On-Field Communication Between Football Officials

1. National Federation of State High School Associations 2007 NFHS Football Rules Interpretation MeetingJuly 17, 2007 On-Field CommunicationBetween Football Officials Tom Ziemianski Delaware

2. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football officials Appearance

3. Appearance - Neatness • All officials. • Always wear the proper uniform, which is clean and neat. • Physical condition of an official is also an important part of appearance.

4. Appearance - Posture(in a dead ball stance) • This posture gives the impression, “I’m in charge” or “I just graduated from the police academy!” • Should be avoided!

5. Appearance - Posture(in a dead ball stance) • This posture gives the impression “I don’t care and probably don’t want to be here!” • Should be avoided!

6. Appearance - Posture(in a dead ball stance) • This posture gives the impression “I’m tired!” • Also, should be avoided!

7. Appearance - Posture(in a dead ball stance) • Military at ease position! • Does not draw attention to yourself! • Shows you are ready for the next play!

8. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football officials Equipment

9. Used by the official covering the runner. Find the ball before sounding your whistle. When the ball becomes dead, sound your whistle quickly and loudly! Move quickly to be certain all action stops on the whistle. Remember the ball can be kept in view when you are in position and alert! Whistles

10. The penalty marker should be tucked out of sight when carried in the back pocket of the official. Only the ball should be showing if tucked in the front. The penalty marker shall be used to mark the appropriate yard line on which an official has observed an infraction. Use discretion, officiating position and game situation should determine whether the marker is dropped or tossed following an infraction. However as a general rule, throw (toss) the penalty marker in the air on a dead ball foul and throw (toss) the penalty marker to the yard-line where the foul occurred on a live ball foul. If a foul is on the other side of the field, drop the flag on the appropriate yard line (don’t throw it across the field!). Penalty Marker

11. The bean bag is to be dropped on the appropriate yard line in accordance with the situations calling for such action as noted in the officials manual. The bean bag is to serve as an aid to enforcement and not an absolute reference point. Bean Bag

12. The linesman shall furnish a clipping device for use in measuring first downs. This device is to be clipped on the line-to-gain equipment at the back edge of the yard line closest to the rear line-to-gain rod. The linesman should mark the half-way point on the line-to-gain equipment during the pre-game inspection of the chains (helps in 5-yard penalty measurements). The referee should also use a clipping device to mark the position of the ball when moving it after a measurement to the inbound line. Clipping Device

13. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football officials Clock/Timing

14. Off The Field Clock • The clock operator needs to be part of the pre-game, to review signals for starting and stopping clock. • In high school, it may be appropriate to have a signal from the clock operator to referee that they’re ready for a free kick.

15. On The Field Clock • The line judge (four person crew)/ back judge (five person crew) will have the correct time and all officials will synchronize their watches accordingly. • For stopping and starting clock give the proper signals twice.

16. Signal - Start Clock on Snap • Indicates last play was out of bounds.

17. Signal - Start Clock on Snap • Indicates last play was an incomplete pass or some other situation that requires the clock to start on the snap.

18. Signal - Inbounds Forward Progress • When the ball becomes dead near the sideline. • Wind the clock twice, then stop the clock twice. • Indicates that a first down has been attained inbounds.

19. Four person crews. Referee is responsible to enforce. Five person crews. Back judge has the responsibility, including some sort of physical signal count of the last 5 seconds. 25 Second Count(no electric clock on the field)

20. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football officials General Signals

21. Signal - Double Stakes • Wing crew. • This signal is used to indicate that there are more than ten yards to go before attaining a first down. • Should prevent accidental stopping of the clock!

22. Signal - 11 Player Count • After completing the count of the players on the field. • Use to communicate when counting the kickers, receivers, offense and defense.

23. Signal - Protecting the Snapper • To indicate the snapper needs protection during this play. • Used between the referee and umpire.

24. Signal - Unbalanced Line • Wing crew. • Look for ineligibles. • Check numbering on line (umpire). • Also used for indicating two or more players or no players outside the tackle on the line of scrimmage.

25. Signal - Ready for Play (Free kick) • Use signal when you are in position and counted your players. • I recommend to relay the signal from the back judge who signals the linesman who then signals the referee. • On the other side, the line judge signals the umpire who then signals the referee. • Include when possible, a signal from the off field electric clock operator to the referee.

26. Signal - Ready for Play (After spotting ball) • Referee checks to see that other officials are in position and ready. • Announces down and signals (fingers or fist & should be should be mirrored by all officials), sound whistle, give ready for play signal, start 25 second count, jog to position and start clock if necessary. • Rule of thumb, (three seconds should be maximum to spot and mark ball). • Umpire stands over ball until ready for play signal is given.

27. Signal - Touch Back • Position yourself on the goal line (referee, line judge or back judge) to rule. • Use Federation signal, not the NFL’s! • Be aware of the momentum rule!

28. Signal - Legal Touch • Umpire usually gives signal on legal forward passes and low scrimmage kicks.

29. Signal - First touching • All officials need to be in position and alert! • Mark spot of first touching with bean bag (carry the bean bag in your hand!).

30. Signal - Backward Pass • Given by referee, unless the pass is immediately thrown after the snap in which case wing crew has option to signal. • Signal is also used to indicate player nearest wing official is off the line of scrimmage.

31. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football officials Positions

32. On free kicks Sound whistle, give time- out signal Determine if “R” had touched ball inbounds Toss penalty marker if “R” did not touch the ball. On scrimmage kicks in flight (line judge/back judge). Sound whistle, give time- out signal Go deeper than the spot where the ball went out of bounds and walk back towards the referee. Have the referee spot you on the sideline and hold spot until ball has been spotted for the next down. Kick out of Bounds(Between goal lines)

33. Reporting A Foul • All officials. • Drop flag and continue to officiate. • After the play is completed. • A fellow official needs to cover flag. • Move quickly to orally communicate foul to referee. • Do not signal your foul. That’s the referee’s responsibility!

34. Sideline Conference • Referee (accompanied by linesman/line judge) and coach directly in front of team box on field of play to review possible misapplication of rules. • Request must be made by the team captain or head coach prior to the ball becoming live following the play which is to be reviewed. • Avoid discussing play situations with coaches on the field during time outs about calls or rules. • Always keep formal greetings “Coach Smith” rather than “Bob”!

35. On Side Kick • In the pre-game conference discuss what signal (should be subtle) will be given to communicate an on side kick. • This allows all officials to be in the proper position and alert for all of the different situations that could happen.

36. Time-out Procedure • All officials. • Repeat time-out signal. • Record time-out, the number of player who called it, and the time on the clock. • Take the military at ease positions in your assigned locations. • Do not visit with players. • Restrict discussion to captains. • Do not huddle in group.

37. Between Periods • Referee, note and record down, distance and yard line nearest foremost point of ball. Announce info to other officials who then records the information. • Umpire quickly take ball to corresponding point on other half of field and reverse directions. • Line judge/back judge observe teams while moving to corresponding spot on other end of field. • Linesman, clip line-to-gain indicator at back edge of back-yard line. Reverse end of line-to-gain indicator. Set line-to-gain indicator after referee has spotted ball. • All officials check to make sure ball and line-to-gain equipment are correctly set.

38. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football officials • Appearance • Equipment • Clock/Timing • General Signals • Positions

39. On-Field CommunicationBetween Football Officials Thank You!