Hypothetical Question

[LaxRef]

You're the trail in a 3-man game, and you're sweeping the table area; both teams are still subbing, but Team A is running their offense. A1 takes a shot, and from the table area you see him on the receiving end of a late hit, about 7 yards away from the single side official, who doesn't flag it. There's no question in your mind it was a late hit. Do you:

(a) Throw the flag and report the penalty.

(b) Make no call because it happened right in front of the single-side official and it's "his call."

(c) Run in, conference with the single side to see if there was something that made him pass on the calll or to see if he just didn't see it. Throw the flag if he just didn't see it.

(d) Throw the flag, then conference with the single-side and pick up the flag if he had a good reason for passing on the call.

(e) None of the above (please explain).

[gfink]

I have never worked with a crew that wanted an obvious personal foul ignored. If you saw the entire play then there is no reason not to flag it. I am sure this scenario has played out for everyone at one time or another. Whether you were on one end of this call or the other. One picking the flag up on a personal foul. Very sticky situation. Tech. fouls yes, but personal fouls? I think the to sell this call, you should run out of the box towards the foul and then throw the flag. Makes it look a little better. Also it puts you closer to you partner in case you want to confer with him a little. If only to give the perception of getting the call right. I love the saying "Get the felonies and the misdemeanors will work themselves out." My two cents.

[laxfan25]

I think gfink has a very good point that you shouldn't make the call from the sub area, move onto the field. Otherwise you are sure to hear from the coach you are flagging. (Of course you can always point out that they are perfectly comfortable calling the whole game form the coach's box!) If you are sure of your call, throw the flag. As the single-side I can say that I have sometimes violated my dictate to "stay with the shooter" and instead followed the shot, maybe not seeing the late hit, but hearing it.
The reaction of your partner can vary - from "Thanks!" to a look of disdain for fishing in his pond. Whatever the case, he must support your call, and if he has an issue with it, take it up at the half or as a post-mortem. Hopefully judgement isn't varying so wildly that what is a blatant call to you is one that he would pass on.

[akslaxref]

Throw the flag. If the on side official missed it because he was concentrating on something else (it's happened to all of us) then "help him out" and call the foul. Everyone else in the stadium saw it, it is expected that the refs did too.

Last week I reffed a game with a senior ref (2 man game) who was the Lead on a fast break. After the shot he followed the ball to the goal but didn't see the DMan who slashed the shooter after the shot. I made the call from just past the midfield line. Nobody complained about the call since everyone saw the foul. The other ref I worked with thanked me for making the call since he had the shot. Even if he had a problem with me doing it, it was still a good call.

[Shorelax]

(d) Throw the flag, then conference with the single-side and pick up the flag if he had a good reason for passing on the call.



As officials we are tasked with many things. I would like to emphasize two fundamental tasks.

1. Safety – ensuring the players safety while participating.
2. Making the right call – leaving your ego off the field.

If I saw an obvious foul – I would throw the flag, conference with my partner and make sure the right call was made.