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Postseason Assignments

December 9, 2008

Congratulations on WDFOA Members receiving Championship assignments at the High School and College Level:

Maryland 3A Championship - Westlake vs. Wilde Lake
R: Kenny Greene
U: Dave Dunaway
H: Jeffrey Allwine
L: Paul Allen
B: Bill Witte
Chains: Bob Morris, Marty Alexa, Bob Straughter

WCAC Championship - Good Counsel vs. DeMatha
R: Paul Friedman
U: Horace Stanback
H: Marshall Gross
L: Shaolin Crawford
S: Brian McGrath
F: Felipe Wright
Chains: Paul Allen, Martin Peters, Shawn Lynch
ECO: Ed Vasquez

DCIAA Championship "Turkey Bowl" - Dunbar vs. Woodson
R: Bob Straughter
U: Lenny Golden
H: Al Daniels
L: Shaolin Crawford
Chains: Mordacai Carr, Harry McAfee, Harry Washington

Music City Bowl - Boston College vs. Vanderbilt
R: Adrian Hill

NCAA Division II National Championship - Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota-Duluth
F: Russ Wyatt

NCAA Division II National Semifinal - California (PA) vs. Minnesota-Duluth
U: Bob Straughter
H: Rodney Epps
B: Wes Brown
F: Deron Tross

NCAA Division II Quarterfinal - California (PA) vs. Bloomsburg
F: Bob Straughter

NCAA Division II First Round - Seton Hill vs. AIC
H: Owen Graham

ECAC Southeast Bowl - Catholic vs. Johns Hopkins
R: Marty Alexa
H: Michael Peel
L: Warren Boyer
B: Mark Elie
F: Bob Straughter
S: Mac Davis

Election Results

November 24, 2008

The Regular Membership voted on the following Board Positions at the business meeting on November 24, 2008:

Promotion to Regular Member

April 7, 2008

The following Probationary and Associate members, after meeting the eligibility requirements, were elected to Regular Members at the business meeting on April 7.

McAulay named Big East Officiating Coordinator

March 25, 2008

WDFOA Alumnus and NFL Referee Terry McAulay has been named Coordinator of Football Officiating for the Big East Conference, effective immediately. Terry has been officiating in the NFL since 1998 and was promoted to Referee for the 2001 season. He as 4 conference championships under his belt and was the Referee for Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. Before joining the league, Terry worked college games in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference as well as high school games with the WDFOA.

You can read the news release from the Big East Conference here.

Terry is one of many current and former WDFOA officials working in the college and professional ranks.

Online Rules Tests

March 19, 2008

The first of four 2008 Rules Tests is online now (a few days early). Log in to the Secure Area and Click on "Rules Tests" to get started. The April test is online now and should be completed by April 30. Completion of all four Rules Tests is required to receive Playoff assignments.

Spring Position Meetings

February 12, 2008

The Commissioner has announced the following dates for the Spring Position Clinics:

All Clinics will be held at High Point High School and begin at 7:00pm

2008 National Federation Rules Changes

February 12, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 12, 2008) - Four changes in rules regarding penalty options for teams that are fouled on scoring plays were among the 17 revisions in high school football rules approved for the 2008 season by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee at its January 19-20 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

Rules 2-16-2e and 10-2-4 were revised to state that a team must foul twice during the same down to commit multiple fouls. These changes allow for enforcement of both fouls when the opponent of the scoring team commits a foul on both a touchdown-scoring play and the subsequent try.

An addition to Rule 3-3-4 clarifies issues at the end of the half if there is a foul by either team and the penalty is accepted for unsportsmanlike fouls, non-player fouls, fouls that specify a loss of down and fouls that are enforced on the subsequent kickoff as in Rule 8-2-2.

Changes to Rule 8-2-2 stipulate that fouls by the opponents of the scoring team on the last timed down of the first half can carry over to the second-half kickoff; however, fouls by the opponents of the scoring team on the last timed down of the second half cannot carry over to overtime play.

"By adopting these changes, the rules committee has further clarified that fouls by opponents of the scoring team may be fully enforced," said Brad Cashman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and chairman of the NFHS Football Rules Committee.

In other rules changes, the committee removed the option of carrying over unused second-half time-outs into overtime. The NFHS-recommended overtime procedure continues to provide for one time-out per overtime period with the revisions stipulating that unused time-outs do not carry over to subsequent overtime periods.

A change in Rule 3-5-2a provides the head coach an option of designating another coach for the purpose of requesting time-outs. The appointed replacement shall remain in place for the entire game except in case of emergency.

Six changes were approved by the committee in Rule 1 - The Game, Field, Players and Equipment. References to hip pads, knee pads and thigh guards in Rule 1-5-1 will now state that these required pieces of equipment must not be altered from the manufacturer's original design or production. Also, shinguards, if worn, must meet specifications of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).

"There are concerns that players and coaches are altering mandatory equipment and, therefore, sacrificing safety by changing the original design by the manufacturer to protect the player," said Bob Colgate, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Football Rules Committee.

In Rule 1-2-3d, the committee altered last year's rule change regarding the use of a 4-inch-wide restraining line around the outside of the field to state that this line can either by solid or broken. The committee recommends a broken line be used and marked by placing 12-inch-long lines separated by 24-inch intervals.

Although the rules allow for use of other colors for field markings when appropriate, the committee clarified that white is the recommended color for all field markings.

In Rule 1-5-2, the committee provided a definition for hand pads and delayed the implementation date for a mandatory securely attached label or stamp on hand pads to 2012. A hand pad is now defined as "a covering for the hand which may have separate openings for each finger and thumb, is absent of any web-like material between the finger and/or thumb, and not covering each finger and thumb."

Other changes approved by the committee:

· In Rule 10-4-6, the basic spot is the 20-yard line for fouls by either team, in addition to just the team without the ball, which went into effect last year.

· A change in Rule 10-4-7 helps clarify the basic spot on running plays for fouls by the opponent of the team in possession when the team in possession puts the ball in the end zone and, subsequently, possession is lost.

· New wording was formulated for Rule 4-2-3 regarding the inadvertent whistle, which makes the choosing of an option an easier process to understand.

· In Rule 9-9-4, the use of an illegal kicking tee will now be penalized as an unfair act committed by the player.

· Hiding the ball under the jersey will be enforced as a basic spot foul and makes the enforcement consistent with the all-but-one principle.

In addition, the committee identified five points of emphasis for the 2008 season: MRSA and Communicable Skin Conditions; Purpose of a Football Helmet; Altering Legal Football Equipment; Sideline Management and Control; and False Starts, Shifts and Motion.

Election Results

November 26, 2007

The Regular Membership voted on the following Board Positions at the business meeting on November 26, 2007:

Upcoming Elections

October 25, 2007

Elections will be held at the business meeting on November 26. The open offices this year are Commissioner, President, Vice President, and two Directors. Anyone wishing to stand for one of these offices should contact Kevin Edwards at edwardsk@washpost.com or 202-334-4297. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor during the business meeting.

WDFOA Featured in the Gazette Newspaper

September 26, 2007

The Gazette Newspaper in Montgomery County printed a feature story about the WDFOA in their September 26, 2007 edition. You can view the story by clicking here.

Online Rules Tests

April 6, 2007

The Offseason Rules Tests are now broken into four 25-question tests to be taken each month between now and July. The Board has asked the commissioner to withhold playoff assignments from officials not completing the tests. Luckily for you, the tests can now be completed online. You can print out the test first and work on it with your fellow officials. Once you come back and enter your answers, you'll get a score right away. Log in to the Secure Area and Click on "Rules Tests" to get started. The April test is online now and should be completed by the end of the month.

WDFOA Official Heads Across the Atlantic for NFL Europe

April 3, 2007

WDFOA Official Adrian Hill has been selected to work for NFL Europe in the upcoming Spring 2007 season! He will work as a Line Judge and will wear jersey #118.

Adrian also has a new college assignment. This fall he'll be working for Conference USA.

Congratulations Adrian!

View the full list of WDFOA's College and Professional Officials.

Associates and Probationaries Promoted to Regular Membership

April 2, 2007

Congratulations to our newest Regular Members that were voted on by the membership at the April 2 Business Meeting.

Spring Position Meetings

February 15, 2007

The Commissioner has announced the following dates for the Spring Position Clinics:

All Clinics will be held at High Point High School and begin at 7:00pm

All Probationary Members should attend the Clinics on April 16 and May 7

All Probationary Members P-2 and Above should attend the Back Judge Clinic on March 12.

2007 National Federation Rules Changes

February 12, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (February 12, 2007) -- In its continuing emphasis on illegal helmet contact in high school football, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee reorganized and clarified several rules with the intention of further reducing the risk of injury in the sport.

Rules revisions regarding illegal helmet contact were among 14 rules revisions made by the committee at its January 20-21 meeting in Indianapolis. The rules changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

In Rule 2, the committee placed butt blocking, face tackling and spearing under the heading of "Helmet Contact -- Illegal" to place more emphasis on risk-minimization concerns. In Rule 9-4-3, the committee added a note that lists examples of some types of illegal helmet contact that could result in disqualification.

Examples of illegal helmet contact that could result in disqualification include, but are not limited to: a) illegal helmet contact against an opponent lying on the ground; b) illegal helmet contact against an opponent being held up by other players; and c) illegal helmet-to-helmet contact against a defenseless opponent.

In addition, the committee formulated a definition of a flagrant foul, an often-used term in the rules book but which previously was not specifically defined. A flagrant foul will be defined as a foul that may or may not involve physical contact, but involves such acts as fighting, contacting a game official, fouls so severe as to place an opponent at risk, persistent or extreme abusive conduct and the use of vulgar language or gestures.

"While these changes mostly involve reorganization, the committee is confident that the rules now place a stronger emphasis on flagrant acts and illegal helmet contact," said Bob Colgate, NFHS assistant director and liaison to the Football Rules Committee. "These revisions continue our ongoing emphasis on risk minimization and good sportsmanship."

"Annually, the NFHS Football Rules Committee has sought ways to better promote the health and physical welfare of the participants and cultivate the high ideals of good sportsmanship," said Brad Cashman, executive director of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association and chair of the NFHS Football Rules Committee. "The rules committee has again raised the standard in regard to both areas of concern."

Changes in the football game jersey specifications that were approved last year for implementation in 2010 were revised slightly this year, and the implementation date was moved back to 2012. The revised rule will still require the visiting team's game jerseys to be white and contrast with the home team's jersey.

"The changes made this year by the committee will provide manufacturers and schools a clearer direction on the specifications," Colgate said. "The committee extended the implementation date to give schools an opportunity to make the necessary adjustments during the normal uniform rotation and replacement cycles during the next five seasons."

In Rule 8-2-2, an enforcement option has been added when there is a foul by the opponent of a team scoring a touchdown. In addition to its previous option of accepting the result of the play and having the penalty enforced on the try-for-point, the scoring team may choose to have the foul enforced on the ensuing kickoff.

Two changes were made in Rule 1-2-3 regarding "The Field and Markings." A 4-inch-wide broken restraining line is now required around the outside of the field, and the line must be at least two yards from the sidelines and end lines. The only exception to this rule will be in stadiums where the total field enclosure does not permit the line. In addition, a line, 4 inches wide by 12 inches long, that bisects the limit line at each 5-yard line extended, may be used.

"These lines are used to assist line-to-gain crews, as well as providing additional safety features for players, officials and sideline media; helping game officials with an unobstructed sideline operating area; and providing coaches with an unobstructed view from the coaching box," Colgate said.

Rule 1-2-3 now will also provide rule support for the location and dimension of a three-yard line marking that appears on the field diagram. A line, 4 inches wide by a minimum of 24 inches in length, shall be centered and placed three yards from each goal line.

The committee added two new articles to Rule 10-4 regarding basic spots for enforcement of penalties. The basic spot will be the 20-yard line for plays when the end of the related run is in the end zone followed by a loss of possession and the ball re-enters the playing field and then goes out of bounds.

Following are other changes approved by the Football Rules Committee:

- Added the word "legal" to the definition of a passer to help clarify Rule 2-31-11.

- Provided an opportunity for a coach who assumes the head coaching responsibility during a game (when the head coach has been disqualified) to call a time-out.

- Beginning with the 2008 season, required forearm pads to meet same specifications as gloves and hand pads as set forth by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association in 1994. The new rule will require forearm pads to have the NFHS/NCAA label attached beginning in 2008

Election Results

November 27, 2006

The Regular Membership voted on the following Board Positions at the business meeting on November 27, 2006: