Mechanics:The UmpireJohn H. Fishel

YACPFOC Rules Interpreter

February 2013

Pre-game Responsibilities

Unless otherwise stated throughout the presentation, the mechanics shown/discussed in 5 Man is the same for 4 Man*

Accompany the Referee to the meeting with the Head Coaches. Review and rule on any questions with regard to the legalities

of equipment.

You are the final authority on the use of equipment, do not permit illegal equipment to be used.

Inspect and mark approved game balls

Participate in Pre-game Conference Know your position in all situations

Scrimmage Play Coverage

Scrimmage and Free Kick Coverage

Expect the unexpected to occur (plan for it)

Pre-game Responsibilities

Towel The Umpire should carry a ball towel for inclement weather or

wet/muddy conditions. (All White or Black is preferred.)

Coin Toss Actual Coin Toss mechanics, observe and record result of toss.

Mock Coin Toss Approximately 3-5 minutes before kick-off, escort (no more

than 4) Visiting Captains to center of field

Position at end of captains facing away from Scoreboard toward Referee. Confirm choices.

Upon dismissal of the captains, move together at the center for final comments.

Hustle to Kickoff positions – “crisp, square off”

Kickoff Mechanics

Clear the sidelines!

Five Man

Identify the restraining line for R, make sure they are behind

Position at the 50 yd line on Home Team side, 1-2 yds out of bounds

Count K players with Back Judge

Four Man

Position at the Visitor’s side 20 yd line, 1-2 yds out of bounds

Count R players with Referee

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

Bean bag for First Touching by K inside the Neutral Zone

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.

Keys on Kickoffs (5 Man)

Keys on Kickoff (optional) Players versus Zone

Better officiating than watching a particular zone

Same premise as passing keys

K3, K4 and K5 on your side of the field

Observe initial contact of key players then move to zone

Kicking Player Keys (in conjunction to zone responsibilities) U – K Players 3, 4, 5 to Home Team side

BJ – K Players 4 and 5 to Visitor’s Team Side and the Kicker

LJ – K Players 1 and 2 (Outside players) on Home side.

L – K Players 1, 2 and 3 (Outside players) on Visitor’s side.

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

Kickoff Mechanics (cont.)

Move “swiftly” up/down sideline while remaining out of bounds and watching blocks around the point of attack as well as safety concerns away from the play.

Talk to 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

Square off and come in, take control of the ball and mark Forward Progress spot until Offensive ball is rotated in.

Kickoff Mechanics (cont.) If ball becomes dead in your zone (cont.)

If play ends out of bounds, BLOW Whistle and move to Forward Progress spot, WHILE TURNING AND WATCHING action (players) out of bounds, Signal to stop the Clock. (DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON PLAYERS OUT OF BOUNDS ... Communicate – let them know you’re there watching, “Play’s Over, Use the ground to get up … Walk Away, etc.”)

Stay in position while help arrives, drop bean bag on forward progress spot only if absolutely necessary to separate players. Don’t worry about the ball … get another.

Spot ball then obtain ball from Team on offense while moving to spot ball inside hash marks and assist rotating ball from kick off the field.

General Scrimmage Mechanics Use of the whistle (Umpire should not normally use 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.

Ball Rotation

Be prepared to relay a ball in or out

During a change of possession

After a deep incomplete pass

During inclement weather conditions

Signals

After spotting the ball, remain over the ball while facing the Referee until the Ready for Play or the Referee indicates to release.

Note location of ball between the hash marks

Once released, DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK on the ball (back-out to your position.)

Count OFFENSE with Referee

Fist for 11, Five finger open hand for <11

Make sure there are five players numbered 50-79 on the line.

Take note of the number of B players on LOS in the Free Blocking Zone.

Scrimmage Play Mechanics

Scrimmage Play Mechanics

Position 4-7 yards behind the Defensive Line between the Offensive Tackles in a position to see the ball. Do NOT remain in the same location every play. Do Not interfere with vision of DBs or LBs.

Note position Center re-positions the ball for spotting the ball in future downs.

Preventive Officiating Constant communication is needed with ALL players inside. Let

them know when the ball is away, when the play is over, etc.

Relay messages from the sides as to Players not on the line or in the neutral zone.

Be prepared to toss bean bag for fumbles

Fouls to watch: False Start/Snap Infraction/Encroachment

Disconcerting signals from B Players

Scrimmage Play Mechanics Be mobile and ready to shift.

Key Center and Guards Aggressive blocking, Read Run and determine Point of Attack and

shift away accordingly.

Passive blocking, Read Pass and move to LOS.

Remember the closer you are to the play, the less vision you have. Back away or move laterally away from the play.

Fouls to Watch Chop Block - contact by two players on one (High and Low)

Holding - Wrapping, Hooking or Tackling opponent

Ineligible (linemen) receivers downfield

Roughing the snapper (scrimmage kick formation)

Be alert for TE dragging across the middle and/or attempting to use you as a pick.

On short pass plays, turn and help with catch/no catch decisions.

If forward pass is tipped, give signal indication.

Scrimmage Plays 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.

Penalty Administration

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, make sure you get the R’s attention.

Secure ball

Make sure you know where the foul, committed by whom, the enforcement spot and distance.

Confer with Linesman

Proceed with measurement

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

Measurements

Protect ball until chains are brought in by the Crew.

Take forward stick (rod), once Linesman has secured the alignment, extend stick until chains are tight. Hold stick until Referee is made a decision. If ball is short, carry stick inside hash mark while Referee

holds mark on chain. Extend stick in same manner and spot ball.

Time Out Procedure Maintain position over ball and observe Offensive Team until Ready

for Play.

ONLY the Head Coach or a Player on the field may call a Charged Time Out.

Two types of conferences Inside the hash marks, (only one coach may be with the team.)

Stay next to your team, be ready to notify the coach when there is 15 seconds to the Ready of Play whistle.

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

Stay next to your team and in a position to observe all players remain on the field. Again, be ready to notify the coach when there is 15 seconds to the Ready for Play whistle.

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.

Goal Line Plays

Normal Scrimmage Play mechanics

Do NOT give Touchdown signal

Assist wing officials blocked by players with ball breaking the plane. Do NOT signal by grabbing or patting chest

If you are know the ball is in the end zone, to assist the Wing Officials – you may want to take an obvious (large) step(s) back away from the players if the ball is in the end zone.

If the ball is short, hold your position or step into the line as if to spot the ball.

Between Periods/Halftime

End of the First and Third Quarters (4 Man) If facing clock near end of quarters, signal to Referee

by tapping top of hat, that the period may end before the play begins.

ALL Officials record 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.

Move ball to corresponding spot on opposite side of the field and reverse Team direction.

End of the Half (Second Quarter) Hustle into middle of both teams proceeding off the field. Keep

teams separated while walking off the field.

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

Scrimmage Kick Formation: Punt

Position as regular scrimmage play.

Count K players with Referee

Check for numbering exception

EXPECT THE FAKE and cover as in normal Scrimmage Play.

On a routine kick: Observe snapper protection

Pivot towards Line Judge (Home) side of field and observe blocks in side zone as you move towards return area.

Observe safety issues away from the play and blocks at the point of return.

Be ready to assist in ball rotation.

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

K11

K3

K9

P

K10K8

K2

U

LJ

K7

R

L K5 K6

K4

4 Man Punt Coverage

R7

R1

R8 R9 R10R3 R4 R6 R11 R5 R2

LJ

Scrimmage Kick Formation: FG/Try

Position as regular scrimmage play. Position for Alternate Formations

Count K players with Referee

Check for numbering exception

EXPECT THE FAKE and cover as in normal Scrimmage Play.

On a routine kick: Observe snapper protection

Make sure ball passes the neutral zone

Pivot towards Line Judge (Home) side of field and observe blocks in side zone as you move towards return area.

Observe blocks by outside offensive linemen and upback to Referee’s side.

Pivot toward Referee’s side and observe blocks and potential return.

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

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

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