Mechanics:The Referee

John H. FishelYACPFOC Rules Interpreter

February 2013

Meet with the Head Coaches beginning with the

Home Team. Provide a list of the game official’s names Verify length of intermission Have Head Coach confirm players are legally

equipment in the presence of the Umpire. Names/numbers of Captains QBs, Kicker/Punter – Left/Right Obtain names of “Get-back Coach” and ball

persons Identify any unusual plays which may occur ‘Attempt’ to meet with clock operator

Pre-game ResponsibilitiesUnless otherwise stated throughout the presentation, the

mechanics shown/discussed in 5 Man is the same for 4 Man*

Pre-game Conference

Initiate and/or guide the discussion on mechanics and philosophy for game situations Scrimmage Play Coverage Scrimmage and Free Kick Coverage Expect the unexpected to occur (plan for it)

Coin Toss (35 minutes before game time) Introductions of Captains Introductions of Crew PIAA Sportsmanship Message Head/Tails

Kick Receive Defend Defer

Record results of toss

Pre-game Responsibilities

Inspect field

Notify Game Management of any hazards to repair or remove

Keep score on the field Mock Coin Toss

Approximately 5 minutes before kick-off, escort (no more than 4) Home Captains to center of field

Position at end of captains facing toward the Scoreboard toward the Umpire. Confirm choices.

Turn captains in directions chosen Indicate to Press Box side, choices

Upon dismissal of the captains, crew comes together for any final comments.

Hustle to Kickoff positions

Pre-game Responsibilities

Five Man

Position on the Goal Line on Visitor’s side just outside the hash marks

Count R players with Line Judge and Linesman Four Man

Position near 5-10 yard line on Home side Count R players with Umpire

Signal other officials (Fist for 11, Five-finger open hand for >11)

Bean bag in hand (fumble, momentum or muff) Be ready for kick out of bounds in your area (during

a normal kickoff from the 40 yd line, spot foul if >35) Wind Clock if R touches ball in your zone.

Kickoff Mechanics

Blow Ready for Play (Kick) whistle Be ready to rule on Touchback for all kicks

where the ball enters the End Zone untouched. For kicks caught inside the 5 yard line,

determine if momentum took the player into the End Zone (if so, bean bag spot) or if it was voluntary.

Move forward if kick is short. Observe action around the runner and clean-up

unnecessary action behind.

Kickoff Mechanics

35 4

K

432

U

LJ

BJ

R

L

1 12

5 Man Kickoff Mechanics

R10

R1

R5

R9

R6R4

R7 R8

R2

R11

R3

5

BJ

35 4

K

432

LJ

U

L

R

1 12

4 Man Kickoff Mechanics

R10

R1

R5

R9

R6R4

R7 R8

R2

R11

R3

5

L

Communicate with the players, let them

know you’re watching or that the ball is away from them.

If play becomes dead in your zone. Blow whistle Mark Forward Progress spot.

If play becomes dead in another zone Assist in ball relay

Kickoff Mechanics (cont.)

Use of the whistle SEE THE BALL – KNOW THE PLAY IS OVER!!! The play kills itself, however A LATE WHISTLE IS OFTEN

BETTER THAN NO WHISTLE … alerting all players stops dead ball contact.

When and only when, ball becomes dead in your area … Sound whistle loudly! (Unless it is necessary to stop dead ball contact) i.e. don’t whistle a play dead on the other side of the

field Drop Bean Bag at location where ball is when an

Inadvertent Whistle is blown. Use sharp, repeated whistle to get everyone’s

attention at the end of a play when a foul has occurred.

General Scrimmage Mechanics

Use crisp, clear signals (Incomplete, stopping

the clock) Do NOT give signals while running/moving to

spot

General Scrimmage Mechanics

AdditionalSignals

After ball is spotted: Position 10 yards or deeper from the LOS and to the

QB’s throwing arm side just outside the TE Make certain other officials are in position Below Ready for Play whistle

Wind clock when applicable

Count OFFENSE with: Umpire Fist for 11, Five finger open hand for <11

Hold signal out until Linesman and Line Judge have an opportunity to verify If <11, get wing officials attention

<11 on OFFENSE “may” result in <7 foul on the LOS

General Pre-Scrimmage Mechanics

Key – opposite side Tackle

Aggressive block – read run Point of attack blocking Responsible for runner until ball crosses neutral zone

Passive block – read pass Initiate step back Stay deep, parallel to LOS and trail QB when rolling

out Stay with and observe action around QB Notify players when ball is away

Assist covering all plays ending out-of-bounds Preventive Officiating

Constant communication with players

Scrimmage Play Mechanics

Stopping and Starting the Clock

Signal to STOP the clock when: Down ends with a foul Play becomes dead out of bounds FORWARD pass is obviously incomplete HEAD COACH (only) calls a Time Out Official Time Out Period ends A Fair Catch is made or awarded An OBVIOUS First Down has occurred

Signal to START (continue) the clock when: Whenever the ball becomes dead outside the numbers WIND the clock then STOP when the ball becomes dead outside

the numbers and an OBVIOUS First Down has occurred. Whenever a R player touches a Free Kick in your zone.

Scrimmage Play Mechanics

Keys and Priorities

Coverage Areas

G

QB

T

RB

GT

B

U

LJ

BJ

C

R

L E EB

5 Man Zone Coverage

After initial keys release, Passing and Running Plays

T

S

LB LBTCB

LB

E ESS

CB

G

QB

T

RB

GT

B

U

LJC

R

L E EB

4 Man Zone Coverage

After initial keys release, Passing and Running Plays

T

S

LB LBTCB

LB

E ESS

CB

General Rule: Use of the penalty marker

Toss the penalty marker in the air for a Dead Ball foul Throw the penalty marker to the spot (appropriate

yard line) for a Live Ball foul Procedure following a foul:

If it’s your call, stop the clock. If it is NOT your call, meet with calling official.

Retrieve the following: Type of Foul

Color of jersey, number of Player If a spot foul, is location accurate

Live or Dead Ball If Live, status of the ball (loose ball – kick or run play)

Penalty Administration

Give initial signal to Press Box side of the field

If obvious foul: Make sure Umpire knows enforcement spot and

distance then administer penalty. If optional foul:

Call for Captain Give options, let them seek advice from Head Coach Make sure Umpire knows enforcement spot and distance

then administer penalty. Enforce dead ball fouls in order of occurrence

Penalty declined, give signal followed by penalty declined signal

Give signals for Double Fouls Give signals for Multiple Fouls

Penalty Administration

Give final signal to Press Box side of the field

Always administer fouls before granting Time Outs

Accepted penalties for fouls on the final timed down of any period causes an untimed down except fouls defined in Rule 3-3-4.

Communicate with the Head Coach, let him know what’s going on. If you can’t get a number immediately, tell them you’ll get it as soon as possible.

Penalty Administration

G

QB

T

RB

GT

B

U

LJC

R

L E EB

Enforcement Spots:All-But-One – Penalized from the Basic Spot

T

S

LB LBTCB

LB

E ESS

CB

“Basic Spot”

OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot”

G

QB

T

RB

GT

B

U

LJC

R

L E EB

Enforcement Spots:Loose Ball Play

T

S

LB LBTCB

LB

E ESS

CB

“Basic Spot”(not PSK fouls)

OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot”

K11

K3

K9

P

K10K8

K2

U

LJ

BJ

K7

R

L K5 K6

K4

5 Man Punt Coverage

R7

R1

R8 R9 R10R3 R4 R6 R11 R5 R2

“Basic Spot”PSK

G

QB

T

RB

GT

B

U

LJC

R

L E EB

Enforcement Spots:Running Play

T

S

LB LBTCB

LB

E ESS

CB

“Basic Spot”(fouls by B)

OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot”

G

QB

T

RB

GT

B

U

LJC

R

L E EB

Enforcement Spots:Running Play, followed by Loose Ball

T

S

LB LBTCB

LB

E ESS

CB

“Basic Spot”(fouls by B)

Fouls by A

Ball should be spotted by closest Wing Official Stop clock, signal Official Time Out to Press Box Have Linesman bring chains in Clear area If ball has met the rod of the forward line to

gain indicator, give 1st Down Signal. If ball is short, signal next down, grab chain

link at foremost point of the ball and ball. Walk inside to hash marks and in the course of re-measuring, place point of ball at same location.

Once officials are into position, blow Ready to Play whistle and wind clock when applicable.

Measurements

Follow all normal scrimmage play procedures. Position 3-5 yards outside the TE and 2-3 yards behind

the Punter’s kicking foot Expect the Fake or the Kick to be blocked Be ready to rule on kicks out of bounds while in the air. If kick goes out of bounds in the air, observe Line Judge

or Back Judge walking toward the LOS with arm in the air. “Chop” mark for angle ball went out of bounds.

On a routine kick: Observe Punter Notify players when ball is away Move downfield slowly Observe blocking in both directions, be ready to pick up

runner on long return.

Scrimmage Kick Formation: Punt

K11

K3

K9

P

K10K8

K2

U

LJ

BJ

K7

R

L K5 K6

K4

5 Man Punt Coverage

R7

R1

R8 R9 R10R3 R4 R6 R11 R5 R2

ONLY the Head Coach or a Player on the

field may call a Charged Time Out. Facing Press Box, stop clock and extend

arms toward the Offense or the Defense to indicate which team is being charged.

Record Time-Out, verify with other officials Be prepared to notify wing officials when

Back Judge indicates 15 seconds to Ready.

Once all officials are in position, blow Ready for Play Whistle.

Time Out Procedure

Two types of conferences

Inside the hash marks, (only one coach may be with the team.)

Outside the numbers, 11 Players must remain on the field but any number of Coaches and Players may be in the huddle.

Do NOT gather at the middle of the field unless it is necessary to pass information along to another official or get clarification for a Coach, etc.

Injury Time Outs This is not coach-player conference. Keep players inside

the hash marks unless the length of the time to care for the injury causes the Referee to approve the teams to go to the numbers for an authorized conference.

Time Out Procedure

Normal Scrimmage Play procedure. Before turning to Press Box and giving TD

signal, make sure there are no fouls.

Goal Line Plays

Position 2-3 yards behind and 3-5 yards toward the sideline of the

Kicker’s foot. Observe the Kicker, Place Holder and opposite side Tackle Observe snap and ball action around Holder EXPECT THE FAKE, be prepared to get to the sideline to assist with

out of bounds coverage. If no fake, give signal to Press Box after ruling by covering officials.* Rule on roughing the Kicker or Place Holder. If Try is blocked, give immediate whistle followed by signal to Press

Box side. If kick is a FG attempt, LIVE BALL until ball breaks the plane of the

Goal Line…HOLD Whistle. Be prepared to assist with return, etc. 4 Man – Follow same procedure but following ball being placed, move

into middle to rule on kick between uprights. Following LJ indication on being above/below crossbar – give signal.

Scrimmage Kick Formation: FG/Try

LBLB T

S

LBTE

U

LJBJ

S

R

L

CB

E CB

5 ManFG/Try Coverage

K7

K

K8 K9 K10K4

H

K6 K11K3

LB

LBLB T

S

LBTE

U

LJS

R

L

CB

E CB

4 ManFG/Try Coverage

K7

K

K8 K9 K10K4

H

K6 K11K3

LB

End of the First and Third Quarters

Hold ball in one hand above your head. ALL Officials take note of the ball location (yard line), down and

distance before changing sides of the field. Hustle to the new location and make sure location, down and distance are correct.

End of the Half (Second Quarter) Hold ball in one hand above your head. Hustle into middle of both teams proceeding off the field.

Keep teams separated while walking off the field. Once teams have had a chance to make a substantial step to

their halftime locations, start intermission clock. Once the halftime clock has expired, set clock for mandatory 3

minute warm-up and wind. Proceed to kickoff positions.

Between Periods/Halftime

When in question …

Incomplete Pass or Fumble Forward Pass or Backward Kick or Pass – Touched or Not Catch or No Catch Passer has thrown or fumbled Touchback or Safety Fumble or Dead Ball Helmet on or off Accidental or Intentional

Contact Touching Kicking

Legal Block or Clip Block above the waist or below 5 or 15 yd Facemask 5 or 15 yd Running into or

Roughing the Kicker

Incomplete Pass Forward Pass Not Touched No Catch Incomplete Pass Touchback Dead Ball Helmet Off Accidental

Legal Above 15 15