Umpire Mechanics
Jemal Taylor
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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.
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Key Learning
• Pre-Game Duties
• Coin Toss position
• Kicks – Free, Scrimmage,
PAT & Field Goals
• Initial Position –Run & Pass
• Keys: Pre-Snap
• Keys: Post-Snap
• Pass Plays & Running Plays
• Goal Line Communication
• Penalty Enforcement
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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.
 Inspect equipment
 Enforcing that legal equipment is worn properly
-Visors, play wrist bands, knee braces, jewelry
 Note not required for cast – must be padded properly.
 This new football playing rule eliminated the language requiring
a licensed medical physician (MD/DO) to direct the usage of
specific casts and braces in writing. Even though the note is no
longer required, the brace may still be disallowed by the umpire
if it does not meet the specifications.
 Observe and prevent unsportsmanlike act prior to the game.
Use preventative officiating to stop these acts if possible.
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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
 7 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 for 4 – Person Umpire
Mechanics
• Before Kick
– Be certain coaches, players, substitutions and other
personnel are in proper location behind the 2 yard belt in
the team box
– Position: R’s 20-Yard line on sideline opposite line judge.
– 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. If short kick is
anticipated position near R’s 40-yard line
– Be alert to bean bag 1st touching. Make sure ball goes ten
yards.
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Free Kicks for 4 – Person Umpire
Mechanics
• After Kick
– Signal clock to start when kick is touched, other than first
touching by K
– Pick up the runner and follow
– When ball becomes dead, sound whistle and give time-out signal
– Mark out-of-bounds spot if kick goes out of bounds on your side
of field.
 Bean bag spot if last touched inbounds by R
 Drop penalty marker if untouched inbounds by R
– Maintain position enabling coverage of your sideline at all times
– Observe legality if blocks and action away from the ball when
you are not covering the runner
– Kick to opposite side of the field move cautiously along sideline
toward play observe action of other players
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Free Kicks for 5 – Person Umpire
Mechanics
• Before Kick
– Be certain coaches, players, substitutions and other
personnel are in proper location behind the 2 yard belt in
the team box
– Position: R’s 20-Yard line on 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 position. If short kick
is anticipated position on R’s free-kick line
– Be alert to bean bag 1st touching. Make sure ball goes ten
yards.
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Free Kicks for 5 – Person Umpire
Mechanics
• After Kick
– Signal clock to start when kick is touched, only if the ball in your
area of coverage
– Pick up the runner and follow along sideline
– When ball becomes dead, sound whistle and give time-out signal
– Kick to opposite side of the field inbounds line move cautiously
with play along sideline observe action of other players
– Serve as clean-up behind, to side of, and around runner
– Maintain position enabling coverage of your sideline at all times
– Mark out-of-bounds spot if kick goes out of bounds in your area
 Bean bag spot if last touched inbounds
 Drop penalty marker if untouched inbounds by R.
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Initial Position
•
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 “V”
• 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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Verify down with R, LJ, LM & BJ. Question if necessary
Distance for the line to gain and Field Position
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 snap infraction or false starts
Position: shoulders should be parallel to the line of scrimmage
Umpire and player safety is the #1 concern.
Keep the whistle out of you mouth, will give you time to think
before blowing it.
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Keys: Post-Snap
• Keys:
– Read point of attack paying particular
attention to free-blocking zone restrictions.
Don’t watch the ball
– Watch the 3 points around the ball carrier
• Outside sweep: “Backside Check” on
Guard and Tackle first priority
– Check for illegal blocks: clipping or chop block
potential
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Keys: Post-Snap (cont’d)
• Drop Step - stay w/ keys and not ball
– short step… open to ball… read keys
– turn… don’t bounce… keep feet stationary
– “Banana” ahead or equal to play
• Don’t stay to “square” to play… pivot...
“make yourself thin”.
• Read/Recall/Process/Confirm
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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 H/L 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 as well as
Referee – The entire crew should know what
happen and the Penalty Enforcement.
• Make sure the penalty is enforced to the
correct team
• Review page 94 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 pres box
– Linesman will proceed to succeeding spot
– Line Judge will hold enforcement spot
– Before placing ball down – ensure Linesman 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.
• 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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