Playoff Mechanics—2014

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OUR MISSION• Review the mechanics for a crew of 7 • This is based on the completely revised PIAA

Mechanics Manual– This may differ in some regards to the CFO manual – There are many changes from last year’s manual, so

please go over this presentation, the manual and the matrix—they are all on our web site, cacpfo.org

• The manual uses the NCAA abbreviations for positions, so those are used throughout this presentation

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TIMELINE—KICKOFF MINUS:

• 2 hours—Crew arrives• 90 minutes—Pre-game conference starts• 60 minutes—R & U meet with head coaches - R and U can either be in uniform or regular attire• 30 minutes—R & U meet with head coaches &

captains to do sportsmanship & coin toss - R and U will be in uniform for the coin toss

TIMELINE CONT’D• 20 minute—crew arrives on field to do pre-

game duties• 10 minutes—teams arrive on field• 3 minutes—mock toss• Halftime—15 minutes

PRE-GAME DUTIES• R and L: inspect field• U checks and marks game balls• S and B: instruct ball boys• F checks his watch and times the game• H meets with chain crew

COIN TOSS

NORMAL FREE KICK

ONSIDE KICK ANTICIPATED

FREE KICK FOLLOWING FAIR CATCH OR AWARDED FC

PUNTS

PUNTS FROM R-40 IN• S and F are at the goal line pylons

REVERSE MECHANICS• On punts, interceptions and fumble

recoveries, and B/R gains possession of the ball, this is known as reverse mechanics– R has goal line responsibility in lieu of the B– H and L are now leading officials– S and F are now trailing officials and will get

forward progress until the 2– H and L have forward progress from the 2 in

FIELD GOALS & TRIES

NORMAL SCRIMMAGE PLAYS

RESPONSIBILITIES• If H reads pass, he can move downfield no

more than 5 yards• If L reads pass, he will stay on the LOS, since

he is responsible for determining whether a passer and/or the pass has gone beyond the LOS

• L is also responsible for forward/backward ruling on pass

KEYS• Widest eligible is #1, next #2, etc.• Strong side is the side with the most eligible receivers,

if balanced, assume strength to L• S and F always have #1• H and L have– #2 on weak side or on trips– #3 on strong side

• B has– #2 on strong– #3 on trips

GOAL LINE: B-20 TO B-5• S and F are on goal line• B is on end line• H and L have forward progress until the B-2• S and F have the B-2 in

GOAL LINE: B-5 IN• B is on the end line• S and F are on the end line• H and L have responsibility for the goal line,

so, at the snap, they will move to the pylon

REVERSE GOAL LINE: A-5 OR LESS GOING OUT

• H and L will immediately move back toward the goal line pylon

MEASUREMENT• U take stick• H bring in chains• L give a foot• S set box if 1st down• F clear the view• B hold the ball • R make decision

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KEY POINTS• Sideline officials should push each other down the

field—keep the runner, receiver between the LOS official (H and L) and the deep official (S/F/B).

• H and L should get most of the spots, with the exception of very long passes

• L should stay at line of scrimmage to rule on forward passes thrown beyond the line of scrimmage—release after the ball is thrown—exception is when he has goal line responsibility (either coming out or going in)

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OTHER POINTS• R will line up on kicker’s leg on scrimmage kicks—so

he may be on H’s side or L’s side. • If snap is no good, wing official opposite R will

chase. – Official on R’s side will hold to rule on LOS

• U concentrate on the snapper and 2 guards. R takes tackle opposite from where he is lined up. L and H have tackles on their side, as well as receiver. Receiver has priority.

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MUDDLE HUDDLE• U stay with ball• S stay with team• Work out how you shift when teams shift

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GAME BALLSPIAA 2014 FOOTBALL BULLETIN 1

• The official ball is the Rawlings Pro5-PIAA football• Each team will be required to use the Rawlings Pro5-PIAA

football or the Rawlings ST5H football

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BALL ROTATION• L/F sideline has 2 of the balls from each team, H/S sideline

has 1 ball from each team• Since 1 ball is in play, one sideline has 3 balls, 1 has 2 at all

times• Ball comes in from L/F sideline at beginning of game and for

all changes of possession• If ball goes out on a side, it comes in from that side (except

changes of possession)

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BALL ROTATION• Use the numbers—if a ball is dead at the top of

the number or closer to the sideline, mark the spot with a ball and throw in a new ball

• Normally, L or H mark the spot, so F or S would relay new ball in

• It is imperative that we get this right as it will greatly impact how we are perceived!

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BALL ROTATION—EXAMPLES

• Sweep to L’s side, dead near sideline– L marks spot with ball that was in play– F gets new ball from ball boy, throws in to either B/R/U

depending who is nearby– L picks up ball that was spotted, tosses to either F or ball

boy• Punt o/o/b on H’s sideline– L or F get the new ball.– L or F throw the ball to the U. – H or S will throw the old ball to L or F through B

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SECOND HALF OPTION• Captains will not go to midfield after the half• Referee will assume the team with the option for

the 2nd half will receive, unless, prior to the 2nd half, the head coach changes his option

• We will ask the coach of the team that will kick off which way they want to kick