PAGE INDEX:
1. About the SSFLOA
2. Resume - Supervisor of Officials, John Walters
3. Officials Fees
4. Scratch Policy
5. Game Day Minimum Requirements for Teams
6. Criteria for SSFLOA Membership
7. SSFLOA Uniform Requirments
8. Post Game Report Contents
9. NFL Rule Changes
The Southern States Football League Officials Association
SSFLOA Administration
John Walters, Supervisor of Officials
Email - John Walters - info@sicoaofficials.com
7 Men Crews, a Standard in the SSFL
The SSFLOA courts some of the finest football officials in the state of Florida. The appointment process is not easy as applicants are heavily scrutinized and evaluated by the SSFLOA Supervisor of Officials and his staff. Both annual and regional training and workshops are held to assure game officials are properly prepared to officiate games at this level.
The SSFLOA roster has an impressive resume with members that work on the collegiate and professional levels. The association staff had sixty-one officials from the collegiate officiating ranks, thirteen officials that also worked professional indoor football and two officials that officiate in NFL Europe.
1. The Standard Of Excellence
The Southern States Football League Officials Association, with a staff of one hundred officials, has built perhaps the greatest tradition of minor league officiating of any league in the country since its inception in 2004.
Last year was another season to remember for the SSFLOA as conference officials worked over 100 football games including exhibition, regular season and post season contests. SSFL officials have worked games in the Atlantic Coast Conference,
Gulf South Conference,
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference,
Southern Independent Conference Officials Alliance,
Southeastern Conference and the
Sun Belt Conference.
2. SSFLOA Supervisor of Officials
John Walters was appointed Supervisor of Officials for the Southern States Football League in 2004 and inducted into the SSFL Hall of Fame Class of 2008. Commissioner Dave Rice states, "John Walters has done a masterful job in organization, selection and training of SSFL offiicials. His procedures for communicating with coaches and team owners is direct and efficient. John loves the sport of football and football officiating. His dedication to the sport is exceptional. As a result, our games are professionally officiated".
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John Walters |
A Florida native, John Walters has assigned officials since the league was established and assumed the position as Supervisor of Officials in 2004. Walters began his officiating career in Miami as a member of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference. Twenty-Eight years of officiating on the high school, college and minor league levels have given him great insight into evaluating and recruiting solid talent.
In 1984, he took over as the Commissioner of the Greater Miami Athletic Conference Officials Association and found his passion. He was the supervisor of officials for the South Florida Football Officials Association, assistant commissioner of the West Coast Officials Association, and has been an evaluator and observer on both the NCAA and NAIA levels.
In 1997, he became the first and only supervisor the Southern Independent Conference Officials Alliance has ever known. This conference officiates youth, high school, college and women’s football games state wide. Walters is responsible for the overall training, evaluations and bookings for over 140 officials. He is also the Florida coordinator of officials for the National Indoor Football league.
“It’s really about quality in officiating,”Walters said. “People feel that I have a knack for finding talented officials and grooming them to work at the highest levels.”
That could not be any better demonstrated as his SICOA collegiate group has turned two more officials in 2006 over to major collegiate conferences. The SICOA collegiate group officiates NAIA and small NCAA college contests. So Walters feels that any official working in the SSFL has a great opportunity to advance.
“It’s all about getting snaps,” Walters said. “The SSFL is a great tool to give officials games during the winter and spring that they would not normally see. It’s no different than the players hoping to get a look from the professional levels themselves.”
3. Officials Fee Structure
REGULAR SEASON GAMES and PLAYOFF ROUNDS I & II
$90.00 Per Official - 7 OFFICIALS
$45.00 For ONE Clock Operator
POST SEASON - CHAMPIONSHIP RICE BOWL
$95.00 Per Official
$50.00 For Clock Operator
$25.00 Chain Crew
4. Scratch Policy
Teams may scratch officials from games provided they follow these procedures:
1. Notify the Supervisor of Officials a minimum of 1 week prior to their next scheduled game.
2. Detail the exact reason/cause for the scratch.
3. Identify the official(s) involved in the scratch
Scratches are honored automatically if:
1. The official has a relative playing, coaching or serving as an administrator.
2. The official works with or is employed by any player, coach or team administrator.
3. The official previously was affiliated with a team within the past 5 years as a coach, player or admiistrator.
Scratches by teams may not be honored if:
1. The team cannot substantiate a factual cause, or incident for an official to be scratched.
2. The team just does not like an official.
It is recommended that any team who wishes to scratch an official provide a written statement with factual reasons, game video and other documentation. The SSFLOA will honor legitimate scratches. However, officals work in crews and to not disrupt crew integrity, it is important to make all scratch requests as thorough as possible. Send all written documentation to John Walters.
5. Game Day Minimum Requirements for Teams
1. A secure dressing and shower area if available is to be made accessable 90 minutes prior to KO. If on site,
the area must be made secure during the game with access to the officials only.
If no on site dressing/shower facilities are available:
a. Supevisor contacts crew chief to see if the crew wants off site dressing/showers.
b. If YES, Supervisor contacts Commissioner who informs team owner.
c. Crew chief contacts team owner for a mutually agreed upon plan..Options...
1. Owner obtains a pre-paid dressing/shower facility and informs crew chief of address etc.
OR
2. Owner provides a stipend of $50 to be used towards a rental room. Crew Chief makes the
arrangement and is given the $50 at the time payment is received for the officiating.
2. Officials must arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to KO. A team representatjve must meet the officials and
direct them to the designated dressing area.
3. The referee and umpire will meet with each teams head coach one hour prioor to KO and they will inform the
officials of their captains information, unusual plays (if any) and any special pre-game or half-time events.
4. Host management must inform the crew when they will be paid. Preferred pay time is prior to the game in
the dressing room. If not pre-game, then payment must be made at half time in the dressing room. Payment
must be in cash payable individually to each official. The line judge will be responsible to account for, collect
and sign a receipt for the payment. No other form of payment will be be accepted.
5. Three (3) quality game balls as per SSFL Rule are to be delivered in a bag or net to the officials dressing room
by home management no later than 45 minutes prior to KO.
6. Balls boys (minimum of 2) must be made available to the line judge a minimum of 30 minutes prior to KO.
7. The chain crew of 4 persons must be made available to the head linesman a minimum of 20 minutes prior to
the the KO.
8. The coin toss will be held 5 minutes prior to the KO.
9. The National Anthem will be played after the coin toss.
10. Half time to be 20 minutes. It may be reduced by mutual consent. Teams are to return to the field and in their
boxes when the stadium clock shows 3 minutes left of half time.
11. Following the game, officials shall retire to their dressing room. It is the responsibility of home team
management to assure adequate security as per SSFL Rules governing the position and duties of security
personnel.
12. A complete game report will be subnitted to the SSFLOA and available online to team owners by the
following Monday at 9 PM.
13. (Email copies and updated SSFL Communications Sheet sent to all involved)
(Supervisor provides email addresses and telephone numbers to be added to the SSFL Communications
Sheet)
6. To Be Considered for the SSFLOA the Following Criteria Must Be Met
1. A minimum of 7 years of documented varsity high school exerience. Preference will be given t othose applicants who are current or former collegiate officials.
2. Medically cleared to officiate by a licensed physician.
3. Pass both a state and national criminal background check.
4. Available to officiate on the weekend's from mid Janruary until May.
5. Ability to travel up to 100 to officiate.
6. Ability to attend all SSFLOA training workships and field work.
7. Recommendations from senior officials who can attest to the applicants ability.
8. Knowledge of NFL Rules and NFL 7 man mechanics.
7. The SSFLOA Uniform Includes:
1. NFL style 2" striped shirt with assigned number on front and back
2. Officiating cap (white for referee)
3. NFL 2 " socks
4. White Knickers
5. Blue Bean Bag
8. Post Game Reports to Contain:
Date
Game site
Home Team
Visiting TeamGame Number
Referee
Umpire
Headlinesman
Line Judge
Back Judge
Field Judge
Side Judge
ECO
Game Stats Points by quarter - home, away and total
Penalties (yards/amount) by quarter - home, away and total
Game Totals
Quarter Start Times
Game Start Time
Game End Time
Estimated attendance
Field Conditions - wet/dry/other
Weather conditoins
Game TemperatureChain Crew Competency - Above Average / Average / Below Average
Game Balls Quality - Good / Fair / Poor
Required Field Set Up Completed - Yes / No
Secure Officials Room Provided - Yes / No
Ball Persons Made Available - Yes / No
Host Administration Performance
Report Submitted By:
Separate Page for Penalties Game Report to Include:
Quarter - Time remaining - Foul Called - Offense/Defense - Player #, Decline/Accept, Officials Calling (Position)
Separate Page for Game Report Disciplinary Actions
Ejections - team, jersey #, time ejected, quarter
Comments listing all detail regrding coaches, players, ejections and other conditions that are warranted for
improvement in the future
NFL Rules Changes - Major changes only - POSTED ON THE HOME PAGE AND EXPLAINED IN DETAIL AT PRE SEASON MEETING WITH COACHES AND STAFF.
