1. AHSAA Football Mechanics
Basic Mechanics, Keys and Responsibilities for a Crew of 7
2011 Football Season

2. Why use seven officials?
Why not just adopt the college 7-man mechanics? The speed of the game is different and AHSAA wanted consistency between AHSAA 5-man and 7-man mechanics.
A crew of 7 will provide more consistent, area coverage resulting in:
Better detection and enforcement of rules which are designed to protect safety of players
Better detection of rules infractions which would otherwise give one team an unfair advantage
Better side line control
Preventive officiating is improved
Dead ball and back side officiating is improved
Alabama High School Athletic Association

3. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R
15 to 20 yards
5 yards 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

4. Pre-snap (Initial) Keys
Referee – All backs and far side tackle
Umpire – Guard/center/guard and tackle on referee side
Linesman/Line Judge – The third eligible receiver in on strength side of the field; otherwise second in.
Side Judge/Field Judge – The widest eligible receiver on your side.
Back Judge – Second eligible receiver in from the strength side of the field. If no strength of formation, key second eligible receiver on the Line Judge’s side. Takes man in motion all the way.
Alabama High School Athletic Association

5. Responsibilities during the Down
Referee – Observe actions and illegal acts by or against QB and far side tackle
Umpire – Concentrate on the “point of attack”, line actions
Linesman/Line Judge – Officiate actions of players approaching and/or in your zone
Side Judge/Field Judge – Officiate actions of players approaching and/or in your zone
Back Judge – Officiate actions of players in the center, deep zone
Alabama High School Athletic Association

6. Situation/Responsibility
Summary of Positions for a Crew of 7
Referee, Umpire, Linesman and Line Judge
Alabama High School Athletic Association
2011
Situation/Responsibility
Umpire
Linesman
Line Judge
Kick Off
Give ball to kicker then position even with and to the side of kicker prior to RFP
30 yards from R’s free kick line, opposite press box
30 yards from R’s free kick line, press box side
Obvious Short Kick Off
Kicker’s free kick line opposite press box
20 yards from R’s free kick line, press box side
Scrimmage Downs
Same as Crew of 5
Same as Crew of 5 but recognize Side Judge help deep. Responsible for forward progress spot except inside the 3 yard line
Same as Crew of 5 but recognize Field Judge help deep. Responsible for forward progress spot except inside the 3 yard line
Scrimmage Downs snapped inside the 5 yard line
Same as Crew of 5.
Scrimmage Kick (punts)
Field Goals and Trys
Same as Crew of 5 and communicate with Side Judge as “Second Umpire”
Remain on LOS during kick
Game and play timing
Secondary responsibilities
Note: Referee positions same as in a Crew of 5.

7. Situation/Responsibility
Summary of Positions for a Crew of 7
Back Judge, Field Judge and Side Judge
Alabama High School Athletic Association
2011
Situation/Responsibility
Back Judge
Field Judge
Side Judge
Kick Off
Kicker’s free kick line on press box side
Receiver’s free kick line on press box side
Receiver’s free kick line opposite press box
Obvious Short Kick Off
Scrimmage Downs
5 yards behind Field/Side Judge, generally center of the field - adjust as needed to strength of offensive formation
15 to 20 yards from the LOS, on the press box sideline, even with Side Judge. During play, maintain separation with Line Judge
15 to 20 yards from the LOS, opposite press box sideline, even with Field Judge. During play, maintain separation with Linesman
Scrimmage Downs snapped between the 20 yard line and the 5 yard line
In the end zone or on the back line, generally center of the field - adjust as needed
At the goal line pylon
Scrimmage Downs snapped inside the 5 yard line
On the back line, generally center of the field - adjust as needed
Outside the back line/side line pylon
Scrimmage Kick (punts)
5 yards behind the receiver, generally center of the field - adjust as needed
5 yards in front of deepest receiver, on the sideline, even with the Side Judge
5 yards in front of deepest receiver, on the sideline, even with the Field Judge
Field Goals and Trys
Behind the goal upright opposite the press box. Responsible for his upright and crossbar rulings.
Behind the goal upright on the press box side. Responsible for his upright.
“Second umpire”, position even with umpire opposite the press box.
Game and play timing
25 Second clock
Secondary responsibilities.
Accuracy of the game clock, management of all other game timing situations (time outs, following scores, media time outs) and having the correct local time at the pregame conference.

8. Alabama High School Athletic Association
Communications
Special situations
Snap inside the 5-yard line
Sideline pass reception – possession and feet
End line pass reception – possession and feet
Close goal line plays
Alabama High School Athletic Association

9. Alabama High School Athletic Association
Basic Positions For Snaps Between the 20 Yard Line and the 5 Yard Line Crew of 7 SJ L 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 U BJ R 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 FJ LJ
Press Box
Alabama High School Athletic Association

10. Basic Positions For Snaps Inside the 5 Yard Line Crew of 7SJ L 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 U BJ R 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 FJ LJ
Press Box
Alabama High School Athletic Association

11. Positions During Kickoffs Crew of 7SJ L 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 R U 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 BJ FJ LJ
Press Box
Alabama High School Athletic Association

12. Positions During Obvious Short Kickoffs Crew of 7L SJ 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 U R 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 BJ FJ LJ
Press Box
Alabama High School Athletic Association

13. Basic Positions For Punts Crew of 7L SJ 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 R BJ U 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 FJ LJ
Press Box
Alabama High School Athletic Association

14. Basic Positions For Kick Trys and Field Goals Crew of 710 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 SJ BJ FJ U R 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 LJ
Press Box
Alabama High School Athletic Association

15. Free Kicks Following a Fair Catch or Awarded Fair Catch Crew of 7SJ L 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 BJ U FJ 10 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 10 R LJ
Press Box

16. Keys and Responsibilities
Seven officials, 22 players, one football and nonplayers on each sideline
Keys are intended to help determine officiating coverage requirements at the snap
Keys include:
Formations and players
Position of ball on the field
Down and distance
Score
Formation and player keys will be summarized herein by position
Alabama High School Athletic Association

17. Priority of Player Keys
The priority of keys to determine initial assignments for each group of officials is as follows:
Field judge and side judge
Back judge
Line judge and linesman
The general rule is not to key the same player as the group of officials ahead of you priority-wise.
Alabama High School Athletic Association

18. Officiate “Man-Zone-Man”
“MAN” - Before the snap, identify and read your key(s) and note initial actions on and by key(s)
“ZONE” - After the snap, officiate player action in your zone
“MAN” - When direction of ball has been established (pass or run), officiate at and around the ball if in your zone; otherwise, back side officiating. When the ball is dead, continue to officiate your zone (dead ball officiating)
Alabama High School Athletic Association

19. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ
Single Slot 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

20. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ
Trips 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 BJ U X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

21. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ SJ
Double Slot 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 BJ U X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

22. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ
Double Slot, Tight End 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

23. Double Slot, Double Tight EndSJ
Double Slot, Double Tight End 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

24. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ
Man in Motion 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box

25. Alabama High School Athletic AssociationSJ
Communication 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 U BJ X X R 20 30 40 50 40 30 20 LJ FJ
Alabama High School Athletic Association
Press Box