DOWNFIELD MECHANICS

WDFOA

Mike Peel and Ricardo Green

Where Do I Find The Mechanics?

MPSSAA Website Under Football->Officials->6 Man Mechanics

WDFOA Website Under Mechanics and Pre-Game

What Is Our Key?

Your key is the player you watch at the beginning of the play before transitioning to zone coverage

Typically the most outside guy Sometimes you have no key in very strange

formations Sometimes you have a secondary key

If he is pressed (defender within 1 yard of the LOS) we watch him from the snap

If no press, we can eye the tackle to see if we have a run or pass

Typical Formation (Double Double)

S F

20 Yards

Typical Formation (Trips)

SF

20 Yards 22-24 Yards

Why Do We Have a Key?

We need coverage of all offensive players Your key will usually take you to the play You can then move or stand still based on his

action If he blocks, we have a run and there is no need to

back peddle yet If he goes around the defender, we probably have

a pass and you’ll move back a bit and transition to zone

Only stick with your key if he stays in your zone and the play still has a chance of coming that way

Reverse Mechanics

Read and react Don’t go past the runner, stay behind

You have the spot unless it ends right away in front of the short wing

Take the spot from the wing, we have to work together and if the wing doesn’t know to go to the goal line, we have to help

Reverse Mechanics

S F

Reverse Mechanics

What do we look for? In charge of the final spot Run to your side, watch the blocking in front of

the runner Run away from you, watch for illegal blocks

toward the middle With no B, everyone must watch the

defensive backfield for personal fouls behind the play

Punt Plays

Decide pregame with your fellow downfield person if we’re splitting 50/50 or 33/66 Signal to your partner who has the receiver

pre-snap If the ball takes the receiver into the

opposite official’s area, switch responsibilities

Offside, watch for block in the back fouls They come quick but are easy to see if you’re

looking for them

Punt Plays

S F

Fake Try and Field Goal

Know your ineligible eligibles Who has an eligible number but lined up in an

ineligible position? Typically the center Work from inside out

Begin a spread from under the upright to around the inbounds marks

Watch receivers stepping out of the endzone

After the Play

Jog in to the 9 yard marks if play is inside the numbers

Survey the field, look for any players you may need to separate

Watch for personal fouls Slowly back out The football is your last responsibility