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Articles by George Demetriou
Clients on “The Bench” Show Age Is No Barrier to Fitness
StretchLab coach finds inspiration in older clients committed to strength, mobility and lifelong health By George Demetriou “The bench,” in this case, is my work area — the place where I do one-on-one assisted stretches. Various people come to improve their flexibility and mobility. I provide the manual work, motivation and instruction. They provide the inspiration. Allow me to explain.
No Weak Links: Core Training Is Non-Negotiable
Strong core improves stability, reduces injury risk and boosts performance By George Demetriou If you mention core training, most people visualize hundreds of reps of situps and crunches to target the abs and develop a flat stomach or six-pack. While looking good in a T-shirt and having six-pack abs are worthy goals, there is much more to core training. What exactly is the core?
Leg strength is life
Building and maintaining strong legs supports mobility, balance and long-term health By George Demetriou I cannot stress the importance of leg strength enough. Weight training and a gym membership can be beneficial, but they are not necessary to build and maintain strong legs. It is human nature to take leg strength for granted, but weakness can be delayed — even prevented — with a plan. Life goals should include remaining mobile for as long as possible and staying injury-free whenever possible.
Happy New Year, Fitness Enthusiasts
It’s 2026 New Year’s resolution time By George Demetriou We are alive at a time when getting into shape is more convenient than ever. Not easy — but convenient. Gyms and personal trainers are everywhere. There are studios focused on flexibility, saunas, infrared heat, cold-water submersion and “dry” cold therapy. Nutrition and food-tracking apps help optimize eating.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Fun, fitness, self-defense, & sport
By George Demetriou In 1993, Royce Gracie won the first Ultimate Fighting Championship. He then went on to win UFC 2, and UFC 4. He displayed the effectiveness of the martial art his family is credited with establishing around the world: Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ). Over 30 years later, BJJ is one of the most popular martial arts in America. Brazilian jiu-jitsu specializes in grappling and ground fighting.
Kick Starts - Referee.com
Reviewing the Rules Regarding Free Kicks A lhough every game begins with a kickoff, free kicks occur less frequently than passing or running plays. Add the fact the kicking game has many special rules and you’ll recognize an extra effort is necessary to master kick plays. A kickoff is a specific type of free kick which is used to start either half and to resume play after a try or successful field goal. Two of the three kicking methods (placekick and dropkick) can be used on a kickoff.
Laparoscopic mesh placement during inguinal hernia repair: a meta‐analysis of two methods of repair
Background There are several modifications in the technique for the placement of mesh during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. One of these is a slit on the mesh to surround the cord structures which proponents of it suggest that it decreases the recurrence rate due to better anchoring of the mesh and lower risk of displacement. There is only low-level evidence in current literature examining the two methods.
Critical Rules for Umpires to Know
The umpire is in charge of the line of scrimmage and all the action that takes place in and around it. There are some rules that are of particular importance to the official working that position. Snap infractions. Restrictions on the snapper begin when the ball is ready. The snapper may adjust the ball, but may not move it forward, fail to keep the long axis of the ball at a right angle to the line of scrimmage or simulate a snap. Once he touches the ball, he may remove both hands in NCAA.
Intentional Groundrules
Intentional grounding is likely the rule that requires the most judgment. Any rule that requires an official to determine “intent” is prone to inconsistent enforcement. The varying calls made at the prep level are fueled by the differences in philosophy between NCAA and NFHS rulemakers. The chief difference between the codes is that in an NCAA game, the passer can intentionally throw the ball away once he has been outside the tackle box (7-3-2h Exc.).
Now You're Talking - Referee.com
Photo Credit: Dale Garvey What to Say to Whom and When to Say It Assuming a basic knowledge of football rules and mechanics, communication is arguably the greatest single attribute of an official. A coach’s evaluation form without that item is rare. Most coaches will list communication among the top three things they look for in an official. Once the whistle blows, the people in stripes are more communicators than officials.
Rare Rulings Well Done
Photo Credit: Dale Garvey No one has ever attempted to rank fouls in the order of the difficulty in calling them. However, it’s clear there is a pecking order. For example, encroachment is easier to call than holding. There are some fouls that are understandably called inconsistently, primarily because it’s often difficult for a single official to see everything that transpired. Holding would be on such a list, but arguably targeting and pass interference would be headliners.
Classifying Fouls Eases Enforcement
Darnell Anderson (left) and Jerry Trautman, both of Bellflower, Calif., discuss a penalty enforcement. Placing fouls into categories such as live ball or dead ball is an important step in proper enforcement. (Photo Credit: Heston Quan) T here are several elements to correctly enforcing a penalty. The first is to accurately identify a foul. If there is no foul, there cannot be a penalty. Properly recognizing a foul falls under the art of officiating.
Aptitude Vs. Attitude
(Photo Credit Ken Kassens) The attitude officials have when they walk onto the field will determine in part the success they may or may not enjoy in officiating that day. Attitude is likely most often thought of as a disposition or feeling with regard to a person or an object ranging from extremely negative to extremely positive.
A Breakdown of Running Lane Rules
Plate umpire Glenn Campbell of Woodinville, Wash., trails the runner up the first-base line to observe for a potential running lane violation. (Photo Credit: Dale Garvey) In the top of the seventh inning in Game 6 of the World Series on Oct. 29, 2019, the Washington Nationals had Yan Gomes on first and leadoff hitter Trea Turner at the plate with no outs. Turner hit a slow roller down the third-base line. As he dashed toward first, his path kept him narrowly in fair territory.
Early Movement By Either Team May Call For Flags
Once the ball is ready and until the snap begins, movements by team A players that simulate action at the snap constitute a false start. Wing official Jeff Ferguson, Roanoke, Va., will keep a keen eye on both lines for false starts and other movement before the snap. (Photo: Carin Goodall-Gosnell) O ffensive players are prohibited from committing a false start before the snap.
Judgment Necessary at Line of Scrimmage - Referee.com
Tim Spangenberg, Glen Carbon, Ill., helps a receiver line up properly by indicating the line of scrimmage. That sort of preventive officiating can help eliminate minor game-interrupting fouls. (Photo Credit: VIPIS) Judgments are a large part of football officiating. All rules require some degree of judgment. Perhaps the simplest application is determining whether a team has too many players on the field. All an official must do is count properly (it doesn’t always happen).
When to Throw Flags, When Not to (and When to Pick ’em Up) - Referee.com
The block at the right may or may not be a foul. It is at the point of attack, so it merits attention. But if the blocker began the block from the front and continued contact while the opponent turned, it would not be a block in the back. Seeing the entire block is crucial to avoiding incorrect rulings. Photo Credit - Dale Garvey The idea of a flag being waved off brings to mind an overbearing referee trumping the decision of a younger crewmate.
More Than a Dozen Intentional Acts Are Possible - Referee.com
Tripping is considered an intentional act and it is a foul. Until this year, it was legal to trip the runner in NFHS play. The codes have now aligned, and tripping carries a 15-yard penalty at both the NFHS and NCAA levels. Photo Credit: Dale Garvey When the word “intentional” is mentioned, the first thing that springs to the mind of most football officials is intentional grounding. However, intent plays a role in many more acts than that.
Plays Not Seen Often Challenge Officials
Is that a grasp and twist? Or just a grasp? And what is being grasped? Facemask? Helmet opening? Depending on the code, the covering official may or may not have a flag on this play. Photo Credit: Dale Garvey No one has ever attempted to rank fouls in the order of the difficulty in calling them. However, it’s clear there is pecking order. For example, encroachment is easier to call than holding.
Rule of the Week: Runner's Lane
Runner’s Lane The purpose of the three-foot wide lane (aka 45’ lane) along the last half of the distance between home and first base in foul territory is widely misunderstood. It only applies when the ball is being thrown to first base from the area of the plate (roughly from behind the runner), and none of the three major baseball codes directly state that. Except where noted, the material applies equally to NFHS, NCAA and pro rules.
Swap Meet - Referee.com
By George Demetriou One of the more common misconceptions in football is that a kick receiver must signal for a fair catch in order to be protected from team K players while trying to catch the kick.
Judgment Calls That Put You To The Test
According to Webster, judgment is the ability to make a decision. An official’s judgment calls will be questioned more often than his or her knowledge of the rules. At the prep level, without replay and the availability of clear, concise video, the truth often remains unknown. On some plays, officials have to make a calculated guess. Numerous versions of “when in doubt” guidelines have been published throughout the years.
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