7 Man Football Mechanics
Basic Mechanics, Keys and
Responsibilities for a Crew of 7
2012 DFOA Meeting
Matt Loeffler
Randy Smith
Anthony Flemming
Why use seven officials?
• A crew of 7 will provide more consistent, area
coverage resulting in:
– Better detection and enforcement of rules which are
designed to protect safety of players
– Better detection of rules infractions which would
otherwise give one team an unfair advantage
– Better side line control
• Preventive officiating is improved
• Dead ball and back side officiating is improved
7 man
2
L
SJ
20
30
40
50
40
30
20
U
X
20
30
R
40
BJ
X
50
40
LJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box
30
20
FJ
3
L
20
30
40
50
Communication
SJ
40
30
20
U
X
20
30
X
R
40
50
LJ
40
BJ
30
20
FJ
4
Press Box
Improved Communications
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Substitutions
Snap inside the 8 (or 5)-yard line
Sideline pass reception – possession and feet
End line pass reception – possession and feet
Close goal line plays
Intentional Grounding
Passes over middle (U can help)
Ball Mechanics
Clock Coverage
Penalty Enforcement
7 Man
5
Positions During Kickoffs
Crew of 7
U SJ
H
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
R
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
BJ FJ
LJ
Press Box
7 Man
6
Positions During Obvious Short Kickoffs
Crew of 7
U HL SJ
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
R
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
BJ LJ FJ
Press Box
7 Man
7
Pre-snap (Initial) Keys
• Referee – QB Passing arm and far side tackle.
Know where ball is snapped from. (ING) Count
Offense. Subs?
• Umpire – Guard/center/guard and tackle on referee
side. Count Offense. Subs?
• Linesman/Line Judge – LOS Action, Movement,
Formations, Motion man for cutting upfield.
• Side Judge/Field Judge –Count Defense.The widest
eligible receiver on your side. SJ: Clock status.
• Back Judge – Play clock resp. Normally second or
third eligible receiver in from the strength side of
the field.
7 man
8
Responsibilities during the Down
• Referee – Observe actions and illegal acts by or
against QB and far side tackle
• Umpire – Concentrate on interior line and the
“Back Side”, actions if run.
• Linesman/Line Judge – Watch Key then officiate
actions of players approaching and/or in your zone
• Side Judge/Field Judge – Watch Key then officiate
actions of players approaching and/or in your zone
• Back Judge – Watch Key then officiate actions of
players in the center, deep zone
7 man
9
Basic Positions For Snaps Between
the 20 Yard Line and the 5 Yard Line
Crew of 7
SJ
H
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
U
BJ
R
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
LJ
FJ
Press Box
7 man
10
Basic Positions For Snaps Inside the 5 Yard Line
Crew of 7
SJ
H
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
U
BJ
FJ
R
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
LJ
Press Box
SEC
11
Basic Positions For Punts
Crew of 7
L
SJ
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
R
BJ
U
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
FJ
LJ
Press Box
DFOA Meeting 2012
12
Basic Positions For Kick Trys and Field Goals
Crew of 7
L
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
SJ
BJ
FJ
U
R
10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10
LJ
Press Box
DFOA Meeting 2012
13
Keys and Responsibilities
• Seven officials, 22 players, one football and
nonplayers on each sideline
• Keys are intended to help determine officiating
coverage requirements at the snap
• Keys include:
– Formations and players
– Position of ball on the field
– Down and distance
• Formation and player keys will be summarized
herein by position
DFOA Meeting 2012
14
Officiate “Man-Zone-Ball”
• “MAN” - Before the snap, identify and read your
key(s) and note initial actions on and by key(s)
• “ZONE” - After the snap, officiate player action in
your zone
• “BALL” - When direction of ball has been
established (pass or run), officiate at and around the
ball if in your zone; otherwise, back side
officiating. When the ball is dead, continue to
officiate your zone (dead ball officiating)
DFOA Meeting 2012
L
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Single Slot
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
16
Press Box
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
30
X
SJ
U
R
40
50
LJ
20
Trips
H
BJ
X
40
30
20
FJ
17
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
R
40
50
LJ
30
X
U
20
Double Slot
SJ
SJ
BJ
X
40
30
20
FJ
18
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Double Slot,
Tight End
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
19
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Double Slot,
Double Tight
End
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
20
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Man in
Motion
inside
Tackles
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
21
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Man in Motion
outside
Tackles not
widest at snap
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
22
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Man in Motion
outside
Tackles
widest at snap
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
23
Press Box
H
50
40
30
30
40
20
20
U
R
40
50
LJ
X
40
30
X
20
Quads
Diamond
SJ
BJ
30
20
FJ
24
Press Box