Ump or Ref? A Fan's Guide to Officiating Titles in Sports

National Championships across all sports tend to bring out greater media coverage, higher energy with charged atmospheres and casual fans, many of whom may not be familiar with the game.

Twitter fans question the existence of a football umpire.

Of course, this has the unintended—yet completely expected—consequence of creating a situation in which fringe fans, for lack of a better term, become confused. I've noticed this trend finds its way into those winner-take-all games at a significantly higher rate than during the less overtly meaningful regular season affairs. (Compare the intensity of fans' reactions to: 2012 NL Wild Card infield fly rule play vs. this 2013 infield fly call that also benefitted the away team.)

At present, we consider the case of NCAA Football's final BCS Championship Game at the Rose Bowl. When ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit benignly commented on the actions of the umpire, some fans took issue with the concept of an umpire ever existing in football.

Close Call of the Week section: Herbstreit mentioned the umpire standing over the ball, effectively preventing a snap by the offense. NCAA rules state that the defense shall have a reasonable opportunity to set itself for the next play. For instance, a Rule 3 approved rule interpretation states the defense is not only allowed to match up, it is "allowed to substitute in response to Team A's" personnel moves if A has committed a late or on-the-fly substitution. A ruling added for the 2013-14 season additionally states that if Team B must hurry to respond to Team A's move, "the umpire moves to the ball to prevent the snap until Team B has had a reasonable opportunity to [respond]...The umpire will step away when he judges that the defense has had enough time."

To help the misguided and put misconceptions to rest, Close Call Sports presents "Ump or Ref? A Fan's Guide to Officiating Titles in Sports"

The following lists the positions/titles of officials present in each of the following sports:

Australian Rules Football - officials are not differentiated from each other by uniform marking
Field umpire, goal umpire (equipment: flags), boundary umpire, emergency umpire, interchange stewards.

Baseball/Softball - officials are not differentiated by uniform marking (see HP Umpire equipment below)
Umpire in Chief (Home Plate Umpire; equipment: protectors, mask, ball bags, etc.), Base (Field) Umpires.

Basketball - officials are not differentiated by uniform marking
Referee and Umpire(s) (FIBA, NCAA, NFHS), Crew Chief and Referees (NBA). [Lead/Center (Slot)/Trail]

Cricket - officials are not differentiated from each other by uniform marking
Match Referee (off-field official), Umpires (Bowler's end and Striker's end [optional Third Umpire]).

Field Hockey - on-field officials are not differentiated from each other by uniform marking
Field Umpire(s), Reserve Umpire, Video Umpire.

Football - officials are differentiated and identified by the jersey placard/marking (NFL/NCAA)
Referee (R, white hat), Umpire (U), Head Linesman (H or HL), Line Judge (L or LJ), Field Judge (F or FJ), Side Judge (S or SJ), Back Judge (B or BJ). NCAA Big 12 also adopted the Alternate (A) official.

Hockey (Ice) - officials are differentiated and identified by jersey marking/accessory
Referee(s) (uniform: orange or red arm bands), Linesmen, Off-Ice officials (e.g., goal judge, scorer).

Lacrosse - on-field officials are not differentiated from each other by uniform marking
Head Referee, Referee, Chief Bench Official, Bench Manager.

Rugby - on-field officials are not differentiated from each other by uniform marking (see flag equipment)
Referee, Touch Judges (equipment: flag), Video Referee or In-Goal Judge, Timekeeper, Interchange.

Soccer (Association Football) - officials are not differentiated by uniform marking (ARs have flags)
Referee, Assistant Referees ("Goal Judge" in UEFA play are two added Assistant Referees), Fourth Official.

Other Sports with One/Two Classes of Official - Impress friends with knowledge of titles in these sports!
Billiards (Cue Sports), Boxing - Referee.
Cycling - Commissaire (occasionally referred to as judge or referee or time-board ardoisier in road cycling).
Figure Skating - Referee (separate and distinct from panel of judges), Assistant Referee - Ice.
Motor Sports - Marshals (corner captain in charge, communicator, flaggers, 1st and 2ndary responders).
Sumo - Gyōji (Referee), Shimpan (Judges, including shimpan located in a video room).
Tennis - Chair Umpire, Line Umpire(s); Off-court officials are Referee and Chief Umpire.
Volleyball - First Referee ("up referee" or "go-up"), Second Referee ("down referee").
Water Racing - Umpire (during), Judge (finish line), Protest Committee (sailing's post-event panel).
Wrestling - Referee, Judge, Mat Chairman [international]; Referee, Assistant [collegiate].

NCAA Football Rules Committee Wants Targeting Ejections

College football is one step closer to approving an automatic ejection for the targeting of a defenseless player above the shoulders. The NCAA Rules Committee this week unanimously passed a proposal to increase targeting to 15-yard unnecessary roughness & auto-disqualification status. The Playing Rules Oversight Panel has final say and will meet on March 6 to vote on proposals such as that of targeting.

Rules chair and Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun explained that as student-athlete safety remains a primary concern, "taking measures to remove targeting, or above the shoulder hits on defenseless players, will improve our great sport."

Similar to the present penalty for fighting, a player charged with targeting a defenseless player (either offensive or defensive) in the first half of a game will be ejected for the remainder of the contest. A player charged with targeting during the second half, including overtime, will be ejected and suspended for the first half of the next game. Defenseless players are those in a defenseless posture, such as (but not limited to) those receivers attempting to catch a pass, airborne kick/punt returners, kickers or punters during a return who are not involved in a play and players on the ground at the end of a play.

The committee agreed to make the ejection reviewable via video instant replay, which would allow a replay official to rescind an ejection just as replay may currently be used to overturn a number of on-field rulings (e.g., catch vs. fumble, etc.). Accordingly, the standard of indisputable video evidence shall be required in order to reverse the ruling on the field (Rule 12-1-2).

The committee additionally recommended:

» Blocks below the waist, initiated from the front, are legal. Those initiated from the side/back are illegal.
» 10-sec runoff with less than 1:00 in half during any injury, absent valid reason to stop clock (e.g., a TD).
» Make 3-sec mandatory as minimum time on game clock in order to spike ball to stop clock.
» Authorize and require players who change numbers during game to inform referee who shall announce it.
» Limit duplicate numbers used by same team to players who play different, not same, positions.
» Require teams to have jersey or pants contrast in color to playing field (e.g., Boise's blue field).
» Allow officiating crews to use electronic communication devices (follows SEC experiment).
» Allow Big-12 to hire an eighth official who will position in the backfield opposite R (like the NFL's U).
» Allow instant replay to adjust the clock at the end of every quarter in addition to the end of each half.

News: Rules committee recommends ejection for targeting defenseless players (NCAA.com)

One Point Safety: Fiesta Bowl & Ballad of Ron Cherry

With 8:03 remaining in the third quarter of the Ducks-Wildcats Fiesta Bowl game, Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota ran for a two-yard touchdown to give Oregon a 31-10 lead. After lining up for the PAT, the Wildcats blocked Ducks kicker Alejandro Maldonado's extra point attempt, linebacker Ryan Mueller recovering the football at approximately the two-yard line, and retreating into the end zone before lateraling the ball to defensive back Allen Champan, who recovered the loose ball once again for a safety, worth one point and confirmed via instant replay review.

As referee Ron Cherry explained:

On the previous play, we have an unusual ruling. The ball was blocked, caught, carried back into the end zone and declared dead by the defense. That play results in a one-point safety.

Cherry has had the mic for other unique calls before, such as the collegiate "giving him the business" personal foul (a revival of NFL official Ben Dreith's "giving him the business down there" penalty) and a "graphics blocked" extra point review.

As for the Fiesta Bowl, the relevant rules are NCAA 8-1-1 and 8-3-2-d, which specify that a safety occuring during a try after touchdown is worth one point, as is a field goal during that stopped clock period. Furthermore, approved ruling (AR) 8-3-2-IX exemplifies a one-point safety, wherein the defense recovers at the two-yard line, fumbles into the end zone, recovers once again and is downed (one-point safety).

As broadcaster Brad Nessler explained, a similar play occurred during a 2004 Texas A&M vs. Texas game.

In NFHS high school, this would not be the case, as during a try, the ball shall become dead upon a turnover.

Wrap: Oregon Ducks vs. Kansas State Wildcats, 1/3/13
Video: Ducks benefit from one point safety after blocked kick attempt during Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (ESPN)

Zero: Offensive, Defensive Pass Interference on Same Play

Pass interference (PI) is illegal contact beyond the neutral zone that occurs after a legal forward pass is thrown (DPI), but before it has been touched by any player or an official (e.g., the umpire). During most plays, PI is committed by either the offense or the defense. During the following play, it was effected by both.

With 6:12 remaining in the third quarter and a 1st-and-10 at the TCU 26-yard line, TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin attempted a pass intended for receiver Josh Boyce. While the ball was in the air, Boyce and West Virginia Mountaineers CB Pat Miller jockeyed for position, both players interfering with the other's attempt to field the football. Replays indicate both players appeared to grab the other's jersey and in doing so, Boyce was ruled to have failed to avoid his opponent and came into contact that interfered with the eligible defender (offensive PI) while Miller impeded an eligible receiver, preventing an opportunity of receiving a catchable forward pass (defensive PI), superceding the "bona fide attempt to reach, catch or bat the pass" exemption to pass interference as defined by Rules 7-3-8-b-2 (OPI) and 7-3-8-c-2 (DPI).

Because live-ball fouls by both teams were reported to Referee Scott Novak, the fouls offset and the down was repeated (Rule 10-1-4). At the time of the "no play," WVU was leading, 24-21. TCU ultimately won the contest, 39-38, on a two-point conversion in the second overtime period.

U: Kevin Matthews, H: Doug Moore, L: Frank LeBlanc, B: Lyndon Nixon, F: Nick Lave, S: Shane Standley.

Wrap: Texas Christian University (TCU) Horned Frogs vs. West Virginia Mountaineers, 11/3/12
Video: OPI & DPI, dual actions by opponents result in offsetting penalties, repeat from scrimmage (Soon)

College Football Ejections: Jack Wood's crew

Referee Jack Wood's crew (Pac-12 Conference) ejected Southern California (USC) Trojans defensive tackle Leonard Williams for personal foul: unnecessary roughness during the second quarter of the Buffaloes-Trojans game. During a 4th-and-1 successful conversion by Colorado's Christian Powell, Williams was penalized and ejected after he appeared to punch an opponent's face mask while on the ground. At the time of the ejection, the Trojans were leading, 33-6. The Trojans ultimately won the contest, 50-6.

Officials: Jack Wood (Referee), Tim Schroeder (Umpire), Mark Duddy (Head Linesman), Jeff Robinson (Line Judge), Steve Steichen (Back Judge), John Morton (Field Judge), Shane Anderson (Side Judge).

Wrap: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Southern California (USC) Trojans, 10/20/12
Video: USC's Williams ejected after appearing to throw a punch at Colorado player (N/A)

College Football Ejection: Dan Capron's Crew

Referee Dan Capron's crew (Big Ten Conference) ejected Illinois Fighting Illini safety Earnest Thomas III for helmet-to-helmet contact during a Penn State touchdown in the second quarter of the Illini-Nittany Lions game. With 3:11 remaining, Matt Lehman received a 21-yard pass attempt from QB Matt McGloin for a touchdown as Thomas delivered the illegal hit, resulting in a personal foul/unnecessary roughness penalty, enforced on the ensuing kickoff. Replays indicate Thomas delivered the illegal helmet-to-helmet contact after Lehman had already scored the touchdown and was several feet into the end zone, the call was correct. The flag appeared to have been thrown by back judge Jack Lyman. At the time of the ejection, the Nittany Lions were leading, 21-0.

*When not officiating, Capron is an attorney and name partner at the law firm Capron & Avgerinos, P.C., located in Illinois. He received his JD from Indiana's Bloomington School of Law and his BA in history from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign).

Wrap: Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Illinois Fighting Illini, 9/29/12
Video: McGloin holds on for TD as Thomas launches an illegal hit to the head, is ejected (ESPN)