At the three 2009 Spring Experimental Events, the UPA tested a system where Observers were required to check the disc back into play. On any stoppage of play, regardless of whether there was a call or whether a call was ruled on by an Observer, the Observer actively checked with both teams, clarified the stall count, and checked the disc back into play. Players could not check the disc in to restart play.
Feedback was collected from players after all of these events and can be viewed here. Feedback was also collected from Observers who worked the Spring 2009 events, including specific comments about the pros and cons of this change (click here to view). The Observer's list of pros and cons generally captured individual comments submitted by the players, while also adding some perspective regarding implementation.
Take a look at the feedback, including the general support, or lack thereof, for how up/down calls were handled at these events. Take a look at the pros and cons listed in the Observer feedback section (and copied below).
Observer Comments:
Pros
- Reduces confusion, provides consistency
- Can speed up play in cases where pre-check violations might occur
- Prevents abuse of rules by marker or thrower (trying to check/not check disc in)
- Prevents abuse of rules by cutters or defenders (moving before check)
- Clear communication of stall count
- Clearer to players/fans when play restarts
- Keeps Observers involved in game
Cons
- Can slow game down, waiting for Observers on every stoppage
- Involves Observers unnecessarily in some/many cases
- Confusing because it is new
- Adds burden to Observers, who must approach and get involved in every call, whether contested or not; can be difficult to implement
- Takes control and flexibility out of players’ hands
My big complaint here is more that observers come too close to the player with the disc, often getting in the way of quick throws/pivots.
ReplyDeleteThere are also situations (timeouts) where teams don't need to take the full 70+20 seconds and a quicker check in is preferred.
Alison -
ReplyDeleteAs observers we should definitely not be in the way at the time the disc is checked in. I think because this was a new experiment we didn't have a standardized approach at Stanford and Centex, but what has emerged is that we should come in close before the check in, then back away quickly as we count down "3-2-1 disc in." By the time the disc is actually in play, we should be out of the way of not only the thrower, but any potential pass to a dump. If the observer check-in gets implemented in the future, observers will definitely be trained in how to do it properly.
As for a quicker check-in on timeouts, there's nothing to prevent that (although usually the offense takes the full 70.) Once the offense is set, if the defense decides they are ready before 90 seconds have elapsed, they can simply tell the observer "we're ready, please check it in." If both teams want to play, they can play.
I thought this was a good feature and I'm dismayed (but not terribly) not to see it on the ballot. I guess they felt the player feedback was too negative - but why not give the qualifying teams another chance to vote?
Pete W.
Observer