Welcome to 2014 Level 1 Clinic

1. Welcome to 2014 Level 1 Clinic

2. Outline for today • Basic requirements for Officials in Ireland • Rules Knowledge • Know the Definitions • Officials Duties • Linesman & Linejudge • Umpire • Back Judge

3. Basic Requirements • Kit • Striped Long Sleeve Shirt, Black Hat, Penalty Flag, Bean Bag, Whistle & Record Card • 4 sets supplied to all SBC & IAFL1 teams in 2013 season • Remaining Teams • Sets of kit will be supplied before first assignments • Range of sizes were estimated where team did not reply • Black (or majority black) tracksuit bottoms & boots • That’s all you need to supply • Except for protection from Irish weather (cold, rain & sun)

4. Basic Requirements • Bedtime reading • NCAA Rules • URL on IAFA web site for NCAA 2013-14 book • Full PDF file • RuleTool • Good interactive web site • Mechanics • Green Book • All SBC & IAFL1 teams from 2013 have 4 copies • New teams for 2014 will get books • Newsflash • Published weekly on IAFA web site

5. Basic Requirements • Assignments • Outline schedule sent out pre-season • Team Management • Team Officials • Detailed assignment for 2 week period sent out mid-week • Covers next two weeks • You need to advise Referee at least 24hrs before KO who is going to work the game • If there is a late change, Referee knows who to contact

6. Basic Requirements • Travel • Please travel together wherever possible • This minimises expenses • If you really cannot do this, please advise the Referee & Tony Rivers in advance with reason • You need to arrive 90 mins before scheduled KO time • If delayed, you are expected to contact the Referee to advise on arrival time

7. Rules Knowledge Rules are not this difficult!

8. Rules Knowledge • Outline of Rule Book • Rule 1 – The Game, Field, Players & Equipment • Rule 2 – Definitions • Rule 3 – Periods, Time Factors & Substitutions • Rule 4 – Ball in Play, Dead Ball, Out of Bounds • Rule 5 – Series of Downs, Line to Gain • Rule 6 – Kicks • Rule 7 – Snapping & Passing the ball • Rule 8 – Scoring • Rule 9 – Conduct of Players & Others subject to Rules • Rule 10 – Penalty Enforcement • Rule 11 – The Officials: Jurisdiction & Duties • Rule 12 – Instant Replay

9. Rules Knowledge The Field • End Zones • 10 yds deep • Team Box • Between the 25-yd lines & • 4ydsfrom field • Coaching Box • Between the 25-yd lines & • Between 2 to 4 ydsfrom field • Restricted Areas • Between the 25-yd lines & • 2 ydsnext to field

10. Rules Knowledge The Field • 3-Yard Try mark • 4-Yard Restraining line • Pylons • At least 4 per end zone, 6 suggested • Proper placement important! • Hash marks (in-bounds lines) • 9-Yard (tic) marks and/or numbers

11. Player Equipment Mandatory equipment • Helmets, jerseys and socks must be the same color and design • socks do not need to be the same length • Mouthguards may not be white or transparent • Tailbone protector • Thigh pads • Knee pads • Socks • Helmet • Mouthguard • Shoulder pads • Hip pads

12. Player Equipment Illegal items • Any dangerous equipment (e.g. hard, abrasive, unyielding) • Jerseys that have been taped or tied • Eye shields that not clear • Additional Information on Illegal equipment • see NCAA Rules Appendix E

13. Rules Knowledge • You need to know the rules • Essential that you know the definitions • RULE 2 • So much will hinge on your knowledge of the definitions later in the rule book & out on the field • Wording used may not be what you expect or normally use • Let’s get you thinking – what do you understand by the following • Fumble • Muff • Batting • Touching • Blocking a Scrimmage Kick

14. Rules Knowledge • Fumble • Muff • Batting • Touching • Blocking a Scrimmage Kick

15. Rules Knowledge • Fumble • ARTICLE 1. To fumble the ball is to lose player possession by any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing (A.R. 2-19-2-I and A.R. 4-1-3-I). The status of the ball is a fumble.

16. Rules Knowledge • Muff • ARTICLE 2. To muff the ball is to make an unsuccessful attempt to catch or recover a ball that is touched in the attempt. Muffing the ball does not change its status.

17. Rules Knowledge • Batting • ARTICLE 3. Batting the ball is intentionally striking it or intentionally changing its direction with the hand(s) or arm(s). When in question, the ball is accidentally touched rather than batted. Batting the ball does not change its status.

18. Rules Knowledge • Touching • ARTICLE 4. Touching of a ball not in player possession denotes any contact with the ball (Exceptions: Rules 6-1-4-a and b and 6-3-4-a and b). It may be intentional or unintentional, and it always precedes possession and control. Intentional touching is deliberate or intended touching. When in question, a ball has not been touched on a kick or forward pass. 6-1-4 a. A player blocked by an opponent into a free kick is not, while inbounds, deemed to have touched the kick. b. An inbounds player touched by a ball batted by an opponent is not deemed to have touched the ball. 6-3-4 - Similar wording for scrimmage kicks

19. Rules Knowledge • Blocking a Scrimmage Kick • ARTICLE 5. Blocking a scrimmage kick is touching the ball by an opponent of the kicking team in an attempt to prevent the ball from advancing beyond the neutral zone (Rule 6-3-1-b).

20. Rules Knowledge Test your understanding of these concepts

21. Rules Knowledge • Test your understanding of these concepts What happened? • B7 muffed the ball B 17yd line • BJ threw a bean Bag • A17 recovered the ball at B 10yd line • A17 ran into the End Zone What is the result of the play? • B7 muffed the ball • Does this change the status of the ball? • As a result, this is still a Scrimmage Kick • BJ does not need a Bean Bag as kick had not ended • Can Team A recover the ball • Yes, as Team B has touched the ball, it is now live • Can Team A advance the ball after recovery • No – as this is still a kick, Team A cannot advance the ball. Play should have been blown dead at 10yd line. NO

22. This means that some part of him must be breaking the plane drawn through the snapper’s waist Rules Knowledge Plays from scrimmage – Definitions • Offensive lineman • A player “on his line of scrimmage”

23. Rules Knowledge Plays from scrimmage – Definitions • Offensive back • A player who is NOT breaking the plane drawn through the rear-most part of the nearest lineman • Exception: The quarterback is defined as a back

24. A lineman on the end of the line • A lineman who is not an end Rules Knowledge Plays from scrimmage – Definitions • Who is an “end”? • Who is an “interior lineman”?

25. Rules Knowledge • 2-27-4 Lineman and Back • LinemanA Team A player is on his scrimmage line when he faces his opponent’s goal line with the line of his shoulders approximately parallel thereto and either • He is the snapper • His head breaks the plane of the line drawn through the waistline of the snapper. • You can have • Interior Lineman – not on end of line • Restricted Linemen – interior linemen or wears number 50-79 • BackA back is any Team A player who is not a lineman and whose head or shoulder does not break the plane of the line drawn through the waistline of the nearest Team A lineman. • A back can also be the player in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap.

31. Rules Knowledge • 2-16-5 Passer • 2-16-1 Passing • Passing the ball is throwing it. • A pass continues to be a pass until it is caught or intercepted by a player or the ball becomes dead. • The passer is the player who throws a forward pass. • He is a passer from the time he releases the ball until the pass is complete, incomplete or intercepted or until he moves to participate in the play. • 2-27-7 Runner and Ball Carrier • The runner is a player in possession of a live ball or simulating possession of a live ball. • A ball carrier is a runner in possession of a live ball.

32. Rules Knowledge Blocking zone (mostly Umpire’s responsibility) • Offensive linemen are permitted to block in the back, and clip, within this 10 yard by 6 yard zone • Lineman may not leave the zone, return and block in the back or clip • The free blocking zone exists until the ball is outside the zone

33. Rules Knowledge Tackle Box (mostly Referee’s responsibility) • The tackle box is 10 yards across and extends from the neutral zone to Team A’s end zone • This is relevant for horsecollar tackles, intentionalgrounding and roughing (or running into) the kicker

34. An incomplete pass A touchback A score Rules Knowledge Clock Signals • all officials need to understand basic clock mechanics • The clock will automatically stop if an official signals:

35. Rules Knowledge Clock When do you need to stop the clock? • If you are the covering official when: • The ball-carrier goes out of bounds • A loose ball goes out of bounds • An illegal kick occurs (beyond the neutral zone or a return kick) • In the following situations, when the play is over: • If you have thrown a flag • If there has been a change of possession • If Team A has achieved a 1st down (or we need a measure) • After a free kick or scrimmage kick down • A team requests a timeout, or a player is clearly injured • When another official signals stop the clock

36. Rules Knowledge Live & Dead Ball Status of the ball: live and dead • Question: when is the ball ‘live’? • Answer: after a legal free kick or legal snap • Question: When is the ball dead? • Inadvertentwhistle • Out of bounds • Forward progressstopped • Ball carrier ‘down’ • Score • Kicking team recovers ball • Loose ball comes to rest, no attempt to secure • Fair catch • Illegal kick • forward pass is ruled incomplete • 4th down fumble • Simultaneous catch • Ball becomes illegal • in possession of an official • ball carrier simulates knee on the ground • airborne pass receiver is held to prevent return • ball carrier loseshelmet

37. Linesman & Line Judge Free Kicks Running Plays Passing Plays Scrimmage Kick Plays

38. HL & LJ Free Kick • H & LJ duties • Ensure that sidelines are clear, count Kicking Team & ensure that they are within 9yd marks • Signal readiness to Umpire • Watch the restraining lines that you are standing on • LJ • Which line are you standing at? • What are you looking for initially? • HL • Which line are you standing at? • What are you looking for initially?

39. Free Kick What’s LJ looking for? • LJ • Which line are you standing at? • On Kicking team’s restraining line • line from where ball kicked • What are you looking for? • ARTICLE 2-c When the ball is kicked (A.R. 6-1-2-I-IV): • 1. Each Team A player, except the holder and kicker of a place kick, must be behind the ball • How do you respond? • For onside kick, it is a flag • On normal kick, if Team A are marginally ahead of ball, warn player & coach after the play • On normal kick, if Team A are obviously ahead of ball (you can see daylight between ball & player), it is a flag

40. Free Kick What’s HL looking for? • HL • Which line are you standing at? • On Receiving team’s restraining line • 10 yds from line from where the ball is kicked • What are you looking for? • Has the ball gone 10yds? • Who touches it first? • How do you respond? • If <10yds & Team A first touch ball – drop bean bag at yard line • What ever happens on play, Team B will have option of taking ball at this spot. • If Team A block either • BEFORE ball goes 10yds • Team B touches ball, flag • If Team B first touches ball, live ball

41. Free Kick HL & LJ Normal Free Kick now at 35yd line

42. HL & LJ Free Kick • H & LJ duties • Don’t go downfield too far, too fast or in-field • Should be 15-20 yd buffer between you and deep official • Returner should be between the two officials • Be prepared to cover kick catch if short kick to your area • Watch blocks ahead of play • If return along your side, watch blocking ahead of return • If return on other side, watch players away from return • You will probably be the only official to see “off the ball” action • Return Out of bounds on your side • Go out to assist runner back in-field • Ensure no extra action • Relay ball back in-field • Return Out of bounds on other side • Mirror OOB spot on other side of field

43. HL & LJ Free Kick • Concentrate on following • Kick Catch Interference (if in your area) • At the point of attack • Holding • Illegal use of hands • Illegal Block in the back • Blocking below the waist • anywhere on field • Away from the point of attack • Any Safety Personnel Fouls

44. HL & LJ Free Kick

45. HL & LJ Running Plays • Before each down • Player Substitution • What is allowed? • Count Defence • What are signals to use? • With who are you confirming this count? • Ensure side line clear • Keep that first 6ft clear for yourself • Down and distance • You should know this • Query crew if you think differently …. you may be correct • Status of clock • Is the game clock running?

46. HL & LJ Running Plays • After huddle breaks • Indicate if widest man is on/off the line • What is the signal? • Check no more than 4 in backfield • Who is in the backfield? • Identify Eligible receivers • Backs & Ends • But no player numbered 50-79 • Man in motion • If on your side of centre, your responsibility to rule • Is he moving forward at the snap?

47. HL & LJ Running Plays • Before and at the Snap • Five dead ball penalties • Blow whistle & throw flag • Offensive False Start • Defence offside • drawing offence reaction • Contacting offence • Clear path to back or QB • Illegal Substitution • Illegal Snap • Offence in or beyond the Neutral Zone +

48. HL & LJ Running Plays alt • At the Snap • Live ball penalties • throw flag • Illegal Motion • Illegal Shift • Illegal Formation • Defensive Offside The above only become fouls at the snap

49. HL & LJ Running Plays

50. HL & LJ Running Plays • L & HL duties • Run up middle • Give fair progress spot & mirror with other wing official • Run off tackle to your side • Move up-field trailing play & give progress • Watch blocks ahead of runner while he’s behind LOS • Watch action by & against the runner when he’s beyond LOS • Run off tackle to far side • Cover action between you and next official • You will probably be the only one to see “off the ball” action