FCOCP

1. FCOCP Level III Clinic

2. Level III – Football Canada Officials Certification Program (FCOCP) Purpose • To improve the understanding of Umpire positions • To introduce the concept of 5 Official crew • To prepare officials for assignment as Referee in minor and High School Leagues • To prepare Officials for assignments to the Referee and Back Umpire positions • To prepare officials for assignment to sideline positions in a 5 official system. • To improve rule knowledge and understanding of game administration procedures • Encourage further participation and progress in the FCOCP

3. Certification Requirements • Participation at all clinic sessions • Minimum of 80% on Level III Exam • Pass practical evaluation of at the Referee, Umpire or Sideline positions PASSING MARK 80 %

4. MEETINGS LESSON 1

5. Meeting the Coaches General Duties The Referee and Umpire will meet with the coaches 30 minutes prior to the start of the game. Meet with each coach for the same amount of time. Generally meet with visiting coach first.

6. Meeting the Coaches

7. Meeting the Coaches The Referee - - Introduce yourself and the Umpire   - Allow the Umpire to request the coach sign the coach’s certification form A-Ask the coach to identify captains, punter, kicker and holder and any other players the officials should know about( eg. 3rd down centre ) A-Ask if there are any concerns or special plays the officials should be aware of. -Advise the coach of any special pre game happening, field conditions etc.

8. Meeting the CoachesThe Umpire - Serve as the “eyes” and “ears” of the Referee after being introduced. - Request that the coach’s certification be signed. - Record the numbers of the captains, punter , kicker holder and any other player officials should know about - Listen to the coach’s concerns/plays and be able to relay this information to the rest of the officials. - Accompany the referee back to the timer’s bench to meet with the rest of the crew.

9. Game Card and Coaches Declaration Umpire records captains place kicker holder and punter given by the coach Umpire gets the coach to sign the Coaches Declaration D D If the team with the choice at the start of the game chooses to defer mark a D by first half The Umpire and All members of the crew should record time outs

10. MEETING THE CAPTAINS HEAD LINESMAN UMPIRE FIELD JUDGE BACK JUDGE SIDE JUDGE INTRODUCTION CAPTAINS OFFICIALS LINE JUDGE • FIRST CHOICE • WILL THE TEAM WITH FIRST CHOICE TAKE IT NOW OR DEFER TO THE SECOND HALF • Mechanics for Deferring • Stand beside the deferring Team • 2) signal –incomplete pass REFEREE STANDS WITH BACK TO PRESS BOX SO WHEN HE TURNS THE ANNOUNCER CAN SEE HIS SIGNALS

11. MEETING THE CAPTAINS • OPTIONS TO THE TEAM MAKING THE CHOICE • Kick or Receive • Choice of End • Mechanics for Identifying and Recording Choices • Referee – Signal choice of the Team making the FIRST choice • Umpire - record choices –deferred or not • - selections made • Referee comments to Captains • Prior to choices- any questions/concerns • - field conditions or information teams should know • After choices - have a good game • - get Teams out for the Kickoff start in _ minutes

12. Choice at the Start of the Game How high did he flip it? Referee will allow the visiting team first choice at start of the game To make choice in first half or defer their choice to the second half Can be decided by a coin toss. How else can the choice be decided?

13. Meeting the CaptainsStart of the Game Waiting for captains Introducing the crew and making the choices Captains greeting each other Switching sides after choice Umpire recording choices

14. MEETING THE CAPTAINS TO START SECOND HALF Umpire - Advise referee whose choice it is Referee - Ask the captain of the team who has a choice -Ask the other team for their choice. -Signal choice of the team that had the first selection

15. Pre Game Meeting with Officials After the Meeting with the Coaches -Go over numbers captains punter, kicker ,holder -Review any special plays that the coaches have stated -Review any problems with numbering of players -Review how you will interact with other officials Done before Meetings with the Coaches -4man crew- review when you will give Free and Held signal and the response required. -Review how kicks from scrimmage will be covered -Review coverage when ball goes out of bounds -review the relay of the ball after it becomes dead

16. Umpire – Special Communication Factors LESSON 2 Reviewing the Umpire Position

17. Communication with the Referee During Penalty Options • Clock Stopped? • Get a Ball • Direct Captains to Referee • Know circumstances of play and foul • Stay by Referee • Remind Referee to give pre-signal • Know options’ assist Referee if he/she needs help • Mark off yardage and place ball • Confirm penalty application with Head Linesman • Remind Referee when time will start

18. Communication with the Referee Time Outs Make sure the clock is stopped. Time the time out on your watch. See that the time out is charged against the proper team and recorded on the game card. Stand together with the crew. Notify the Referee when 50 seconds has elapsed. Remind Referee that time starts on the snap of the ball. The head coach or designated coach may call a time out from the sideline Players on the field may call time outs TIME OUT NOTIME OUT

19. Communication with the Referee (4) Half Time • Timing of Half Time responsibility • Get game ball • Proceed to dressing room • Discuss problems • Note Team choice for second half • Proceed to field with 5 minutes left

20. Communication with Sideline Officials • Indicate responsibility for deep/short pass coverage • Take position when Players huddle • Determine who is “HELD”? Who is “FREE”? • Usually “HELD” Official is on wide side of field • You may wish to hold short side Official on the LS because of formation that offence takes. • When Referee blows ball ready, indicate who will be “HELD” by extending arm and pointing with open hand • Check for his/her response signal (pointing to ground) and responses signal of other Official (salute) • As offence breaks huddle, count defensive team and check for legality of offensive formation • Prepare for next play

21. Developing Positive Player Relationships • Will reduce disputes • Enhance respect for Officials • Show that you care • Facilitate administration of game • Use comments like • “let him/her up easily” • “watch your hands” • “keep your hand in” • “Blue, you’ve got two Players coming in” • “ball, please”, followed by “thank you”

22. Communication by the Umpire Lesson 3

23. Communicating with the RefereeDuring Penalty options -Be sure that the clock is stopped -Obtain a ball from the Head Linesman/Line Judge /ball boy -Direct the captains to the Referee -Know as much as possible about the circumstances of the play and foul as you can( g. where was the exact PLS on left or right hash or centre of field -Stay by the Referee -Remind the Referee to give a pre signal -Know what the options should be, to assist the referee IF he needs help -Once an option has been chosen, mark off the distance and put the ball down -Confirm with the Head Linesman that the correct distance penalty has been assessed Remind the Referee when time will start on the next play

24. Developing Player Relationships Create a positive relationship with players Will reduce disputes Enhance respect for officials Make players aware that you care Facilitate administration of the game Use comments like: * “ Let him up easily” * “ Good work” * “ Watch your hands” * “ Blue, you’ve got two players coming in” * “ Keep your hands in” * “ Hard running” * “ Ball, please, followed by “thank you”

25. Half time COMMUNICATION WITH THE REFEREE - Note when the second quarter ended and the third quarter should start. - Get the game ball - Proceed to the dressing room. - Discuss problems - Check game card to see who has choice to start to start the second half.

26. Hurry Up Offense WITH BALL UNTIL REFEREE IS READY BALL AWARNESS CONTINUE NORMAL RESPONSIBILITIES BEFORE PLAY DURING PLAY BETWEEN PLAYS PLAYER MANAGEMENT AFTER PLAY

27. TIMING AND CLOCK AWARNESS KICKOFF-SIGNAL-TIME IN -TIME OUT DURING THE GAME -STOP CLOCK WHEN NESCESSARY -ASSIST REFEREE IN CONTROLLOING THE CLOCK -KEEP THE REFEREE INFORMED BE AWARE OF TIMING AND CLOCK CONTROL

28. COUNTING PLAYERS COUNT PLAYERS IN GROUPS 5 OFFICIAL CREW -COUNT OFFENSE, NOTE 5 INELIGIBLE LINEMEN IN A CONTINUOUS ROW AND AN ELIGIBLE NUMBER AT BOTH ENDS OF THE LINE 4 OFFICIAL CREW -COUNT THE DEFENCE WARNING RE: SUBSTITUTIONS “TOO MANY MEN”-SECOND COUNT KICKOFF –COUNT DEFENCE PUNTS- CHECK TEAM ALIGNMENT - 10 –12 YARDS BACK , TURN AS PLAYERS PASS YOU - 4 MAN CREW FAVOUR SHORT SIDE (COVER THAT SIDE) HURRY UP OFFENCE- COUNT WHILE GETTING READY

29. COMMUNICATION WITH SIDELINE OFFICIALS TAKE POSITION WHEN PLAYERS HUDDLE 4 MAN CREW DETERMINE FREE AND HELD - FREE OFFICIAL IS ON THE SHORT SIDE OF FIELD - MAY WANT TO HOLD FREE OFFICIAL ON LS BECAUSE OF FROMATION THAT THE OFFENCE TAKES - WHEN REFEREE BLOWS BALL READY, INDICATE WHO WILL IS FREE AND HELD BY EXTENDING ARM AND POINTING TO HELD OFFICIAL - CHECK FOR RESPONSE SIGNAL (HELD –POINTING TO GROUND; FREE OFFICIAL POINTING DOWN FIELD FIVE MAN CREW -SIGNAL DOWNS TO SIDELINE OFFICIALS -WORK WITH REFEREE CONTROLLING PUTTING BALL INTO PLAY

30. Positioning of the Umpire LESSON 4

31. Initial Positioning of the Umpire Umpire set up 5 to 8 yards behind L of S Generally behind the Linebackers

32. READING KEYS UTILIZE PRE GAME INFORMATION PRIOR TO PLAY -KEY PLAY FACTORS -SPECIAL FORMATIONS -SPECIAL SUBSTITUTIONS DURING THE PLAY NOTE PLAYER ACTION -GO WITH THE FLOW -WATCH PLAYER PATTERNS -LOOK THROUGH THE PLAY -NOTE DEFENSIVE FORMATIONS SHORT YARDAGE PLAYS -KICK OFFS -PUNTS -CONVERTS

33. UMPIRE SURVIVAL TACTICS AND MOVEMENTS • AGGRESSIVE FORWARD MOTION • STEP INTO POCKET OF PASS PLAY • STEP FORWARD ON PUNTS • PLAY AWARNESS • “SIDE – STEP AND TURN TACTICS” • REACT TO INSTINCTS • DON’T PILE ON • COMMUNICATION WITH PLAYERS • VARY INITIAL POSITIONING • UTILIZE PRE –GAME INFO • “LOW PROFILE” ON PASS PLAYS • LATERAL MOBILITY How could have the Umpire avoided this?

34. Umpire-Scrimmage Running Plays Watch Linemen for illegal procedure and 1 full second pause Split the line with the Referee Watch defensive line charge: holding, illegal use of hands, butt tactics etc. Then watch the game behind the L of S as defense penetrates, to cover behind the Referee . Look through the action to cover behind the Referee. Pick up ball carrier on short plays through the line When a man is coming at you step aside and forward and let the play pass you. Do not back up you may get caught between a ball carrier and a tackler. When a play has passed you ,or gone around the end, drift with the play, continuing to watch the line play and the linemen as they proceed downfield watching for late block, roughness, etc. after the whistle. Do not be too anxious to spot the ball( you have two side men to help with that). Move to hash mark, or to point when a ball is dead to spot for the next play Take a position for next play-assist Referee re :timing if necessary

35. Pass Plays • The umpire will: • Watch the 5 interior linemen for illegal use of hands and • for being down field illegally. • As the pass defenders back up , MOVE FORWARD, to stay close to the play. • DO NOT CROSS THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE • TURN on ALL passes to ASSIST coverage • Concede the call to the Official who has the view facing the ball (eye • contact) • Look through to the other Officials to make sure they have seen the play- • they may have seen something you didn’t (i.e. a trapped ball). • Watch for ineligible Receivers attempting to catch the ball • After a pass is complete or incomplete, keep Players under observation • -box the play in. • Spot the ball for the next down if no measurement is required. • Do not be over anxious to signal an incomplete pass. Hold the signal until • assured the ball has touched the ground

36. PASSING PLAYUMPIRE MOVEMENT Umpire first step (s) is forward toward L Of S Don’t cross the L of S Move with the Line Following the pass turn and provide support for catch or not U c QB Click for motion

37. Pass Plays Umpire turns on pass plays Provide support to back officials .Watch if the ball skips or is dropped. Do not worry about Pass Interference –must see the whole play Note stays near the hash to insure the boxing in of the play

38. Short Yardage Positioning • Five Official Crew • When it is third down and less than two yards and Team A is going for the first down: • The Umpire shall position himself outside the tackle on the wide side , and step up into the neutral zone as the ball is snapped. • - The Umpire’s duty is to help the side line officials get the primary spot by boxing in the play and having a good side view of the • forward progress

39. Short Yardage The Umpire will position himself behind the tackle on the wide side to keep the ball carrier between the Umpire and the side line official The first step should be forward p Side line official Click for motion

40. COVERAGE ON KICKOFFS BU What is the U ‘s duty? U What signal should the BU give the U? Watch BU and U (R , HL, and LJ also move) Click (or press n) to start (to see again touch p and then click or touch n) Answer the two questions HL LJ R

41. COVERAGE ON PUNTS 5 official crew BU • What does the Back Umpire pointing at HL (arrow) mean? • What duties do the officials assume • HL • BU HL U LJ R Click (or press n) to start motion Watch the officials and answer the questions

42. COVERAGE ON PUNTS 4 official crew Read and answer questions. Click or press n to see movements HL 1.a) The HL is the free or held official? b) Where does HL position prior to punt? c) What does the HL watch for when the receiver gets the ball? 3.a)The LJ is the free or held official? b) When does the LJ leave the LS? c) What does the LJ watch for? U LJ R 2.a)What side does the Umpire favor? b) When and where does the U move?

43. MEASUREMENTS LESSON 5 Umpire holds the front picket

44. Measurements Measurements ENSURE THE BALL IS NOT MOVED CONTROL FORWARD STICK CHECK CHAINS AND DOWNS BOX Umpire will get forward picket Back official holds back picket

45. Change at the End of a Quarter WHERE, WHAT, WHO READY TO CHANGE ENDS CHECK FOR CORRECT BALL PLACEMENT - POSITION - DOWN - DISTANCE ON BALL UNTILL REFEREE SIGNAL

46. Umpire – Penalty Administration LESSON 6

47. PENALTYAPPLICATION OBTAIN BALL JOIN THE REFEREE INFO TO THE REFEREE BE PREPARED TO ASSIST REFEREE

48. Umpire indicating penalty application • ENSURE PROPER PENALTY • APPLICATION • CARRY THE BALL – DISTANCE • GIVEN BYREFEREE • AVOID PACING OFF DISTANCE–IF • LINES ARE AVAILABLE • PROCEED TO POINT OF APPLICATION • APPLY PENALTY YARDAGE • CHECK DISTANCE WITH THE REFEREE AND HEAD LINESMAN

49. Administration of Penalties OBSERVE REFEREE’S SIGNALS BALL READY FOR PLAY ASSIST THE REFEREE WITH TIME (Hold/Go)

50. Points of Application of Penalties • Point of Last Scrimmage (PLS) • Point Ball Held (PBH) • Point of Foul (PF) • Point of Possession (PP) • Point Ball Dead (PBD) • Point of Pass (POP) • Point of Kick Off (PKO)