Officiating the Dead ball

1. Officiating the Dead ball Fred Wirth

2. Definition • Primary Dead ball times • Communications • Penalty Administration • Hints/tips - Dead ball efficiencies Fred Wirth

3. Definition • Term used to indicate the interval between downs • Most of a football game is during the dead ball, therefore to be a great official, you have to be a great DEAD BALL official! • Jon Bible –“Avoid the tendency to relax ...this is when disaster can strike” Fred Wirth

4. Primary Dead Ball Times • Before/after scrimmage plays • After scores • Timeouts • Penalty administration / measurement • Injuries • Between periods Fred Wirth

5. Communication • Sidelines • Crew • Players • Press Box Fred Wirth

6. Communication - Sidelines • Wing officials – good personal skills – develop rapport • Communicate unusual rulings or problems w/players • Maintain poise at all times. “...keep your head when all about you are losing theirs – and blaming it on you”. • Silence can never be misquoted Fred Wirth

7. Communication - Crew • R calling out the down and distance on every play • All officials counting all players on every down • Wingmen signals to indicate 7-men on the line - un-balanced • “Tee” or “brick” to alert the LJ / BJ of an attempted kick Fred Wirth

8. Communication - Crew • “Take a look” to alert the R of a possible first down • “It’s my goal line…” - reminder between wings and BJ • After a penalty occurs - toot your whistle several times • LJ/L – Play in sidezone signal live ball or dead ball to the R • LJ / BJ communication on kicks between the uprights Fred Wirth

9. Communication - Players • Talk to players as they un-pile – • Compliment the players - “good tackle”, “good run” • Umpire relationship w/players is critical • Use preventive officiating techniques … Fred Wirth

10. Communication - Press box • Signals – make sure to watch players • Don’t oversell or become emotional in giving signals • Plays inbounds close to the sideline wind the clock • Penalty administration – give clear signal Fred Wirth

11. Penalty Administration • Dead ball fouls administered separately- in order of occurrence • Never combined with live ball fouls • Play situations … Fred Wirth

12. Dead ball foul occurs B1 intercepts and returns to his own 40 yd line. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul at the 35 yd line. • 1st & 25 from 25 yd line • 1st & 10 from 25 yd line • 1st & 10 from 20 yd line G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

13. 1st & 10 from 25 yd line Ruling: Penalty is enforced from the end of run, not the spot of foul. When a new series is awarded all fouls prior to the ready for play are enforced before chains are set (5-3-1) B1 intercepts and returns to his own 40 yd line. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul at the 35 yd line. G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

14. On the last play of the 2nd quarter K1 commits a dead ball personal foul. How is this administered? Ruling: Dead ball fouls are always enforced from the succeeding spot. The foul is administered on the 2nd half kick-off. Make sure both coaches are aware before they leave the field (10-4-5c) G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

15. 2nd & 5 for A from B’s 26 yd line. A1 gains 6 yards. After the play A2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. a.) 1st & 10 from 35 yd line b.) 2nd & 14 from 35 yd line c.) 3rd & 14 from 35 yd line d.) 3rd & 19 from 40 yd line Dead ball foul occurs G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

16. 2nd & 5 for A from B’s 26 yd line. A1 gains 6 yards. After the play A2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. a.) 1st & 10 from 35 yd line Ruling: On first, second, or third down new series is awarded when considering any act including any dead ball foul by B (5-1-2a) G G 10 10 15 15 20 20 25 25 30 30 35 35 40 40 45 45 50 50 5 5

17. 4th & 5 for A from B’s 24 yd line. A1 gains 4 yards. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. a.) 1st & goal for A from 10 yd line b.) 1st & goal for A from 121/2 yd line c.) 1st & 10 for B from 10 yd line Dead ball foul occurs G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

18. 4th & 5 for A from B’s 24 yd line. A1 gains 4 yards. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. c.) 1st & 10 for B from 10 yd line 1st & 10 for Team B Ruling: On 4th down a new series is awarded based on the acts during the down (5-1-2b) G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

19. 3rd & 5 for A from B’s 20 yd line. During an incomplete forward pass A1 holds at the 25 yd line. After the play A1 commits a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct. How is this administered? Hold by A1 Unsport. Conduct Ruling: Dead-ball fouls are not coupled with live-ball fouls to create multiple or double fouls. Approach – Assume the dead-ball will be enforced. Options to present: 3rd & 35 from 50 or 4th & 20 from 35 yd line. G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

20. Hints/tips – dead ball efficiencies • Use preventive officiating techniques … • Get to the pile … • Line player up … • Kicks going into the end-zone • Work as a unit • The type of game … Fred Wirth

21. Hints/tips – dead ball efficiencies • Spotting the ball … • Hustle but don’t hurry to the spot • Ball relay … • Off-ball officiating … • Players going out-of-bounds … • Continue to watch players • Use the bean bag Fred Wirth

22. Hints/tips – dead ball efficiencies • Digging for fumbles … • Only the closest official becomes the digger • Don’t be shy – tap/pull players off the pile • Verbal techniques … • Red Cashion – Concepts of rings in dead ball officiating • Covering official responsible for the first ring • Rings expand with to the other officials • Accordion effect – creates a presence Fred Wirth

23. LJ R BJ U L G 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 5

24. Questions ?????? References: Referee Magazine - Jan 2004 Football Officials Guidebook Referee Magazine - Oct 1984 Referee Magazine - Sept 1997 Referee Magazine - Nov 1985 Fred Wirth

25. Thanks for coming and have a great season Fred Wirth