Football: 2024 Officials Training, Preseason #3

IHSAA and Big Ten Conference official Monte Tilgner provides a preseason training tape for football officials ahead of the 2024 season, focusing on the back judge position.

[L]

Question about ownership. At 11:20, the play starts at the 48. The tight end commits holding at about a half yard behind the line of scrimmage ... about 6 yards in front of where the Umpire is standing. The Back Judge is so far back that he's not even in the frame. With the benefit of the sideline camera angle, we can see the hold occurring at 11:55, but, of course, the back judge doesn't have this angle ... he's 20 yards down field looking through two defensive backs and two receivers to see this block by an offensive lineman. This is the back judge's call here? Not the Umpire or another official much closer to the action? I didn't realize that B was primary to call holding on interior blocks at the line of scrimmage.

Same at 24:38. Block behind the line of scrimmage involving a pulling guard inside the tackles. B is the farthest from this play and has to look through about 5 players and is 20+ yards away from the play. This isn't the R, U, or L call ... it's the B's responsibility to make a call here? Are you concerned that a B is too busy looking into the backfield on plays like this and misses downfield action on play-action plays? Later, at 38:20, you mention that B misses the block in the back ... but maybe that's because he's watching the Tight End blocking on #88, which is also close to a hold?

I'm still learning this position, so I'd like some more clarification, if possible. I'm very confused at B having primary responsibility on blocking plays at and behind the line of scrimmage, even between the tackles. Thanks.

[L]

Another question about fouls away from the ball/point of attack. When discussing OH, you mentioned not to call inconsequential OH. If there's a sweep to the left side, then a holding penalty on the receiver anchored to the right side of the field is simply ignored.

What about the OPI at 34:42. The receiver sort of blocks (almost in a way that makes me think he thought it was a running play). But the block is on the right side of the field. The throw is to a guy crossing on the middle-left side of the field ... nowhere near the location of the OPI foul. So, do we apply that same principle here -- the foul was away from the play and completely inconsequential, so no flag? Or, do we call the foul regardless of its bearing on the rest of the play and throw an OPI flag?

If it's the latter, is there a list of live-ball fouls like OH that we would only call when germane to the play as it develops vs a list of fouls that we should call, regardless of their relationship to the developing play?