I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend.  We have a great opportunity this Monday (7/13/15) as Bruce Hulion, Commissioner of Officials, will join us for our meeting.  If you have any questions about the test, this is the man to ask.  Please don't get into crazy hypothetical situations that have little or no chance of ever happening.  Instead, try to think of realistic questions on topics that confuse you.  You never know, he may just give us a few clues as to some questions on the exam.

If you haven't taken the online exam, today is the last day to do so.  If you don't get a passing score of 70 by 11:59:59 tonight, then you will not be eligible to officiate varsity games this season. 

There are several officials who have not turned in physical forms.  Please get those to Keith Hajnal ASAP.  We will be making scrimmage assignments shortly after the clinic, and we cannot assign anyone to a scrimmage or game until we have the bottom portion of the form on file.

If you are unable to attend the Clinic on Saturday, July 25 in Columbia, then I need your excuse in writing.  There is a make-up clinic on Monday, July 27, but you have to pay $20 to attend the make-up clinic.

During the meeting on 7/20/15, we will focus solely on test preparation.  To get that started, I have attached the first 25 questions that we will be discussing that night.  They are all true/false.  Try to test your knowledge by answering them without the rule book.  After you finish, then go back and use the rule book to prove each of your answers are right by writing down the applicable rule reference.  If you complete this exercise, then you will be well on your way to being prepared for the exam at the clinic.

I walked outside yesterday afternoon and I realized two things...  It's hot and we will be on the field in less than a month.  Please get outside and do your workouts.  Drink plenty of water.  Stay safe!

Work hard and stay in the book!

Gentlemen,

Reminder that there will be no meeting this Monday, July 6, 2015.   We will re-convene on July 13, 2015 when Bruce Hulion will be joining us.

Also, the on-line NFHS exam (available on SCFOA11.com front page) will expire on July 10, 2015.  You must take the exam and have a score of at least 70 to be certified to officiate this season.  If you haven't done so already, please take the test immediately.

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!


Work hard and stay in the book!

We finished our discussion of Rule 8 and started our discussion of Rule 9.  We also had a presentation on Back Judge mechanics from Gerald Parker.  This Monday we will finish Rules 9 & 10.  Please remember there are only 3 meetings left before the clinic, so it is very important for everyone to get to the meetings.

At the end of the discussion on Rule 10, Bryan Fink will field questions on penalty enforcement.  Please give some thought this week to some plays that you would like to discuss during this time.  Let's not get crazy with plays that will NEVER happen, but if you had some unusual situations in the past, then this would be a good time to discuss the plays and the proper enforcement.  If the play happened in the last 2 years, then there is a good chance I have the film.  Send me information regarding the two teams and I will look in our archives.

There will be no meeting on July 6.  When we come back on July 13, Bruce Hulion will join us.

If you have not taken the on-line exam yet, then please make a point to do it this week.  This exam will close in about 3 weeks so time is running out.

I have attached some study questions from Rules 9 & 10.  Please take a few minutes to answer them and we can discuss any questions that you are unsure of at the meeting.

I appreciate the hard work that everyone is putting forth this time of year getting ready for the season.  It won't be long before we are out on the field doing what we love to do.  I'm sure that everyone is getting outside and exercising so they can acclimated to the heat.  Keep up the hard work and the sweatequity.

Work hard and stay in the book!

Gentlemen,
We completed our study of Rule 7 last week and we heard from Paul Rowe regarding Line Judge mechanics.  This Monday we will study Rules 8 & 9 and we will have mechanics training from the Back Judge position.

I have attached a copy of the 2015 NFHS Pre-Season Guide to this message.  Please take a few minutes to review it.  Bruce has pulled questions from previous versions of this document in years past, so it will be worth your time.

I have also attached short quizzes regarding Rules 7 & 8.

The season is closing in on us quickly.  Please remember that I cannot assign you to any scrimmages or games until we have the bottom portion of a physical form on file for you.  If you haven't done so already, then please schedule your physical as soon as possible.

Work hard and stay in the book!

We had a great meeting on Monday when we discussed Rule 6 and Umpire mechanics.  This coming Monday we will discuss Rule 7 and Line Judge mechanics.  Attendance at the meetings has been great.  If you are an official who has not yet attended 6 meetings, then please keep in mind that we only have 5 meetings left.

On-Line Exam:  If you haven't taken the on-line exam yet, then please go to http://www.schsl.org/football/OnlineExamInstructions.pdf to get the instructions and the website.  You have 5 chances to score 70% on the exam.  If you are still having difficulty making 70% after 3 tries, then get with me for some additional training.

Please take some time to look at your officiating uniforms.  If they need some sprucing up, then please consider ordering new uniforms as soon as possible.  Hats have been a particular problem as the white parts tend to turn brown quickly.  Most officials buy at least a new hat every year.  If you are not doing so, then take a look at your hat you've been wearing and go order a new one.

The mandatory SCFOA Clinic will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2015 at River Bluff High School in Lexington, SC.  Check-in will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the clinic will start at 9:00 a.m.  If you cannot attend on this date, then you need to submit your reason for not attending in writing to me.  If your reason falls within the acceptable excuses listed in the By-laws, then your point deduction will be waived.  There is a make-up clinic that is held on Monday, July 27, 2015 at the SCHSL office in Columbia.  There is a $20 fee to attend the make-up clinic.  

We're getting closer to the start of the season.  Are you ready physically and mentally??

Work hard and stay in the book!

This past Monday we finished discussing Rule 1 and started on Rule 3.  There will be NO MEETING this Monday (5/25/15) as it is Memorial Day.  We will finish our discussion of Rule 3 and hopefully get through Rules 4 & 5 when we meet again on 6/1/15.  We will also start our discussions on mechanics.  The first discussion will focus on Referee mechanics.

District 11 dues will be late after 6/1/15.  You will NOT be late if you pay your dues at the next meeting.  If dues are not paid by 6/1/15, then you will be assessed a $25 late fee.  I really don't want to collect a late fee from anyone, so please get them paid on time.  No dues or applications will be accepted after 7/1/15.

We were advised earlier in the year that the on-line test would be available by now.  It is not.  I will advise when it goes live.  

I ordered Redding books for the 15 people who had paid for one.  They should be available for pick-up on 6/1.  The rule books also came in today, so they should also be available on 6/1.

If you haven't gotten your physical, then please make your appointment today.  I would like to have them all in by 7/1/15.  I only need the bottom portion of the form that is signed by the doctor.  You should retain the top portion for your records.

Please update your Arbiter account if you haven't done so already.  Pay particular attention to your contact information, you mark-off dates from 8/21/15 through 12/5/15, and your mileage limits.

Every member needs to continue to work on physical conditioning and rule study.  Preparation for the season has already started, so if you haven't begun yet then you're late!!

Work hard and stay in the book!