Guest Posts on County 10 are provided by contributors and the opinions, thoughts, and comments within are their own and may not necessarily reflect those of County 10.
Everything is digitized today. With just a click of a mouse or a swipe of your finger, you have access to information at a bewildering pace, a pace that often makes me wonder just how much of it is being internalized and is useful.
It wasn’t always this way. When we headed back to school a few days before the kids arrived, there were mounds of mail awaiting us. Most of it was junk, catalogues, flyers for programs long past, and “new and improved” inspirational curriculum that could easily have your worst students speaking four languages and raising the dead in just a couple of days. But I digress.
One of the things we looked for first in the pile of mail that accumulated over the summer. Amidst all those catalogs, there was a hidden gem.
The Illustrated Football Rules, a small booklet filled with primitive drawings of square-jawed players, stern officials, all drawn in blockhead style, was something we sneaked into those arduous, in-service programs we were all tortured with. It was a method designed to destroy morale and get the school year started by generating the worst possible attitude in the teaching staff. Once again, I digress.
Much like an old Batman comic, the illegal hits were highlighted by explosive lines indicating a blow, block, or illegal trip.
In the days before the Internet, it was the primary method of spreading the word on new rules each fall season.
We also received detailed rule books with every procedure necessary for legal play, but they didn’t have any illustrations, and that was something to read in detail on the bus or while waiting for a parent to pick up a youngster hours after the bus had returned from a road trip.
Football begins soon across Fremont County and the rest of the Cowboy State.
Pre-season indicators are that the Riverton Wolverines will be a power in Class 3-A football this season, and that the Lander Tigers will continue to improve and be a dangerous 3-A squad as well.
Among the small schools, Shoshoni should vie for West 1A 9-man honors, and the Dubois Rams will remain a scrappy 6-man squad.
When it comes to new rules, there is nothing more ridiculous than a parent or fan who didn’t get the message on a change and starts bellowing their head off about a penalty when the old rule is no longer in effect.
There are some changes this year that fans might not be able to discern from the stands. Jewelry, tinted visors, and certain styles of wristbands, bicep bands, forearm bands, and even headbands will come under closer scrutiny by game officials.
Mouthpieces were being marketed with garish designs and are being reigned in, back to their original intent of protecting players’ teeth.
Each season in every sport, officials are instructed in areas of emphasis, rules to watch and enforce more stringently. This upcoming season, the emphasis is on sportsmanship.
There are a couple of specific rule changes. The first is a clarification of what constitutes a defenseless player. Their position and focus are now factors for officials to determine their level of defenselessness.
Targeting is going to be watched, and a few kids are going to get thrown out as a result.
A forward fumble was previously marked at the spot where it rolled out of bounds. This season, a fumble will be spotted where the fumble occurred, not where it rolled out of bounds. That’s going to get a few fans fired up when it’s called for the first time.
Seem confusing? It won’t be once the season starts.
You’ll notice the officiating crew to continue hustling to get the ball in play and set quickly. The 40-second clock was implemented a few seasons ago and has sped up the game. From the time the play is blown dead the 40-second clock starts. The clock used to start when the ball was set, but no longer.
Some situations will remain. Getting a ball boy is often difficult for officials, as are experienced chain crews.
The rules change, but the players don’t. Be supportive of the kids and the men in the stripes. There are areas of America where games are being cancelled due to a lack of officials.
If you’re a Riverton or Lander fan, you’ll get to watch your team on Friday nights. That’s true for all of Class 4-A, and most of Class 3-A, unless extreme travel is an issue and an afternoon game is in store to get the bus drivers home before they turn into pumpkins via the midnight rule.
If you plan on watching games in Shoshoni, Pavillion, or Ethete. The Wranglers, Cougars, and Chiefs will still get a few Friday night contests, but be ready for afternoon, Thursday, and maybe even Saturday games.
Dubois will play most of their 6-man schedule on Saturday.
The reason for these differing times is that officiating crews are stretched to the limit. There just aren’t enough officials to cover every game being played on a Friday night.
The officiating crews in Riverton, Worland, and Lovell are spread thin in our section of Wyoming, and the same holds true for the associations in the bigger towns of Casper, Green River, Rock Springs, Cody, Cheyenne, Laramie, Gillette, and Sheridan.
The men in stripes do an excellent job. If they make a call you don’t agree with, don’t make a fool of yourself 50 yards away from the play when they’re right on top of it. They’re not out to get your kid, to get his coach or his school.
Officials don’t wake up in the morning thinking, “Who can I cheat today?” It’s just the opposite; they want to do a good job, remain invisible, and let the kids play, but play within the parameters of the rules.
Officials are always needed, if you have the time and inclination, it’s a great way to help your community and keep a great game alive.