very year, officials are tested on their knowledge of the rules. Some associations take it very seriously with proctored exams and required scores that may even determine post-season games. But other associations don’t quite take refresher-testing so seriously.

No matter the requirements for your association, refresher reviews of the rules may save you one night when the rule demons creep into your game and gobble that great game into one miserable legacy.

A story this past football season from the South Carolina Anderson-Independent Mail told the story of a game in Georgia between Hart County and Clarke Central High Schools where the final score was a 26-23 victory for Clarke Central.

It was the ref's fault

With the score tied 23-23 on what should have been the final play of the game, Clarke Central’s Darreion Robinson caught a pass and advanced to Hart’s 22-yard line. Then the rule demons set in. Robinson, before being tackled, tossed the ball forward to teammate Mikyle Walker, who then tossed the ball to teammate Josh Hurst who proceeded to take the ball into the end zone for an apparent touchdown.

Continued...