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This is the Lenny Alba Variety Hour, and as much as we’ve loved The Mouse the past couple of weeks (he’ll have more Player/Team Interviews coming soon!) we’re committed to doing some DIFFERENT things in this article week to week, just to keep it fresh.

This week we’re putting the spotlight on some of our most experienced Refs in the league to ask them about some of their experiences.  Let’s see what Justin Garbacz, Brandon “B” Ford, Jordan Lawson and Garrett “Head of Officiating” Beesing have to say about reffing in the TSL!

How do you deal with the abuse of players always blaming you for "bad calls"?

Garbacz: I say things like, " We aren't reading about you in the USA Today Sunday Morning" or "This is what I saw....you may disagree but..."I try to create a rapport with the players that way they know me and makes it easier and they may not get as "heated".

B: When I make the call I stand by it. I don’t care if the players are blaming me. If I mess up I will always admit I was wrong.

Jordan: It's crazy to think, but I've actually NEVER made a bad call or even missed a call, so I cannot properly answer this question. If I am ever accused of making a bad call I will reach out so that the article can be updated appropriately.

Garrett: Generally, just laugh it off. I’ve had my moments where I complain to refs, so I get it. You should have that right as a player to question calls and let the ref know they messed up. Once it gets excessive, I’ll usually just start openly mock how they’re behaving, or throw a flag.

What's the best advice you could give to someone who was just starting to ref?

Garbacz: Be patient.  Think before you blow the whistle. Don't let the game move too quickly for you.  If the Back Judge, take about 12-15 yd down from the line of scrimmage and maneuver from there.  Get to know your personnel.  You will be in proper position because you will know what QB's go deep constantly etc.  Always make eye contact with other official after the play to both know the downs.

B: Best advice I can give to new refs: If you make a call, stand by it. We are not professionals, we are people who play in the league or volunteer to help. We are not perfect.

Jordan: Simply to watch what I do and you'll never be wrong. The other advice would be simply to care. Pay attention to the game, respect the opportunity to be able to referee, and understand that you truly are in charge of helping the game go smoothly. There are, in my opinion, too many refs that just don't pay proper attention, are on their phones, or chatting with someone from another field.

Garrett: Don’t swallow your whistle. Too many refs, especially new ones, seem to think that NOT throwing the flag will keep the peace. Not throwing a flag will get just as much complaining as throwing a bad one.

What are the easiest or hardest teams to ref? 

Garbacz: Easiest teams are D1 due to knowing the teams well and it basically "runs itself".  The hardest are teams I do not know nor have a rapport  with.  The D1-D3 that I do ref, have a rapport with me so they know how to speak with me and vice versa.

B: Easiest team is any D6 team. They just want to have fun and play football. Hardest is Eyes Downtown. Bobby knows the rules and will question every call, every rusher count and wants things his way.

Jordan: Easiest team to ref is Balls Deep.  They are extremely respectful, appreciative, and cognizant of the fact that I enjoy reffing and am out there to help better the league. I truly appreciate that they thank the referees for being out there. The hardest would be Eyes Downtown or Cobblestone.  For ED if a game starts at 'X' time...your team and players should be ready to go. This is also meant to be funny as anyone reading this will understand, but Bobby shouldn't get an extra 10 mins to do his weird warmup stretches and high knees, but he always seems to push the limits on starting game time. (Love you Bobby!)...but sometimes refs will run those 10 minutes off the clock without you knowing, which also isn't fair to the other team.  And Cobblestone, need I say more?

Garrett: Not gonna call out one particular team as the hardest to ref, but the same 8-10 players always act shitty. They expect perfect reffing, and are personally offended “children” [editors note: “children” was not the word Garrett used] when everything doesn’t go exactly their way. They never seem to realize when ref drama gets serious and out of hand, it’s the same 8-10 morons are ALWAYS at the center of it. It blows my mind the same 8-10 people don’t realize it’s ALWAYS them. And disappoints me that their captains and teammates don’t make them stop or kick them off the team. Very bizarre and sad. Favorite team to ref, NSS. They are always very respectful and as a team never get down on each other so the vibes always good

What's the best game you ever witnessed as a ref?

Garbacz: I feel a game that was D1 in the past year or two.  Was back and forth 40-50s in score.  Possibly Legends and Eyes Downtown or was Malones and somebody.  Both teams kept matching one another.  Honorable mention to Dwyers vs. Green and Associates in 2012

B: Best have I ever witnessed, that’s a tough one. Probably Sticky Bandits vs Legends a few years ago for the championship. It was a back-and-forth game. Refs weren’t even needed actually. Me or Garbacz never had to make a call. 

Jordan: There are too many to name. Having reffed hundreds of games the ones that stick out are probably the championships as you never know what is going to happen. I love the games that come down to the last play, but dislike that the outcome literally could rest in my hands for a call that I do or do not make.

Garrett: Kind of drawing a blank here. I could have the details wrong but Mavericks winning a ship back-to-back years on the last play sticks out and I saw both plays. Don’t think I was reffing either though!

What's one rule change you'd like to see?

Garbacz: I would like to see a blitz added one per series for the defense.  I feel it would make it exciting and the opposing qb wouldn't know when a "blitz" was coming.

B: The QB arm rule. When the arm is coming forward and the rusher touches him it’s not a sack. As a fellow QB I don’t mind the rule, but we are hurting the rushers. QBs see the rusher close and just start moving the arm forward. That has to change.

Jordan: I honestly don't think that there needs to be any rule changes. I did always find it odd that refs call 'gender' play for female involvement though. Isn't a male a gender too?

Garrett: $40 a game for refs. I love insulting people’s intelligence that disagree with me on this. It’s very enjoyable for me. I will die on the hill that it would make the product better by increasing demand, and allowing me to remove weaker refs from the schedule. The argument that $40 is too much, when it would be $10 extra a session per-person, is a joke. Also, “the complaining would get worse if I was paying $40, I’d expect way better reffing,” is only something an entitled child would say.

Who's the best ref in the League besides yourself and why?

Garbacz: Jeff May or B.  Both have done it a long time.  Both are good to work with due to both can work the back judge or line.  Both communicate very well and that is key so both officials on the same page.

B: I’m going Jordan Lawson. He knows the rules in and out and he doesn’t let the players get to him. When he makes a call, he stands by it.

Jordan: Jordan Lawson with his eyes closed would be the best besides Jordan Lawson (the 10x runner-up in Best Ref of the Year voting) with his eyes open. But if I had to pick another, it would be Stoner Dave. Not because he is a teammate but because he truly cares and engages in every aspect of a game when he is reffing. He doesn't let emotion dictate his calls, doesn't hold grudges against players, and is fair, honest, and always provides a respectful explanation of what he did or didn’t see.  I would also love to see Sal start reffing again because he is right up there at the top of the list of best referees.

Garrett: Jeff May and Jordan Lawson

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