2017

FHSAA Football7 Man Mechanics

Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Coin Toss Mechanics Clarified (Adapted To FHSAA)

- Following the coin toss, the HL or LJ should secure the proper gameball of the team kicking off and provide it to the BJ.

Referee Responsible For A Pass’ Direction Inside The 5 Yard Line

- If the ball is snapped on or inside B’s 5 yard line, the R is responsiblefor knowing if the pass is forward or backward.

Mechanic For A Blocked Kick Or Snap OverThe Kicker’s / Holder’s Head

- The R and the wing official he / she is facing will retreat to cover the ball and box in the play.

- The wing official on the same side as the R will remain on the lineof scrimmage until that line is no longer threaten. As the play develops,he / she will then move to officiate the play.

LJHL BJ

R

HL LJR

Umpire, Side Judge, Back Judge And Field Judge’sCoverage On Scoring Kicks Clarified

- On all trys and field goal attempts, the SJ should be positioned on theside of the defensive formation that has the most players.If the defensive formation is balanced, the SJ should be on the sideclosest to the side line he / she came from (side opposite the press box).

Referee Microphone Mechanic For A Flag That Is To Be Disregarded

- If a flag is to be disregarded, the R announces that there is no foul for (name of the violation, explanation or often no further explanationneeded) and the disregard the flag signal is given (S13).For example, “There is no foul for an ineligible receiver downfield, for the pass did not cross the line of scrimmage.”

SJ FJBJU

R

Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Side Judge and Field Judge Positioning From 25 – Goal

- The SJ and FJ will now be at the goal line pylon when the ballis snapped inside team B’s 25 yard line.

Head Lineman and Line Judge Motion Man Responsibility

- If a man goes in motion, observe him if he is on your side of the ballto ensure his motion is legal.

Head Lineman and Line Judge Reverse Goal Line Mechanics

- From the 3 yard line to goal line, both the HL and LJ move to the goal line pylon at the snap.From the 5 yard line to 3 yard line, the LJ moves to the goal linepylon at the snap and the HL reads the play and moves to the pylonif appropriate.

SJ FJ

HL LJ

HL LJ

Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Fake Field Goal Responsibilities

- When a fake field goal is attempted from a snap inside team B’s 20 yard line, the HL and LJ will have the goal line.When a fake field goal is attempted from a snap on or outside team B’s 20 yard line, the BJ and FJ will have the goal line.

Umpire Positioning

- The starting position for the Umpire is on the side opposite the tight end,generally 5 – 7 yards (but not more than 8 yards) from the line ofscrimmage. For non-scoring kicks (punts), however, the Umpire may beup to 10 yards off the line of scrimmage.

HL LJ BJ FJ

U

Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Pregame Mechanics

6:45 pm Officials take the field in uniform. At least 2 officials

monitor the 45 – 45 yard line “no fly zone”

Prior to 7:00 pm – Coach/Referee/Umpire meetings completed

Note: If one team leaves the field – the officials may leave

the field

7:23 pm FJ and SJ have captains on the 50 yard line by 7:25 pm

7:25 pm BJ and LJ bring teams to the field – home team should

enter first

7:26 pm R and U enter together from the home side and take their

coin toss positions

7:27 pm Coin toss

7:30 pm Kick Off

5 Man Field Inspection- Releases R And U To Talk To The Coaches

Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1

Walking The Field

U

R

3 0

<

X X X X X X X

FJ

SJ

HL

LJ

BJ

Pregame

Head Linesman And Side Judge

- Check the chains and down marker- Find your chain crew and brief them- Spot check the field with the chains (Make sure no 1st and Goal from the 11 yard line)

- Find your ball boys and brief them- Secure the game balls and make sure the Referee checks them- Introduce yourself to the coaching staff, especially the head coach

Line Judge And Field Judge

- Find your ball boys and brief them- Secure the game balls and make sure the Referee checks them - Introduce yourself to the coaching staff, especially the head coach

Back Judge

- Be the police officer on the field. Patrol the 45 yard line zone and look out for unsportsmanlike behavior

- Help the Umpire with getting adornments removed

BJ

LJ FJ

SJHL

Pregame

Referee And Umpire

- Talk to the head coaches

- Verify legality of equipment and players (Umpire)

- Get the adornments off players

- Approve game balls (Referee get with the LJ and FJ, HL and SJ),

remember that Spalding® balls must be used in the post season

Side Judge And Field Judge

- Find out from the Referee and/or Umpire who the talking captain

is for your sideline’s team so you can line up the captains appropriately

for the coin toss

FJ

UR

SJ

Cover The 45 Yard Line Zone- 4 Corners Version

Press Box

3 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 4 5 4 0< < <

< <

1

Pregame Field Policing

3 5

<

X X X X X X X

HL SJ

LJ FJ

BJ

Coin Toss

Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

BJ

R

LJ

1

Score

Board

U

SJ

Once you reach the hash,

direct the captains forward then turn around and return

to the sideline

Proper Positioning

T

T

HL

FJ

Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1

Score

Board

Coin Toss To Kick Off

K

BJ

SJ

U

HL

LJ

R

FJ

Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1

Score

Board

R

HL

LJ

Kick Off

Count R Count KBJ KBJ Hands The

Ball To The Kicker

U

FJ

SJ

Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1

Score

Board

FJ

USJ

R

BJ

Onside Kick

HL

LJ

Did The Ball

Hit The Ground?

Did The Ball

Go 10 yards?

Did Either TeamTouch The Ball?

Standard Play Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Standard Play

FJ

U

SJ HL

LJ

5 Yards Deeper Than SJ and FJ

18-22 Yards

18-22 Yards

R

BJ

FJ, SJ and BJ

will ALWAYSline up on a

major yard line

25 / 20 – 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0< < <

1Inside The 25 / 20 Yard Line

FJ

U

SJ

R

HL

LJ

BJOn The Endline

At The Pylon

At The Pylon

> 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0< < <

1Approaching The Goal Line

UR

HL

LJ

BJ

5 Yard Line

5 - G Yard Line Proper Positioning

2

R

FJ

SJ

HL

LJ

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to G Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0< < <

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 To G

U

BJ

3 Yard Line

FJ

SJ

2

R

HL

LJ

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to 5 Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0< < <

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 – 5

U

BJ

5 Yard Line

FJ

2

R

LJ

HL Reads The Play And

Moves To G If Appropriate

HL

LJ Moves To GAt The Snap

SJ

Counting Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Pre-Snap Duties

FJ

U

SJ

R

HL

LJ

Count Offense

Count Defense

BJ

Boxing The Play InThe “Accordion” Principle

Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Collapsing Box Coverage

U

X X X X X X

“Accordion” Principle- Dead Ball Officiating- Talk To Players- Break Up Confrontations- Make A Presence

LJLJ and HL

Hold Position

Until The BallCrosses The Line

LJ and HL

Square InAt The Spot

R

2

HL

FJ

SJ

BJ

All Officials

“Accordion” In

At The Snap,

BJ, FJ And SJ

Move Back

Keep Relative Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Long Run Down Sideline

FJ

U

LJ

18-22 Yards

R

Trailing

Official

LeadingOfficial

AssumeGoal LinePosition

Clean UpOut-Of-Bounds

BJ

SJ

Get The Spot

HL

At The Snap,

BJ And Deep Wings

Start Backing Up

Keep Relative Positioning- Don’t Run Over The SJ Or FJ

Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Long Run Down Sideline

FJ

U

LJ

18-22 Yards

R

Trailing

Official

LeadingOfficial

AssumeGoal LinePosition

Signals Touchdown

BJ

2 Yard Line

SJ HL

Pro Set Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Initial Keys

FJ

U

SJ HL

LJ

R

BJ

BJ

Double Wing Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Initial Keys

FJ

U

SJ HL

LJ

R

BJ

BJ

Trips Formation Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Initial Keys

FJ

U

SJ

R

HL

LJ

BJ

BJ

“Stacked” Formation Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Initial Keys

FJ

U

SJ

R

HL

LJ

No Formal Keys

BJ

BJ

Double Tight End Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

1S

core

Board

Initial Keys

FJ

U

SJ

R

HL

LJ

BJ

BJ

Punt Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

4S

core

Board

Punt Mechanics

45 Yards

3 0

<

SJ

LJ

HL

R

U

SJ

BJ

FJ

SJ3 Deep Officials

Stand On The ClosestMajor Yard Line

Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

Score

Board

“Reverse” Mechanics

3 0

<

FJ

SJ

4

HL

U

RTrailing Official

LeadingOfficial

LJ

Assume Goal

Line Position

Reverse Mechanics- Occurs On Punt And Interception Returns, HL/SJ And LJ/FJ Duties Flip

R Has Goal Line Duty

2 Yard Line

Signals

Touchdown

Referee SharesGoal Line Duty

(Don’t Get Beat)

BJ

FG And Try Proper Positioning Press Box

1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0< < < <

<

4FG And Try Mechanics

FJU

SJ

R

HL

LJ

BJ

3 0

<

2Measurement Mechanics

1 0

<

2 0

<

3 0

<

U

BJ

2

4 0

<FJ

SJ

HL

HL

RFJ

SJ

Press Box

LJ

Field Judge

Clears Players AwayAnd Secures A New Ball

If Appropriate

Side Judge Takes Charge

Of The Box

The Mechanics

Of The Remaining

Officials Are Exactly As In A NFHS 5 Man Crew

2

<<

3 0

<

Offensive Holding

Line Judge GoesTo Where The Foul

Will Be Assessed To

Head Linesman

Marches Off The Penalty

With The Umpire

From The Enforcement Spot

RBJ

1 0

Penalty Enforcement MechanicsPenalty Enforcement- Checks And Balances (Opposite From NFHS)

- CCA Holds The Official Calling The Foul Primarily Responsible

For Making Sure The Enforcement Is Correct (Whole Crew Really Is)Press Box

FJ

SJ

2 0

U

HL

All 3 Should End Up At The Same Yard Line With The Same Down

LJ

During Game Responsibilities

Side Judge

- Deals with all issues involving the game clock

� Keeps the time on the field if the scoreboard malfunctions

� Alerts the Referee of timing errors

Side Judge And Field Judge

- During time outs, take charge of instructing the teams to return

to the field at the 15 seconds to ready-for-play whistle by the BJ

- Take chief responsibility for communicating penalty information,

time outs remaining, game developments, etc. to the head coach

- Acts as the apprentice to the HL or LJ and assists them whenever

possible

- Help with ball rotation, those coming out from the BJ and those

going in to the U

FJ

SJ

SJ

.

Odds And Ends

CCA 7 Man Mechanics – Sort Of

- Use the positioning, coverage mechanics, keys, etc.

- Ignore the sections of the book obviously addressing NCAA mechanics

such as throwing your hat when players go out of bounds,

the 40 second clock, etc.

- Ignore the CCA “if in doubts”, they are opposite from the NFHS ones

because they have instant replay to fix their mistakes while we don’t

- It’s only the mechanics, not the rules we are borrowing – it’s still NFHS rules

Official Conferences

- We now have 7, rather than 5 different opinions and views

- Conference when you need to, otherwise keep your distance and positions

- Numerous conferences make it look like you don’t know what’s going on

.

Microphone Mechanics

Sounding And Looking Professional

- Practice, practice, practice

� Say the words even in games you don’t have a microphone on you

- Face the press box and STAND STILL

- There is no need to yell, that’s why you have a microphone

- Speak in a conversational and unhurried tone

- Be informative and concise, but not ridiculously brief

- “Rehearse” with the Umpire to know you have all the information before

making a formal announcement (foul, down, ½ the distance, etc.)

- Basic information includes:

� Foul

� Offense or defense / Kicking team or receiving team

� Yardage of the penalty

� Down

- Use “Prior to the snap” or “After the conclusion of the play”

rather than “Dead ball”

- Never say the number of the player or the player’s position, but when

necessary you can say vaguely “the player involved” .