Flathead Valley Football Officials

2017 NFHS Football Mechanics Examination

1. Discretion, officiating position and game situation should determine whether the penalty marker is dropped or tossed following an infraction.

2. The penalty marker shall not be used to mark the appropriate yard line on which a game official has observed an infraction.

3. For all game officials, the bean bag is to serve as an aid to enforcement and is not an absolute reference point.

4. After a score or try, prior to the free kick, all game officials need to encourage both teams to take free-kick positions quickly.

5. After a score or try, prior to the free kick, the referee does need to check with the line-to-gain crew for questions and positions.

6. After a score or try, prior to the free kick, the line judge, while at the 9-yard marks, counts K players and identifies the free-kick line for the receiving team.

7. The line judge is the game official who will indicate the end of the fourth period.

8. In controlling team-personnel altercations, the head linesman and the line judge should alert the coach on their side to keep all team personnel off of the playing area.

9. If a team-personnel altercation is in a game official’s area, he/she should attempt to stop initial confrontation.

10. Only the referee must consistently administer and enforce team-box and coaches’ area restrictions.

11. The referee is the only game official who is to notify the opposing coach of a disqualification.

12. The line judge or head linesman should notify the coach on his/her side as to the reason for disqualification.

13. It is mandatory that any coach receiving two unsportsmanlike fouls carrying 15-yard penalties vacate the stadium area.

14. The game official - escorting the team with the second-half choice - obtains from that team's head coach its second-half choice and communicates same to the referee.

15. The back judge and line judge should bring an approved game ball from each team to the coin toss.

16. The referee is to give a visible count of the last five seconds when on-field 25-send clocks are not utilized.

17. At the conclusion of the coin-toss procedures and after the captains have been dismissed, only the umpire and linesman move together for final instructions from the referee.

18. In the presence of the umpire, the referee shall instruct the visiting captain to give “heads” or “tails” choice before the coin toss.

19. The referee’s use of a field microphone adds another dimension to communication – a positive dimension when used properly.

20. When using a field microphone, the referee may not announce the number of the player who committed the foul.

21. The head linesman should take care of the game ball after approval by the referee.

22. The umpire shall coordinate the inspection of playing field and pylons.

23. The referee notifies all other game officials when period-shortening procedures are in effect.

24. The clock operator(s) should report to the game officials at the stadium at least 30 minutes before game time.

25. Game officials should arrive at the site of the game at least 60 minutes before the scheduled game time.

26. The head linesman should check the line-to-gain equipment and meet the crew before the game.

27. In the pregame conference, the umpire should review starting time and be sure an auxiliary stopwatch, which records accumulated time, is available.

28. Before the game, the umpire should accompany the referee as he/she visits with each head coach, and examine and rule on any player equipment about which the coach has a question of legality.

29. Football game officials must have a football sense which supersedes the technical application of the rules so that the game goes smoothly.

30. The head linesman shall furnish a clipping device for use in measuring first downs. Use of a second clip is recommended.

31. The penalty marker shall be a light gold flag (30 inches x 30 inches) with a middle pouch weighted with sand or beans, etc.

32. The game officials’ appearance greatly affects the attitude of coaches, players and fans.

33. Both arms crossed in front of the chest is the recommended crew communication signal for game officials to indicate 11 players in game when counting is complete.

34. All game officials need to establish and maintain the same tempo throughout the game.

35. While serving on the line-to-gain crew, the crew should refrain from using items that would distract them from their responsibilities (i.e., electronic devices).

36. All game officials shall enter the field together at least 15 minutes before game time or at an earlier time if required by the state association.

37. The game official must draw distinction between contact necessary to make a legal block or tackle, and that which targets defenseless players.

38. Game officials who are familiar with the mechanics and understand their individual duties find the intangible requirements of good officiating usually follow naturally.

39. Use of any replay or television monitoring equipment in making any decision related to the game is prohibited.

40. The umpire, on a kickoff, if a short kick is anticipated, should be positioned on R’s free-kick line.

41. The referee, on a kickoff, before the kick, holds arm above his/her head to indicate he/she is ready.

42. The umpire, on a kickoff, on a kick to his/her side, signals clock to start when the kick is touched, only if the ball is even or up field from the umpire.

43. Before the kick on the kickoff, the umpire should count R players.

44. The head linesman, on a kickoff, before the kick, should monitor bench area.

45. The head linesman, on a kickoff, should maintain position-enabling coverage of the middle of the field

46. The head linesman, on a kickoff, on a kick to the opposite side of the field, should observe action of other players in vicinity of kicker.

47. The head linesman should move cautiously with play along the sideline on a kick to the opposite side of field on a kickoff.

48. The line judge, on a kickoff, should watch for any infractions involving K’s free-kick line.

49. The line judge, on a kickoff, if a short kick is anticipated, should observe legality of blocks and action away from the ball.

50. After a kick on a kickoff, the line judge should be alert for first touching by K, and should mark spot with bean bag.

51. After a kick on a kickoff, the line judge should be in position to take over coverage of runner in his/her area on long return.

52. Before a kick on a kickoff, the back judge should take charge of the ball.

53. The back judge, on a kickoff, should count R players.

54. The back judge, on a kickoff, should be in position to take over coverage of the runner in his area on a long return.

55. Before the kick on the kickoff, if the ball falls or blows off the tee, the back judge should not sound whistle to prevent action.

56. Only the head linesman shall assist the referee with halftime intermission responsibilities.

57. All game officials should leave the field together between halves.

58. The umpire should signal time to start clock to time intermission.

59. The back judge should secure the game ball, hand it to the kicker, and instruct him/her to wait for referee’s signal before he/she kicks.

60. The referee determines which team has choice for second half.

61. All game officials should return to the field at least five minutes before the second half is to begin.

62. Between halves, all game officials should discuss the overtime procedure, if applicable.

63. Between periods, the head linesman quickly takes the ball to a corresponding point on the other half of field and reverses directions.

64. Between periods, the line judge will check number of down and distance to gain.

65. If play is in progress and time expires for the period, the horn should not be sounded.

66. On a scrimmage kick out of bounds in flight, the referee lines up the covering official at the spot where the ball crossed the sideline by using an outstretched arm.

67. During an injury time-out, the referee will summon appropriate health-care professional(s) and/or coaches onto the field.

68. During an injury time-out, the head linesman makes sure summoned appropriate health-care professional(s) and/or coaches are not on the field for coaching purposes.

69. The umpire will attempt to keep players a significant distance away from the seriously injured player(s) during an injury time-out.

70. When time expires and ball becomes dead at the end of the period, the referee will sound whistle and repeat time-out signal twice.

71. If the field clock is used and if time expires prior to the snap, the referee will sound his/her whistle to prevent snap, if possible.

72. When the field clock is not used, the line judge will notify the referee approximately four minutes before the end of the second and fourth periods.

73. If the ball is snapped immediately after time has expired at the end of the period, the head linesman will sound his/her whistle loud and long.

74. During a time-out, the umpire will observe Team A until the referee is ready to start play.

75. All game officials, during a time-out, should confirm number of remaining time-outs.

76. The line judge, during a time-out, should time 60-second interval and notify referee at 45 seconds and again when 60-second interval expires.

77. During a time-out, the umpire should maintain position over ball.

78. The head linesman, during a time-out, should check number of time-outs remaining for each team.

79. During a time-out, the referee will inform each team’s huddle of down and time remaining in period.

80. When measuring for a first down, the back judge will place foot just behind yard line where clip is to be placed to align linesman so that chains are parallel to sidelines.

81. The referee, when measuring for a first down, will rotate the ball so the long axis is parallel to sideline.

82. When measuring for a first down, the umpire will take the forward indicator from crew members at place of measurement.

83. The head linesman will mark foremost point of ball for down-marker operator on all first downs.

84. When measuring for a first down, the referee will spot the ball at the proper place when measurement is completed.

85. In administering penalties, the line judge will make note of enforcement spot for penalty.

86. Only the back judge, in administering penalties, will record unsportsmanlike penalties.

87. The umpire will assist in relaying foul information to appropriate sideline.

88. The head linesman should be ready to have line-to-gain equipment moved after penalty administration.

89. When there is a double foul, the referee will signal each foul, facing the press box.

90. After a safety, try or field goal, the back judge will begin timing one-minute interval after the head
linesman signals score or no score.

91. All game officials should hustle up sidelines to free-kick position and then fill out game cards after a safety, try or field goal.

92. The referee, on a running play, should move behind play toward side of field to which play advances to cover runner if he/she is downed near line.

93. On a running play, the umpire should check for disconcerting signals by B.

94. The referee, on a running play, should assist with relay of ball in side zone from wing official to umpire.

95. In an unbalanced formation, the strength of the formation is not determined by the number of eligible receivers outside of the offensive tackles.

96. If motion occurs, the strength of the formation is not determined until the snap.

97. The head linesman and umpire should be ready to adjust coverage if potential passer decides to run.

98. The line-to-gain indicator shall be set to establish a 10-yard neutral zone before a field-goal attempt by free kick, after a fair catch or awarded fair catch.

99. When the offensive formation shows trips to one side (three receivers), the back judge has the two outside receivers.

100. The umpire should verbally alert defenders when passer has released the ball.