SAYSO

08/07/2026

Friday Night Lights... The Game Has Changed.

Friday Night Lights!!!

I remember the roar of the crowd.

I remember the offensive lineman CREAMING the defender who was trying to get into position to tackle the running back.

I remember cheering when a defender made contact with a receiver, forcing the receiver to drop a pass after getting absolutely OBLITERATED by the safety—because the ball had just nipped their hand enough to avoid a Defensive Pass Interference call.

And those hits?

The kind that made the entire stadium shake.
The kind that made everybody in the stands jump out of their seats.
The kind that made us say:
“THAT'S FOOTBALL!”

And let's not forget the kickoff.

Back then, there was almost an unspoken mentality:
“Just hit anybody. Find somebody. And HIT THEM!!!”
That's what my assistant coach told us, at least...

It didn't always matter whether you were actually involved in the play.
If you could find somebody to hit, you found somebody to hit.
And for a long time, we celebrated it.
So you may be asking:

“What happened to the good ol' days of football?”

Well...
The game changed.

And thank God it did.

Because if you really want the next generation of student-athletes to suffer the horrendous effects associated with repeated head trauma, including the potential long-term consequences of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy—then I suppose you can keep pretending nothing needs to change.

But I don't think that's what anybody actually wants.

The reality is...
We know more now.
We understand more about head injuries.
We understand more about defenseless players.
We understand more about unnecessary and excessive contact.
And because we know more, the rules have changed—and honestly, for the better.

The vast majority of the United States uses NFHS, the National Federation of State High School Associations, rules.
And NFHS has taken tremendous strides in changing the rules of football and making the game safer for our future generations of athletes.

That doesn't mean football isn't physical anymore.

It doesn't mean we're turning football into two-hand touch.

It doesn't mean players aren't allowed to hit.

It means there is a right way to play physical football.

Please, especially the newer coaches:
Teach your offensive linemen how to block legally.
If you're taking out a defender who is in the vicinity of the play, teach your players to use the techniques the rules allow—not to launch a shoulder into somebody simply because they can.

Use your OPEN HANDS.
Play with proper technique.

And defensively?

If you're playing crisp defense against a wide receiver who has made contact with the football:

Play the ball.
Use proper technique.
Use your OPEN HANDS or wrap and tackle properly.

Don't turn every opportunity into an opportunity to destroy somebody.

Because here's the part some people don't want to hear:

The game of football has changed.

Whether you like it or not.

And it is going to continue to change.

Not because football is dying.
Not because officials are trying to ruin the game.
Not because coaches don't understand football.

It's changing because we have a responsibility to the kids who are playing it.

That kid wearing number 7 isn't there for you to prove how hard you can hit.
That linebacker isn't somebody you're supposed to “take out” just because he's standing in your way.
That receiver running down the field is somebody's son or daughter.
That running back you're trying to tackle?
That's somebody's kid too.

And when that kickoff happens, “just hit anybody” cannot be the mentality anymore.

Know your assignment.
Know who you're supposed to block.
Know who you're supposed to tackle.
And most importantly:
Know when the contact is legal—and when it isn't.
Because if we don't make football safer, we aren't going to have to worry about whether people want to play football.

Eventually, we may not have enough people willing to let their kids play it.

And then what?

No Friday Night Lights.
No packed stadiums.
No marching bands.
No rivalries.
No little kid in the stands dreaming about one day putting on that jersey.

No game.

So yes...
I'll admit it.
I miss some of the old football.
I miss the atmosphere.
I miss the intensity.
I miss the roar of the crowd after a massive hit.
But I don't miss the idea that hurting somebody is what made you a better football player.

I've learned that football doesn't have to be that way.
Football can be physical without being reckless.
Football can be intense without being dangerous.
Football can be tough without teaching kids that their health is expendable.
And you can learn too!

And coaches—especially those teaching the next generation—you have an enormous responsibility.

Teach them the game.
Teach them how to play physical.
Teach them how to compete.
But also teach them why the rules exist.

Officials?
Let's do what we do.
Let's continue to enforce the rules.
Let's continue to communicate.
Let's continue to educate when appropriate.
And let's continue working together to keep football safer for the next generation of student-athletes.

Because we're not out there to ruin anybody's Friday night.
We're out there because somebody has to make sure Friday night can continue.

So to the fans who are still mentally stuck in the early 2000s:
Yes.

The game has changed.

GET USED TO IT.

And to the players:
Play hard.
Play fast.
Play physical.
But play smart.

To the coaches:
Coach the game the way it's supposed to be played.
And to everyone else:
Let the players play.
Let the coaches coach.
Let the officials officiate.

Because at the end of the night, we're all supposed to want the same thing:
For every kid to walk off that field the same way they walked onto it.
Healthy.
Safe.
And ready to come back next Friday night.
That's how we keep Friday Night Lights alive.

“We need your help to remind everyone—players, coaches, and spectators—what true sportsmanship looks like. The next generation is watching, and it starts with you!”

Edward Pomerantz
Founder & President of SAYSO – Stop Abusing Your Sports Officials

(References:
NFHS Football Rules Book 2026
Rules:
2-3 Art. 10
2-32 Art. 16
9-4 Art. 3, n & p)

Send a message to learn more

06/26/2026

Happy Birthday to our President & Founder Ed Pomerantz!

05/08/2026

Even more organizations need to follow suit.

04/24/2026

It doesn't take a lot to be respectful, you don't have to agree but take a deep breath.

04/20/2026

You’re watching a coach bump a minor referee.
Swing at him.
Kick him.
While chasing him down.

Pause for a second.

This isn’t heat of the moment.
This isn’t emotion getting out of control.
This is a grown adult attacking a kid in the middle of a game.

And this is exactly why officials are walking away.

People say they want better referees.
People say they want accountability.

But tell me—
who signs up to be treated like this?

No first-year official.
No teenager.
No human being.

You want accountability? Start here.

Because there is no excuse.
Ever.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BFgp5BtTm/

04/13/2026

Well baseball fans—you got what you wanted: near-perfect balls and strikes.

Congratulations.

Now when a pitch misses by less than an inch, your favorite player can tap their helmet and feel just a little better… even though that’s a pitch they probably should’ve been swinging at.

Because the truth is, no human eye was ever designed to consistently judge something that precise at full speed.

But let me bring you back to reality.

The best hitters in the game fail nearly 70% of the time. It takes incredible skill to hit a 96 mph fastball.

But calling balls and strikes?
That takes skill too.
Judgment. Focus. Positioning. Confidence. And the ability to make a decision instantly—and stand by it—knowing half the stadium thinks you’re wrong.

And here’s something we don’t talk about enough:
Players take breaks.
Pitchers rotate. Batters hit once every nine spots. Position players might go several minutes without a ball coming their way.

Umpires?
They’re involved in every single pitch. Every play. Every call. From the first inning to the last, they don’t get to “check out” of the game—not mentally, not physically.
When the play is over… they’re already preparing for the next one.

That level of consistency and focus matters.

At the professional level, umpires are paid well—but nowhere near the level of the players they’re responsible for managing. And sure, people aren’t buying tickets to watch the umpire.

But the game doesn’t happen without them.

That’s the difference between visibility… and value.

At the youth level, that gap becomes even more concerning.

At the varsity level, umpires might make roughly $75 to $130 per
game, depending on the location.

At the younger levels?
It’s often even less.

We’re asking for professional-level composure… at amateur-level pay.
And for that, they’re expected to manage the game, enforce the rules, handle conflict, and absorb frustration from every direction.

And oh, by the way—many used to volunteer to umpire youth games. Those days are pretty much gone.

Who wants to be yelled at… for free?

And now we’re introducing a culture where every borderline pitch can be publicly questioned—with gestures like the “tap on the helmet.”

It may seem small.
But it’s not.

Because kids are watching.

They are learning what’s acceptable. They are learning how to handle disagreement. They are learning whether respect is optional.
And what they see at the highest levels of the game doesn’t stay there.

It trickles down.

Umpire associations are already preparing for how to handle these behaviors—because they know where this is heading.

More arguments. More ejections. More tension.

And fewer officials are willing to deal with it.

Let’s be honest:
The “perfect strike zone” does not exist in youth sports. It never has. It never will.
These are developing players. Developing coaches. And yes—developing umpires.

If we start demanding perfection from people who are learning, growing, and doing their best in real time…
we are going to lose them.

And we already are.

So here’s my ask:
Be part of the solution.
If you’ve ever thought, “I could do better”—we need you. Join your local umpire association. Step onto the field. Learn what it really takes.

Help us help you.

And if that’s not for you, then lead by example. Show your child what respect looks like. Show them how to compete without tearing someone else down.

Because at the end of the day, if you want your child to have a chance to play this game…
we need people willing to officiate it.

Give us that chance.

"We need your help to remind everyone- players, coaches, and spectators- what true sportsmanship looks like. The next generation is watching, and it starts with you!"

- Ed Pomerantz
President/Founder of SAYSO

Send a message to learn more

03/07/2026

Youth sports is not only for the development of kids learning, it's for officials too.

03/03/2026

"We need your help to remind players, coaches and fans what true sportsmanship looks like. The next generation is watching - and it starts with you!"

Sportsmanship isn’t just a game-day decision. It’s a standard.

On National Sportsmanship Day, we’re reminded that athletics are built on respect:
✔ Respect for opponents
✔ Respect for officials
✔ Respect for teammates
✔ Respect for the game

Winning matters. But character matters more.

We remain committed to protecting the purpose of high school sports — where competition and character grow together.

02/21/2026

Thank you Protect The Game for inviting us to your podcast!!!

The PTG Podcast is where officials come to grow. From training and education to advancement opportunities and real-world experiences, we talk about everythin...