Dead Ball Officiating and
Communication with players
Definitions
Rule 2-1-1:
A Dead Ball is a ball not in play.
The ball is DEAD during the interval between downs.
“ Avoid the tendency to relax… this is
when disaster can strike.”
Jon Bible, Big 12, Referee of the 2008 BCS national championship game
Dead Ball Fundamentals
• An official's whistle seldom kills the ball. It
is already dead by rule.
• No Live ball foul causes the ball to become
DEAD.
• A DEAD ball may become LIVE only by a
legal snap or free kick.
• Catching is ALWAYS preceded by touching
of the ball; thus, if touching causes the ball to
become DEAD, securing of the ball has no
significance.
Dead Ball Fundamentals
• A live ball foul followed by a foul
by the opponents after the ball
becomes dead IS Not paired as a
double foul.
• Penalty enforcement for any DEAD
BALL, non-player, or
unsportsmanlike foul is from the
succeeding spot.
Primary Dead Ball Intervals
Before/After scrimmage
plays
After scores
Timeouts
During Penalty
administration
During measurements
During Injuries
Between periods
Review Rule 4-2-2 (a-k) for examples of when the ball becomes dead and the down has ended…
Communication
→Sidelines
→Crew
→Players
“ If we can’t communicate, we can’t
officiate.”
Red Cashion, retired NFL Referee
Sideline Communications
Good personal skills
Communicate
unusual rulings or
problems w/players
Maintain poise at all
times.
“Silence can never be misquoted”
Crew Communications
 Communicate down and
distance every play
 Understand who you are
responsible to count and signal
count before every down begins.
 Alert official of “who has
responsibility for the game
clock.”
 Alert official(s) of “who has
responsibility for the goal line.”
 Repeated whistle blasts to alert
crew of penalty marker.
Player Communications
 Talk to players as they unpile
 Compliment players… “good
tackle”, “good run”, “good
sportsmanship”
 The Umpire relationship with
players is critical for crew
success during a game!
Penalty Administration
Rule 10-2-5:
DEAD BALL fouls are administered separately and in order of their
occurrence. Not coupled with live ball fouls or another DB foul to create
double or multiple foul.
Rule 10-4-5-b:
The basic (enforcement) spot is the SUCCEEDING spot for a DEADBALL foul.
Officiating the “HALO”
• Covering official responsible for first ring.
• Rings expand outward toward “off”
officials.
• Accordion effect- creates a presence of
officials.
Each play has 3- “HALO’s” of Officiating Responsibility
Tips to improving your DEAD BALL officiating
Spotting the ball…
•
•
•
Hustle but don’t hurry to the spot
Good ball rotation
Off-ball officiating
Players going out of bounds…
• Continue to watch players
• Use the bean bag
Digging for fumbles…
•
•
•
Only the closet official become the
digger
Actively locate the ball and determine
who has possession
Use good verbal techniques while
digging, announce yourself to players