08/14/2009 Gene Dickinson DFOA Legal Ball Penalty Enforcement FBZ NZ Encroachment

Football is one of the most difficult sports to officiate The Referee position requires leadership to have the crew prepared This session will present some of the officiating tools that a Referee must use to ensure the game is managed appropriately Legal Ball and its use Penalty EnforcementThe Free Blocking ZoneEstablishing Neutral Zone Encroachment

1 Legal Football and Use Specifications: 8/12 laces 12.5 to 13.5 PSI Continuous 1 “ White/Yellow stripes NFHS 8 th grade and below can use smaller ball Who is responsible for initial approval of the game balls? What about during the game? Communicate with the persons that will be running balls in/out Unusual Situations Leather vs. Rubber A team cannot provide a legal game ball Requests for changing game balls Team A ‘heats’ legal balls for punting Request for approving additional game balls Late in the game, Team A ball boy refuses to supply a new ball after a long incomplete pass play

Penalty Administration Information Phase We Need Details Get ALL information from the calling official(s) –Share it with crew members –Ask Questions about the foul –Ensure there are not other fouls prior to giving preliminary –Penalty enforcement is a good time to slow down, Get the enforcement RIGHT!

Penalty Administration Communication Phase Penalty Enforcement Mechanics Give the preliminary signal, other than pre snap Provide Options to Offended Team Confer with umpire about the enforcement spot and distance Ensure proper penalty distance enforced, and give the final signal at the new spot (for penalty acceptance) (if declined) Go to the spot of the ball and give foul signal followed with decline signal.

Penalty Administration Special Enforcements Double Fouls – Signal each foul, followed by declination Two Penalties Enforced – Give Signal following each enforcement Foul during a scoring play – If scoring team chooses to have penalty enforced on the kick, signal, award score, then point to the kick location, BJ will give final signal and administer the distance. This year any foul before the ready for play (after a scoring play) can be enforced either on the succeeding or kickoff – including unsportsmanlike. Dead Ball foul on free kick – BJ will administer and give final Disqualifications – Notify both benches Coaches Conferences – Take a non calling official with you to the Teams’ sideline PSK, Automatic First downs, Unsportsmanlike, Warnings, Carry over enforcements to the next half, OT, Overturning a ruling,

Penalty Administration Summary Communications 101 Use Proper Mechanics Use crisp signals Face the Press Box Pause between signals Pretend you’re on TV Get away from the crowd Be aware of your appearance, others certainly will

Understand New Responsibilities

Penalty Enforcement Continuing Officiating After the Foul, Multiple Flags, Horse Collar, Unsportsmanlike

Free Blocking Zone The 6 X 8 yd FBZ allows for LEGAL: Blocking Below the Waist, Clipping and Blocks in the Back –BBW: By Offense or Defense/in the zone/on the LOS –Clip/BIB: By Offense against defense – in the zone/on LOS FBZ disintegrates when the ball leaves the zone Formations: QB under center vs. Shotgun

FBZ Shotgun formation QB is usually > 4 yards deep Get a good angle to properly referee the play

Referee Pre Snap Responsibilities Proper positioning to the offensive formation Ensure all players set for 1 second Count A players, note eligible backs Illegal Substitution Snap infraction Properly Worn Equipment Line movement Illegal Shifts Illegal Motion False Starts, Missing the snap Count

Let’s View some plays and examine the Referee’s Initial Reads and Positioning Mechanics

Neutral Zone Referee Perspectives: –(defense) After the RFP, no defensive player may be in NZ –(Offensive) After RFP and Center has placed hand(s) on the ball –After RFP the NZ planes are established for wing officials

Encroachment: A Referee’s Perspective Referee establishes the NZ with RFP Be consistent with RFP A substitute cannot encroach When both wing officials have a flag, don’t assume During pregame discuss with wing officials to clean up the NZ early Referee be alert for any ‘act’ clearly intended to cause B to encroach…. QB head fakes ‘Dallas’ shift Illegal Shifts

Questions?