The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-11-04
YOST RELATES
DIFFICULTY OF
HOLDING POST
Discrepancy Between Views Of
Plays Held by Each Spec.
tatOr Told
CIV Fielding n. Yost.)

Ann Arbor, Mich, Nov. 4.-(AP)
Officiating in any game or sport
is very difficult.
The machine called the mind must
interpret and translate what the
machine called the eye visualizes,
and in few men is this interpreta-
ton and translation the same.
Even when it comes to the de-
scription Of immobile objects the
eyes and minds of two men seldom
function exactly alike. When ac-
ton is added and especially swift
dramatic act o n, Fielding H. Yost
as in football, the chance of any
two men seeing one specific bit of
action the same way is lessened.
For this reason football and basket
ball are most difficult of games in
which to officiate.
In addition to eyes not seeing the
same, psychologists tell US that we
see what we most desire to see and
that it is difficult for two men de-
string to see different things to come
anywhere near seeing the same
thing in any set Of facts. This
makes officiating in football doubly
difficult, for while the officials are
trained to see correctly and are
picked as impartial they are sur.
rounded on every side by partisan
crowds, each bent on seeing just
what the other side does not wish to
see.
Seeing Differences Cause Trouble
If it were possible to eliminate
differences Of seeing and interpreta-
ton in a hard fought game like foot
ball, it might be possible to elimin-
ate officials altogether and send %
men on the field to play football
according to the rules. This would
be the ideal condition, the Valhalla
of sport, but one that is not posi-
BILE under present conditions Of mind
and eye.
1t is Appropriated to some degree
in games for small numbers like
tennis and golf, but none Of the
games in which bodily contact occurs
has yet reached that height.
From the standpoint of the devel-
opment Of certain battling spirit
in youth, it might not be an ultra
desirable condition when reached all
though it is probable that the youth
of today and tomorrow might be
trained to attain it.
Football has added to its officials
instead Of reducing the number.
In the original rules, q referee
and an umpire were in charge of
the game. The third official was
| named headlinesman, an assistant to
the two officials. He was given the
duties Of keeping track Of downs,
the point to which the ball was adj
vanced and holding the time-keeping
watch.
Fourth Official Named
With the new game; having more
open play, a fourth official was
named. This fourth official was
first dubbed an assistant umpire,
and then named field Judge, his
duties being the same under both
names. He was placed far down
! the field, where long passes and
!, punts would terminate. He was
therefore in position to Judge who
first recovered tumble and to de-
| eide just when q ball was dead, as
well as to take charge of violations
that might occur in that part Of the
field. This change again allowed
the major officials to remain near
the point where play was initiated
and watch developments there.
The referee in general has con-
troll of the ball and the umpire con-
troll Of the players. Both are as
| sisted in their duties by the head
linesman and the field Judge.
While custom and in some cases
college organizations have defined
that these officials watch the game
from certain positions, if they could
see better and Judge better what
was taking place on the field from,
seat in the stands it is probable
they would be so placed. It seems
to be generally agreed, however
II the man trained to see what
happens and to interpret that hap.
pening correctly-the official:
better placed at present, even though
occups ITS Of the stand seats dis
agree with him.
In football games, officials have
one status that should always be
remembered-they have been mu.
tually agreed upon by both side,
and represent not only the players
on the field and the athletic depart.
nents but also the supporters o.
both teams. It also probably il
correct to say they represent, in thu
very highest sense, all the friend'
| ~ clean snort - ~ :