Started out as a means of communication with our members. To share information and stimulate discussion. Times change, the game and uniforms worn by participants have changed many times. Is it time to change the officiating Jersey like we changed the pants? This issue provides information about change 1 First and Ten Mandate 3 First and Ten Editors 4 Football Referee’s Jerseys the next uniform Challenge or Controversy? 6 Evolution of the Officials Uniform 9 Football Clinics one of the Keys to officials development 14 OFOA Clinic announced 15 Honig’s Ross Perrier Clinic 16 1000 Little things by Tod Reese ACC Line Judge 19 Road to Success by Keith Washington 22 Dave Dube College interlocking schedule 26 10 Surgeries, Loss of Arm, Still Officiating 28 Fitness Tips 30 Signals a humorous look 32 Get your ball facts straight 33 Non-standard/overbuilt facemask poses various safety risks for 34 players. Ten Commandments of Officiating Kingston FOA 36 CFOA executive 38 Football Canada 39 Working for the development of officiating and football in Canada in cooperation with 2 La version française du "First and Ten" va suivre chaque version anglaise. Ron Paluzzi, Vice président responsable de la traduction, sera responsable de s’assurer que chaque communiqué soit disponible en français dans les plus brefs délais. D’ici là, je demande à tous 3 First and Ten Editor Ron Hallock Coeditor Rob Christian Changes come in many forms and in many ways The evolution of the uniform, the development of an official’s skill, changes in completion levels. It has been one hundred issues for First and Ten to promote change in the way CFOA members communicate train and evaluate their performances. In the past two issues we focused on changes for the twenty first century. Changes include Wireless communication between officials, how instant replay can be improved and even how laser beams can be used to determine first downs. If you keep up with reports on rule changes while the amateur rule book changes for this year will minor tweaks for safety and wording clarification and will hopefully be released within the month the CFL and NFL are thinking outside the box. In CFL proposal to remove halo restraining zone (no yards) and replace with offense cannot go down field until ball kicked. Increase the use of two point convert by scrimmaging at the 3 yard line and kicking converts from the 25. The NFL wants to encourage 9 point TD’s by granting opportunity to kick a single point convert from the 35 if the team scores a two point convert. Will these changes be adapted? Time will tell. It is thinking outside the box and indicators of evolution of the game. This issue provides background for future decision making regarding the new style of jersey being adopted at the CFL, NFL and USA college officiating staffs. There will be proposal made at the 2016 CFOA AGM to adopt a new styled jersey. The CFL type jersey is starting to become the jersey of choice for CIS and Junior officials in many provinces. So food for thought is presented here for the decision making process. 4 Attending clinics is a way to promote your development as an official. This issue provides a video form of clinic for those individuals who cannot get to a clinic this spring. In addition the OFOA is hosting a clinic in Kingston April 10 t0 12 and the Honig’s Ross Perrier Clinic March 28 and 29 in Hamilton. Check with your local and provincial bodies for spring clinics near you. 1000 Little Things by Tod Reese, AAC Line Judge identifies areas one can focus one in developing their officiating skill Keith Washington identifies things that will help you in The Road to Success. Are you fit for the season Check out Fitness Tips? Do you know your signals. Will the CIS adopt Conference and Non-Conference schedules check out this proposal by David Dube who says CIS football must pit 'best against the best' to get back on TV, calls on fans to push for interlock Co Editor Rob Christian identifies the great love of the game by official Dave Rabe in an article by Jerry Tapp entitled 10 Surgeries, Loss of Arm, Still Officiating A humorous look at signals and reminder that corrections for rule book are being worked on. After the NFL controversy over ball inflation we present a quiz Get Your Ball Facts Straight to make sure CFOA members won’t make mistakes. The Bane helmet is banned read the article Non-standard/overbuilt facemask poses various safety risks for players. In closing we present the Ten Commandments of Officiating provided by the Kingston FOA 5 Football Referee’s Jerseys – The next Uniform Challenge or Controversy The current CFOA standard is the 1 inch striped football officials jersey with short sleeves for warm weather and long sleeves for cooler weather. There is a wide range of manufacturers for these jerseys and only a very critical and detailed look can see some of the minor differences. This has allowed officials to shop around for the most cost effective jersey from their perspective and have crews present a professional common appearance on the field. Over the past thirty years or so, CFOA has overseen the change in official uniforms from knee high black socks and white ankle socks, to stirrup socks, to the one piece sock and the conversion from white knickers to the black pant and corresponding black sock. The rationale for each of the changes has probably been lost over time but is certainly open to conjecture as to what forced the change. A look at televised football games and it should not come as a surprise to any member of CFOA that the next official’s uniform issue will be the jersey. The NFL was the first to go to a wider strip, followed by the CFL, now NCAA and a number of states within the US. This has spawned at least three contenders with a 2 inch, a 2 ¼ inch variant as well as the CFL unique jersey. A quick search of the Internet with suppliers shows that the 1-inch as well as the 2 and 2 ¼ inch shirts are widely available with Honigs Whistle Stop being the sole supplier of the CFL shirt. There does not seem to be a supply issue at this time. That being said, however, there are numerous State Associations within the US that have adopted either the 2 or 2 ¼ jersey as their Association standard. It is unknown at this time if these States have a timeline to have their officials convert from the 1 inch standard to the 2 or 2 ¼ inch standard but in the fullness of time, it is suggested that these States will phase out the 1 inch jersey. As more and more of the State Associations convert to some standard other than the 1 inch standard, one must question what this will ultimately do to the availability and price of one inch jerseys. The challenge to CFOA at this time is there a need to examine the conversion from 1 inch standard jersey to some other standard? It is suggested that now is the time 6 to at least start a dialogue with CFOA members to gauge the member’s interest in this matter as well as their input into a solution if a change is warranted. Some members may already have invested in a 2 inch variant for any number of reasons. If a number of member Associations adopts something locally, it is certainly within their purview, but this may cause certain officials to have to invest in multiple jerseys if they work outside their Association and/or province. The ideal situation would be to have the CFL, CIAU and CFOA all agree on one standard that is supported by a sufficiently wide manufacturing base that allows members to have some cost effective alternatives when procuring jerseys yet remain with a visibly common standard. A two pronged approach may be a starting point. Having a survey done within CFOA using the Provincial Directors to ascertain if any Association is locally using a 2 inch variant, (getting details on the exact type of jersey is the Association standard) is one step. The second step would be to use multiple communications media, such as a call to all Provincial Directors to get an official Provincial position on if there is a need for a new jersey standard and what it should be as well as using 1st and 10 as means of at least starting the conversation. There will undoubtedly be a number of issues raised, most pertinent, some emotional that will need to be addressed. The intent is not to generate an emotional dialogue but assess what is the current state, logically evaluate alternatives and create a sustainable standard with a reasonable and affordable conversion plan if the decision Is made to ultimately move from the current CFOA standard. Short Long Supplier 1 inch 2 inch Sleeve Sleeve Honigs Whistle Stop Yes CFL 59.99 CDN 65.99 CDN World of Sport Yes no Ref Shop (US) Yes Yes NCAA $32.95 $33.95 2 and 2 Ump Attire Yes !/4 $39.99 $44.99 2 and 2 www.smitteez.com Yes !/4 $40.95 Referees Call Yes NCAA $44.95 $54.95 Officials Gear Yes Yes NCAA $34.99 $39.99 7 2 and 2 28.00 or 39.00 or Lester’s Upstate Yes !/4 39.00 44.00 Next page illustrates some of the alternatives found through internet research and proposal received from a potential Canadian manufacturer prototypes of the CFL short sleeve type Officials jersey ( as we had sublimated fabric on hand from Roller Hockey refs jerseys) the sleeves are dry fit , with a zipper , pocket and collar .