1. New Officials - 2011 Lesson 5 – Kicking Downs – Both Free and Scrimmage Kicks

2. Ordinary Kickoffs For an ordinary kickoff with no penalties involved, the kickers must place the ball anywhere between the hash marks on their own 40 yard line. The receivers are restrained behind the 50-yard line. Each of the wing officials comes out toward the center of the field to brief their respective teams (“don’t cross the line until the ball has been kicked”, “mouthpieces in”, etc.) and to make sure neither team is about to kick off with other than 11 players (“count your players”). In a 4-Man the wing officials are responsible for the two teams restraining lines marking the 10 yard neutral zone. The Linesman is responsible for the kickers; the Line Judge is responsible for the receivers. Once the count is good, each wing turns to the other, gives a “thumbs up” indication, then turns and runs to his sideline & turns toward field. The Umpire lines up opposite the Line Judge (on the same side as the Linesman, that is opposite the press box) at about the receivers’ 20 yard line. His position can vary back towards the spot of the kick; remember the idea is to keep the play surrounded; be aware of the strength of the kicker. The Referee will line up at about the 5-10 yard line toward the center of the field but shaded to the press box (Line Judge’s) side of the field. Both U and R count receivers. The Referee checks off with all other officials, then blows the play ready.

3. Ordinary Kickoff Lineup Chains Side Press Box Side

4. Free Kick after a Safety The primary difference between an ordinary kickoff and a kickoff after a safety is that the kickers will be kicking from their own 20 yard line and receivers are retrained at the kicker’s 30 yard line. In addition, the kickers have the option of using a punt instead of a kick from placement. If they use the punt option they must actually kick the ball from within 1 yard behind their 20 yard line. The wing officials have essentially the same responsibilities as in an ordinary kickoff. The Umpire is positioned approximately at the receivers’ 40 yard line; as in an ordinary kickoff, this can vary back toward the spot of the kick. The Referee moves up from the Goal Line approximately 15 yards to the vicinity of the 20-25 yard line, but must be able to cover the Goal Line in the unlikely event that the kick gets that deep.

5. Kickoff after a Safety Chains Side Press Box Side

6. Free Kick after a Fair Catch or an Awarded Fair Catch A rarely used option is open to the receiving team in the case of a completed Fair Catch or an Awarded Fair Catch. That option is to select a free kick. Although this is rarely used, it can be a great opportunity since among the free kicks, this one alone allows the kickers to score a field goal (3 points!). The Referee will line up under the receivers’ goal post and will be responsible to make the call on the field goal attempt. The wings will perform their usual roles. There will be a 10-yard wide neutral zone between kickers and receivers. However, the kickers’ line will be through the point of the ball at the time of the Fair Catch or Awarded Fair Catch. The Umpire will still line up on the Linesman’s side of the field, but his position will be closer to the Goal Line but approximately half way between the receivers’ restraining line and the Goal Line.

7. Free Kick after a Fair Catch Chains Side Press Box Side

8. Punts In a 4-Man crew, the Line Judge is the official designated to move from his ordinary position and go downfield with the receiving team’s receivers. He must brief them before the play on how to legally call a Fair Catch if the receiver’s so choose. During the kick, itself, the Line Judge must observe action around the receiver and be ever aware of whether a Fair Catch has been signaled. He must monitor the catch or failure to catch and be aware of when the ball becomes dead. If the punt is deep enough, he must be the official to judge whether the kick crosses the receivers’ Goal Line for a touchback. He also has to be aware of instances of first touching (and beanbag them) as well as a separate beanbag to mark possession for possible use in post-scrimmage-kick (PSK) enforcements. The Linesman is responsible to make judgments at the entire LOS and holds his position after the kick long enough to know that the kick has crossed the neutral zone and will not return. The Umpire lines up toward the vacated space left by the Line Judge and covers action in the Line Judge’s normal area of responsibility along with his own area. He also echoes the Referee’s center protection signal when given.

9. Punt Chains Side Press Box Side

10. Field Goals, LOS from 15 yard line in The Linesman is responsible for protection of the kicker/holder during the play. The Line Judge maintains his position on his end of the line, but during the kick he observes the cross bar on the goal post. If the kick is BELOW the crossbar, he will signal no good. He will NOT make any judgment as to whether the ball went between the uprights; this is the Referee’s job, instead. The Umpire provides normal coverage for a scrimmage play, concentrating on action against the snapper. Prior to the play, he will echo the Referee’s center protection signal. The Referee lines up behind where the kick will be made. He judges whether the ball passed between the uprights. If he judges that it did AND there is not a “no good” signal from the Line Judge, he will signal the successful try. If the try is unsuccessful, he will indicate “no good”.

11. Field Goal/Try LOS at or inside 15 Chains Side Press Box Side

12. Field Goals, LOS outside 15 yard line The Linesman is responsible for the line of scrimmage the same as for a punt. The Line Judge releases from his normal position prior to the play and goes underneath the goal post. He is responsible, alone, for whether the kick is good or no good. The Umpire provides normal coverage for a scrimmage play, concentrating on action against the snapper. Prior to the play, he will echo the Referee’s center protection signal. The Referee is responsible for action on the kicker/holder and for potential fake kicks makes the judgment as to the legality or illegality of the play. His position and coverage is similar to that of the Referee in a 6-Man crew.

13. Field Goal/Try LOS outside 15 Chains Side Press Box Side

14. Kick Tries Kick tries are handled the same as field goal attempts with one major exception. That exception is that once it is “apparent” that the try will fail, the ball immediately becomes dead. Tries with the LOS at or inside the 15 yard line use the same line up and coverage for the officials as a field goal from that same location. Tries outside the 15 (for instance after the imposition of a 15 yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct during the touchdown) sue the same line up and coverage as a field goal from that same location.

15. Field Goal/Try LOS at or inside 15 Chains Side Press Box Side

16. Field Goal/Try LOS outside 15 Chains Side Press Box Side