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SEC FOOTBALL OFFICIATING WEEKLY PROCESS


SATURDAY

  • From the SEC Football Command Center, monitor games as well as internet and social media and note issues for follow-up
  • Immediately following each game, debrief by phone with each on-site observer
  • Hold postgame meeting with officials and observer to review game video
  • Speak with each referee following their on-site postgame meeting to debrief about outstanding issues
  • Interact with SEC Communications staff to address media issues that may require attention
  • Following last game, communicate with the commissioner to review the day
  • Capture, edit and intercut video from each game in preparation for weekly evaluation and training

SUNDAY

  • Follow up with the commissioner as necessary on outstanding issues
  • Communicate with head coaches as necessary
  • Complete and then post intercut video of each game in HUDL for officials to review and for film graders
  • Hold conference call with all referees to cover game data and specific plays of note

MONDAY

  • Receive play questions from schools and prepare voice-over video responses to head coaches (usually same-day response but always within 24 hours)
  • Obtain feedback and input from SEC representatives who attended games
  • Prepare videos of plays requiring commissioner’s input or response
  • Assigned film coach begins grading process for all officials
  • Review crew schedule, release and modify as appropriate; release crews for upcoming weekend games via Spotfoul
  • Release current week’s Rules/Mechanics/Philosophies Quiz as well as answers to the previous week’s quiz to officials

TUESDAY

  • Complete voice-over responses to head coaches
  • Interact one-on-one with officials on any play situation that warrants further understanding, evaluation and coaching
  • Evaluate and categorize each instant replay stop for accuracy of outcome
  • Identify plays that required further review from the replay booth but were not stopped
  • Begin preparing plays for weekly training tape
  • Hold conference call with all instant replay officials, utilizing HUDL video to review every stop from the previous weekend for accuracy and to build consistency

WEDNESDAY

  • Film graders complete weekly grading of each official (every play, every game) with play comments, including correct calls and downgrades when appropriate
  • Add position-specialist feedback and coaching to overall official evaluation and then return a final grade via Spotfoul for each official and crew for each game
  • Prepare and finalize plays for training tape, complete the voice-over feedback of each play and record weekly intro and challenge message
  • Receive, evaluate and respond to video/questions from schools for the upcoming week’s games
  • Categorize all foul data in the video library for identification of trends, evaluation, future education and film review

THURSDAY

  • Post weekly training video to HUDL
  • Evaluate future schedule based on current performance
  • Complete any remaining video/questions from schools for the upcoming week’s games
  • Address any game management issues that have been identified
  • Interact with other conference coordinators and the national coordinator on assignments, rule interpretations and other issues

FRIDAY

  • Conduct individual conversations with each referee as necessary to close issues from the previous or current week
  • On-site game officials review their previous week’s game films, which include individual film coaching, position specialist comments and coordinator input
  • Officials review weekly training tapes as part of pregame conference activities

IN-SEASON WEEKLY ACCOUNTABILITY

An official’s overall game performance affects their weekly evaluation and film grade. This grade directly impacts the official’s in-season and postseason assignments.


FOOTBALL OFFICIATING ANNUAL PROCESS

ANNUAL ACCOUNTABILITY

Each Official is evaluated annually in five categories:

  • Composite of weekly film grades is averaged for an annual film grade and a position ranking is determined
  • Each observer completes a peer ranking on each official at each position, and then a median score is computed and a position ranking is determined
  • Clinic rules test is scored, and officials are ranked by position
  • Performance in the 1½-mile conditioning evaluation/ranked by position
  • Coordinator evaluation of every official by position

ANNUAL ACCOUNTABILITY IMPACTS FOR OFFICIALS

The five accountability categories are combined to determine:

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  • Qualification for any postseason assignment
  • Tier/Level ranking
  • If official met standards (if not, the official will not return the following year as an active official)
  • If official met or exceeded standards (determines the official’s new crew assignment and quality of next season’s assignments)
  • Overall performance, opportunities for improvement and expectations for the spring/fall (discussed with coordinator during one-on-one winter evaluation)

OFFSEASON ACTIVITIES

  • January – End-of-season observer sessions to discuss each official’s performance and standing within their position and with the conference
  • February – One-on-one meetings between officials and coordinator
  • March – Start of biweekly rules quiz for each official with crew accountability
  • April – Completion of two spring clinics (for East and West schools) focused on officiating fundamentals
  • May – Referee Leadership Meeting
  • June – Position specialist video and weekly rules quiz with crew accountability
  • July – Fall clinic that includes rules test, physical fitness test, and mechanics and philosophies focus
  • August – Beginning of fall scrimmages

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Note: This article is archival in nature. Rules, interpretations, mechanics, philosophies and other information may or may not be correct for the current year.

This article is the copyright of ©Referee Enterprises, Inc., and may not be republished in whole or in part online, in print or in any capacity without expressed written permission from Referee. The article is made available for educational use by individuals.

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