Mechanics of Officiating

• The 3 basic positions and their responsibilities

• Referee

• Back Judge

• Head Linesman

Mechanics of Officiating

• All officials have equal jurisdiction in calling penalties.

• Only the whistle kills the play.

• Insure that you see the ball and the touch.

• Penalties that occur during the play do NOT stop the play.

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the “officials triangle”

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RefereeR Duties on

Scrimmage Play• Set bean bags

• Announce down

• Whistle the play in/start 20 second play clock

• Count defensive players

• Indicate when 5 seconds are left on 20 second play clock

• Watch for interference on rush

• Look for remote zone interference / rough play

• Look for pass interference

• Watch for tags and rough tags

• After whistle: Reset bags if appropriate

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LoS

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HL coverage area

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HL position HL Duties on Scrimmage Play

• Watch for offsides

• Watch R for lining up offside

• Move at least as far as 1st down bag or…move downfield with play, watching for infractions and spot of ball

Special Situations for HL

• Goal Line Plays– Goal Line becomes 1°

responsibility– When the ball is snapped,

move downfield but hold at the Goal Line.

– You must determine the forward point of the ball when the player is tagged. If it breaks the plane of the goal…touchdown!

– The above applies on convert attempts.

• Punts– Hold the LoS until you are

certain that the ball will cross the LoS, in flight.

– If the punt is good, hustle downfield and get parallel to the ball carrier, and follow them.

– Call “no yards” where applicable

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Back Judge coverage area

LoS HL

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Back Judge Position

BJ Duties on Scrimmage Play

• Count offensive players

• Note side R is on.

• Watch for double rush

• Watch for interference on rush or remote zone interference on center

• Watch for QB tags and rough tags

• Signal direction of pass (on or offside)

• If QB scrambles and throws note point of release (was he over the LoS?)

• After whistle: Give bags to R if appropriate

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BJ & HL coverage areas and position

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Kick off set up

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Kick off set up

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•HL moves downfield after determining there has been no offsides.•Call tags & rough play

•BJ moves downfield after determining the kick has travelled 20 yards, keeping outside the widest player on the receiving team.•Call tags & rough play

•R moves behind ball carrier to watch for touch. •Signals onside or offside pass.

WATCH for ROUGH PLAY!

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