1. 2012 FHSAA Football Field Clinic West Coast Officials Association Tampa WCOA West Coast Officials Association Tampa

2. Most Common Mistakes 2011 Season West Coast Officials Association Tampa WCOA West Coast Officials Association Tampa

3. WCOA Uses DVD Evaluations - Literally, hundreds of game DVDs are evaluated each year - If you ever get the opportunity to watch yourself on film, do it! - The camera doesnt lie - Trends of good and bad are seen, it helps to shape training Background

4. Left-Handed Quarterback Mechanics - Last season we had several teams with either left-handed quarterbacks or multiple quarterbacks who rotated in and out (some right-handed and or multiple quarterbacks who rotated in and out (some right-handed and others left-handed) others left-handed) - Have a system in place to deal with this: In the pregame, write down the numbers of all left-handed QBs In the pregame, write down the numbers of all left-handed QBs on your game card and ask if they are going to play on your game card and ask if they are going to play Pay special attention to offensive substitutions Pay special attention to offensive substitutions Pay attention to the game situation (likely run vs. pass) Pay attention to the game situation (likely run vs. pass) Have your umpire help remind you if possible Have your umpire help remind you if possible Even the wing officials might be able to help Even the wing officials might be able to help Referee R

5. Standard Play Proper Positioning Press Box 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 <<< < < 1 Score Board U HL LJ BJ 12-15 yards behind the line of scrimmage just wide of the tight end on the passing arm side (or 5 yards deeper than the deepest back). Be able to see the opposite tackle which is your key 5 0 R Left Handed QB Referee

6. Protecting The Quarterback Out Of Bounds - The quarterback is the referees chief responsibility, even when he scrambles and goes out of bounds behind or near the line of scrimmage scrambles and goes out of bounds behind or near the line of scrimmage - This is of course vitally important with the sideline he ends up in is that of the opposing team is that of the opposing team - Unsportsmanlike acts, taunting, etc. are less likely to happen given your presence your presence - Keep in mind, the second most common location for massive common location for massive brawls and fights to erupt is brawls and fights to erupt is in the side zone and bench area in the side zone and bench area Referee R

7. Out Of Bounds Responsibility Press Box 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 <<< < < 1 Score Board U HL LJ BJ 5 0 RReferee

8. Penalty Enforcement Errors - Most penalty enforcement errors involve using the wrong basic spot - Others involve failing to know what penalties carry an automatic 1 st down or a loss of down or a loss of down - ½ the distance to the goal line penalties also cause errors, especially dead ball personal fouls against both teams when the ball especially dead ball personal fouls against both teams when the ball is near the goal line. They do NOT just offset! is near the goal line. They do NOT just offset! - Untimed downs Referee R Automatic 1 st Down Defensive Pass Interference Defensive Pass Interference Roughing The Passer Roughing The Passer Kicker Kicker Holder Holder Snapper Snapper Loss Of Down Offensive Pass Interference Offensive Pass Interference Illegal Forward Pass Illegal Forward Pass Illegally Handing The Ball Forward Illegally Handing The Ball Forward Illegal Touching Illegal Touching Intentional Grounding Intentional Grounding

9. Penalty Enforcement Errors - Penalty enforcement errors are truly a CREW error. ALL members of the crew are responsible for knowing the rules and their proper application. crew are responsible for knowing the rules and their proper application. - The time to speak up is when the error is being made! Your referee will not be amused if you inform him at halftime that he screwed up an will not be amused if you inform him at halftime that he screwed up an enforcement in the 1 st quarter. enforcement in the 1 st quarter. Referee RU HL LJ BJ

10. Timing Errors - After a first down, after a penalty enforcement, after an injury timeout, etc. Do you wind the clock or not? etc. Do you wind the clock or not? - This is not all on the referee, the crew must help out! The referee has QB responsibility The referee has QB responsibility and doesnt see everything and doesnt see everything The referee gets distracted by players The referee gets distracted by players and coaches asking questions and coaches asking questions If the referee has to deal with some issue, If the referee has to deal with some issue, you can probably bet he needs help on the you can probably bet he needs help on the clock status when he returns to his position clock status when he returns to his position - Wing officials MUST communicate whether plays near the sideline are inbounds or out of bounds inbounds or out of bounds - Know the FHSAA running clock rule Referee R

11. Blocking Penalties - Dont become holding happy - Make sure it is 1) an illegal block AND 2) it created an advantage 2) it created an advantage Referee RHolding Grab and Restrict / Twist Grab and Restrict / Twist Hook and Restrict / Redirect Hook and Restrict / Redirect Tackles (Grabs Below the Waist) Tackles (Grabs Below the Waist) Takedowns (Grabs Above the Waist) Takedowns (Grabs Above the Waist) Throwdowns (Hands Inside & Pull to the Ground) Throwdowns (Hands Inside & Pull to the Ground) Blocking Below The Waist Block In The Back

12. Preventing Premature Snaps - Teams often run fast paced, no huddle offenses – but they still must wait for a ready for play wait for a ready for play - Offenses misconception - We dont have to wait for the defense - Common times the offense tries to prematurely snap the ball Coming out of time outs (charged and officials) Coming out of time outs (charged and officials) After a first down After a first down After a penalty administration After a penalty administration After a measurement After a measurement At the quarter change At the quarter change Preventing Premature Snaps - The referee can step between the center and QB / kicker and prevent a snap from occurring as well a snap from occurring as well Umpire U R

13. Ball Rotation - After long incomplete passes, plays deep out of bounds on the sideline, etc. there is no need for the umpire to go chasing the sideline, etc. there is no need for the umpire to go chasing the ball down. Turn to the LJ and get a new ball. ball down. Turn to the LJ and get a new ball. - If there is a change of possession, obviously you need a new ball After a kick off After a kick off After a punt After a punt After an interception After an interception After a fumble recovery by the defense After a fumble recovery by the defense After an unsuccessful 4 th down After an unsuccessful 4 th down After an unsuccessful FG attempt After an unsuccessful FG attempt Umpire U

14. Positioning Issues - Should avoid lining up outside the tight end position. May wish to line up opposite the tight end if possible to avoid being in that passing lane. opposite the tight end if possible to avoid being in that passing lane. - On passing plays, step up towards the line of scrimmage Helps get you out of the passing lane on crossing patterns Helps get you out of the passing lane on crossing patterns Gets you closer to the line of scrimmage to rule on illegal Gets you closer to the line of scrimmage to rule on illegal forward passes, ineligible receivers downfield, etc. forward passes, ineligible receivers downfield, etc. - Remember to turn around after the pass is thrown downfield beyond your position your position Umpire U

15. Blocking Penalties - Watch offensive linemen firing off the line and blocking linebackers and defenders more than 1 yard from the line of scrimmage below the waist defenders more than 1 yard from the line of scrimmage below the waist - Same issues with holding, blocking below the waist and blocks from behind hold true for umpires as was reviewed previously with referees behind hold true for umpires as was reviewed previously with referees - Concentrate on illegal acts at the point of attack and involving lead blocks on runs lead blocks on runs - Concentrate on things that buy a QB more time with passes - Pick up chop blocks Umpire U

16. Improper Positioning - There were several instances of wing officials not being set at the snap - Wing officials are noted to periodically take off down field at the snap inappropriately inappropriately - Reverse goal line mechanics are not being done Linesman and Line Judge HL LJ

17. Reverse Goal Line Mechanics Press Box 1 0 2 0 3 0 < < < U BJ 5 Yard Line 2 R HL LJ Linesman and Line Judge

18. Illegal Shifts and Illegal Motion - You own false starts and encroachments on your side of the line - Watch for illegal shifts and illegal motion Lineman taking a 3 or 4 point stance while a receiver is in motion Lineman taking a 3 or 4 point stance while a receiver is in motion Running back coming out of the backfield with a receiver in motion Running back coming out of the backfield with a receiver in motion 6 Man Line / Illegal Formation - This is yours to live and die with all game long - Lets try to have 2 flags on this to sell it Linesman and Line Judge HL LJ

19. Ineligible Receivers - Pay attention to the formations and covered up receivers - If a team runs an unbalanced line, there is a higher probability for potential covered up receivers potential covered up receivers - Hopefully, you are getting help from the referee and umpire regarding unbalanced lines unbalanced lines Pregame – the coach tells you, we run a lot of unbalanced lines Pregame – the coach tells you, we run a lot of unbalanced lines Mechanics signal prior to the snap Mechanics signal prior to the snap - Covered up receivers only become illegal if they go down field AND a forward pass crosses the line of scrimmage a forward pass crosses the line of scrimmage Ineligible receiver downfield (5 yard penalty) Ineligible receiver downfield (5 yard penalty) Illegal touching (5 yard penalty and a loss of down) Illegal touching (5 yard penalty and a loss of down) Linesman and Line Judge HL LJ

20. Penalty Enforcement Errors - The linesman and line judge act as referees on the wing during penalty administration penalty administration - If wing officials properly do the penalty enforcement mechanics, there is a double check on the umpire and referee (thats the whole purpose is a double check on the umpire and referee (thats the whole purpose of the mechanic) of the mechanic) - It is the linemans job to inform the referee of long 5 and short 5 situations, such that a 5 yard penalty by the defense will either result in situations, such that a 5 yard penalty by the defense will either result in the ball being marked short of the 1 st down or will result in a 1 st down the ball being marked short of the 1 st down or will result in a 1 st down Linesman and Line Judge HL LJ

21. 2 < < 3 0 < Offensive Holding Line Judge Goes To Where The Foul Will Be Assessed From Head Linesman Goes To Where the Foul Will Be Assessed To R BJ 1 0 Penalty Enforcement Mechanics Penalty Enforcement - Checks And Balances Press Box 2 0 U HL The Umpire and Linesman Should Be At The Same Yard Line With The Same Down LJ

22. Getting Beat To The Goal Line - The operative word in back judge is back - Your first steps at the snap are back and your job is to keep ALL the players in front of you players in front of you - Its your responsibility to make it to the goal line prior to the players arriving arriving - The only official that will have the end line is you BJ Back Judge

23. Kicks Going Into The End Zone - When a free kick or scrimmage kick breaks the plane of the receivers goal line is it an automatic touchback. The ball is immediately dead. goal line is it an automatic touchback. The ball is immediately dead. - Football fundamentals 101: If a ball is ruled dead, securing possession of that dead ball has no If a ball is ruled dead, securing possession of that dead ball has no significance significance - A kick is a kick, is a kick, is a kick, is a kick! The receiving team muffs the ball – still a kick The receiving team muffs the ball – still a kick The ball accidently hits a member of the receiving team – still a kick The ball accidently hits a member of the receiving team – still a kick The ball is touched by a member of the kicking team – still a kick The ball is touched by a member of the kicking team – still a kick - A kick ends when It is possessed by either the receiving or kicking team in the field It is possessed by either the receiving or kicking team in the field of play of play It goes out of bounds It goes out of bounds It breaks the plane of the goal line It breaks the plane of the goal line BJ Back Judge

24. Kicks Going Into The End Zone - TOUCHBACK - signal it immediately! - be decisive! - be decisive! - do NOT start digging in a pile in the end zone, - do NOT start digging in a pile in the end zone, who cares who has the ball? who cares who has the ball? BJ Back Judge

25. Kicking Plays - So can the kicking team ever score a touchdown during a kicking play? play? Absolutely! Absolutely! The kick must first end, however, by the ball being possessed by The kick must first end, however, by the ball being possessed by a member of the receiving team for that to be possible a member of the receiving team for that to be possible Receiving team gains possession then fumbles and the Receiving team gains possession then fumbles and the ball is recovered by the kicking team ball is recovered by the kicking team Receiving team throws a backward pass that is intercepted Receiving team throws a backward pass that is intercepted or hits the ground and is recovered by the kicking team or hits the ground and is recovered by the kicking team If a loose fumble enters the end zone, now that is a big deal If a loose fumble enters the end zone, now that is a big deal and possession is quite significant and possession is quite significant BJ Back Judge

26. Missing Personal Fouls - The back judge is probably the best police man of the crew, for his view is typically the widest and he will catch the most extracurricular view is typically the widest and he will catch the most extracurricular activity activity - If you see it, nail it Late hits Late hits Piling on Piling on Unnecessary roughness out of bounds Unnecessary roughness out of bounds Unsportsmanlike acts Unsportsmanlike acts Taunting Taunting Gestures Gestures - If you can prevent it, by all means do so Separate players getting into each others face Separate players getting into each others face Get into the side zone after plays and escort players out Get into the side zone after plays and escort players out Talk to players – warn bad behavior and praise good behavior Talk to players – warn bad behavior and praise good behavior BJ Back Judge

27. Out Of Bounds Responsibility Press Box 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 <<< < < 1 Score Board U HL LJ BJ 5 0 R Back Judge

28. Positioning - If the ball is on the hash mark, you should not be wider than the nearest upright the nearest upright - Dont put yourself at a disadvantage by having 2/3+ of the field to one side of you to one side of you BJ Back Judge

29. Proper Positioning Press Box 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 <<< < < 3 U R HL LJ BJ 3 0 < Back Judge 91 8 106 8 X X

30. 84 4 86 81 24 U 1 0 2 0 3 0 <<< 9 11 R LJ 7 – 10 yards wider than and in front of the deepest receiver on the Linesmans side HL Back Judge Punt Mechanics Back Judge Position On Punts 10 – 12 yards wider than 2 – 3 yards behind the deepest receiver on the Linesmans side OLD NEW BJ

31. Dont Think You Arent Part Of The Crew! - You are very much part of the crew! - You can help save the crew What down is it? What down is it? How much time was on the clock? How much time was on the clock? Short 5 vs. Long 5 Short 5 vs. Long 5 Where was the previous spot? Where was the previous spot? Chain Crew 1