Mechanics: The Referee

Mechanics:The Referee John H. Fishel YACPFOC Rules Interpreter February 2013

Pre-game ResponsibilitiesUnless otherwise stated throughout the presentation, the mechanics shown/discussed in 5 Man is the same for 4 Man* • 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 Responsibilities • 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

Kickoff Mechanics • 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.

5 Man Kickoff Mechanics K 2 2 5 4 3 1 3 5 4 1 BJ BJ U L R9 R8 R11 R7 R10 R6 R4 R5 R2 R3 LJ R1 R

4 Man Kickoff Mechanics K 2 2 5 4 3 1 3 5 4 1 L L LJ R9 R8 R11 R7 R10 R6 R4 R5 R2 R3 U R1 R

Kickoff Mechanics (cont.) • 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

General Scrimmage Mechanics • 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

Additional Signals

General Pre-Scrimmage Mechanics • 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

Scrimmage Play 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.

Keys and Priorities Coverage Areas

5 Man Zone Coverage R RB B QB B L E T G • C G T E LJ E CB T E CB T SS LB LB LB U S BJ After initial keys release, Passing and Running Plays

4 Man Zone Coverage R RB B QB B L E T G • C G T E LJ E CB T E CB T SS LB LB LB U S After initial keys release, Passing and Running Plays

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, 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.

OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot” R RB B QB B L E T G • C G T E LJ E CB T E CB T SS LB LB LB U S “Basic Spot” Enforcement Spots: All-But-One – Penalized from the Basic Spot

OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot” R RB B QB B L E T G • C G T E LJ E CB T E CB T SS LB LB LB U S “Basic Spot” (not PSK fouls) Enforcement Spots: Loose Ball Play

5 Man Punt Coverage R P K2 K3 K4 L K5 K8 K10 • K7 K11 K9 K6 LJ R6 R3 R7 R4 R9 R11 R2 R8 R5 R10 U R1 BJ “Basic Spot” PSK

OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot” R RB B QB B L E T G • C G T E LJ E CB T E CB T SS LB LB LB U S “Basic Spot” (fouls by B) Enforcement Spots: Running Play

Fouls by A R RB B QB B L E T G • C G T E LJ E CB T E CB T SS LB LB LB U S “Basic Spot” (fouls by B) Enforcement Spots: Running Play, followed by Loose Ball

Measurements • 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.

Scrimmage Kick Formation: Punt • 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.

5 Man Punt Coverage R P K2 K3 K4 L K5 K8 K10 • K7 K11 K9 K6 LJ R6 R3 R7 R4 R9 R11 R2 R8 R5 R10 U R1 BJ

Time Out Procedure • 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.

Goal Line Plays • Normal Scrimmage Play procedure. • Before turning to Press Box and giving TD signal, make sure there are no fouls.

Scrimmage Kick Formation: FG/Try • 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.

BJ LJ S U LB CB E T LB LB E LB T CB L K6 K9 K7 K10 K8 K11 • S K3 K4 H K R 5 Man FG/Try Coverage

S U LB CB E T LB LB E LB T CB L LJ K6 K9 K7 K10 K8 K11 • S K3 K4 H K R 4 Man FG/Try Coverage

Between Periods/Halftime • 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), downand 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.

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

Mechanics: The Referee