LaxTV Forums | A Forum About The MCLA

Had a situation in a recent game where there was a "illegal offensive screen/interference" call in the area near the top of the box during a clearing attempt. The ball had just been picked up by the defense. The play happened between me (single side, heading back up field to the midfield cone for the clear) and the new trail (old lead) official. It was an "in between" call as it wasn't clear who had on/off responsibilities.

Trail official comes in and calls illegal offensive screen against the team (defense) trying to clear the ball. I clearly saw it the other way (offensive player initiating contact right after defense gained possesion & started to clear).

In my opinion, we should have had a flag down, slow whistle - but the other official was quicker to the whistle. Regardless of my opinion, the other official's call stood and I didn't try to reverse the call.

Have you ever attempted to overturn another officials (judgment) call on the field? I'm not talking about serious errors in rules by new or beginning officials.

Basketball officials huddle together all the time to "get the call right." I don't know if it's ego or something else, but I wonder why lacrosse officials don't try to do the same more often.

Your thoughts?

Sonny wrote:Had a situation in a recent game where there was a "illegal offensive screen/interference" call in the area near the top of the box during a clearing attempt. The ball had just been picked up by the defense. The play happened between me (single side, heading back up field to the midfield cone for the clear) and the new trail (old lead) official. It was an "in between" call as it wasn't clear who had on/off responsibilities.

Trail official comes in and calls illegal offensive screen against the team (defense) trying to clear the ball. I clearly saw it the other way (offensive player initiating contact right after defense gained possesion & started to clear).

In my opinion, we should have had a flag down, slow whistle - but the other official was quicker to the whistle. Regardless of my opinion, the other official's call stood and I didn't try to reverse the call.

Have you ever attempted to overturn another officials (judgment) call on the field? I'm not talking about serious errors in rules by new or beginning officials.

Basketball officials huddle together all the time to "get the call right." I don't know if it's ego or something else, but I wonder why lacrosse officials don't try to do the same more often.

Your thoughts?

Definitely huddle and get the call right, particularly if you think you had a different angle and saw what really happened. There have been a few times where I thought about huddling and didn't, and I later kicked myself for not taking the chance to get the call right. I've never regretted the 30 seconds it took to huddle and make the right call.

If there's a clear difference of opinion which is unresolveable, the referee's decision prevails, but at that point at least your conscience is clear.

I recently saw two officials huddle to discuss a play in which their was a question about wether the offensive team had passed or shot the ball out of bounds. The official made the call one way. When questioned (very politely) by the other team and when the coach requested the official at least consult the other officials, they did. The call was reversed which seemed to be the proper call.

I even remarked to the guy next to me that I wish their were more huddles on the field. I was that much more impressed with the official that decided to huddle up than I had been with him before.

I would make it clear though that no player or coach should be within 50 feet or more of the officials huddle. Yelling at officials going to huddle or huddling to me is a major distraction and should be warned abruptly then flagged if it continues in any way, shape, or form.

I think getting the call right is the paramount concern. In our first game of the season I was the lead, and was actually past the goal line on the play. A pass went out top and back down behind and sailed out of bounds. It was obviously not a shot and I awarded to the defense. Both of my partners ran in and indicated that the D had tipped the pass and I hadn't seen it. We got the call right and I thanked my partners.
On rare occasion I've come in and discussed a call with my partner, again, trying to make sure we got the RIGHT call.
I know in some areas and with some officials, they take umbrage that you might be "fishing in their pond", but that is mre when someone throws a flag on a play right in front of another ref. Even there, if they've got a better angle on the back side that I can't see - thanks for the help!

Officials seeing things differntly? New lead and new trail both lookng at ball on ground in front of table. New L blew whistle and signalled one way. New T then double whistled and signalled the other. Without huddling, as Referee and single side, I awarded by AP even knowing that new L "should" not be making the call.

There's a balance between getting the calls 100% by consultation and agreement (which doesn't ensure correctness) and keeping the game flowing. Part of it comes from understanding who should be making the call, part of it comes from understanding the impact/materiality of the call, part of it comes from appreciation & acceptance of our own fallability as well as that of others.

Couple of suggestions/reminders

1. Good pregame on mechanics/responsibilities for calls is always good. I believe it's useful for even the most experienced officials.
2. None verbal communication such as a "deflection" signal to indicate you saw something else.
3. Communication with other officials on fouls, SWFD & play on situations.
4. Game situation, emotional level of coaches/players, significance of the game, etc. are factors to be considered in getting it 100% or keeping the game going.
5. Remember we're on the same team.
6. Referee "sets the table" for each game.

Remember, (according to my son and brother, both in IS services) "To err is human, to really mess up takes IS support!"

I have no problem chiming in on an OOB call if I saw the ball tipped (or not). But I will rarely say anything regarding a judgment call on a foul unless I definitely saw it different.

shrekjr wrote:I have no problem chiming in on an OOB call if I saw the ball tipped (or not). But I will rarely say anything regarding a judgment call on a foul unless I definitely saw it different.

I think we're talking about the ones where one official has a better angle than the guy who made the call, or was looking elsewhere. For example, with the ball in the air heading OOB, the Lead sees the player jump, tap the ball inbounds while airborne, and then land OOB, but the Trail sees that the player stepped on the OOB line before jumping. Or the lead calls a push from behind on a fast break but the center could see there was no contact and the player tripped over his own feet.

But if my partner calls a slash that I thought, "Geez, I wouldn't have called that" I'm not going to call for a huddle.

Oh, and if there's a misapplied rule or incorrect rule interpretation, I'm always going to get that straightened out unless, as some people have pointed out, the game situation says that it doesn't make sense to do so.