mechanics: the umpire john h. fishel yacpfoc rules interpreter february 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Mechanics:The UmpireJohn H. Fishel
YACPFOC Rules Interpreter
February 2013
Pre-game Responsibilities
Unless otherwise stated throughout the presentation, the mechanics shown/discussed in 5 Man is the same for 4 Man*
Accompany the Referee to the meeting with the Head Coaches. Review and rule on any questions with regard to the legalities
of equipment.
You are the final authority on the use of equipment, do not permit illegal equipment to be used.
Inspect and mark approved game balls
Participate in Pre-game Conference Know your position in all situations
Scrimmage Play Coverage
Scrimmage and Free Kick Coverage
Expect the unexpected to occur (plan for it)
Pre-game Responsibilities
Towel The Umpire should carry a ball towel for inclement weather or
wet/muddy conditions. (All White or Black is preferred.)
Coin Toss Actual Coin Toss mechanics, observe and record result of toss.
Mock Coin Toss Approximately 3-5 minutes before kick-off, escort (no more
than 4) Visiting Captains to center of field
Position at end of captains facing away from Scoreboard toward Referee. Confirm choices.
Upon dismissal of the captains, move together at the center for final comments.
Hustle to Kickoff positions – “crisp, square off”
Kickoff Mechanics
Clear the sidelines!
Five Man
Identify the restraining line for R, make sure they are behind
Position at the 50 yd line on Home Team side, 1-2 yds out of bounds
Count K players with Back Judge
Four Man
Position at the Visitor’s side 20 yd line, 1-2 yds out of bounds
Count R players with Referee
Signal Referee (Fist for 11, Five-finger open hand for >11)
Bean bag for First Touching by K inside the Neutral Zone
Be ready for kick out of bounds in your area (during a normal kickoff from the 40 yd line, spot foul if >35)
Wind Clock if R touches ball in your zone.
Keys on Kickoffs (5 Man)
Keys on Kickoff (optional) Players versus Zone
Better officiating than watching a particular zone
Same premise as passing keys
K3, K4 and K5 on your side of the field
Observe initial contact of key players then move to zone
Kicking Player Keys (in conjunction to zone responsibilities) U – K Players 3, 4, 5 to Home Team side
BJ – K Players 4 and 5 to Visitor’s Team Side and the Kicker
LJ – K Players 1 and 2 (Outside players) on Home side.
L – K Players 1, 2 and 3 (Outside players) on Visitor’s side.
35 4
K
432
U
LJ
BJ
R
L
1 12
5 Man Kickoff Mechanics
R10
R1
R5
R9
R6R4
R7 R8
R2
R11
R3
5
BJ
35 4
K
432
LJ
U
L
R
1 12
4 Man Kickoff Mechanics
R10
R1
R5
R9
R6R4
R7 R8
R2
R11
R3
5
L
Kickoff Mechanics (cont.)
Move “swiftly” up/down sideline while remaining out of bounds and watching blocks around the point of attack as well as safety concerns away from the play.
Talk to the players, let them know you’re watching or that the ball is away from them.
If play becomes dead in your zone. Blow whistle
Square off and come in, take control of the ball and mark Forward Progress spot until Offensive ball is rotated in.
Kickoff Mechanics (cont.) If ball becomes dead in your zone (cont.)
If play ends out of bounds, BLOW Whistle and move to Forward Progress spot, WHILE TURNING AND WATCHING action (players) out of bounds, Signal to stop the Clock. (DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON PLAYERS OUT OF BOUNDS ... Communicate – let them know you’re there watching, “Play’s Over, Use the ground to get up … Walk Away, etc.”)
Stay in position while help arrives, drop bean bag on forward progress spot only if absolutely necessary to separate players. Don’t worry about the ball … get another.
Spot ball then obtain ball from Team on offense while moving to spot ball inside hash marks and assist rotating ball from kick off the field.
General Scrimmage Mechanics Use of the whistle (Umpire should not normally use whistle)
SEE THE BALL – KNOW THE PLAY IS OVER!!!
The play kills itself, however A LATE WHISTLE IS OFTEN BETTER THAN NO WHISTLE … alerting all players stops dead ball contact.
When and only when, ball becomes dead in your area … Sound whistle loudly! (Unless it is necessary to stop dead ball contact)
i.e. don’t whistle a play dead on the other side of the field
Drop Bean Bag at location where ball is when an Inadvertent Whistle is blown.
Use sharp, repeated whistle to get everyone’s attention at the end of a play when a foul has occurred.
Ball Rotation
Be prepared to relay a ball in or out
During a change of possession
After a deep incomplete pass
During inclement weather conditions
Signals
After spotting the ball, remain over the ball while facing the Referee until the Ready for Play or the Referee indicates to release.
Note location of ball between the hash marks
Once released, DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK on the ball (back-out to your position.)
Count OFFENSE with Referee
Fist for 11, Five finger open hand for <11
Make sure there are five players numbered 50-79 on the line.
Take note of the number of B players on LOS in the Free Blocking Zone.
Scrimmage Play Mechanics
Scrimmage Play Mechanics
Position 4-7 yards behind the Defensive Line between the Offensive Tackles in a position to see the ball. Do NOT remain in the same location every play. Do Not interfere with vision of DBs or LBs.
Note position Center re-positions the ball for spotting the ball in future downs.
Preventive Officiating Constant communication is needed with ALL players inside. Let
them know when the ball is away, when the play is over, etc.
Relay messages from the sides as to Players not on the line or in the neutral zone.
Be prepared to toss bean bag for fumbles
Fouls to watch: False Start/Snap Infraction/Encroachment
Disconcerting signals from B Players
Scrimmage Play Mechanics Be mobile and ready to shift.
Key Center and Guards Aggressive blocking, Read Run and determine Point of Attack and
shift away accordingly.
Passive blocking, Read Pass and move to LOS.
Remember the closer you are to the play, the less vision you have. Back away or move laterally away from the play.
Fouls to Watch Chop Block - contact by two players on one (High and Low)
Holding - Wrapping, Hooking or Tackling opponent
Ineligible (linemen) receivers downfield
Roughing the snapper (scrimmage kick formation)
Be alert for TE dragging across the middle and/or attempting to use you as a pick.
On short pass plays, turn and help with catch/no catch decisions.
If forward pass is tipped, give signal indication.
Scrimmage Plays Stopping and Starting the Clock
Signal to STOP the clock when:
Down ends with a foul
Play becomes dead out of bounds
FORWARD pass is obviously incomplete
HEAD COACH (only) calls a Time Out
Official Time Out
Period ends
A Fair Catch is made or awarded
An OBVIOUS First Down has occurred
Signal to START (continue) the clock when:
Whenever the ball becomes dead outside the numbers
WIND the clock then STOP when the ball becomes dead outside the numbers and an OBVIOUS First Down has occurred.
Whenever a R player touches a Free Kick in your zone.
Penalty Administration
General Rule: Use of the penalty marker Toss the penalty marker in the air for a Dead Ball foul
Throw the penalty marker to the spot (appropriate yard line) for a Live Ball foul
Procedure following a foul: If it’s your call, make sure you get the R’s attention.
Secure ball
Make sure you know where the foul, committed by whom, the enforcement spot and distance.
Confer with Linesman
Proceed with measurement
G
QB
T
RB
GT
B
U
LJC
R
L E EB
Enforcement Spots:All-But-One – Penalized from the Basic Spot
T
S
LB LBTCB
LB
E ESS
CB
“Basic Spot”
OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot”
G
QB
T
RB
GT
B
U
LJC
R
L E EB
Enforcement Spots:Loose Ball Play
T
S
LB LBTCB
LB
E ESS
CB
“Basic Spot”(not PSK fouls)
OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot”
K11
K3
K9
P
K10K8
K2
U
LJ
BJ
K7
R
L K5 K6
K4
5 Man Punt Coverage
R7
R1
R8 R9 R10R3 R4 R6 R11 R5 R2
“Basic Spot”PSK
G
QB
T
RB
GT
B
U
LJC
R
L E EB
Enforcement Spots:Running Play
T
S
LB LBTCB
LB
E ESS
CB
“Basic Spot”(fouls by B)
OFFENSE fouls BEHIND “Basic Spot”
G
QB
T
RB
GT
B
U
LJC
R
L E EB
Enforcement Spots:Running Play, followed by Loose Ball
T
S
LB LBTCB
LB
E ESS
CB
“Basic Spot”(fouls by B)
Fouls by A
Measurements
Protect ball until chains are brought in by the Crew.
Take forward stick (rod), once Linesman has secured the alignment, extend stick until chains are tight. Hold stick until Referee is made a decision. If ball is short, carry stick inside hash mark while Referee
holds mark on chain. Extend stick in same manner and spot ball.
Time Out Procedure Maintain position over ball and observe Offensive Team until Ready
for Play.
ONLY the Head Coach or a Player on the field may call a Charged Time Out.
Two types of conferences Inside the hash marks, (only one coach may be with the team.)
Stay next to your team, be ready to notify the coach when there is 15 seconds to the Ready of Play whistle.
Outside the numbers, 11 Players must remain on the field but any number of Coaches and Players may be in the huddle.
Stay next to your team and in a position to observe all players remain on the field. Again, be ready to notify the coach when there is 15 seconds to the Ready for Play whistle.
Injury Time Outs This is not coach-player conference. Keep players inside the hash marks
unless the length of the time to care for the injury causes the Referee to approve the teams to go to the numbers for an authorized conference.
Goal Line Plays
Normal Scrimmage Play mechanics
Do NOT give Touchdown signal
Assist wing officials blocked by players with ball breaking the plane. Do NOT signal by grabbing or patting chest
If you are know the ball is in the end zone, to assist the Wing Officials – you may want to take an obvious (large) step(s) back away from the players if the ball is in the end zone.
If the ball is short, hold your position or step into the line as if to spot the ball.
Between Periods/Halftime
End of the First and Third Quarters (4 Man) If facing clock near end of quarters, signal to Referee
by tapping top of hat, that the period may end before the play begins.
ALL Officials record the ball location (yard line), down and distance before changing sides of the field. Hustle to the new location and make sure location, down and distance are correct.
Move ball to corresponding spot on opposite side of the field and reverse Team direction.
End of the Half (Second Quarter) Hustle into middle of both teams proceeding off the field. Keep
teams separated while walking off the field.
G
QB
T
RB
GT
B
U
LJ
BJ
C
R
L E EB
5 Man Zone Coverage
After initial keys release, Passing and Running Plays
T
S
LB LBTCB
LB
E ESS
CB
G
QB
T
RB
GT
B
U
LJC
R
L E EB
4 Man Zone Coverage
After initial keys release, Passing and Running Plays
T
S
LB LBTCB
LB
E ESS
CB
Scrimmage Kick Formation: Punt
Position as regular scrimmage play.
Count K players with Referee
Check for numbering exception
EXPECT THE FAKE and cover as in normal Scrimmage Play.
On a routine kick: Observe snapper protection
Pivot towards Line Judge (Home) side of field and observe blocks in side zone as you move towards return area.
Observe safety issues away from the play and blocks at the point of return.
Be ready to assist in ball rotation.
K11
K3
K9
P
K10K8
K2
U
LJ
BJ
K7
R
L K5 K6
K4
5 Man Punt Coverage
R7
R1
R8 R9 R10R3 R4 R6 R11 R5 R2
K11
K3
K9
P
K10K8
K2
U
LJ
K7
R
L K5 K6
K4
4 Man Punt Coverage
R7
R1
R8 R9 R10R3 R4 R6 R11 R5 R2
LJ
Scrimmage Kick Formation: FG/Try
Position as regular scrimmage play. Position for Alternate Formations
Count K players with Referee
Check for numbering exception
EXPECT THE FAKE and cover as in normal Scrimmage Play.
On a routine kick: Observe snapper protection
Make sure ball passes the neutral zone
Pivot towards Line Judge (Home) side of field and observe blocks in side zone as you move towards return area.
Observe blocks by outside offensive linemen and upback to Referee’s side.
Pivot toward Referee’s side and observe blocks and potential return.
LBLB T
S
LBTE
U
LJBJ
S
R
L
CB
E CB
5 ManFG/Try Coverage
K7
K
K8 K9 K10K4
H
K6 K11K3
LB
LBLB T
S
LBTE
U
LJS
R
L
CB
E CB
4 ManFG/Try Coverage
K7
K
K8 K9 K10K4
H
K6 K11K3
LB
When in question … Incomplete Pass or Fumble
Forward Pass or Backward
Kick or Pass – Touched or Not
Catch or No Catch
Passer has thrown or fumbled
Touchback or Safety
Fumble or Dead Ball
Helmet on or off
Accidental or Intentional Contact
Touching
Kicking
Legal Block or Clip
Block above the waist or below
5 or 15 yd Facemask
5 or 15 yd Running into or Roughing the Kicker
Incomplete Pass
Forward Pass
Not Touched
No Catch
Incomplete Pass
Touchback
Dead Ball
Helmet Off
Accidental
Legal
Above
15
15