2019

FHSAA Football

7 Man Mechanics

Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Coin Toss Mechanics Clarified (Adapted To FHSAA)

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• Following the coin toss, the HL or LJ should secure the proper game

ball of the team kicking off and provide it to the BJ.

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Referee Responsible For A Pass’ Direction Inside The 5 Yard Line

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• If the ball is snapped on or inside B’s 5 yard line, the R is responsible

for knowing if the pass is forward or backward.

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Mechanic For A Blocked Kick Or Snap Over

The Kicker’s / Holder’s Head

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- The R and the wing official he / she is facing will retreat to cover

the ball and box in the play.

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• The wing official on the same side as the R will remain on the line

of scrimmage until that line is no longer threaten. As the play develops,

he / she will then move to officiate the play.

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Umpire, Side Judge, Back Judge And Field Judge’s

Coverage On Scoring Kicks Clarified

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• On all trys and field goal attempts, the SJ should be positioned on the

side of the defensive formation that has the most players.

If the defensive formation is balanced, the SJ should be on the side

closest to the side line he / she came from (side opposite the press box).

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Referee Microphone Mechanic For A Flag That Is To Be Disregarded

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- If a flag is to be disregarded, the R announces that there is no foul

for (name of the violation, explanation or often no further explanation

needed) and the disregard the flag signal is given (S13).

For example, “There is no foul for an ineligible receiver downfield,

for the pass did not cross the line of scrimmage.”

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Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Side Judge and Field Judge Positioning From 25 – Goal

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• The SJ and FJ will now be at the goal line pylon when the ball

is snapped inside team B’s 25 yard line.

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Head Lineman and Line Judge Motion Man Responsibility

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• If a man goes in motion, observe him if he is on your side of the ball

to ensure his motion is legal.

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Head Lineman and Line Judge Reverse Goal Line Mechanics

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• From the 3 yard line to goal line, both the HL and LJ move to the

goal line pylon at the snap.

From the 5 yard line to 3 yard line, the LJ moves to the goal line

pylon at the snap and the HL reads the play and moves to the pylon

if appropriate.

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Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Fake Field Goal Responsibilities

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• When a fake field goal is attempted from a snap inside team B’s

20 yard line, the HL and LJ will have the goal line.

When a fake field goal is attempted from a snap on or outside team B’s

20 yard line, the BJ and FJ will have the goal line.

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Umpire Positioning

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• The starting position for the Umpire is on the side opposite the tight end,

generally 5 – 7 yards (but not more than 8 yards) from the line of

scrimmage. For non-scoring kicks (punts), however, the Umpire may be

up to 10 yards off the line of scrimmage.

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Notable Past Mechanics Changes

Pregame Mechanics

6:45 pm  Officials take the field in uniform.  At least 2 officials

monitor the 45 – 45 yard line “no fly zone”

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Prior to 7:00 pm – Coach/Referee/Umpire meetings completed�              Note: If one team leaves the field – the officials may leave

the field�

7:23 pm  FJ and SJ have captains on the 50 yard line by 7:25 pm

�7:25 pm  BJ and LJ bring teams to the field – home team should

enter first�

7:26 pm  R and U enter together from the home side and take their

coin toss positions�

7:27 pm  Coin toss

�7:30 pm  Kick Off�

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5 Man Field Inspection

- Releases R And U To Talk To The Coaches

Press Box

1 0

2 0

3 0

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5 0

4 0

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Walking The Field

3 0

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X

X

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X

X

Pregame

Head Linesman And Side Judge

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• Check the chains and down marker
• Find your chain crew and brief them
• Spot check the field with the chains (Make sure no 1^st and Goal

from the 11 yard line)

• Find your ball boys and brief them
• Secure the game balls and make sure the Referee checks them
• Introduce yourself to the coaching staff, especially the head coach

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Line Judge And Field Judge

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• Find your ball boys and brief them
• Secure the game balls and make sure the Referee checks them
• Introduce yourself to the coaching staff, especially the head coach

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Back Judge

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• Be the police officer on the field. Patrol the 45 yard line zone and

look out for unsportsmanlike behavior

- Help the Umpire with getting adornments removed

Pregame

Referee And Umpire

• Talk to the head coaches
• Verify legality of equipment and players (Umpire)
• Get the adornments off players
• Approve game balls (Referee get with the LJ and FJ, HL and SJ),

remember that Spalding^® balls must be used in the post season

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Side Judge And Field Judge

• Find out from the Referee and/or Umpire who the talking captain

is for your sideline’s team so you can line up the captains appropriately

for the coin toss

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Cover The 45 Yard Line Zone

- 4 Corners Version

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Press Box

3 5

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4 5

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Pregame Field Policing

3 5

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Coin Toss

Press Box

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Score Board

Once you reach the hash,

direct the captains forward

then turn around and return

to the sideline

Proper Positioning

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Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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Score Board

Coin Toss To Kick Off

Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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Score Board

Kick Off

Count R

Count K

Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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Score Board

Onside Kick

Did The Ball

Hit The Ground?

Did The Ball

Go 10 yards?

Did Either Team

Touch The Ball?

Standard Play Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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Score Board

Standard Play

5 Yards Deeper Than SJ and FJ

18-22 Yards

18-22 Yards

FJ, SJ and BJ

will ALWAYS

line up on a

major yard line

25 / 20 – 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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2 0

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Inside The 25 / 20 Yard Line

On The Endline

At The Pylon

At The Pylon

> 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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Approaching The Goal Line

5 Yard Line

5 - G Yard Line Proper Positioning

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to G

Press Box

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Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 To G

3 Yard Line

Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to 5

Press Box

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Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 – 5

5 Yard Line

HL Reads The Play And

Moves To G If Appropriate

LJ Moves To G

At The Snap

Counting

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Press Box

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Score Board

Pre-Snap Duties

Count Offense

Count Defense

Boxing The Play In

The “Accordion” Principle

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Press Box

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Score Board

Collapsing Box Coverage

X

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“Accordion” Principle

- Dead Ball Officiating

- Talk To Players

- Break Up Confrontations

- Make A Presence

LJ and HL

Hold Position

Until The Ball

Crosses The Line

LJ and HL

Square In

At The Spot

All Officials

“Accordion” In

At The Snap,

BJ, FJ And SJ

Move Back

Keep Relative Positioning

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Press Box

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Score Board

Long Run Down Sideline

18-22 Yards

Trailing Official

Leading

Official

Assume

Goal Line

Position

Clean Up

Out-Of-Bounds

Get The Spot

At The Snap,

BJ And Deep Wings

Start Backing Up

Keep Relative Positioning

- Don’t Run Over The SJ Or FJ

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Press Box

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Score Board

Long Run Down Sideline

18-22 Yards

Trailing Official

Leading

Official

Assume

Goal Line

Position

Signals Touchdown

2 Yard Line

Pro Set

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Press Box

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Score Board

Initial Keys

Double Wing

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Press Box

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Score Board

Initial Keys

Trips Formation

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Press Box

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Score Board

Initial Keys

“Stacked” Formation

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Press Box

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Score Board

Initial Keys

No Formal Keys

Double Tight End

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Press Box

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Score Board

Initial Keys

Punt Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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Score Board

Punt Mechanics

45 Yards

3 0

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3 Deep Officials

Stand On The Closest

Major Yard Line

Press Box

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Score Board

“Reverse” Mechanics

3 0

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Trailing Official

Leading

Official

Assume Goal

Line Position

Reverse Mechanics

- Occurs On Punt And Interception Returns, HL/SJ And LJ/FJ Duties Flip

R Has Goal Line Duty

2 Yard Line

Signals

Touchdown

Referee Shares

Goal Line Duty

(Don’t Get Beat)

FG And Try Proper Positioning

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Press Box

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FG And Try Mechanics

3 0

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Measurement Mechanics

1 0

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Press Box

Field Judge

Clears Players Away

And Secures A New Ball

If Appropriate

Side Judge

Takes Charge

Of The Box

The Mechanics

Of The Remaining Officials Are Exactly As

In A NFHS 5 Man Crew

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3 0

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Offensive Holding

Line Judge Goes

To Where The Foul

Will Be Assessed To

Head Linesman Marches Off

The Penalty

With The Umpire

From The Enforcement Spot

1 0

Penalty Enforcement Mechanics

Penalty Enforcement

- Checks And Balances (Opposite From NFHS)

- CCA Holds The Official Calling The Foul Primarily Responsible

For Making Sure The Enforcement Is Correct (Whole Crew Really Is)

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Press Box

2 0

All 3 Should End Up At The Same

Yard Line With The Same Down

During Game Responsibilities

Side Judge

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• Deals with all issues involving the game clock
• Keeps the time on the field if the scoreboard malfunctions
• Alerts the Referee of timing errors

Side Judge And Field Judge

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• During time outs, take charge of instructing the teams to return

to the field at the 15 seconds to ready-for-play whistle by the BJ

• Take chief responsibility for communicating penalty information,

time outs remaining, game developments, etc. to the head coach

• Acts as the apprentice to the HL or LJ and assists them whenever

possible

- Help with ball rotation, those coming out from the BJ and those

going in to the U

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Odds And Ends

CCA 7 Man Mechanics – Sort Of

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• Use the positioning, coverage mechanics, keys, etc.
• Ignore the sections of the book obviously addressing NCAA mechanics

such as throwing your hat when players go out of bounds,

the 40 second clock, etc.

• Ignore the CCA “if in doubts”, they are opposite from the NFHS ones

because they have instant replay to fix their mistakes while we don’t

• It’s only the mechanics, not the rules we are borrowing – it’s still NFHS rules

Official Conferences

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• We now have 7, rather than 5 different opinions and views
• Conference when you need to, otherwise keep your distance and positions
• Numerous conferences make it look like you don’t know what’s going on

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Microphone Mechanics

Sounding And Looking Professional

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• Practice, practice, practice
• Say the words even in games you don’t have a microphone on you

- Face the press box and STAND STILL

• There is no need to yell, that’s why you have a microphone
• Speak in a conversational and unhurried tone
• Be informative and concise, but not ridiculously brief
• “Rehearse” with the Umpire to know you have all the information before

making a formal announcement (foul, down, ½ the distance, etc.)

• Basic information includes:
• Foul
• Offense or defense / Kicking team or receiving team
• Yardage of the penalty
• Down
• Use “Prior to the snap” or “After the conclusion of the play”

rather than “Dead ball”

• Never say the number of the player or the player’s position, but when

necessary you can say vaguely “the player involved”

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