Week 3 GASA Games

Wow a very close second game from Saturday night. Well done to all teams for an entertaining performance this past weekend.
A few things to clarify with this week:
1. Blocked Punt
2. Kick Off untouched into the End Zone
3. Kick Off 25 sec clock
4. Time Outs
5. Block in the Back
6. Assistant Coaches
7. Post game reviews

1. There was a blocked punt in the second game that was then in the end zone. It was recovered by the kicking team behind the LOS which meant they could advance it. The ball carrier was then stopped before getting the ball out of the end zone and a Safety was the correct result on the play.

2. In game 1 a kick off went into the end zone untouched by the receiving team. It landed at about the 25 yard line and bounced over the receivers head. Those kicks which go into the EZ untouched by the receiving team are dead by rule.

3. New rule this year was a 25 sec kick off clock. While the clock went to zero on one of the Spartans kickoffs last weekend there was no undue delay as the player was in his run up to the ball to kick it. While the absolute technical rule was a delay of game at zero this is not always the manner in which we manage the situation and all clubs at some stage have been given this leeway when on offense. If we actually did stop the clock and march off a penalty then we would have delayed the game by a minute or so ourselves. Some people would call this cheating we would rather call it game managing. The intent of the clock is to get people moving rather than standing round huddled up for longer periods than necessary. In managing the game in this way the crew get a pat on the back well done.

4. Time Outs - A time out is for the coach or assistants to address their players. It is not a time to call over the Referee and to give them a 'serve' and 'vent' about game decisions. Even if a coach does this he will only be given his one minute of time out. An official will answer a question where possible and at a reasonable break in the game when the coach is asking in a reasonable manner. The coaches conference or time out does not give anyone the right to challenge judgment of an official's call. Referees have all been directed to make a report on all coaches who use this tactic. Please refer to the rule book on this matter in regards to The Football Code and the Coaches Ethics. Please give the respect that the job deserves and remember we are all here to better the game of Gridiron in SA. We will listen to your questions and answer at an appropriate time in an appropriate manner.

5. A big question on the weekend was about players engaged and turning their back on an opponent. It came during the tight tussle in game 2. While the rule was questioned the judgment of the official was supported by our assessor in the stand where the player disengaged from the original block and then re-engaged again after the player turned his back. This is BIB every time. If the player turned his back while the player was engaged originally then there is no penalty flag.

6. While many coaches show us respect and discuss issues casually sometimes it is the assistant coach that is yelling and over questioning calls. This is distracting and may even cause the official to miss other calls that could have gone in your favour because the assistant distracted the official. The Head Coach has whole responsibility of the sideline and controlling of all assistant coaches, players and ancillary personnel. Let's not continue such actions, they are unsportsmanlike, and leave the discussions to the Head Coach. Again all Referees have been instructed to make game reports on this issue even if no penalty flags have been thrown for such conduct during a game.

7. Over the past few weeks a couple of teams has gone to the extent of providing feedback to the officials after a game. This has helped identify the plays they have concerns with and what the officials called or didn't call.
While we can't go back and answer every question or concern from a game we do review and look at concerns that clubs send us a report in for. Just providing this blog is a review of the game. If we feel a need to comment about a particular play or rule then the place to comment will be on this blog for all to see the topic and its reply.

Have a good week 4 of games and see you all on the field. Let's make this a season to remember for all the right reasons. Now with such a long post and doing it over 2 days I hope I didn't miss any vital technicalities on any of the issues. If you see something that is incorrect please give me a buzz through email or comment on the blog so that it can then be rectified.

Regards
Grant Martin