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5 Person Mechanics

Football

Linesman NCOA Sacramento

Pre-Game – Before Game Day

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• Communication

– Contact referee by Tuesday PM

– Determine assignment for JV game

– Find out when and where to meet

Pregame Discussion

Participate, know your position

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Pregame on Field

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• Walk the field

• Instruct chain crews

• Philosophy

–Have a job to do

–No fraternizing with coaches or fans

Captains and Coin

Toss • With chain crew at toss

• Huddle with other officials after coin toss to record

captain’s choice

• Hustle to your position (don’t walk)

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Before Kickoff

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Position on 50

yard line

Monitor bench

area

Count R Players

Hold hand in the

air to inform

Referee ready

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H

After Kickoff

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H BJ

Kicks your side, start

clock when kick is

legally touched and

ball is even or up-

field from you

Pick up runner and

follow until released

to Back Judge

Once you release

runner, observe

action behind play

Maintain

responsibility for you

sideline

After Kickoff

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Kick to your side

Move down

sideline while

watching for fouls

and to area best

to officiate

depending on the

kick

Keep spacing with

Back Judge

Determine if kick

goes OOB and

flag if not touched

by R

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H

After Kickoff

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HL Kick Opposite Side

Move cautiously

toward play being

ready to rule on your

sideline if play

reverses

Observe action of

player in vicinity of

runner and watch for

fouls away from the

ball

At end of play, stop the

clock and clean up

After clean up, go to

sideline to set chains

On-Side Kick

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• Referee declares on-side

mechanics

• Line up at R’s restraining line

– Count players

– Have bean bag in hand for

first touching

– Wind clock when legally

touched

– Stop clock at end of play

– Clean up

– After clean up go to sideline

and set chains

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H BJ

Basic Scrimmage Position

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R

H

U

Start on side

opposite press box

side.

Line up OFF the

field straddling line-

of-scrimmage.

LJ

BJ

Prior to Snap (All Plays)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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H

Check down number on box

and signal down

Count B’s players and signal to

BJ (before A breaks huddle)

Extend arm back with palm

extended toward backfield to

indicate A player closest to you

off the LOS

Check to see if all backs,

flankers, split ends are in a

legal position and check

eligibility

Determine if player in motion,

away from you, is legal. If he

reverses field he is still yours

LJ

Prior to Snap (All Plays)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

H

Check for seven on the

line-of-scrimmage. R will

signal 11 or less and you

should count backfield

Help in determining false

start, encroachment,

interference with snap

Be alert for illegal

substitutes

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2

3

4 5

6

7

LJ

Keys and Priorities (All Plays)

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Balanced

Formation

When no strength is

declared, Line Judge side

considered strength

Back Judge Key: End

Line Judge side

Linesman Key: End on

his/her side

Line Judge Key: First

back out his/her side

BJ

LJ

H

Keys and Priorities (All Plays)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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Strength to

Linesman

Back Judge Key: End on

Lineman’s side

Linesman Key: Back

his/her side

Line Judge Key: End

his/her side

BJ

LJ

H

Keys and Priorities (All Plays)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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Strength to Line

Judge

Back Judge Key: End on

Line Judge side

Linesman Key: End

his/her side

Line Judge Key: Back

his/her side both

formations

BJ

LJ

H

Keys and Priorities (All Plays)

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“Trips” Formation

Back Judge Key: Two

outside receivers

Linesman Key: End

his/her side

Line Judge Key: Inside

receiver his/her side

formation

Note: Reverse coverage

for trips formations to

Linesman side

BJ

LJ

H

Keys and Priorities (All Plays)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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Double Wing

Formation

Back Judge Key: Outside

receiver on LJ side

Linesman Key: Both

receivers on his side

Line Judge Key: Inside

receiver his/her side

formation

BJ

LJ

H

Keys and Priorities (All Plays)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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Motion

Determined at the snap

(snapshot)

Initial Coverage same as

Strength to Lineman

Motion to Line Judge

Formation now balanced but

since strength was

established to Lineman side,

keys remain the same with the

Line Judge picking up

responsibility for receiver in

motion to his/her side

BJ

LJ

H

Running Play

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

HL Action toward you

Work off the field

Observe keys and read tackle to

determine pass or run

Observe actions of linemen your

side and blockers in front of ball

carrier

Have responsibility for ball carrier

Mark forward progress, hold spot

and stop clock if out of bounds

Stop clock if ball carrier crosses

line to gain

Running Play

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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HL Action away from you

Move cautiously down field

for reverse action

Do not move into field

Observe action behind play

Be ready to help with

forward progress

Passing Plays

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

H

Observe keys and read tackle to

determine pass or run

Watch initial action off line for

defensive holding

Stay at line until your key is 10-12

yards downfield

Be ready to rule on

forward/backward pass

Move downfield cautiously on

passes to your side

You have forward progress and the

sideline to the end line

Be ready to adjust back for run

LJ

Passing Plays

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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Be ready to rule on pass

incomplete / complete and

interference

If ball intercepted, observe action

until ball is dead, covering official

stop clock and signal first down, if

inside defensive 5 yard line, be

ready to rule on momentum

If incomplete pass in your area,

sound whistle and signal

Be alert for illegal passes

Rule on touching or catching by

ineligibles H

R

U

LJ

Passing Plays

• After incomplete pass:

– Stop the clock

– Clean up

– Retrieve the ball

– Get in line for relay

• If first down, go to sideline and set chains

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Scrimmage Kick

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Determine if kick

crosses NZ

Hold line-of-

scrimmage until

ball crosses then

move slowly down

field and keep

spacing with Back

Judge

Grounded kicks

out of bounds

close to you, mark

spot and observe

action

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H

BJ

Scrimmage Kick

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If out of bounds in flight,

move past where ball

went out and walk

forward until Referee

spots you

On grounded kicks out

of bounds, mark spot

and observe action

Be ready for fair catch

on short kicks to your

side and blow whistle

only after kick is secured

On return to LJ side,

move slowly behind play

observe all action

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H

Scrimmage Kick

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Routine kick, move

downfield cautiously

observe action in front

of ball carrier

Move with runner to

your sideline and

follow until goal line

Only move line to

gain equipment when

sure no foul on play

and signaled by

Referee

At end of play, stop

clock, look at clock,

then clean up

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H

BJ

Field Goal and Try Attempts

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H

Position on line-of-

scrimmage to be

determined by R’s

position. Flank who stays

should be looking at back

of holder

Watch line play

If run or pass develops

handle as goal line play

LJ

Field Goal and Try

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

LJ

Position under uprights

with Back Judge

determined by R’s position

Rule on kick to your upright

If run or pass develops,

move to the side line and

work back to the play

Signal score for successful

or unsuccessful for no

score

If LJ stays at LOS, then

pinch in after play to clean

up

BJ

R

H

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

U

Goal-Line Plays (5-10

yard line) LJ

H

BJ

R

Move slowly toward the

goal line at snap stay

ahead of runner.

ONLY signal Touchdown

if you see ball cross goal

line

Do NOT mirror signal

Communicate on dual

coverage areas

(corners)

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

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U

Goal-Line Plays (inside

5-yard line) LJ

H

BJ

R

Move to the goal line at

snap and work back on play

ONLY signal Touchdown if

you see ball cross goal line

Do NOT mirror signal

Communicate on dual

coverage areas (corners)

If pile at goal line, pinch into

field of play. (Communicate

to U to find the ball)

Reverse Goal Line If the ball is snapped inside

the 5 yard line, both flanks

move to the goal line at the

snap and work out to the

forward progress spot

If a safety, the flanks make

the call

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0 R

U

H

LJ

BJ

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After Safety

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R

U

H

Line up same as

free kick but

move up 20

yards (normally

K30)

Same coverage

as kickoff

LJ

BJ

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G 1 0 2 0 3 0

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

U

H

R

LJ BJ

Move box to front chain

Ensure clip is set at rear 5-yard

line

Walk chains out and place clip on

line. LJ will show you the mark

Hold chain firmly and tell the U

that he can stretch the chains

If first down, go to sideline and

mark the spot for the chain and

box to set the markers

If short, reset chains and move

box to correct spot

Measurement

Timeouts

Record the timeout

Move to a position halfway between ball and

sideline and observe your team on your sideline

Be alert for signal from R that 15 seconds remain in

the timeout. Alert your coach.

Be alert for substitutions for the purpose of

deception

Inform coach of remaining timeouts 35

End of Period Between 1st and 2nd and between 3rd and 4th

• Stop Clock

• Meet R and U and record down, distance and yard

line

• Grab clip and move chains to new position

• Let R know you are ready

• Give team 15-second warning when directed by R

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Counting Players • Count defense every play

• Give signal to BJ

• Signal should be given before offense breaks break huddle

• If less than eleven, give thumb down

• If greater than eleven, they have 3 seconds to make

substitution or you have a foul for illegal substitution

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Ball Mechanics • U should get the ball on most plays

• Be prepared to relay the ball, if needed, on pass

plays

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Hurry Up Mechanics

• Mechanics do not change

• Get to sidelines quickly, don’t get trapped

inside

• May not be able to count players

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Penalty Enforcement • At end of play, stop clock and give short blasts of whistle

• Ensure another official is covering spot of foul or progress spot

• Get the penalty information to the referee if it is your foul

• Linesman should know where tape is on chain for 5 yard penalties

• If multiple flags, confer with fellow officials to discuss possible conflict

• Determine where enforcement spot is

• Walk off penalty with U and ensure ball has been set correctly

• Notify your coach of penalty and give him the number of the offending

person

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Disqualified player

or coach

• Referee and flank notify coach of DQ

• Don’t place hand on offending player and do not

escort player off field

• Record players number, time of foul and cause of

action of any unsportsmanlike penalty

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Bean Bag

• Mark spot of fumble (drop it on a line)

• A snap is a backwards pass, not a fumble

• Bean bag should be in your hands on all kicks,

• First touch (there can be more than one first

touch spot)

• Fumble spot

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Signals Know your signals

Counting players

Player on end of line (on or off)

Signal to R for in or out of bounds

Signal to clock operator when play ends in bounds

Stopping and starting clock

Touchdown

Safety

Scrimmage kick out of bounds

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Questions?

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