NIRSA FLAG FOOTBALL NIRSA FLAG FOOTBALL 3 PERSON 3 PERSON

OFFICIATING MECHANICSOFFICIATING MECHANICS

PASS / RUN PLAYS11

R

LJ

BJ

REFEREE MECHANICSBefore Snap:Before Snap:

Set ball spotters (Orange – Offense, Gold – Defense)Set ball spotters (Orange – Offense, Gold – Defense)

Confirm down number with partners and down boxConfirm down number with partners and down box

Sound whistle sharply (ready for play whistle) and Sound whistle sharply (ready for play whistle) and begin the 25 second play clock NOTE: if the begin the 25 second play clock NOTE: if the offense is ready to snap the ball, do not blow the offense is ready to snap the ball, do not blow the ready for play until you are in positionready for play until you are in position

Positioning:Positioning:

Opposite side from LJ, same side as Opposite side from LJ, same side as BJBJ7 yards behind and 7 yards outside the deepest 7 yards behind and 7 yards outside the deepest offensive backoffensive back

STAY WIDE !STAY WIDE !

REFEREE MECHANICS (cont.)After Snap:After Snap:

Mental Checklist – Snap, Ball, QB, Rush, PassMental Checklist – Snap, Ball, QB, Rush, Pass

Follow ball carrier towards either sideline, Follow ball carrier towards either sideline, maintaining an “inside looking out” anglemaintaining an “inside looking out” angle

Stay wide to avoid becoming a part of the Stay wide to avoid becoming a part of the playplay

After a pass is thrown, do NOT watch the ball, After a pass is thrown, do NOT watch the ball, keep your eyes on the passer until there is no keep your eyes on the passer until there is no threat of a foulthreat of a foul

Rule on all pitches behind the neutral zoneRule on all pitches behind the neutral zone

Rule on legal or illegal forward passes where Rule on legal or illegal forward passes where passer’s feet are close to the orange ball passer’s feet are close to the orange ball spotter spotter

Primary responsibility is the QBPrimary responsibility is the QB

Rule on illegal contact by rushers and blockersRule on illegal contact by rushers and blockers

R

7 7 yards outsideyards outside

7 7 yards behindyards behindQBQB

R POSITION – RUN / PASS PLAYSR POSITION – RUN / PASS PLAYS

LINE JUDGE MECHANICSBefore Snap:Before Snap:

Use backfield foot to line up offensive playersUse backfield foot to line up offensive players

Inform Team A if they do not have enough players Inform Team A if they do not have enough players on the line (Raised arm until line requirement is on the line (Raised arm until line requirement is met)met)Count offensive playersCount offensive players

Positioning:Positioning:

Opposite BJ and ROpposite BJ and R

Stand in neutral zone, on the Stand in neutral zone, on the sidelinesidelineIf a receiver lines up near the sideline, take a If a receiver lines up near the sideline, take a step or two out of boundsstep or two out of bounds

Confirm down number with partners and down Confirm down number with partners and down box box

LINE JUDGE MECHANICS (cont.)After Snap:After Snap:

Mental Checklist: Snap, Players, Zone, BallMental Checklist: Snap, Players, Zone, BallObserve initial charge of line playersObserve initial charge of line players

Slide downfield 3-5 yards initially, watch for illegal Slide downfield 3-5 yards initially, watch for illegal contact by receivers and defensive backs contact by receivers and defensive backs When pass is released, move to the most When pass is released, move to the most advantageous position to see between the receiver advantageous position to see between the receiver and defenderand defender

Primary responsibilities are marking forward Primary responsibilities are marking forward progress and ruling on plays near zone lines progress and ruling on plays near zone lines and goal linesand goal lines

Stay wide and parallel to runner as you have the Stay wide and parallel to runner as you have the primary call on downfield pitchesprimary call on downfield pitches

LJ

LJ POSITION – RUN / PASS PLAYSLJ POSITION – RUN / PASS PLAYS

QBQB

33

1 2 43

BACK JUDGE MECHANICSBefore Snap:Before Snap:

Confirm down number with partners and down boxConfirm down number with partners and down box

Count defensive playersCount defensive playersPeriodically inform players, coaches, and officials Periodically inform players, coaches, and officials of the remaining timeof the remaining time

Positioning:Positioning:

Opposite LJ, same side as ROpposite LJ, same side as R

15 – 17 yards downfield, 3 – 5 from sideline15 – 17 yards downfield, 3 – 5 from sideline

Stay behind the deepest defensive player and Stay behind the deepest defensive player and wider than the widest offensive playerwider than the widest offensive player

BACK JUDGE MECHANICS (cont.)

After Snap:After Snap:

Mental Checklist: Snap, Players, Zone, BallMental Checklist: Snap, Players, Zone, Ball

First step is ALWAYS backwardsFirst step is ALWAYS backwards

Do not let a player behind you running downfieldDo not let a player behind you running downfield

Keep players boxed in, do not get caught inside Keep players boxed in, do not get caught inside

Do not overcommit to the other side of the field Do not overcommit to the other side of the field too quicklytoo quickly

Primary responsibility is the end linePrimary responsibility is the end line

BJ POSITION – RUN / PASS PLAYSBJ POSITION – RUN / PASS PLAYS

BJ

3 – 5 yds3 – 5 yds

15 – 17 yds15 – 17 yds

11

GOAL LINE PLAYS

R

BJ

LJ

REFEREE MECHANICSPositioning is the same as run / pass playsPositioning is the same as run / pass plays

Same as pass / run plays except:Same as pass / run plays except:Responsibilities:Responsibilities:

After touchdown, check for penalties, then After touchdown, check for penalties, then speak only to captain to obtain the Try choicespeak only to captain to obtain the Try choice

Announce the choice to players and officialsAnnounce the choice to players and officials

Do not signal touchdown from the R positionDo not signal touchdown from the R position

LINE JUDGE MECHANICSPositioning is the same as run / pass playsPositioning is the same as run / pass plays

Same as pass / run plays except:Same as pass / run plays except:Responsibilities:Responsibilities:

After the snap, hustle to the goal line and rule After the snap, hustle to the goal line and rule on either a touchdown or spot forward on either a touchdown or spot forward progressprogressObjective is to be straddling the goal line BEFORE Objective is to be straddling the goal line BEFORE the ball breaks the planethe ball breaks the planeALWAYS know where the goal line isALWAYS know where the goal line is

LJ has ALL calls regarding the goal line!LJ has ALL calls regarding the goal line!

Do not mirror TD signal by the BJDo not mirror TD signal by the BJ

Communicate with BJ on corner playsCommunicate with BJ on corner plays

BACK JUDGE MECHANICSPositioning:Positioning:

Responsibilities:Responsibilities:

Any time the ball is snapped inside the 10 yard Any time the ball is snapped inside the 10 yard line, stand on the end line, still 3-5 yards from line, stand on the end line, still 3-5 yards from the sidelinethe sideline

BJ has all calls regarding the Endline!BJ has all calls regarding the Endline!

Do not mirror TD signals by the LJDo not mirror TD signals by the LJ

Stay on the end line and let the play Stay on the end line and let the play come to you. come to you.

Communicate with LJ on corner plays Communicate with LJ on corner plays

KICKING PLAYS11

R

LJ

BJ

REFEREE MECHANICSPositioning is the same as run / pass playsPositioning is the same as run / pass plays

Watch for snap hitting the Watch for snap hitting the groundground

Responsibilities:Responsibilities:

If punt goes out of bounds in flight, line up If punt goes out of bounds in flight, line up covering official by chopping your arm as they covering official by chopping your arm as they reach the out-of-bounds spotreach the out-of-bounds spot

After the punt move downfield, focusing on After the punt move downfield, focusing on screen blocking ahead of the runnerscreen blocking ahead of the runner

Be alert for a long return – responsible for goal lineBe alert for a long return – responsible for goal line

LINE JUDGE MECHANICSRule on any scrimmage line foulsRule on any scrimmage line fouls

Hold initial position after the punt – ruling on any Hold initial position after the punt – ruling on any infractions on the line of scrimmageinfractions on the line of scrimmage

If kick goes out of bounds in the air, go beyond If kick goes out of bounds in the air, go beyond where you believe the spot is, turn and walk back where you believe the spot is, turn and walk back upfield, watching for the R to drop their arm and upfield, watching for the R to drop their arm and stopstop

LJ has responsibility for their sideline LJ has responsibility for their sideline

If kick goes out of bounds on the ground, mark the If kick goes out of bounds on the ground, mark the spot spot

BACK JUDGE MECHANICSParallel to deepest receiver at least 8 – 10 yds Parallel to deepest receiver at least 8 – 10 yds widewideAfter ball is caught, move with flowAfter ball is caught, move with flow

Responsible for Team B goal line and endline Responsible for Team B goal line and endline

If kick goes out of bounds on the ground, mark the If kick goes out of bounds on the ground, mark the spotspot

If kick goes out of bounds in the air, go beyond where If kick goes out of bounds in the air, go beyond where you believe the spot is, turn and walk back upfield, you believe the spot is, turn and walk back upfield, watching for the R to drop their arm and stopwatching for the R to drop their arm and stop

BJ

LJ

R

Images

11