THIS MONTH’S (9/10) HIGHLIGHTS RULES, MECHANICS, TECHNIQUES: Several types of fouls almost never happen or are ever flagged. Referees have a higher standard in that they must be familiar with seldom-used penalty signals. Be prepared for anything with this month’s football article “‘Don’t See That Often’: Unusual Fouls Can Trip Up a Crew.” While 2010 was a non-rules-change year, the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Rules Committees voted to change the penalty for elbow contact above the shoulders for the 2010-11 season. Learn more with the basketball article “NCAA Sharpens Elbow Rule: Elbows Above the Shoulders Automatically Intentional or Flagrant.” When officials advance to higher levels, they must adjust their style to the new level of play. Learn how to do that in the soccer article “Movin’ on Up: Learn What Players Want When You Advance.” Situations often arise in ballgames when a gentle touch by an umpire can go a long way toward defusing things. Get some game management advice in the baseball article “Take Care of Business: Problems Arise When You Don’t Manage Situations.” There are three types of rundowns and it’s particularly important that your two-umpire crew recognizes what type of rundown is developing. For more information on rundowns, see the softball article “Lowdown on Rundowns: Three Types of Two-Person Situations That Are a Must Review.” No matter how much we think something is going to turn out one way, even if that perception is accurate, the actual execution doesn’t fit our pre-formed mental image. Find out more in the all sports article “Dangers of Prejudging: Pregame Predictions Can Often Be Very Misleading.”
FEATURES: College World Series umpire Jim Jackson relates his experiences from the weekend before finding out he was selected through the end of the tournament. Get an inside look at the CWS experience in “The Road to Omaha.” An ex-police lieutenant and longtime umpire details management skills that work for cops and will work for you in “Police Call.” MLB umpire Jim Joyce talks to Referee about the infamous play at first base that spoiled Armando Galarraga’s perfect game in “The Play at First.” Go back to 1966 and get the perspective of officials who worked the big game between Notre Dame and Michigan State, college football’s titans, in “You Are There: Game of the Century.”
COLUMNS & DEPARTMENTS: Our “News” section leads off with coverage on a minor league football player getting 10 years in jail for assaulting a referee. “Getting It Right” shares the story of the start of a new officials association in “New Umpire Association Starts With Experience.” In this month’s “Last Call” article “Fast Break,” a referee recounts a high school basketball playoff game he worked in which a player shattered the backboard.
