Stepping Into Week 1 

The improvement from Week 0 to Week 1 is usually the most dramatic of the season for both players and officials. I hope you’ve taken time to review your film from last week and are ready to step back on the field this week at 100%. Carry forward what went well, and correct what didn’t.

Mechanics & Positioning
We had far too many instances in Week 1 of officials using improper mechanics and even incorrect starting positions. These things are entirely preventable. Take the time this week to read and review the mechanics for the position you are working. Clean mechanics are the foundation of our credibility.

Referee Pregame Responsibility
Referees: this week, make sure you are holding a full pregame with your crew. Cover mechanics, timing, unusual situations, and communication. Do not assume everyone is on the same page. A strong pregame is the first step toward a strong performance.

Shifts
We received an important reminder from Coover this week: the offense is prohibited from making quick, abrupt movements once the center has taken his position with hands on the ball if those movements could simulate the snap. Entire-team shifts are legal if they are deliberate and clearly not intended to draw the defense offside. Be sharp in recognizing the difference.

Hudl Film
I sent out a playlist of the opening kickoff from every game last week. A lot of things happen on kickoffs that we need to be prepared for. Please ensure your crew has reviewed the film before your contests.

Mentees and First-Year Officials
It has been great to see how many of you are engaged in your own development early in the season. Russell Nygaard had over 15 officials on his weekly Wednesday call this week reviewing film and asking questions. A number of our new officials have volunteered on lower-level games and have come out to watch their mentor crews work on Friday night. Keep making this effort to improve and you’ll quickly become more comfortable on the field.

Mentors
Mentors are reminded to actively include their mentees and be a consistent resource they can lean on. Your guidance, communication, and example are vital in helping our first-year officials succeed and grow into strong members of the unit.

Game Reports
Referees: a number of game reports received this week contained pertinent information that will be valuable to future crews. I will be sharing those with you. Please continue to submit these so that others can learn from your experiences. Additionally, if any atypical events or misconduct situations occur in your game, contact liaison Dwayne Finley, as well as Danny Vargas and myself, immediately after your game.

Clock Adjustments
Back Judges and Side Judges should be communicating with clock operators before the game. Part of that conversation should include how to quickly and effectively adjust the game clock. Our standard is 5 and 5: adjust the clock over five minutes in either half if we have lost five or more seconds. Under five seconds, adjust all timing errors.

If a stopped clock runs erroneously at any time, we must fix this – it is an integrity issue. Help alleviate this by informing the clock operator that if they run the clock erroneously and can immediately fix it on their own, they should do so. This will most commonly occur when we have a presnap foul during a stopped clock and the timer hits the button not realizing a flag was thrown.

Kick Catch Interference
Remember that in high school KCI protections are off once the kick touches the Team R player. If he muffs it he does not have an unimpeded right to finish the catch. That being said, it’s important to remember that he likely is still a defenseless player in this scenario and there are restrictions on how he can be contacted. If you rule KCI, remember it is treated as ‘an awarded fair catch’ meaning the enforcement is from the spot of the foul regardless of which team recovers the ball. If you rule personal foul illegal contact on a defenseless player than it is enforced as you would other K fouls from either the previous spot or succeeding spot.

Final Note
Game 2 is about showing growth. Bring focus, hustle, and professionalism to every snap. Let’s raise our standard from last week and keep improving as the season moves forward.

Welcome to Opening Week!

Play begins today with lower-level games and our first varsity contests tomorrow. We’ve waited a long time and put in many hours of training – sadly the season will be over in less time than we’ve spent preparing for it. I bring this up to say we must be ready from Game One. Treat every assignment this week as if you were working a championship final. Trust in your preparation and bring your best effort from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

Emotions will be high as players finally get their first chance to line up against an opponent. That means dead-ball officiating and sideline management are critical this week. Use calm communication and presence to manage situations. When tensions rise, use your feet over your flag whenever possible to defuse problems before they escalate. When you throw your flag be decisive; we want BIG, CLEAR, OBVIOUS fouls.

Game Day Professionalism

Arrival: Be at the site early enough to handle logistics without rushing. Check in with game administration.

Appearance: Walk in looking the part. We represent the unit before the first whistle is blown.

Pregame Walkthrough: Review timing, communication, and unusual situations so the crew is on the same page.

Heat & Hydration
Temperatures will be very high in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys this week. Be proactive in checking with schools in advance if afternoon lower-level games are impacted by heat. Game management is responsible for monitoring WBGT and will let us know if conditions do not allow play.

Trainers should be alert for signs of heat illness in players. If a trainer or coach recommends additional water breaks, support them and allow it. If you feel a break is needed yourself, you should initiate one. Always listen to the guidance of /training/medical staff and coaches when it comes to heat and hydration – player safety comes first.

Take care of yourselves as well. Hydrate throughout the day, not just at the field. Use halftime and timeouts to rehydrate. Watch each other for warning signs of heat illness – dizziness, nausea, cramps, or confusion. Step in if a crewmate is struggling. Your safety matters just as much as the athletes’.

Forward Progress & Clock Management
Be precise with forward progress rulings, especially near the sidelines:

If a runner goes backward out of bounds untouched, the clock stops and restarts on the snap.

If a runner is driven backward out of bounds by a defender, spot the ball at the forward-most point reached before contact. In this case, the clock continues to run (unless a first down is achieved, in which case it stops and restarts on the ready).

Too often, clocks are incorrectly run in situations where forward progress was not stopped in bounds. These games are not so long that we need to “shorten them.” Officiate the play as it happens and apply the correct ruling.

Forward Fumble Out of Bounds – New Rule
Review this point in your pregame. Anytime a ball carrier (for either team, before or after a change of possession) fumbles forward and the ball goes out of bounds beyond the spot of the fumble, the ball must be returned to the spot of the fumble as if the run ended there.

The 40-second play clock runs as normal.

The game clock starts on the ready-for-play.

This is a significant change for 2025 — be consistent and prepared to explain it when it comes up.

Quiz Applications:

A 1/10 @ A-45. A21 runs to the B-30 where he fumbles forward. At the B-27, A82, in an attempt to prevent B from recovering, bats the ball forward and out of bounds at the B-25.

The foul for illegal batting on A82 does not change the ball’s status as a fumble. Therefore, the forward fumble out of bounds is returned to the B-30. The foul occurred beyond the B-30, so it is enforced from the B-30.

A 1/10 @ A-45. A21 runs to the B-30 where he fumbles forward. At the B-27, B22 illegally kicks the loose ball out of bounds at the B-25.

The foul for illegal kicking on B22 does not change the ball’s status as a fumble. The forward fumble out of bounds is returned to the B-30. Since the foul by B occurred beyond the B-30, it is enforced from the B-30.

Uniform & Equipment Standards
The first games of the year often bring preventable equipment issues. Address them during warmups, not after kickoff.

Pants must cover knees.

No tinted visors. (Sunglasses are OK.) There is no process for obtaining approval.

Mouthpieces must be attached and worn.

Pads and braces must be properly covered.

Crew Communication
Headsets should be tested before kickoff. Confirm they are working properly as part of your pregame routine.

Summer Study Guide and Referee Classification Exam
These are due tonight at midnight – most but not all have completed them. Get this done today so you don’t have to worry about makeups during the season. 

Final Note
The first week sets the tone. Hustle, confidence, and professionalism are contagious – bring them every snap. Take pride in your work and enjoy being back under the Friday Night Lights!

Thank you,
Jon Stein
Instructional Chair
SFVFBOA
818-679-4912