2012 FHSAA Football Field Clinic

West Coast Officials Association Tampa West Coast Officials Association Tampa WCOA 2012 FHSAA Football Field Clinic

West Coast Officials Association Tampa WCOA West Coast Officials Association Tampa Most Common Mistakes 2011 Season

Background • WCOAUsesDVDEvaluations • - Literally, hundreds of game DVD’s are evaluated each year • If you ever get the opportunity to watch yourself on film, do it! • The camera doesn’t lie • Trends of good and bad are seen, it helps to shape training

R Referee • Left-HandedQuarterbackMechanics • - Last season we had several teams with either left-handed quarterbacks • or multiple quarterbacks who rotated in and out (some right-handed and • others left-handed) • - Have a system in place to deal with this: • In the pregame, write down the numbers of all left-handed QB’s • on your game card and ask if they are going to play • Pay special attention to offensive substitutions • Pay attention to the game situation (likely run vs. pass) • Have your umpire help remind you if possible • Even the wing officials might be able to help

LJ BJ R U HL 1 Referee StandardPlayProperPositioning Press Box 12-15 yards behind the line of scrimmage just wide of the tight end on the passing arm side (or 5 yards deeper than the deepest back). Be able to see the opposite tackle which is your key Left Handed QB Score Board 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 < < < < <

R Referee ProtectingTheQuarterbackOutOfBounds - The quarterback is the referee’s chief responsibility, even when he scrambles and goes out of bounds behind or near the line of scrimmage - This is of course vitally important with the sideline he ends up in is that of the opposing team - Unsportsmanlike acts, taunting, etc. are less likely to happen given your presence - Keep in mind, the second most common location for massive brawls and fights to erupt is in the side zone and bench area

LJ BJ U R HL 1 Referee OutOfBounds Responsibility Press Box Score Board 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 < < < < <

R Referee PenaltyEnforcementErrors - Most penalty enforcement errors involve using the wrong basic spot - Others involve failing to know what penalties carry an automatic 1st down or a loss of down - ½ the distance to the goal line penalties also cause errors, especially dead ball personal fouls against both teams when the ball is near the goal line. They do NOT just offset! - Untimed downs • Automatic1stDown • Defensive Pass Interference • Roughing The Passer • “ “ Kicker • “ “ Holder • “ “ Snapper • LossOfDown • Offensive Pass Interference • Illegal Forward Pass • Illegally Handing The Ball Forward • Illegal Touching • Intentional Grounding

LJ BJ R U HL Referee PenaltyEnforcementErrors - Penalty enforcement errors are truly a CREW error. ALL members of the crew are responsible for knowing the rules and their proper application. - The time to speak up is when the error is being made! Your referee will not be amused if you inform him at halftime that he screwed up an enforcement in the 1st quarter.

R Referee • TimingErrors • - After a first down, after a penalty enforcement, after an injury timeout, • etc. Do you wind the clock or not? • - This is not all on the referee, the crew must help out! • The referee has QB responsibility • and doesn’t see everything • The referee gets distracted by players • and coaches asking questions • If the referee has to deal with some issue, • you can probably bet he needs help on the • clock status when he returns to his position • - Wing officials MUST communicate whether plays near the sideline are • inbounds or out of bounds • - Know the FHSAA running clock rule

R Referee • BlockingPenalties • - Don’t become “holding happy” • - Make sure it is 1) an illegal block AND • 2) it created an advantage • Holding • Grab and Restrict / Twist • Hook and Restrict / Redirect • Tackles (Grabs Below the Waist) • Takedowns (Grabs Above the Waist) • Throwdowns (Hands Inside & Pull to the Ground) • BlockingBelowTheWaist • BlockInTheBack

U R Umpire • PreventingPrematureSnaps • - Teams often run fast paced, no huddle offenses – but they still must • wait for a ready for play • - Offense’s misconception - “We don’t have to wait for the defense” • - Common times the offense tries to prematurely snap the ball • Coming out of time outs (charged and official’s) • After a first down • After a penalty administration • After a measurement • At the quarter change • PreventingPrematureSnaps • - The referee can step between the center and QB / kicker and prevent • a snap from occurring as well

U Umpire • BallRotation • - After long incomplete passes, plays deep out of bounds on the • sideline, etc. there is no need for the umpire to go chasing the • ball down. Turn to the LJ and get a new ball. • - If there is a change of possession, obviously you need a new ball • After a kick off • After a punt • After an interception • After a fumble recovery by the defense • After an unsuccessful 4th down • After an unsuccessful FG attempt

U Umpire • PositioningIssues • - Should avoid lining up outside the tight end position. May wish to line up • opposite the tight end if possible to avoid being in that passing lane. • - On passing plays, step up towards the line of scrimmage • Helps get you out of the passing lane on crossing patterns • Gets you closer to the line of scrimmage to rule on illegal • forward passes, ineligible receivers downfield, etc. • - Remember to turn around after the pass is thrown downfield beyond • your position

U Umpire • BlockingPenalties • - Watch offensive linemen firing off the line and blocking linebackers and • defenders more than 1 yard from the line of scrimmage below the waist • - Same issues with holding, blocking below the waist and blocks from • behind hold true for umpires as was reviewed previously with referees • - Concentrate on illegal acts at the point of attack and involving • lead blocks on runs • - Concentrate on things that buy a QB more time with passes • - Pick up chop blocks

LJ HL Linesman and Line Judge ImproperPositioning - There were several instances of wing officials not being set at the snap - Wing officials are noted to periodically take off down field at the snap inappropriately - Reverse goal line mechanics are not being done

LJ BJ U R HL 2 Linesman and Line Judge ReverseGoalLineMechanics Press Box 5 Yard Line 1 0 2 0 3 0 < < <

LJ HL Linesman and Line Judge • IllegalShiftsandIllegalMotion • - You own false starts and encroachments on your side of the line • - Watch for illegal shifts and illegal motion • Lineman taking a 3 or 4 point stance while a receiver is in motion • Running back coming out of the backfield with a receiver in motion • 6ManLine / IllegalFormation • - This is yours to live and die with all game long • - Let’s try to have 2 flags on this to sell it

LJ HL Linesman and Line Judge • IneligibleReceivers • - Pay attention to the formations and “covered up” receivers • - If a team runs an unbalanced line, there is a higher probability for • potential “covered up” receivers • - Hopefully, you are getting help from the referee and umpire regarding • unbalanced lines • Pregame – the coach tells you, “we run a lot of unbalanced lines” • Mechanics signal prior to the snap • - “Covered up” receivers only become illegal if they go down field AND • a forward pass crosses the line of scrimmage • Ineligible receiver downfield (5 yard penalty) • Illegal touching (5 yard penalty and a loss of down)

LJ HL Linesman and Line Judge PenaltyEnforcementErrors - The linesman and line judge act as “referees on the wing” during penalty administration - If wing officials properly do the penalty enforcement mechanics, there is a double check on the umpire and referee (that’s the whole purpose of the mechanic) - It is the lineman’s job to inform the referee of “long 5” and “short 5” situations, such that a 5 yard penalty by the defense will either result in the ball being marked short of the 1st down or will result in a 1st down

Penalty Enforcement Mechanics BJ LJ R U HL 2 PenaltyEnforcement - Checks And Balances Press Box Line Judge Goes To Where The Foul Will Be Assessed From Offensive Holding 1 0 2 0 3 0 < < < Head Linesman Goes To Where the Foul Will Be Assessed To The Umpire and Linesman Should Be At The Same Yard Line With The Same Down

BJ Back Judge • GettingBeatToTheGoalLine • - The operative word in “back judge” is “back” • - Your first steps at the snap are back and your job is to keep ALL the • players in front of you • - It’s your responsibility to make it to the goal line prior to the players • arriving • - The only official that will have the end line is you

BJ Back Judge • KicksGoingIntoTheEndZone • - When a free kick or scrimmage kick breaks the plane of the receiver’s • goal line is it an automatic touchback. The ball is immediately dead. • - Football fundamentals 101: • “If a ball is ruled dead, securing possession of that dead ball has no • significance” • - A kick is a kick, is a kick, is a kick, is a kick! • The receiving team muffs the ball – still a kick • The ball accidently hits a member of the receiving team – still a kick • The ball is touched by a member of the kicking team – still a kick • - A kick ends when • It is possessed by either the receiving or kicking team in the field • of play • It goes out of bounds • It breaks the plane of the goal line

BJ Back Judge KicksGoingIntoTheEndZone - TOUCHBACK - signal it immediately! - be decisive! - do NOT start digging in a pile in the end zone, who cares who has the ball?

BJ Back Judge • KickingPlays • - So can the kicking team ever score a touchdown during a kicking • play? • Absolutely! • The kick must first end, however, by the ball being possessed by • a member of the receiving team for that to be possible • Receiving team gains possession then fumbles and the ball is recovered by the kicking team • Receiving team throws a backward pass that is intercepted • or hits the ground and is recovered by the kicking team • If a loose fumble enters the end zone, now that is a big deal • and possession is quite significant

BJ Back Judge • MissingPersonalFouls • - The back judge is probably the best police man of the crew, for his • view is typically the widest and he will catch the most extracurricular • activity • - If you see it, nail it • Late hits • Piling on • Unnecessary roughness out of bounds • Unsportsmanlike acts • Taunting • Gestures • - If you can prevent it, by all means do so • Separate players getting into each other’s face • Get into the side zone after plays and escort players out • Talk to players – warn bad behavior and praise good behavior

LJ BJ U R HL 1 Back Judge OutOfBounds Responsibility Press Box Score Board 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 < < < < <

BJ Back Judge Positioning - If the ball is on the hash mark, you should not be wider than the nearest upright - Don’t put yourself at a disadvantage by having 2/3+ of the field to one side of you

LJ BJ R U HL 3 Back Judge Press Box ProperPositioning 106’ 8” 91’ 8” X X 2 0 4 0 3 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 < < < < < <

81 BJ LJ 24 R 86 U HL 4 Back Judge Punt Mechanics BackJudgePositionOnPunts 7 – 10 yards wider than and infront of the deepest receiver on the Linesman’s side 10 – 12 yards wider than 2 – 3 yards behind the deepest receiver on the Linesman’s side 11 NEW OLD 9 84 1 0 2 0 3 0 < < <

1 Chain Crew • Don’tThinkYouAren’tPartOfTheCrew! • - You are very much part of the crew! • - You can help save the crew • What down is it? • How much time was on the clock? • Short 5 vs. Long 5 • Where was the previous spot?

2012 FHSAA Football Field Clinic