New faceoff mechanic - experimental or what?

[mbuff]

As a coach, I'm a little confused as to what's going on with the "Set" or no set being called on the faceoff.

It has been my understanding that no set call would be made anymore but at the Texas A&M tournament last weekend, all of the officials were calling "Set". When I questioned them on it, nobody knew anything about it.

One problem may be that up until this year, the tournament had alot of clinicians running around but the clinic has been moved to Dallas. So can any ref on this board tell us anything definitive? I've been telling our FG guys that the set call is out but now I'm not sure what to tell them.

Thanks,
buff

[LaxRef]

As a coach, I'm a little confused as to what's going on with the "Set" or no set being called on the faceoff.

It has been my understanding that no set call would be made anymore but at the Texas A&M tournament last weekend, all of the officials were calling "Set". When I questioned them on it, nobody knew anything about it.

One problem may be that up until this year, the tournament had alot of clinicians running around but the clinic has been moved to Dallas. So can any ref on this board tell us anything definitive? I've been telling our FG guys that the set call is out but now I'm not sure what to tell them.

Fall ball is always a little hit-or-miss regarding new rules. There's been a press release about the rules for 2006. Do fall ball games use the 2005 rules or the 2006 rules? Do you use the experimental rule or not? (Almost everyone said "not" this year.) Really, it should be on the tournament organizers to settle the question of what rules are being used (preferably in writing to the teams and officials well in advance of the tournament); I can't stand doing fall ball because half the time no one has given a moment of thought to these issues.

My understanding was that the "set" call had been removed for 2006 and that this was not an experimental change. However, I am reluctant to conclude anything with certainty until I see the new rulebook (and even then you can't be certain because sometimes they'll send out an e-mail changing something of significance).

One problem is that, while you can give the gist of a rule change in a press release, the exact wording of a rule is critical. Take the experimental rule from last year: they told us on a flag down that the officials wouldn't blow the whistle unless a goal was scored, the ball left the offensive end of the field, or the defense gained possession. And I immediately start thinking: what if the offense wards? calls a timeout? goes in the crease? has a 10-second violation? According to the letter of the rule, we were supposed to let play continue?

It is really dangerous to assume that people know what you mean when you write a rule; the language really needs to be clear, logical, and bulletproof to be useful to everyone. The rules shouldn't just be written for the people who already know what the rules are "supposed to be." (BTW, I understand that pro leagues often have the worst rules because of this; I've heard huge complaints about the NBA rules).

The NCAA books are due out soon, and then we'll see.

[mbuff]

I guess that I need to clairify that this quarter century fall ball tournament has a Men's club bracket and a College bracket. We were and always have played in the college bracket and with the exception of 25 min running halves and time served on penalties, and the jerseys; all other rules of play in the NCAA rule book apply right down to all the protective equipment.

Above is why the tournament was always a big draw with officials and the clinic. Points of emphasis, new rules, etc. were always enforced as there were refs being evaluated. I heard that the reason that it moved to Dallas was location, location, location. 10 years ago, there was not the quantity or quality of play to pull it off but now there is I suppose. A&M lost out by USL moving that clinic in my opinion. If they want guys to consider officiating after college, why take a showcase clinic away from where the recruits are gathered?

Thanks for trying to anwer my question. I guess I'll have to wait on the mail. I just was not too happy having USL branded officials tell me they knew nothing rather than it may be a rule in the new book but not right now.

[LaxRef]

I guess I'll have to wait on the mail. I just was not too happy having USL branded officials tell me they knew nothing rather than it may be a rule in the new book but not right now.

This is probably mostly a result of the structure of training. Most of the focus is before the high school and college seasons, and those of us who don't go looking for info in the offseason might not hear it. They did send out an e-mail with the press release, but that's not the same as saying "These are now the rules."

Some of us are obsessed with the rules, though, and are always trying to get the scoop on the new ones. . . .

[tamu33]

Mbuff,

I think I can help you out on this one a little. During my games, I have been eliminating the "set" call due to expected changes in the 2006 rulebook. That being said. The 2006 rule book has not been received (membership renewal occurred 10/31, which is when we get new rule books) therefore, our Chief Referee in District 8, Mr. Tom Fitzsimmons has not formally made these changes to our mechanics. As always, new rule implementation is a slow process. So expect a majority of officials to change it sometime over the winter period. As you may have noticed last year, a ton of teams didn't follow new rules that were implemented last year, such as, the four inch box for face-offs. We had teams that were in the playoffs that never got it right. (they were still using the X ) So please be patient, and keep up the good work of teaching your players. But don't expect all fall ball rules to be in the 2006 book. As we have repeatedly seen rules flop in the fall and never make it to the book.

[tamu33]

Above is why the tournament was always a big draw with officials and the clinic. Points of emphasis, new rules, etc. were always enforced as there were refs being evaluated. I heard that the reason that it moved to Dallas was location, location, location. 10 years ago, there was not the quantity or quality of play to pull it off but now there is I suppose. A&M lost out by USL moving that clinic in my opinion. If they want guys to consider officiating after college, why take a showcase clinic away from where the recruits are gathered?

Thanks for trying to anwer my question. I guess I'll have to wait on the mail. I just was not too happy having USL branded officials tell me they knew nothing rather than it may be a rule in the new book but not right now.

The (1)LAREDO (two different things occur at the different A&M tourneys) is just a gathering of officials from different parts of the country, to share knowledge and generate a sense of commerardery (spelling?). The evaluations were done by the (2)Clinicans training session. Where highly experienced national officials were taught how to teach and evaluate referees. Those evaluations were taught in a classroom setting then applied outside on one or two games. From what I understand, the clinicans training session will now be held in one of the bigger cities Dallas or Houston during a tournament that is of comparable size to the A&M tourney.

*edited after reading laxfan25 post- was not 100% sure on when clinicans training session was held.
Fall Classic - Clinicians training classes
HS Tourney - LAREDO

[laxfan25]

Having attended the Clinician's training session at A&M three years ago, it was held while there was a college/club tournament going on at the school. We didn't get a lot of time to practice evaluating, but the training by John Hill was excellent. John deserves a lot of credit and praise for the time and work he put into developing the certified clinicians program.
It was/is a great resource to draw in officials from all over the country, in order to try to provide uniform officiating across the US. I have done many training classes since, primarily with new officials starting off in MS and HS.

[LaxRef]

Having seen the 2006 NCAA rules, they do appear to have removed "set" fromthe faceoff.

[mbuff]

Laxref, fan25, & Ali,

Thanks for the information guys. I do recall seeing quite a few X's on the field last season but I always just agreed to waive it and get the game on rather than make it an issue.

But Ali's post did remind me that I'm going to have to either find or make a new little paint template square for the upcomming season. I can live with cutting a hole in a shoebox lid but if they bring on the shot clock I don't know how I'd swing that rule.

Keep up the consistancy & good work fellas.