2004 Football Meeting 10/6/04

1. 2004 Football Meeting10/6/04 Games – Tom Frieder Where’s the Spot Special Rules for PAT Goal Line and Short Yardage Plays Not Getting Picked? Punts – Not Just Another Play Some Tips for Working the Wings

2. Spot, Spot – Where’s the Spot

3. Where’s The Spot? A B 4th down, black throws incomplete pass. Where does the front of the ball go? A or B Black is going this way 3rddown, Black 32 is tackled A or B Onside kick. 40 is R’s free kick line after penalty. Black (K) touches ball at spot A. You bring in A’s ball and place the nose of the ball where? A or B 4th down, Black 32 is tackled A or B Turned over on downs, now is White’s ball A or B

4. Spot, Spot – Where’s the Spot On Change of Possession, Spots Move – the Ball Doesn’t On Change of Possession, The Down Box Moves – the Ball Doesn’t

5. Discussion?

6. Special Rules for PAT

7. PAT Differences • Clock does not run • There is no line to gain • Kicks are dead when “obviously not successful” • Special penalty enforcements apply • Successful kick is worth 1 point • Successful run or pass is worth 2 points • Only the offense can score

8. Before the Play • The try is part of the previous series so the same ball must be used • Except for obvious situations like weather • Fouls by the defense on the touchdown play may be carried over to the try (but not to the ensuing kickoff) • The try is the “succeeding spot” • If a touchdown is scored on the final play of a quarter, the try is attempted as part of that quarter • A quarter may not begin with a try • If a touchdown is scored on the last play of regulation, the try is not attempted unless it has an impact on the outcome of the game • If a touchdown in overtime determines the outcome of the game, the try is not attempted • The offense has the choice of position of the ball between hash marks • If there a replay of the try, the offense can change the location • If there is a timeout, the offense can change the location

9. During the Play • Fouls during the try may be carried over to the kickoff • Dead ball fouls after the try are enforced on the kickoff • Ball is dead if B gains possession • If the kicked ball touches a K player beyond the expanded neutral zone, it is dead • The neutral zone cannot be expanded into the end zone

10. Discussion?

11. Goal Line and Short Yardage Plays

12. Great Goal Line Coverage • Wings pinch in if there are no wide outs • Be ready for the play coming at you • Inside the 5 yard line, wings go to the goal line at the snap and work back • Wings make eye contact before a signal • Umpire should be as tight to the line as possible • Referee should be within 10 yards of the LOS • Be ready to move back! • Consider using the Back Judge as a second Umpire • Move up 5 yards. You still have time to cover the end line • Umpire RARELY makes a touchdown signal • He can still help with a nod of the head to the wings if he’s certain the ball crossed the plane • Umpire is closest to digging for the ball if its location is unknown. The final decision is still up to the wings • Hustle and sell the call • If it’s close, wings should be hustling in to sell the call

13. Short Yardage • Very much like a goal line play • Wings pinch • Umpire pinches • Referee pinches • Back Judge stays in normal position • Treat the front stake like the goal line • Make sure the offense (including QB) is set • They may be in a hurry or try to get a rolling start • Shifts are more likely • Defensive foul results in a first down so make sure offensive shifts aren’t false starts • Long counts are more likely • Hard counts are okay – but watch for false start • Head bob, shoulder hunch, thrusting arms at snapper • Offensive fouls are more likely • Watch for subtle body movement and snap enfractions • Substitutions • Specialty players may come in • Make sure subsititutions are legal • Make sure both teams are counted • Be mindful of deception • Helping the runner • More likely in short yardage situations • Offense can push pile, but not the runner (discussion?) • Be aware of the stake • Line judge has best view • Yell “Hold the Spot” • Don’t toss the ball around • Leave it where it is or get it to the wing

14. Discussion?

15. Not Getting Picked?Some Key Reasons Why You May Not Be Getting Those GamesFrom Referee Magazine • Not meant to be rude – but realistic

16. Appearance • Dress sloppily • Uniform not clean and crisp • Flags are too evident • Tuck them in your pocket • If worn in waist, tape the ball white • Hat is old, dirty, out of shape • Your whites are gray • Socks are dingy or ragged • Shoes not clean and polished • Hair too long • Facial hair is generally frowned upon • If you have facial hair, keep it neat and trimmed

17. Lack of Hustle • Don’t hustle during live ball plays to get into position • You should usually end up closer to the ball than you started • Lack of hustle during dead ball period • Don’t walk when you can jog or run • Especially to free kick position or quarter breaks • Hustle during ball relay • Overly relaxed during dead ball periods • Dead ball time is not rest time • Out of shape

18. Play Coverage • Don’t anticipate • Field position • Down and distance • Yard line • Score • Time remaining • Defensive and offensive line ups • Tendencies • Poor Position • At snap and during play • Poor off-ball coverage • Know your mop-up responsibilities • Slow reaction to surprises

19. Running Plays • Slow reaction and catching up to the play • Don’t cover your bubble • Ball and couple of yards around it • 5 to 10 yards around ball • Mop up • Poor or no signal at end of play • Clock stop • Crank and stop • Poor spotting

20. Passing Plays • Poor read of keys • Puts you out of position from the start • Lack of thorough passing rule knowledge • Ineligibles • Pass interference restrictions • Intent of rule • Both have equal right to the ball • Back Judge lets players behind him • Umpire doesn’t get to the line of scrimmage

21. Miscellaneous • Inefficient during dead ball periods • Poor communication with crew, coaches and players • Distracted by non-game events • Geese, crowd • Talking about non-game items during game • Low test scores • Indicates lack of preparation or interest • Poor meeting attendance • Cancel too many games • Don’t return phone calls or e-mails • Habitually late

22. Philosophy • Throw too many flags • Are you too picky? • Understand philosophy? • Understand advantage gained? • You’re job is not to find penalties, it’s to make sure the game is played fairly • Poor communication skills • Talking harshly or rudely to players/coaches • Barking • Making threats • Not talking • Attitude, appearance, demeanor does not instill confidence • Poor or wrong mechanics

23. Others • Feeling that it’s just a popularity contest • Thinking evaluators or system not fair • Watch yourself on tape • Discuss your performance with trusted official • Unwilling to learn or change • Unwilling to be a member of the team • A crew is a team and you have to fit in

24. Litmus Test You Might Have a Problem if Right now you are feeling that most of this was crap

25. Punts – Not Just Another Play

26. Routine • Must be made from in or behind the neutral zone before team possession has changed • Any receiver may catch or recover and advance • Receivers may not advance after a fair catch signal (valid or invalid) • Kickers may catch or recover in or behind the neutral zone and advance • Kickers may catch or recover beyond the neutral zone but may not advance • May catch if not kick catching interference • If the punt is touched first by R beyond the line, a new series is award to the team in possession at the end of the down • If the punt is touched first by K beyond the line, it is a violation for first touching. R may take the ball at the spot unless a subsequent foul by R is accepted

27. Deviations From Routine • Blocked Punt • Punter Contacted by Defense • Punt Receiver Contacted by Kickers • Kick first touched by Kickers • Muff - Fumble

28. Blocked Punts • Blocked punt that is in or behind the neutral zone is simply a loose ball • Applies if kick went beyond neutral zone and then came back behind neutral zone • Same as a fumble • Anyone can recover and advance • Kickers must reach the line-to-gain to retain possession

29. Contacting the Punter • Roughing the kicker is a 15 yard penalty and an automatic first down • Running into the kicker is a 5 yard penalty without a first down • Running into = displacing without roughing • If the kick is blocked or partially blocked, kicker loses protection • Incidental contact is not a foul • It is not incidental if the contact is sufficient (displaces) and could have been avoided regardless of whether or not it was apparent a kick would be made • Kicker does not lose protection because of a bad snap • Player becomes a kicker once the ball is kicked and continues to be a kicker until he regains his balance and moves to participate in the play

30. Receiver Contacted • While any scrimmage kick is in flight beyond the neutral zone, the receiver must be given an unhindered opportunity to catch the kick. • Violation is a foul with a 15 yard penalty • 15 yards from the previous spot and replay the down • Awarded fair catch at the spot of the foul with no distance penalty • The right exists whether or not R signals for a fair catch • K may catch a scrimmage kick (or touch in flight) if no R players are in a position to catch it (i.e: in the vicinity) • Physical contact is not necessary for kick catching interference

31. First Touching • It is first touching if K touches the kick beyond the neutral zone expanded before R touches it or before it comes to rest • Ball remains alive • After first touching, R may still recover and advance without giving up the right of taking the ball at the spot of first touching • It IS NOT first touching if K touches a kick at rest • Ball is dead

32. Muff - Fumble • A kick begins when the ball is kicked and ends when the ball is possessed or declared dead • Touching by R in an attempt to block the kick is ignored • Muff = R touches a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone without gaining possession • R may recover and advance • K may recover but may not advance • K get new series • It is impossible to fumble a kick!!!!! • Fumble = Losing possession after gaining possession • Anyone may recover and anyone may advance

33. Discussion?

34. Some Tips for Working the Wings • If possible, rule a substitution infraction rather than illegal participation • Monitor the scoreboard and clock • Head Linesman, give the Referee a “5 will get you 1” signal • Less than 5 yards to go for first down • Check the tape on the chains • Line Judge, discreetly inform the Referee as to down and clock status as he faces you giving the signal for a foul • Know what constitutes in bounds and out of bounds • Landing out of bounds doesn’t necessarily mean the clock should stop • Forward Progress • Down ends in field of play • When time matters – runner is out of bounds if you aren’t sure • Give the juggle signal when appropriate • It is almost never necessary to give the “catch” signal • Rule of thumb for hit out of bounds • One foot out of bounds: marginal, probably a “talk-to” • Two feet out of bounds: Usually a foul unless contact is minimal or defense is trying to hold up or avoid contact • Intensity of the hit is a factor in your decision • On touchdown and short yardage play, pinch in toward the ball to sell the call • When Referee has flag for intentional grounding and you see an eligible in the area, let him know immediately • Coach getting close to a flag? Use the “Would you like to repeat that, coach?” technique • Be mentally prepared for the ball carrier’s last reach at the goal line • Stop the clock on close first down situations, don’t wait for the Referee • Learn the “crank and stop” technique for first downs near the sideline • Don’t drift off the line of scrimmage unless the play calls for it • Read your keys • On sweeps, let the play get slightly past you • Learn how to square off your corners • Use the room you have on the sideline • Back up instead of bailing out • Your spot isn’t going to move – keep your eyes on the players • On out of bounds plays, always turn to the pile rather than facing the field • Use your bean bag if you have to • Be prepared to give or receive an “across the field” spot from your other wing official • He sometimes has a better view • Run in your spot to about the hash mark • Further to sell it

35. Discussion

36. Stuff Happens!

41. Stuff Happens – Learn From It • Any odd plays, lessons learned, questions?