September
2008
Football Refs… More than Whistles and Flags
Football referees are more than just whistles and flags. Although most well known for calling penalties and sometimes deciding the fate of games, the men in stripes do way more than just throw flags. In fact, it has been said that a football referee could probably throw a penalty flag on every play that happens. If that is true, how do the referees know when to throw their flags?
It starts with years of training and practice. Of course there is the Football Officials Jersey that is worn, the referee hat, and the Umpire Pants which each football official needs to wear. In some sports you see substitute gear worn but not in football.
American football is a complicated game with many rules. Usually football officials have crews of 4 to 6 and depending on the level of play there can be as many as 8 to effectively officiate a game. Learning all of the rules is difficult and can take many years. While all levels of football officials attempt to do the best that they can the higher the level of competition usually the better the level of officiating.
Wearing Umpire Pants and a Football Officials Jersey, American football officials look the part which is one of the most important parts of officiating. It is important no matter what the sport that the referees are professional and in football wearing a Football Referee Hat lets everyone at the game know who is in charge.
Perhaps the most important job of football officials is making sure that they concern themselves with the safety of the players. Properly enforcing the rules of the game is the best way to do this and football officials do this to the best of their ability no matter what level they are officiating.
