Disarming the Refs

Maira Alcala runs in a touchdown against the Colorado Springs Thunder Katz at Timpanogos High School

by MICHAEL RAMOS

Referees are horrible. Especially NFL refs. The league specifically told them to help the Dallas Cowboys get to the Super Bowl. Last week, the refs helped the Cowboys beat the Detroit Lions when they didn't call an obvious pass interference penalty late in the game (it wasn't pass interference). This weekend, the refs were ready to hand another playoff win to the Cowboys.

But the refs blew it. They reversed a call (as in, they got it right), and the Cowboys lost. Now it’s the Cowboys’ and their fans turn to whine that a referee's call decided their fate.

Refs should never be blamed for a loss. Directing blame is a copout losing teams use, and it fosters a losing mentality. Not to mention, it covers up the real reasons behind a loss. Nobody is blaming DeMarco Murray for fumbling away a possible touchdown run when he didn’t protect the ball. Nobody’s blaming the Cowboys' offensive line for not protecting their quarterback. I still haven't heard anyone point the finger at the Dallas defense for not stopping Green Bay down the stretch. Most importantly, nobody's criticizing Dez Bryant for not securing the ball at the 1-yard line. (There's little doubt Dallas would've scored from there.)

Instead, everyone's focused on one play involving a referee's decsions, when there were a dozen or so more equally critical plays.

Believe it or not, referees are human, too. They have struggles at home, just like the rest of us. Some of them have loved ones who are sick or dying. Other refs may be going through a nasty breakup or divorce. And like the rest of us, referees have mortgages to pay, and are struggling to figure out how to put their kids through college. If you're depending on them to make a call to save your season, it's only a matter of time before that season comes to an end. As a coach, you have to come up with a method that will allow you to overcome bad calls.

Falconz players are drilled over and over again that we need to be at least 14 points better than our opponents. 14 points is the threshold that should allow us to overcome most obstacles. This includes more than a ref missing a holding call, or calling a penalty that was in the grey-area. It covers a successful Hail Mary pass. It covers a muffed punt that gives the other team the ball inside our red zone. It also allows us room to breathe in the event we throw a pick six, or if our safety slips and gives up a long touchdown pass. 14 points is our insurance policy.

More than that, winning by more than a couple of scores removes any doubt about who the better team is. If you win by a field goal, or a late score, the other team will always feel that they could've beaten you. If you beat them by three or four touchdowns, you hold a huge psychological edge the next time you play each other.

As coaches, it’s important to stress to your team that players decide who wins and loses. Some teams celebrate and high-five when a defensive back knocks down a ball. Not our team. We consider those dropped interceptions, or turnovers, and the entire defense does push-ups. Lorette Cooper, Falconz defensive back, has even dropped down and done push ups during a game.

In practice, we'll often simulate live game situations. One of our coaches will act as the "referee" who's out to get us. He/she will make calls that, in a game, could cost us the win. An interception gets ruled incomplete. Players are called for being offsides or we'll get a bogus pass interference penalty. It can be frustrating, but players know they may have to overcome those calls in order to win. So in practice, when the bad call is made, they roll their eyes, and work to get another stop. We work to take the game out of the hands of the officials, and with good reason.

Those guys blow calls all the time.