New Jersey Football Officials Association

Six Official Mechanics Positioning

2015

To be used in conjunction with the

“NJFOA Six Official Mechanics Manual v5.0”

NJFOA

Coin TossThe proper officiating positions for the coin toss are illustrated in the following diagram:

Pres

s Box

F and S remain on their respective sideline

H and L remain on their sidelines with game balls

The normal free kick positions are illustrated in the following diagram: Free Kick

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Press Box

Umpire moves into the field after kick to be ready to cover a long return

F and S move cautiously toward R’s goal line, ready to reverse field and cover K’s goal line if there is a long return

R has primary responsibility for ensuring that there are at least 4 Team K players on each side of the kicker when the ball is kicked

H and L go to K’s 40 before the kick and sweep the sideline back to K’s goal line. During the kick, they should remain on the goal line until the kick ends and the running play phase of the kick return begins.

Sweep to clear SL prior to KO

Sweep to clear SL prior to KO

The proper officiating positions for an anticipated on-sides kick are illustrated in the following diagram: Free Kick

(onside kick)

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Press Box L and U strictly rule on encroachment by Team K, as well as ruling that no Team K players are more than five yards from their restraining line. R moves to

‘centerfield’ and maintains primary responsibility for ensuring that there are at least 4 Team K players on each side of the kicker when the ball is kicked

H rules on whether the kick was airborne or driven into the ground and assists on first touch, blocks and recovery

F and S rule on first touching by K and must be ready to cover a pooch kick over Team R’s restraining line into the area of R’s 30 to 40 yard line.

The proper officiating positions for a free kick following a fair catch is illustrated in the following diagram:

Free Kick(following fair catch)

Press Box

The proper officiating positions for punts are illustrated in the following diagram: Punts

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If the LOS originates inside the R’s 45 yd line, FJ and SJ initial position should be the goal line

The proper initial officiating positions for scrimmage plays outside B’s 20 are illustrated in the following diagram:

Scrimmage Plays(outside B’s 20)

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F administers the play clock count between the numbers and sideline, and drops back to the sideline at the snap or as the play clock is about to expire.

22 –

25

yard

s

S determines distance and F mirrors

The proper initial officiating positions for scrimmage plays at B’s 25 are illustrated in the following diagram:

Scrimmage Plays(at B’s 25)

F administers the play clock count at the sideline once the ball reaches B’s 20. When play clock reaches ‘20’, F moves into the field as he begins to execute his ‘chop’ of the last five seconds

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F and S are positioned outside the goal line pylon and have responsibility for B’s goal line.

H and L have forward progress up to B’s 2.

Pass Plays toward End Zone(at B’s 20)

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F and S ‘own’ the goal line and should remain there until it is clear that a forward pass will go beyond the field of play. In this case, the S, only after determining that the pass will be into the end zone, will begin to move toward the end line to rule

H and L have forward progress up to B’s 2.

The proper initial officiating positions for scrimmage plays inside the red zone but outside B’s 7 are illustrated in the following diagram:

Scrimmage Plays(Red zone outside B’s 7)

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s Box

F and S are positioned outside the goal line pylon and have responsibility for B’s goal line.

H and L have forward progress up to B’s 2.

F administers the play clock count at the sideline once the ball reaches B’s 20. When play clock reaches ‘20’, F moves into the field as he begins to execute his ‘chop’ of the last five seconds

The proper initial officiating positions for scrimmage plays at or B’s 7 are illustrated in the following diagram:

Scrimmage Plays(Inside, or at B’s 7)

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s Box

F and S are positioned ½-way between the end line pylon and upright. They have responsibility for B’s end line and assist the HL and LJ with plays into the end zone near the sideline.

H and L have goal line and all forward progress. Just as in five-man, move to GL at snap and officiate back into the field of play.

U moves close to LOS at snap and rules on LDF, IFP

NOTE: When snap is from a point at or inside B’s 7, deep wings and LOS wings swap keys. H and L have outside receivers; F and S have inside receivers.

F administers play clock from here

The proper coverage for the deep wings for pass plays at or inside B’s 7 are illustrated in the following diagram:

Pass Plays(Inside, or at B’s 7)

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s Box

When pass is in flight S, F have responsibility for the end line as well as the end zone. They assist the H and L with the plays threatening the sideline and end line just as a B would in a 5-man game. Eye-to-eye communication between H and S is a must to properly rule on this play.

H, L who have moved to the goal line at the snap, freeze and are ready to rule if the sideline is threatened. They will be assisted by the S, F

Scrimmage Plays(from hash – tight formation)

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22 –

25

yar

ds

When play is from a hash mark and there is a tight formation to one side of the field, the opposite deep wing (S in this example) should position himself at the numbers to help cover action in the middle of the field. He must be ready to retreat to the sideline if any action comes his way.

F should begin on the sideline in this situation. When play clock reaches ‘20’, F moves into the field as he begins to execute his ‘chop’ of the last five seconds

Using “soft spot” techniques can save you on a crucial forward progress spot involving passes and running plays, and your help comes from all the way across the field

“Soft Spot”(Cross-field mechanics)

Receiver catches a pass and is hit at B’s 6 and driven back where he lands at B’s 10. L has responsibility for forward progress, but in trailing, is not in a good position to judge. As he comes downfield, his eyes should be on the H across the field who will have a better view of progress.

Because of his angle on the play, the H can clearly see that progress was to B’s 6. He should step onto the field so that the L can pick up his spot.

??

A89 hit and driven back here (B’s 6)

L looks across the field for H’s spot

Note: While this slide shows “soft spot” technique on a pass, it is equally useful on running plays where the wing is trailing the play and the runner is driven backwards.

Wings’ movement on long plays emphasize forward progress determination, deep wing’s need to maintain cushion, segregation of duties, and dead ball officiating: Long plays

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Tackled

F began here

F maintains 15-20 yd. cushion throughout play up to the goal line. When down ends, FREEZE, move into FOP and dead ball officiate around the dead ball spot

L trails play (as usual) and has responsibility for assessing forward progress by squaring off his spot. Use soft spot from H if necessary. Also, determines and signals clock status.

S began here H began here

S also maintains 15-20 yd. cushion throughout play.

ALL officials ‘accordion’ toward the dead ball spot when the down ends. Maintain vigilance for dead ball activity by all players.

Wings’ movement on long pass plays emphasize forward progress determination, deep wing’s need to maintain cushion, communication, segregation of duties, and dead ball officiating: Long pass

(approaching goal line)

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Run OOB at 8-yd. line

F began hereF maintains 15-20 yd. cushion throughout play, but stops at the goal line approx. 3 yards outside pylon ready to rule on possible TD. Can verbally communicate succeeding spot to L who coming up to show progress

L trails play (as usual) and has responsibility for assessing forward progress up to B’s 2 yd line and squaring off his spot. Use soft spot from H if necessary. Listen for help from F.

S began here H began here

S also maintains 15-20 yd. cushion throughout play and stops at goal line.

ALL officials ‘accordion’ toward the dead ball spot when the down ends. Maintain vigilance for dead ball activity of all players.

“8-yard line, Tom”

Long Pass

The proper officiating positions for field goal and try attempts from a scrimmage kick are illustrated in the following drawing:

Field Goals, TriesPr

ess B

ox

Note: On FGs, H and L pinch in only when it’s clear that the kick will penetrate R’s goal line and there will be no return.

H and L pinch in toward the spot of the snap after a kick try to clean up.

The proper officiating positions for Fake field goal and try attempts from a scrimmage kick are illustrated in the following drawing:

Fake or Aborted Tries

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s Box

Note: On a fake or aborted FG/Try the H and L will move to GL and the S and F will move to the end lines

MeasurementsPr

ess B

ox

F secures the ball. S places the box for the next down. R, U, L, H perform same duties as in 5-man measurement.

3

R assesses the result of the measurement from the side OPPOSITE the press box.

The proper officiating positions during timeouts is illustrated in the following diagram:

Timeouts

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Press Box

SJ timestimeout

All officials will communicate with each other on each timeout to determine how many timeouts remain for each team.

Passing Keys (strength to H; slot receiver)

Blocking Keys (strength to H; slot receiver)

If stays in to block, L keys his block until becomes a receiver. If clears downfield, H helps the R with ‘s block

Passing Keys (strength to H; pro-set)

Blocking Keys (strength to H; pro-set)

L helps the R with ‘s block

Passing Keys (balanced; slot to L)

Either H or L will key on depending on the route he takes to participate as a potential receiver

Blocking Keys (balanced; slot to L)

L helps the R with ‘s block

Passing Keys (full house; no backs outside the tackles)

Blocking Keys (full house; no backs outside the tackles)

H and L have primary responsibility for the two TEs’ blocks at the line of scrimmage. If, however, they move downfield to lead block for a run, F and S take over responsibility for them.

Passing Keys (Trips)

For, (middle on trips), both H and S should watch him at the snap and let his initial movements determine who should take him. (“Share and Declare”)

Passing Keys (at/inside B’s 7)“Swapping keys”

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F and S are positioned ½-way between the end line pylon and hash mark. They key the inside receiver on their side of the formation

H and L have goal line and key the outside receiver

Passing Keys (Inside, or at B’s 7)Pr

ess B

ox

F and L swap keys. L has outside receiver; F and S has inside receiver. L and F “share and declare” on

Because we are deep in B’s end, expect something ‘quick.’ Do not zone up in these situations. All officials should prepare to stay ‘man’ with their keys throughout the down

In this situation where there is only one receiver (TE) outside the tackle, H and S should not swap. S takes widest receiver (TE) and H takes back out of the backfield to his side.

Trips

Passing Keys (Inside, or at B’s 7)Pr

ess B

ox

NOTE: When snap is from a point at or inside B’s 7, deep wings and LOS wings swap keys. H and L have outside receivers; F and S have inside receivers.

Because we are deep in B’s end, expect something ‘quick.’ Do not zone up in these situations. All officials should prepare to stay ‘man’ with their keys throughout the down

“Double – Double”

Passing Keys (Empty backfield – Trips & Double)

For, (middle on trips), both H and S should watch him at the snap and let his initial movements determine who should take him. (“Share and Declare”)

With an empty backfield, be thinking “a quick pass.” Because of the speed with which this play unfolds, be alert for the possibility of picks being used. F and S…look for quick crossing patterns by your keys or quick sideline routes

Blocking Keys (Trips)

L helps the R with ‘s block

If becomes a lead blocker downfield, and the H becomes responsible for a runner, the S will take over responsibility for ‘s blocks

Blocking Keys (Empty backfield – Trips & Double)

Because of the possibility of a quick hitch to the outside, H, L, F and S must all focus on blocking in front of the receiver