Football 7 Man Mechanics

Pregame HL SJ LJ FJ BJ Head Linesman And Side Judge 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 BJ checks them. Introduce yourself to the coaching staff, especially the head coach. Line Judge And Field Judge Secure the game balls and make sure the Referee checks them. Back Judge 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. LJ FJ BJ

Pregame R U SJ FJ Referee And Umpire Talk to the head coaches Verify legality of equipment and players (Umpire) Get the adornments off players Approve game balls Side Judge And Field Judge 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 SJ FJ

Pregame Field Policing Cover The 45 Yard Line Zone 30 Mins on clock DO NOT HUDDLE Press Box R LJ X X X X X X X BJ HL U FJ 3 5 4 0 4 5 4 5 4 0 < 3 5 < < < < < SJ 1

Coin Toss LJ FJ U R SJ 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 BJ HL Coin Toss Proper Positioning Press Box LJ FJ T Score Board U R T SJ 1 0 2 0 4 0 < < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < BJ HL 1

Coin Toss To Kick Off FJ LJ BJ R U HL SJ 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 Proper Positioning Press Box FJ LJ BJ R U K Score Board HL SJ 2 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < 1

Kick Off LJ FJ R BJ 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ U HL Proper Positioning Press Box LJ FJ BJ Hands The Ball To The Kicker R Count R BJ Count K K Score Board 2 0 4 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < SJ U HL 1

Onside Kick LJ FJ BJ R 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ U HL Proper Positioning Press Box LJ FJ BJ Did Either Team Touch The Ball? Did The Ball Hit The Ground? Did The Ball Go 10 yards? R Score Board 1 0 2 0 4 0 < < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < SJ U HL 1

Pre-Snap Duties FJ LJ R U BJ 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ HL Counting Press Box FJ LJ Count Offense Count Defense R U Score Board BJ Communicate on 4 or less 2 0 4 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < SJ HL 1

Initial Keys FJ LJ R U BJ BJ 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Press Box BJ will turn toward the strong side of the Formation…FJ and SJ ALWAYS HAVE THE WIDEST player….BJ ALWAYS has the second player in on strongside… HL and LJ will then have the 2nd (weakside) or 3rd (stongside) reciever… U has center and both guards. R has QB and backside tackle Press Box FJ LJ R U BJ Score Board BJ 2 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < SJ HL 1

Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Double Wing Press Box FJ LJ R BJ BJ Score Board U < 1 0 2 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < SJ HL 1

Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Trips Formation Press Box FJ LJ R BJ BJ Score Board U 2 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < SJ HL 1

Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ HL “Stacked” Formation Press Box Mechanics Manual has this as “no formal keys” FJ LJ R BJ BJ Score Board U 1 0 2 0 4 0 < < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < SJ HL 1

Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Double Tight End Press Box FJ LJ R BJ BJ Score Board U 2 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < SJ HL 1

Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL “Man in Motion” Press Box FJ LJ R BJ BJ Score Board U < 1 0 2 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < SJ HL 1

Standard Play FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ HL Standard Play Proper Positioning Press Box FJ LJ 20 Yards R U Score Board BJ 25 Yards 1 0 2 0 4 0 < < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < 20 Yards SJ HL 1

Inside The 25 / 20 Yard Line FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 HL SJ 25 / 20 – 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning Press Box FJ LJ At The Pylon R U On The Endline BJ < 1 0 2 0 < < 3 0 At The Pylon HL 1 SJ

Approaching The Goal Line 5 - G Yard Line Proper Positioning > 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning Press Box FJ LJ LJ 5 Yard Line R R U BJ < 1 0 2 0 3 0 < < HL HL 2 SJ 1

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 To G Press Box LJ FJ 3 Yard Line U BJ R < 1 0 2 0 < < 3 0 HL SJ 2

Moves To G If Appropriate 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 HL Reads The Play And Moves To G If Appropriate < 1 0 2 0 < < 3 0 HL SJ 2

Collapsing Box Coverage Boxing The Play In The “Accordion” Principle Press Box FJ LJ LJ and HL Hold Position Until The Ball Crosses The Line LJ and HL Square In At The Spot X X X X X X At The Snap, BJ, FJ And SJ Move Back All Officials “Accordion” In R U Score Board BJ “Accordion” Principle - Dead Ball Officiating - Talk To Players - Break Up Confrontations - Make A Presence 1 0 2 0 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < < < < SJ HL 2 1

Long Run Down Sideline FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Keep Relative Positioning Press Box FJ LJ At The Snap, BJ And Deep Wings Start Backing Up R U Score Board BJ 1 0 2 0 Trailing Official < < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 Get The Spot < 20 Yards SJ HL Assume Goal Line Position Clean Up Out-Of-Bounds 1 Leading Official

Long Run Down Sideline FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Keep Relative Positioning - Don’t Run Over The SJ Or FJ Press Box FJ LJ 2 Yard Line R U Score Board BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 Trailing Official < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < < < < 20 Yards SJ HL Assume Goal Line Position 1 Leading Official Signals Touchdown

Punt Mechanics LJ FJ R BJ U 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 3 0 SJ HL Punt Proper Positioning Press Box LJ FJ R BJ 45 Yards Score Board U 1 0 2 0 4 0 < < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 < 3 0 < SJ HL 4

“Reverse” Mechanics LJ FJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 HL SJ - Occurs On Punt And Interception Returns, HL/SJ And LJ/FJ Duties Flip R Has Goal Line Duty Press Box Signals Touchdown Assume Goal Line Position LJ FJ Leading Official Trailing Official R 2 Yard Line Referee Shares Goal Line Duty (Don’t Get Beat) Score Board U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < 3 0 < < < < HL SJ 4

FG And Try Mechanics LJ FJ U SJ BJ R 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 HL FG And Try Proper Positioning Press Box LJ FJ U SJ BJ R 2 0 < 1 0 < < 3 0 < 4 0 5 0 4 0 < 3 0 < HL 4

Of The Remaining Officials Are Exactly As Measurement Mechanics Press Box FJ Field Judge Clears Players Away And Secures A New Ball If Appropriate The Mechanics Of The Remaining Officials Are Exactly As In A NFHS 5 Man Crew LJ FJ R BJ U HL 4 0 < 3 0 < 2 0 < 1 0 < SJ Side Judge Takes Charge Of The Box 2 2 HL SJ

Penalty Enforcement Mechanics - 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) Press Box FJ Line Judge Goes To Where The Foul Will Be Assessed To LJ Offensive Holding R BJ U Head Linesman Marches Off The Penalty With The Umpire From The Enforcement Spot 3 0 2 0 1 0 < < < HL SJ 2 All 3 Should End Up At The Same Yard Line With The Same Down

During Game Responsibilities SJ Side Judge Deals with all issues involving the game clock Keeps the time on the field if the scoreboard malfunctions (NCAA) Alerts the Referee of timing errors Side Judge And Field Judge 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 SJ FJ .

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” .