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:
- 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
