2013
FHSAA Football
7 Man Mechanics
Walking The Field
Press Box
5 Man Field Inspection
- Releases R And U To Talk To The Coaches
LJ
X
X
X
X
X
X
50
40
X
FJ
R
BJ
U
SJ
1
HL
<2
0
<3
0
<4
0
<
0
30
<
<1
Pregame
Head Linesman And Side Judge
HL SJ
- 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 LJ FJ
- 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 BJ
- 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.
Pregame
Referee And Umpire R U
- 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 SJ FJ
- 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
Pregame Field Policing
Cover The 45 Yard Line Zone
- 4 Corners Version
Press Box
FJ
LJ
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
BJ
0
<4
5
1
HL
50
45
SJ
<
<4
40
<
5
35
<
<3
Coin Toss
Press Box
Proper Positioning
FJ
Once you reach the hash,
direct the captains forward
then turn around and return
to the sideline
LJ
T
Score Board
R U
<2
0
0
<3
0
<4
0
SJ
50
40
BJ
T
1
HL
<
<1
Coin Toss To Kick Off
Proper Positioning
Press Box
Score Board
LJ
FJ
R
BJ
U
K
HL SJ
<2
0
0
<3
0
<4
0
50
40
<
<1
1
Kick Off
Proper Positioning
Press Box
LJ
Count R
R
<1
1
HL
<2
0
0
<3
BJ Hands The
CountBJ
K
Ball To The Kicker
0
<4
0
K
50
40
SJ
U
<
Score Board
FJ
Onside Kick
Proper Positioning
Press Box
LJ
BJ
DidDid
Either
The Team
Ball
Touch
The
Ball?
GoThe
10
yards?
Hit
Ground?
R
<1
<2
0
HL
0
<3
0
<4
0
50
40
SJ
U
<
Score Board
FJ
1
Standard Play
Press Box
Standard Play Proper Positioning
FJ
18-22Yards
LJ
Score Board
R
U
BJ
<2
0
<4 0
0
18-22 Yards
SJ
HL
<3
1
0
50
40
<
<1
5 Yards deeper
Inside The 25 / 20 Yard Line
25 / 20 – 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning
Press Box
FJ
LJ
At The Pylon
R
U
On The Endline
BJ
<1 0
At The Pylon
<2
0
<3
HL
1
SJ
0
Approaching The Goal Line
5 Yard Line Proper Positioning
5>
-G
Press Box
FJ
LJLJ
5 Yard Line
RR
U
BJ
<1
HL
HL
1
2
SJ
0
<2
0
<3
0
Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 To G
Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to G
Press Box
LJ
FJ
3 Yard Line
U
BJ
R
<1
0
<2
0
<3
SJ
HL
0
2
Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 – 5
Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to 5
Press Box
LJ Moves To G
At The Snap
LJ
FJ
5 Yard Line
U
BJ
R
<1Reads
0
< 2 And
0
HL
The Play
Moves To G If Appropriate
HL
<3
SJ
0
2
Pre-Snap Duties
Press Box
Counting
LJ
FJ
Count Offense
Score Board
Count Defense
R
U
BJ
<2
0
SJ
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Collapsing Box Coverage
Boxing The Play In
The “Accordion” Principle
Press Box
LJ
FJ
X
At The Snap,
AllAnd
Officials
BJ, FJ
SJ
“Accordion”
Move Back In
X
X
R
U
BJ
<2
0
<3
0
SJ
<4
HL
2
0
1
<1
“Accordion” Principle
- Dead Ball Officiating
Players
40
0- Talk To
50
- Break Up Confrontations
- Make A Presence
<
Score Board
X
LJ and HL
LJ and
HL
Hold
Position
Square
X
X
Until
The In
Ball
At TheThe
SpotLine
Crosses
Long Run Down Sideline
Press Box
Keep Relative Positioning
LJ
At The Snap,
BJ And Deep Wings
Start Backing Up
R
U
BJ
Assume
Clean
Leading
Goal
LineUp
Out-Of-Bounds
Official
Position
SJ
< 3Trailing
0 <4
Official
20 Yards
0
HL
1
<Get
20
1 0The< Spot
50
40
<
Score Board
FJ
Long Run Down Sideline
Press Box
Keep Relative Positioning
- Don’t Run Over The SJ Or FJ
LJ
FJ
2 Yard Line
Score Board
R
U
BJ
Assume
Leading
Goal Line
Official
Position
Signals Touchdown
<2
0
SJ
< 3Trailing
0 <4
Official
20 Yards
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Initial Keys
Press Box
Pro Set
LJ
FJ
Score Board
R
U
BJ
BJ
<2
0
SJ
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Initial Keys
Press Box
Double Wing
LJ
FJ
R
Score Board
BJ
BJ
U
<2
0
SJ
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Initial Keys
Press Box
Trips Formation
LJ
FJ
R
Score Board
BJ
BJ
U
<2
0
SJ
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Initial Keys
“Stacked” Formation
Press Box
LJ
FJ
No Formal Keys
R
Score Board
BJ
BJ
U
<2
0
SJ
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Initial Keys
Press Box
Double Tight End
LJ
FJ
R
Score Board
BJ
BJ
U
<2
0
SJ
<3
0
<4
0
HL
1
0
50
40
<
<1
Punt Mechanics
Press Box
Punt Proper Positioning
LJ
FJ
Score Board
R
BJ
U
SJ
0
<3
0
<4
0
50
40
HL
4
<2
<
0
30
<
<1
“Reverse” Mechanics
Press Box
Reverse Mechanics
- Occurs On Punt And Interception Returns, HL/SJ And LJ/FJ Duties Flip
Assume
Signals Goal
R Has Goal Line Duty
Touchdown
Line Position
LJ
FJ
Leading
Official
R
Trailing
Official
Referee Shares
Goal Line Duty
(Don’t Get Beat)
<2
0
HL
4
0
<3
0
BJ
<4
0
50
40
<
<1
U
SJ
30
<
Score Board
2 Yard Line
FG And Try Mechanics
Press Box
FG And Try Proper Positioning
LJ
FJ
U
R
<2
HL
4
0
0
<3
0
<4
0
50
40
<
<1
30
<
BJ
SJ
Measurement Mechanics
Press Box
FJ
Field Judge
Clears Players Away
And Secures A New Ball
If Appropriate
LJ
FJ
R BJ
The Mechanics
Of The Remaining
Officials Are Exactly As
In A NFHS 5 Man Crew
U
<
<
SJ
2
SJ
2
Side Judge
Takes Charge
Of The Box
HL
20
<
30
HL
10
<
40
Penalty Enforcement Mechanics
Press Box
Penalty 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)
FJ
Line Judge Goes
To Where The Foul
Will Be Assessed To
LJ
Offensive Holding
R
BJ
U
<
<
10
HL
2
SJ
0
<
Head Linesman
Marches Off
The Penalty
3 0 The Umpire 2
With
From The
Enforcement Spot
All 3 Should End Up At The Same
Yard Line With The Same Down
During Game Responsibilities
Side Judge
SJ
- 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
SJ FJ
- 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
.
Odds And Ends
Using the CCA 7 Man Mechanics Manual –
SORT OF-MUCH great information, but always REMEMBER NF RULES!!
- 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, raising your hand and spotting ball on foot each play 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”
.