Football Zebras

Let them talk! We need detailed referee announcements

Commentary

by Mark Schultz - December 28, 2021December 27, 2021 01783

Over the years, we've chronicled the evolution of the referee microphone, from it's humble beginnings to it being used as a valuable teaching and explaining tool. While some people might have snickered or rolled their eyes at long-winded announcements, they could not deny they knew what happened and why the officials

NBC garbles Carl Cheffers penalty announcements to prevent profanity from airing

by Mark Schultz - November 24, 2020November 25, 2020 24248

The NFL is doing its best to play a full season during the covid-19 pandemic. One of the ways the league can get games in is to play in near-empty stadiums. While it is a surreal sight, it also presents challenges for TV sound technicians. In 2020, when referees open their mics

4 fouls on the play? It’s a team effort to help out the referee’s announcement

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - August 12, 2019August 12, 2019 15369

https://streamable.com/oe3bo Referee Shawn Hochuli had to sort out and announce four fouls this past weekend, drawing praise and admiration. First of all, when there are multiple fouls, the crew gets together and makes sure they are clear with the proper enforcement before giving options to the teams. This can get quite difficult

Wires and gadgets are part of the NFL official’s uniform

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - December 6, 2018December 6, 2018 19588

NFL officials wear several pieces of equipment out on the field, draped around their neck, wrapped around their wrists and fingers and hooked on their belt. In the last 10 years, NFL officials are hooked up to several wireless devices to help them do their jobs. Every NFL official takes the

50 Super Bowl calls, Part 2: XL to XXXI

50 Super Bowl calls

by Football Zebras staff - February 2, 2016February 6, 2016 510371

The Football Zebras staff -- with the assistance of our affiliated forum, Behind the Football Stripes -- has examined the Super Bowls of years past for the work of the officials who, in a given year, achieve the honor of the best of the best. While every team competes for

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Here’s why loose talk on Corrente’s mic isn’t a problem

by Mark Schultz - December 16, 2015July 6, 2017 53884

Embed from Getty Images Â It can be fun and games for the officials, too ... at the right time When you officiate, you have to find humor in the game. You have to, or you'd go insane with all of arguing, berating, second-guessing and dangerous situations on the field. Officials can't (and

Referee announcements have come a long way in 38 years

History

by Mark Schultz - October 18, 2013December 6, 2018 410207

In 1975, the NFL decided to put a wireless microphone on the referee for penalty announcements. Â Officiating boss Art McNally, wanted the officials to use this new technology very sparingly. Â In those intervening 38 years, the microphone has evolved into a critical communication and teaching tool, as shown by Gene

Microphone is ref’s friend for no-sense rules

by Ben Austro - November 25, 2012November 25, 2012 13877

It elicits snickers from football fans when it happens, and it sometimes trends on Twitter. Referee Ed Hochuli turns on his microphone to explain a ruling, and some fans joke that it is NFL open mic night. An example from 2009: We reviewed whether the ball was fumbled down near the

An open referee microphone is an ever present danger

by Mark Schultz - November 7, 2012November 25, 2020 07053

In 1975 the NFL decided to put a wireless microphone on the referee, so the fans at the game and on TV could better understand what was going on down on the field.Â What started as an experiment with bare-bones penalty announcements has turned into a vital communication and education