Contra Costa Football Officials Association New Officials Training Session No. 2 Basic Definitions / The Anatomy of a Play / Working with the Chains

Today’s Agenda Session 1 Quiz, Discussion and Review Basic Definitions for the New Official (Rule 2) Fundamentals – The Scrimmage Formation Pre-Snap (Rule 7-1 and 7-2) Working with the Chains etc Line Up, Encroachment, False Start, Motion/Shifts Rules, Mechanics, Keys, Signals What down is it? First Downs July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Session 1 Quiz Discussion and Review Pregame Duties Video July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

BASIC DEFINITIONS Rule 2 July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Basic Definitions Neutral Zone, Line of Scrimmage Dead Ball, Live Ball Catch, Recovery, Touching Fumble, Muff Scrimmage Kick, Free Kick Passing, Handing, Batting Player Possession, Team Possession Ready for Play Rules, Mechanics, Keys, Signals July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Neutral Zone , Lines of Scrimmage 10 yard separation between R and K on free kick “Width of the ball” and across the field during a scrimmage down Lines of Scrimmage (2-25) Vertical planes on either side of the neutral zone during a scrimmage down You are “on the line” essentially if you are within one yard of the line of scrimmage July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Dead Ball, Live Ball Dead Ball (2-1-1) Live ball (2-1-2) A ball not in play; essentially the interval between downs Seldom does the official’s whistle kill the ball – it is already dead by rule when the whistle blows No live ball foul causes the ball to become dead Live ball (2-1-2) A ball that is in play Becomes live when it is legally snapped Becomes live moment it is legally kicked on a kickoff July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Catch, Recovery, Touching Gaining possession of a live ball in flight and First contacting the ground in bounds while maintaining possession of the ball Recovery (2-36) Gaining possession of a live ball after it strikes the ground and Touching (2-44) Any contact with a live ball Either touching it or being touched by it Touching always precedes possession July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Fumble, Muff Fumble (2-18) Muff (2-27) Loss of Player Possession other than by handing, passing or a legal kick Muff (2-27) Touching of a loose ball in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Scrimmage Kick, Free Kick Legal Kick from in or behind the neutral zone Can be place kick, punt or drop kick Free Kick (2-24-3) A “Kickoff” putting ball in play: To start the half After a score (TD, FG, Safety) After a fair catch (don’t worry about that) Must be a place kick or drop kick (for kickoff after a safety may be a punt) “A kick is a kick” until a player secures possession (catch or recovery) July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Passing, Handing, Batting Throwing a ball The ball must travel in flight Forward vs. Backward Passes Handing (2-19) Transferring possession to a teammate without ball traveling in flight Forward vs. Backward handing Batting (2-2) Intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Player vs. Team Possession Player Possession (2-34-1) A live ball held or controlled by a player Player in possession of the ball is the “Runner” Team Possession (2-34-2) Ball in player possession One that is loose following loss of player possession A live ball is always in possession of one of the teams July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Ready for Play (2-35) Occurs when the Referee signals (chop / whistle) that the ball may now be put in play Start of the 25 second count Start of various restrictions on position and movement of the players July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

FIELD WORK Pre-snap signaling Working with Chains July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

ON FIELD WORK Chain Crew Accident Another Chain Crew Accident Chain Gang Video 1 Pre-snap signaling Chain practice July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Fundamentals The Scrimmage Formation – Pre-Snap Rule 7-1 & 7-2 Encroachment False Start Getting Set, Shifts & Motion

The Fundamentals of the Scrimmage Formation; Pre-Snap Everyone Verify Correct Down Hand up until Ready for Play showing down Move to other finger at RFP Umpire Count Defense Every Down & Signal to Referee If 11 - Fist If 10 – spread fingers; hands on chest If 12 – count again; then penalty Flanks Position yourself outside the sideline Mark Offensive Scrimmage Line “my foot is the line” Widest Receiver – On or Off? / Signal to other flank If both off; count backfield – no more than 4 July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Encroachment Rule Mechanic Key = Snapper to your sideline Off & Def After RFP no A or B player may be in neutral zone Immediate foul no “getting back” Youth and early in season – Use some judgment Mechanic Throw flag, blow whistle, signal timeout, come down line to report to Referee Primarily Flanks’ call; U has wrong perspective Key = Snapper to your sideline Off & Def Signal & Subtleties Throw flag up and slightly towards side of line of team that fouled July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

False Start Rule Mechanic Keys Signal & Subtleties Applies only to A After a player Is set he can make no motion simulating a snap A “down lineman” once down is “locked down” Mechanic Throw flag, blow whistle, signal time out, come down line to report to Referee Keys Flanks (snapper to sideline, wideouts) U (Interior line, primarily snapper to opposite tackle) Signal & Subtleties Flank - Throw flag up and slightly towards A side of line Umpire – Toss flag underhand to feet of player who fouled July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Is it Encroachment or a False Start? Come in to center to discuss with crew Must establish which happened first – that is what it is July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Getting Set, Shift, Motion Rule: After RFP and after each shift at some point prior to the snap all A players must be simultaneously motionless for 1 second Shift = two players moving at same time At snap only one player can be in motion and that motion must not be forward Mechanic NOT a foul until the snap Key R, HL, LJ all can call illegal shift Illegal motion – HL, LJ take motion away from them NOT the umpire’s call Subtlety Throw flag up, let play go and continue to officiate July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

First Downs & Measurements July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Mechanics for First Down Line Judge: Signal Time out (Twice) Point downfield “hand on chest” to indicate 1st down gained Shout “Close” if it is too close to call and Referee will come up to line and make decision Referee will: Decide to measure or not Give first down signal Head Linesman Only after Referee signals should chains be moved Mark spot of back chain with foot – back stake is at front tip of the ball Have clip attached to “the back of the closest line” Chains to be set 6 feet off sidelines July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Measurements Four Person Crew – Head Linesman Pre-Measurement Down marker to front stake – show “old” down Grasp chain and clip Escort crew onto the field The Measurement Place clip where indicated by LJ Hold firmly and say “ready” Post-Measurement If NOT a first down Holding clip and chain escort crew to sideline and reset Move box to correct spot and show correct down If a first down You can release clip and chain and move to sideline to reset chain as any first down July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Measurements Four Person Crew – Line Judge Pre-Measurement Set bean bag at appropriate marked line directly up field from ball The Measurement Observe players – everyone else is focused on measurement Post-Measurement Double check HL positioning of chains Double check down July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play

Measurements Four Person Crew – Umpire Pre-Measurement Set bean bag at front tip of ball Hold ball steady The Measurement Take front stake and when HL says “ready” slowly stretch chain so that it is along ball Allow Referee a clear sight path to make call Hand Stake back to chain crew member Post-Measurement Double check HL positioning of chains Double check down July 9, 2011 Anatomy of a Play