the rule book

Coaches - page 21, sections 3 & 4Coaches - page 21, sections 3 & 4

Officials - page 22, sections 5 & 6Officials - page 22, sections 5 & 6

The ObviousThe Obvious Know the rulesKnow the rules * The rules change every year.* The rules change every year. * Many of the officials you see must * Many of the officials you see must know two rulebooks (NCAA/NFHS)know two rulebooks (NCAA/NFHS) and the US Lacrosse Youth Guidebookand the US Lacrosse Youth Guidebook

Set the proper tone with your playersSet the proper tone with your players * Teams take on the personality of their coach.* Teams take on the personality of their coach. * Play hard, play fair, play safe.* Play hard, play fair, play safe. * Accept the fact that officials are not perfect.* Accept the fact that officials are not perfect.

Understand the level of commitmentUnderstand the level of commitmentofficials must makeofficials must make

Join associations Join associations ( pay dues )( pay dues ) * KLOA $55 per year* KLOA $55 per year * PIAA $40 per year * PIAA $40 per year ( + passing a test )( + passing a test )

* US Lacrosse $50 per year * US Lacrosse $50 per year ( optional )( optional )

Meeting requirementsMeeting requirements * Six general meetings ( minimum )* Six general meetings ( minimum ) * Rules interpretation ( mandatory )* Rules interpretation ( mandatory )

The gearThe gear * Multiple uniforms* Multiple uniforms * Flags, whistles, timers, tape measure, * Flags, whistles, timers, tape measure,

scorecardsscorecards

The not so obviousThe not so obvious * Balancing our first job with officiating.* Balancing our first job with officiating.

* Balancing our personal life with officiating.* Balancing our personal life with officiating.

* Contacting our partners prior to the game* Contacting our partners prior to the game

to coordinate the uniform of the day and to coordinate the uniform of the day and

any travel concerns.any travel concerns.

* Conducting a pre and post game meeting.* Conducting a pre and post game meeting.

* The importance of competent table* The importance of competent table

personnel.personnel.

* The importance of having a plan for * The importance of having a plan for

bad weather (lightning, etc.).bad weather (lightning, etc.).

* Understanding official* Understanding official ’’s mechanicss mechanics

(knowing which one of us to (knowing which one of us to ““communicatecommunicate”” to). to).

The NumbersThe Numbers

* Our association* Our association’’s assigned 5,159 gamess assigned 5,159 games in Arbiter during 2013. in Arbiter during 2013. (approximate)(approximate)

* KLOA and GPLOA have approximately* KLOA and GPLOA have approximately 225 members.225 members.

* Between the two associations we have* Between the two associations we have approximately 25 college officials.approximately 25 college officials. * We lose a lot of them on Wednesdays and Saturdays* We lose a lot of them on Wednesdays and Saturdays

What that meansWhat that means

* We all work a lot.* We all work a lot.

* The assigners have a very large task* The assigners have a very large task

to fill games with the best officials to fill games with the best officials for each game.for each game.

* If a coach requests a time/date * If a coach requests a time/date changechange

it presents a difficult challenge for it presents a difficult challenge for our assigners.our assigners.

The really important The really important stuffstuff

Teach your players what to do if theyTeach your players what to do if they

become injured on the field.become injured on the field. * Have them get on the ground and stay * Have them get on the ground and stay

there.there.

Abide by the Abide by the ““Coaches Code of EthicsCoaches Code of Ethics””.. * Page 111 of 2014 NFHS rulebook* Page 111 of 2014 NFHS rulebook

Be respectful to officials!!!Be respectful to officials!!! * We love our sport too!* We love our sport too!

Common things coachescomplain about

* Consistency

* Holding

* Interference

* Delayed Substitution’s

Consistency * You’re right and we are working on it! * We now use game video at some of our meetings and have open discussions

on what should or should not have been called.

*We hold an Annual pre-season clinic to prepare for the season that includes

a one mile fitness run, on field simulations and classroom sessions.

* We continue to look for ways to improve.

Holding page 61

“Holding is permitted under the following conditions:

a. An opponent with possession of the ball or within 5 yards of a loose ball may be held from the front or side.

b. An opponent in possession of the ball may be played with a hold check from the rear if the hold exerts no more then equal pressure. For (a) and (b), a hold check shall be done with either a closed hand, shoulder or forearm; and both hands shall be on the crosse.

c. A player may hold the crosse of an opponent with his crosse when that opponent has possession of the ball.

d. A player within 5 yards of a loose ball may hold the crosse of his opponent with his own crosse”.

Interference * Both offensive and defensive players can be called for interference.

* If contact occurs off the ball (more then 5 yards away) interference occurred. * Problem is, who initiated the contact? It is often impossible to tell. Sometimes players simply run into each

other. A no call is best if we can’t be sure.

Delayed Substitutions * Players may substitute at any time other

then during face-offs.

* The substituting player may not gain an advantage by delaying his entry

on to the field.

* It is not illegal to play, during live ball situations, with too FEW players.

Things officials complain about

Assistant coaches “…Only the head coach will

communicate with the officials…” “…Head

coaches also shall be in control of and responsible for the actions of all non- playing members of their squad”. Page 21

I Love this slide Thanks Bill Twohig

* Coaches screaming “blow the whistle”when their player, with the ball in his

crosse, is standing in the box or out of bounds. * Teach your players to be “whistle

ready”. * No more horns. We want quick

restarts as much as anybody.

Our game is changing

* The rules involving hits to the head and

neck have changed for the good.

* Now there is “defenseless player” language in the rulebook.

* Minimum 2 minutes non-releasable.

Any questions?Any questions?

* Feel free to contact me if I can be of* Feel free to contact me if I can be of

any help to you or your program.any help to you or your program.

* Let* Let’’s all have the best season of ours all have the best season of our

lives. You never know if it will belives. You never know if it will be

your last.your last.

THANK YOU for THANK YOU for listeninglistening

KLOA website is KLOA website is keystonerefs.orgkeystonerefs.org

I can be reached at I can be reached at burnettsan@gmail.com