1. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
Football 5 Man Mechanics

2. Coin Toss Proper Positions C LJ U R 4 5 4 0 4 5 5 0 L BJ
Press Box
Proper Positions
R&U enter 3 minute mark
Captains line up – split the 50-yd line
At R direction bring captains on field
Walk 1 yd behind captains
BJ&LJ bring kicking ball
Coin 1 minute
R communicate choices to press box
BJ places ball on kicker’s 40 yd line C LJ U R
Score Board
4 5
<
4 0
<
4 5
5 0
< L BJ

3. After Coin Toss To Kick Off
Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ C BJ R K
Score Board L U
1 0
2 0
4 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
<
BJ&U heels on back of
restraining line 1

4. Kick Off LJ BJ R 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L U Count R Press Box Count K
Score Board
Count R
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L U
Count K 1
Count R

5. Alter Position if Short Kick is Indicated by Referee
Count R
Press Box LJ
Count K BJ R K
Score Board
Count R U
1 0
2 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< L
Count K 1
Count R

6. Onside Kick LJ BJ R 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L U Press Box
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
< L U 1

7. Pre-Snap Duties LJ R U BJ 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 L Counting Press Box
Count Offense
Count Defense R U
Score Board BJ
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< L 1
Chains

8. Standard Play/ Pre-Snap Position
Press Box LJ
R: ~12 yds from LOS on QB passing arm. See opposite tackle R U
Score Board BJ
U: ~6-9 yds from LOS between tackles. See the snap.
15 – 20 yards beyond the Defensive LOS.
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< 1 L

9. Set up According to Safety
Inside The 20 Yard Line
20 – 16 Yard Line Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ R
Set up According to Safety U BJ
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0 L 1

10. At the snap, L & LJ move to Goal Line.
Approaching The Goal Line
At the snap, L & LJ move to Goal Line.
Press Box LJ
5 Yard Line R U BJ
<
1 0
2 0
3 0
<
<
BJ starts on the end-line inside the 15-yard line. Responsible for end-line coverage. L 2 1

11. Reverse Goal Line Mechanics
Press Box LJ
5 Yard Line U BJ R
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0 L 2

12. Collapsing Box Coverage
Boxing The Play In
The “Accordion” Principle
Press Box LJ
L Square Spot, LJ rotates when
the ball goes to opposite side. X X X X X X
All Officials
“Accordion” In R U
Score Board BJ
“Accordion” Principle
- Dead Ball Officiating
- Talk To Players
- Break Up Confrontations
- Make A Presence
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L 2 1

13. Long Run Down Sideline LJ R U BJ 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 L
Keep Relative Positioning
Press Box LJ
At snap,
BJ read play – start
backing up if read pass R U
Score Board BJ
Assume
Goal Line
Position
2 0
<
1 0
3 0
Get The Spot
<
<
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< L 1

14. L hold momentarily after the snap & let the ball cross LOS
Punt Mechanics
Punt Proper Positioning
Press Box
LJ releases on the snap LJ R
BJ on L-side, ~10-12 wider than & ~3-5 yds behind deep receiver. If snapped inside 45-yd line, position on goal line.
Score Board U BJ
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
<
3 0
< L
L hold momentarily after the snap & let the ball cross LOS 4

15. “Reverse” Mechanics LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L
- Occurs On Punt And Interception Returns
Press Box
Assume Goal
Line Position LJ
Signals
Touchdown R
Score Board U
Referee has
Goal Line Duty
(Don’t Get Beat) BJ
1 0
2 0
4 0
3 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
<
< L 4

16. FG And Try Mechanics LJ U BJ R 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 L
FG And Try Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ U BJ R
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
<
3 0
< L 4
If Blocked or Faked Outside the 25, LJ and BJ move to Pylons on the goal line.

17. After Try for Point Mechanics
Press Box LJ BJ R
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
<
3 0
< U L 4

18. Measurement Mechanics
Press Box
LJ (or R) marks spot with bean bag
LJ then holds ball for measurement - back to the goal post. LJ R U L
4 0
<
3 0
<
2 0
<
1 0
< 2 2
BJ Takes Charge
Of The Box L BJ

19. Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association
Football 5 Man Mechanics

20. Initial Keys LJ R U BJ 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L Strength to L’s Side
Press Box LJ R U
Score Board BJ
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L 1

21. Initial Keys LJ R BJ U 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L Double Wing Press Box
Score Board U
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L 1

22. Initial Keys LJ R BJ U 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L Trips Formation
Press Box LJ R BJ
Score Board U
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L 1

23. Initial Keys LJ R BJ U 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L “Stacked” Formation
Press Box LJ
No Formal Keys R BJ
Score Board U
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L 1

24. Initial Keys LJ R BJ U 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 L Balanced Formation
Press Box LJ R BJ
Score Board U
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< L 1