5 – MAN UMPIRE
MECHANICS
2014 – 2015
Central Florida Officials Association
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Umpire
• Uniform should fit properly and be clean and neat.
• Good physical condition is important to last throughout
the game and will help you move quickly from one
position to another
• Communication between officials, players, school staff
and coaches is a key to a smoothly run contest.
• Be verbal and let the players know you are there from
the start to completion of game. Be professional in your
speech and physical demeanor.
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Pre-Game
(On-Field)
 Officials should arrive at site of the game at least 1 ½ hours
before scheduled game time.
 Accompany referee as he/she visits with each head coach,
examine and rule on any player equipment about which the
coach has a questions of legality.
 Related to Pads and Padding
 Hard and unyielding items (guards, cast, braces, etc.) on the
hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, or upper are unless padded with
a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than ½”
thick.
– Knee and ankle braces that are unaltered do not require any additional
padding
 Eye shield attached to helmet that is not constructed of
molded rigid material or clear without the presence of any
tint.
– Tinted eyewear worn on the face and under the face mask is legal
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Pre-Game
(On-Field) (cont’d)
 Walk the field:
 Verify the field and markings are correct.
 Verify (3 yard.) Extra point mark.
 Observe warm-ups:
 Look for the style of offence
 Make contact with key members of the offensive line
and linebackers.
 Scrimmage Kick – note numbering exceptions.
 After duties completed
 Join Linesman on the sideline where the line-to-gain
indicator is located.
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Coin Toss
 3 min before schedule Kickoff.
 Umpire: facing the scoreboard.
 Enter the field from the line-to-gain indicator side on the 45 yard
line furthers from the clock. Referee will enter from the opposite
sideline on the 45 yard line closes to the clock. On referees pre
arranged signal meet referee at mid-field.
 Have an extra coin
 Listen for visitors choice and verify that Referee repeats it
correctly
 Confirm Referee gives correct signals and direction.
 After Toss:
 At conclusion of toss procedures and after the captains have
been dismissed, move together for final instructions from referee
 Record which team has first choice for second half
 At referee’s signal, hustle to kickoff positions, Linesman,umpire
and judge(s) clear sidelines before going to kickoff position.
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Free Kicks
• Be certain coaches, players, substitutions and other
personnel are in proper location behind the 2 yard belt in the
team box.
• Positioning: 20 yard line outside sideline opposite linesman
• Count R’s players. Wait for up official to raise their hand
before raising yours for the ready.
• Be prepared for short kick, fair catch.
• Be prepared to cover goal line to assist on touchback
• If ball is kicked to your side pick up runner and follow
• If ball is kicked to opposite side of field take the blocking
action in your coverage area
• If short kick is anticipated, position on R’s free-kick line. (be
ready to bean bag 1st touching. Make sure ball goes ten
yards.)
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Initial Position
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Scrimmage Play Alignment
– 7-8 yards behind Team B’s line and between B’s ends, keeping the
snap in view
– Keep action in front:
• Average running play is 3 - 4 yards
• Average pass crossing pattern: 5 - 7 yards
– Open “Vision”
• Widens field of vision when reading keys, adjust keys as the play
develops.
– Shade for best view of ball
• Don’t always shade opposite TE
• Linebackers will always open to strength (must anticipate this when
shading)
• Vary position so players cannot use you as interference
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Keys: Pre-Snap
• Prior to the Snap
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Umpire and player safety is the #1 concern.
Verify down with R, LJ, LM & BJ. Question if necessary
Distance for the line to gain and Field Position
Keep in mind the position of ball between hash marks
Count Offense and signal referee every play
Know your ineligibles (50-79) also covered eligible receivers
Key G-C-G recognize strength of the formation
Look for interference with snap, false start or encroachment
Position: shoulders should be parallel to the line of scrimmage
Keep the whistle out of you mouth, will give you time to think
before blowing it.
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Keys: Post-Snap
• Keys:
• Key center and guards, If they block aggressively read run.
If they pass block, read pass.
• Read point of attack paying particular attention to freeblocking zone restrictions. Don’t watch the ball
• Check for illegal use of hands or arms and other fouls near
neutral zone.
• Be alert
• Quick kick or pass.
• If fumble occurs beyond neutral zone, assist in determining who
secures possessioin
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A Key to the Point of Attack
Train yourself to watch a key…..and read point of attack
Umpire
This is an immediate key for a run.
Any time guard pulls behind center
Pulling Guard
Double Team
Chop Block Potential
Drop Back Pass
Passive Block
Review down and distance
Umpire
Tight end block down run or play
action pass look for drag across middle
Umpire
Open field tackle, aggressive block,
almost always a run turn to point of
attack. Move to line on pass play.
Umpire
Drop back pass action is key for pass,
be alert for screen & draw and turn and
help on short middle passes.
A Key to the Point of Attack (cont)
Umpire
Pulling Guard
Pulling guards misdirection or sweep,
secondary key is action by remaining
back. Look for low blocks after ball
has left zone.
Umpire
Power Block
Corner Attack
Tight wing blocks inside; check run or
play action pass. Cover line of
scrimmage if QB scrambles.
Pass Plays
• When you read forward pass, step toward neutral zone
– This puts you in position to rule whether ineligible
is illegally downfield and if QB throws beyond LOS
– This removes you as a target on shallow drags
watch for draw/slip screen
• Turn on low trajectory passes
– If you can touch the pass… turn and help out.
– Focus from the ground up when turning, short hop
on middle pass.
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Pass Plays (cont’d)
• Long Passes (high trajectory)
– Stay w/ keys and focus on line play
• No ball hawking or looking at QB
• Watch for illegal blocks, contact and illegal use of hands
• No back set… Umpire and Referee are responsible for all 5
offensive linemen
– After pass is thrown, Umpires are responsible for
players at the line of scrimmage
– Wait until the forward pass as completely cleared the
line of scrimmage before you turn and follow the play.
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Pass Plays (cont’d)
• 3 ways to help officiate on pass plays:
– Completed pass: hustle to ball
– Incomplete pass over the middle: Umpire that is your
responsibility for catch or no catch
– Not certain: jog slowly to spot looking at LM, LJ, BJ to
see if they need help on reception or not
– Long incomplete pass down field go out an get the
ball deep and relay to the referee to spot at the
previous spot
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Goal Line Communication
• Between the 5 yard line and goal line – Umpire
is primary on QB past line of scrimmage
• Ball in end zone and line of scrimmage officials
trying to locate ball
– Umpire: locate ball
– Visual clue to side officials i.e. patting chest, grabbing
whistle this informs your side officials that Umpire has
the location of the ball the side officials will determine
touchdown or not.
– Umpire does not signal touchdown.
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Scrimmage Kicks and Try’s
• Protect the Snapper
– Remind DL – A defensive player shall not charge directly into the
snapper when the offensive team is in a scrimmage-kick
formation.
• Position on Scoring Kicks:
– 7 to 9 yards off ball
• Step toward the neutral zone and be alert for roughing
the snapper
• Be alert for run or pass
• Assist in covering a short or blocked kick and
determining if the ball crosses the neutral zone.
• Watch for “pull and shoot”
– DL grabs OL and pulls aside creating gap for DL/LB to shoot
through
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Penalty Enforcement
• Must know Penalty Enforcement
• The entire crew should know what happen
and the Penalty Enforcement.
• Make sure the penalty is enforced on the
correct team
• Review page 90 penalty summary in your
National Federation of State High School
Associations rule book
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Penalty Enforcement (cont’d)
• Mechanics:
– Repeat back to Referee, offending team the penalty
and yard of penalty and enforcement spot
– Make note of enforcement spot for penalty
– Walk briskly, use arm signal to point each yard line
you cross. Walk off penalty when the referee is giving
the signal to the press box
– Linesman will proceed to succeeding spot
– Line Judge will hold enforcement spot
– Before placing ball down – ensure side officials and
Umpire have the same spot and down
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First Downs
Change of Quarters
• On a measurement for a first down the umpire will wait
with the referee at the ball and take forward line-to-gain
indicator from chain crewmember at place of
measurement. Wait until the Linesman says “ready”
tighten the line-to-gain indicator and hold forward
indicator near ball until referee reaches decision. Do not
jerk the chain out of the HL hand pull it forward slowly to
take slack out of chain.
• Change of quarters record down, distance and yard line
nearest foremost point of ball. Quickly take ball to
corresponding point on other half of field and reverse
directions.
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