Rule Changes for This Season

My second post deals with 2 major changes that were implemented state-wide in the off-season.  One I consider a great decision and the other, not so much.  This will also be a great time to introduce the Coventry Oaker Football Blog rating system.  Bad decisions will be rated on a 1 to 5 face-palm scale.  One face-palm is mild disagreement and five is strong.  Good decisions will be rated on a 1 to 5 thumbs-up scale with one being mild agreement and five being strong.

1. Initial practices are shortened:

The first week of practices has been shortened to 3 hours per day.  Essentially, this kills that rite of passage known as 2-a-days, unless you want 2 short practices.  The intent is listed as “To provide pre-season acclimatization rules prior to the season for student athletes with the purpose of minimizing injury and enhancing the player’s health, performance, and well-being.” (http://www.riil.org/bulletins/June_EOY_Bulletin_2012-2013.pdf)     

I think the intent could have been accomplished much better by requiring more water breaks rather than reducing practice time.  I don’t know if the state keeps records of minor injuries (e.g. minor sprains), but my prediction is that minor injuries will actually increase due to this change.  Without 2-a-days athletes will not get as much conditioning and some team members, who would have quit due to harder practices, are more likely to remain.  This just exacerbates the less conditioning problem.  As a result, I predict more minor injuries.  I give this 2 out of 5 face-palms.

2. The officials this year will come from the South Eastern Massachusetts Football Officials Association:

I did a cartwheel when I heard about this.  Actually, because I’m a bit overweight, it looked more like sack of flour rolling along the floor, but you get the idea.  I’m sure most (or at least some) of the officials last year wanted to do their best job and nobody expects them to be NFL-caliber.  I don’t know what may have happened at other schools, because I only watch Oaker High School football.  Over the last few years I have seen late hits at least 3 yards out of bounds happen in front of an official with no flag.  I have seen passes dropped in the endzone and called completions.  I have seen officials throw flags and verbally taunt coaches, and I have seen officials curse/taunt players.  There is little wonder why the RIFOA was resistant to an evaluation system.  You can read a report of the decision here: http://m.independentri.com/mobile/independents/sports/article_c00b313d-2ced-5e0d-a2a1-ce30b9665bf3.html 

This season I am cautiously optimistic about the officiating.  It certainly cannot get worse.  Because there is no 10 on a 5-point scale, I give this 5 out of 5 thumbs-up.