South Gulf Football Officials' Association
Unlock Your Full Potential
Great football officials must be able to bring control to chaos; understand fairness; promote safety and encourage good sportsmanship. You must have the positive characteristics of a police officer, lawyer, judge, accountant, reporter, athlete and diplomat. Are you ready for the challenge?
2024 Kickoff Classic
Ed Young's crew is ready for their 2024 Kickoff Classic game!
2024 Kickoff Classic
Steve Smith's crew ready for their Kickoff Classic Game!
2024 Kickoff Classic
Ryan Mozingo and his crew work the Kickoff Classic on the new field at Estero.
2024 Kickoff Classic
Jake Jacob's crew poses for a picture before their 2024 Kickoff Classic Game!
2024 Kickoff Classic
40 year veteran referee John Mantica with his crew.
Rick Sanzone posing with his crew before their game on 10/18/24
The officiating crew of Doug Stevens, John Mantica and Brooke Hankinson
The crew before Bishop Verot's first ever home flag football game
MAJOR 2023, 2024 and 2025 RULE CHANGES
Intentional Grounding
It is legal for a player to conserve yardage by intentionally throwing an incomplete forward pass if the passer has been beyond the lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone as established at the snap; and the pass reaches the neutral zone, including the extension beyond the sideline.
UPDATE FOR 2023:
The committee also approved a clarification to the intentional grounding rule change implemented last year. The change in Rule 7-5-2EXCEPTION permits the exception for intentional grounding to the first and only player to possess the ball after the snap ends.
Play Clock
When the clock is stopped due to Rule 3-5-7i, and Team B is the only team to foul, the play clock will be set to 40 seconds.
Game Clock < 2:00
Prohibition on use of audio or video devices by players (New for 2025)
When a foul is committed with less than two minutes remaining in either half, the offended team has the option to start the game clock on the snap.
Prohibition on use of audio or video devices by players (New for 2025)
Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds returned to spot of fumble (New for 2025)
Prohibition on use of audio or video devices by players (New for 2025)
No player participating in the game may wear any type of audio or video device in order to record or transmit audio or video.
Tooth and Mouth Protectors (New for 2025)
Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds returned to spot of fumble (New for 2025)
Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds returned to spot of fumble (New for 2025)
Items attached to the tooth or mouth protector that do not serve a purpose in protecting the teeth are not allowed.
Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds returned to spot of fumble (New for 2025)
Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds returned to spot of fumble (New for 2025)
Forward Fumbles Out of Bounds returned to spot of fumble (New for 2025)
When a forward fumble goes out of bounds or is ruled out of bounds between the goal lines, the ball shall be returned to the spot of the fumble.
Electronic Equipment (New for 2025)
Fixed electronic signs with play calls or signals are allowed.
However, in-helmet communication is still prohibited.
Basic Spot on Penalty Enforcement
In a move to achieve one of the committee’s fundamental tasks of maintaining a balance between offense and defense, this revision stipulates the basic spot for enforcement of fouls behind the line of scrimmage is the previous spot rather than the spot of the foul. Current penalties for illegal kicking, batting and participation fouls, as well as provisions for offensive fouls occurring in the end zone that may result in a safety, remain intact.
As an example, with the change in Rule 10-4, a team on offense at its own 40-yard line that is called for holding 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage at its own 30-yard line, would be faced with first and 20 from its 30-yard line rather than the almost insurmountable task of first and 30 from its own 20-yard line.
Defenseless Player (Receiver)
Defenseless Player (Receiver)
An addition (d) to Rule 2-32-16 states that another example of a defenseless player includes a receiver, as previously defined in the rule, including the person intercepting the pass, who is forcefully contacted by an opponent that is not 1) incidental contact as a result of making a play on the ball, 2) initiated with open hands, or 3) an attempt to tackle by wrapping arm(s) around the receiver.
Home Team Jersey Colors
Home Team Jersey Colors
Defenseless Player (Receiver)
Players on the home team must wear the same color dark jersey that clearly contrasts to white.
Hello
fIVE THINGS YOU WILL LEARN BY OFFICIATING
1. You learn how to better express yourself so others understand exactly what you mean.
2. You will make lifelong friends.
3. You learn how to defuse anger in others.
4. You figure out how to build a strong team.
5. You will feel great when you get the "big call" correct!