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5 Person Mechanics
Football
Umpire 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
• Carry 2 whistles
• Carry cleat gauge
• Have indicator for down and indicator for spot
on field
3
Pregame on Field
4
• Walk the field
• Check equipment, you have final say
• Inform coach if illegal or missing equipment
is determined
• Philosophy
–Have a job to do
–No fraternizing with coaches or fans
5
Pre-game on Field
• Talk to coaches
–Join R and listen to discussion with coach
–Get numbers of ineligibles on scrimmage kicks
–Determine who will be ball persons
–Instruct ball person on procedure for game
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Captains and Coin
Toss • Opposite press box sideline at 5 minutes
• March captains in at 3 minutes
• Introduce captain to referee
• Line up opposite R with back to clock
• Observe coin toss and record captains choices
• Huddle with all officials to discuss results
• Hustle to kickoff spot (don’t walk) 6
7
Before Kickoff
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
U Umpire
Position on 50 yard
line on press box
side
Count R Players
Ensure coaches,
players, substitutes
in proper location
Hold hand in air to
inform Referee you
are ready
8
After Kickoff
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
Umpire
Watch for free-kick
line infractions
Be Alert for first
touching by K prior
to R’s free-kick line
and bean bag if
necessary
Bean bag first
touching
U
9
After Kickoff
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
U Umpire
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
Help Back Judge with
goal line on long runs
At end of play, stop the
clock and clean up
On-Side Kick
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• Referee declares on-side
mechanics
• Line up at K’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
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
LJ U
11
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
R
U
After Ball Is Spotted Remain over ball until ready for
play
Note position of ball between
hashes with indicator
Verify down with Linesman
If defense is still in huddle, move
opposite their sideline to get into
position
B’s backfield, 4-7 yards behind
LOS
No wider than tackles but
preferably between the guards in
a position to see the snap of the
ball
Keys are both guards and center
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Prior to Snap (All Plays)
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
Umpire
Vary position to not block
view of B players or allow
A to use you as
interference
Count A Players
Check five players on line
numbered 50-79
Be ready to rule on snap
infractions, false starts,
encroachments,
disconcerting signals by
defense
Be aware of B players
lining up in free blocking
zone
13
Running Play
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
Read point of attack (POA)
Watch line play for illegal action
around ball carrier and in free
blocking zone
Move accordingly depending on
play working inside out
Be alert for fumbles beyond
neutral zone and help determine
who gains possession
Use your voice to command and
control players around the pile
After play, retrieve and spot ball
14
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
R
Observer blocking at
point of attack
Turn, if necessary, to
avoid action
Move up field with
play
Blow whistle if you
see the ball down
Clean up
Retrieve ball and
spot it
Running Play - Up the
middle
U
15
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
Running Play - To The
Side As ball moves out of free
blocking zone, move with
ball towards hash and
look for blocks at point of
attack
Move up field with play
Blow whistle if you see
the ball down
Clean up
Retrieve ball and spot it
U
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Passing Plays
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
Umpire Watch for Illegal contact in
free blocking zone
Move towards line-of-
scrimmage (LOS)
Observe action of players
in and just behind neutral
zone
Assist Referee in
determining if forward pass
released beyond neutral
zone, drop bean bag at
spot of pass
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Passing Plays
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
Watch for ineligible lineman
moving down field
Know if ball tipped at line-of-
scrimmage (if so – give tipped
signal)
Notify lineman that ball has
been released
Pivot after pass crosses neutral
zone (passes over middle) and
assist on determining catch or
no catch
Notify R of status of ball
(complete, incomplete,
interception)
Passing Plays
• After pass:
• Retrieve the ball, if short pass
• Get in line for relay
• If field is wet, discuss with R if you should stay
at the line to spot ball (you have the towel)
• Spot the ball
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Scrimmage Kick
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
Umpire
Position 4-7 yards
deep*, keeping ball
in view
Check numbering
exceptions
Count players
After snap, step
toward neutral zone
watching for
possible roughing of
snapper, then shift
to blocking action
U
20
Scrimmage Kick
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
Umpire
Assist Referee with
short or blocked
kicks
Once kick crosses
neutral zone, pivot
towards LJ side and
observe blocks
downfield and
players away from
ball
After the play, stop
the clock, get new
ball and spot it.
U
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Field Goal and Try Attempts
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
Position 4-7 yards deep
keeping ball in view
Check numbering exceptions
Count players
After snap, step toward neutral
zone watching for roughing the
snapper
After kick crosses neutral zone,
move in and let players know
kick is away
If fake, move toward R side of
field to help with blocks and
goal line
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G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
Goal-Line Plays (Inside
10 yards) Umpire
Same Coverage as
Running and Passing
Plays
Move to line of
scrimmage and help with
pass beyond line and
ineligibles downfield
If play ends near the
goal line and flanks don’t
have a spot, signal to R
if ball is in end zone by
tapping your chest. Do
not signal touchdown
LJ
H
BJ
R
23
Reverse Goal Line
Umpire Same Coverage as Running
and Passing Plays
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 R
U
H
LJ
BJ
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G
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After Safety
R
U
H
Line up same as
free kick but
move up 20
yards (normally
R40)
Same coverage
as kickoff
LJ
BJ
Penalty Enforcement Get the penalty information from the referee
Determine where enforcement spot is
Communicate with HL the distance to be
marched off
March off penalty with HL and agree on spot
Place the ball
Stay over ball until ready for play
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G 1 0 2 0 3 0
G 1 0 2 0 3 0
U
H
R
LJ BJ
Take stake from chain
crew
Wait for linesman to say
he is ready.
Stretch chain and set for
R to determine down
status
If short of 1st down and
outside hash, move to
the hash with R
Stay over ball until ready
for play
Measurement
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Timeouts
Stay over the ball
Record timeout information
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End of Period Between 1st and 2nd and between 3rd and 4th
• Stop Clock
• Record down and distance and yard line with R and
HL
• Move with R to new spot and set ball
• Stay over ball until ready for play
Counting Players
• Count offense every play
• Give signal for referee
• Signal should be given when offense breaks 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
• On pass plays, sometimes its better for the R
to move downfield to make the relay and let
the U spot the ball. (Especially when it is wet
and the U has the towel)
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Hurry Up Mechanics
• Stay over ball until R points to you
• Have a path to back out
• Move quickly to position.
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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
• Fumble spot
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Questions?