packsyd2284 wrote:jsence2 wrote:packsyd2284 wrote:Seeit I know you love to disagree with every little thing I post but your are incorrect on the refs obligation to notice deflated footballs. I've personally coached in games where an umpire or back judge will throw a ball off and let us know if it isn't inflated we will be penalized if found again. It's not that hard.
Yeah, the guy who worked in the NFL, dealt with game balls, etc doesn't know what he's talking about. He's never coached HS football!
He is still allowed to be incorrect about something or I am not allowed to have an opinion? If they are deflated enough to be considered "cheating" you can notice it right away. Our balls expert says you can't tell the difference then he and I both agree that it really is a non issue. Thanks for chiming in tho guy.
I did learn one thing from seeit today, I figured the 12 game balls included kicking balls because at least at my level of coaching the ball that is considered "the game ball" will be the one used in the kicking game etc.
Yea here's how the balls work (different from HS and College) in case you care to see the differences.
Each team supplies 12 balls (minimum) to the Refs before the game
-Most teams supply a "GAME" bag of 12 balls, and a "GAME BACKUP" bag of 12 more balls.
-The backups are only used if it's super shitty weather and they get ruined, there are a lot of turnovers (other team keeps them), or a ton somehow end up in the stands (blame your qb)
-The balls have been broken in according to that teams standards (usually starting QB preference) (This is the part that I did for Cleveland)
-The balls must be at 13 psi when delivered (there is a 12.5/13.5 margin of error)
-The refs then inspect the balls for pressure and texture (can't be dripping with gorilla grip etc)
-The ref initials or stamps or sharpies the ball with his initials or mark, so that at any given point in the game, the refs can tell if its a good ball, or a randomly thrown in ball
-The ref gives the balls to the ball coordinator (I forget the title for sure, basically the head ball boy) shortly before the game.
-The head ball boy is an employee of the home team, but is "impartial". He brings both bags out to the field (usually stored near the replay hood) and distributes the balls to all ball boys
-The home team provides ball boys unless the visiting team decides to bring some, in which case they will handle their team, however all ball boys will have balls from both teams (hence the need for 12)
-Balls get constantly rotated in and out of the game on each play, which keeps them dry from rain, field, sweat, etc, and keeps them from getting worn out (in theory)
-Team A uses Team A's balls, Team B uses Team B's balls, no overlap
Kicking Balls
-The kicking balls are completely separate from the game balls
-6 Balls are shipped in a sealed box to the stadium
-The K Ball ref (hired by home team for the season, but treated as a ref) oversees the balls, and ball preparation (he wears crimson colored crap, you'll see him near the LOS on 3rd and 4th down)
-A representative from each team meets before the game (usually 3 hours before kick or so) with the ref, and are allowed to "break in" the balls for 45 mins, under the watch of the ref (this is the part I did as well)
-There ARE rules on what you can and cannot do, but they're so cloudy, and vary so much from ref to ref, that you just kind of do what you want until you get yelled at, and then hide what you can't do but do it anyway
-Home team usually does balls 1,3,5 and away does 2,4,6
-Once the 45 mins are up, the balls are no longer touched.
-Those 6 balls (usually just 1,2 and maybe 3) are the only ones kicked during the game, and are subbed in on kicking plays and then taking right back out
-Some refs will let you kick your ball (home 1, away 2, etc), some will rotate religiously, some make no sense, and some will completely screw the visiting team
-"breaking in" the ball can honestly add about 5-7 yards onto a kick with all other things equal
Hopefully that explains the way the balls work for the pros. I know in college there aren't K balls, they just kick a ball from the bag of 12, so that's probably the part that is different for you too Pat.
Like Whit said... I know balls
