ne of the everyday pre-game duties occurs when the referee or umpire asks a coach, "Coach, are all your players legally equipped?" Almost as if he presses a button on a tape recorder, the coach responds, "Yeah, sure, now about what we saw on the film with them."

It used to be officials had to certify the equipment of all players by physical examination. In games with some of the bigger schools that meant looking at maybe as many as eighty players. So, that statement to the head coach saves us a lot of work. Or, does it really?

Just remember, high school players are in their late teens. In case you may have forgotten those teenage years or do not have youngsters in their late teens, many of them for whatever reason don’t always pay attention to what adults tell them.

That is why you have to admire every coach, be he winner or loser, like him or not, they somehow get the attention of many of these kids and that has to rank somewhere near a miracle.

Take a look at Rule 1-5 Player Equipment, where it describes mandatory equipment, equipment that can be sanctioned by the umpire, and illegal equipment. The head coach through his statement has certified "every" player has on all the mandatory equipment and no illegal equipment. Now, the head coach may ask for certain equipment to be sanctioned and — depending upon local association rules — may offer a doctor’s note in some cases for sanctioning by the umpire.

Once the coach certifies ALL his players are legally equipped, by rule he is subject to a 15-yard unsportsmanlike foul; of course, this is a good time to use preventative officiating.

Continued...