Strap on Your Helmet, You're Going Officiating

A recent spate of injuries to NFL referees has the league competition committee prepared to discuss the possibility of outfitting officials with helmets or other protective devices beginning in the 2010 season.

The discussion would begin after this season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. At this point, it isn't clear whether the helmets would resemble those the players wear or be more similar to a batting helmet in baseball with ear flaps.

In the past week alone, two officials have been hit by players during a game. Last week, it was umpire Butch Hannah during the Monday night Broncos-Chargers contest. Yesterday, back judge Richard Reels was leveled by the Vikings Jeff Dugan on a kickoff return by Percy Harvin. Reels was attended to by the medical staff and was eventually able to walk off on his own.

The subject was already broached by the committee last December when umpire Garth DeFelice delivered a forearm shiver to running back Kenneth Darby when it looked like the player would collide dangerously with DeFelice. No changes were adopted then, but Schefter said his sources indicate that they likely will be now.

The chief concern for committee members when considering alterations to the officials' uniforms is how they could impact the officials' ability to view the action on the field. A helmet, especially the baseball model, would not significantly obscure sight of the play. At the same time, the league knows with players going at each other with ever more speed and ferocity, the next major impact to an umpire could be a devastating one unless changes are made.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.