Turnin it up a notch

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Turnin it up a notch

• By Einar Bolstad
• NoAFF
• NFLE LJ 150

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• This presentation deals with some things that,
  in my mind, separates the good officials from the
  even better officials.
• This is based on my own game experience, things
  I see when I review officials for EFAF and things
  told to me by officials and instructors at
  different levels.
• So, in no particular order, here are a few
  things that I hope you already do, or will start
  doing.

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• Assist in penalty enforcement
• Too many times the crew leaves this completely
  to the
• Referee, which is not correct. While the entire
  crew would probably not be downgraded for an
  enforcement mistake, it is a crew responsibility.
  The calling official should briefly discuss
  penalty enforcement with the Referee, with the
  Umpire listening in, and he will make sure the
  penalty is correctly enforced. The Linesman will
  move together with the Umpire when he enforces
  the penalty, and the Line Judge will remain at
  the enforcement spot until the Umpire has
  measured it off, and will then double check the
  distance. This should ensure correct enforcement
  of all penalties.

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• Back out to your position
• Get into the habit of never turning your back on
  the ball/players prior to the snap whenever
  possible.

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• Always officiate the play to its full conclusion,
  including dead ball action, before geting a ball.
• Stuff happens after the ball is dead. Make sure
  those players in your area of responsibility are
  not candidates for fouling before getting a ball.
  Officiating is your primary job, ball handling is
  always secondary.

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• Keep players in view after ruling on a score
• Too many times you see officials thinking they
  have to freeze in a TD signalling pose and look
  straight into thin air when ruling a TD. Your job
  is still to officiate, just like any other dead
  ball or out of bounds situation. Turn your head
  to follow the players in the end zone or outside
  it. If necessary, turn your entire body, as on
  any other out of bounds play. Your signal will be
  visible no matter which way you turn. Same thing
  applies on incomplete passes and similar
  situations.

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• Wing officials, try to stay parallel to the
  sideline as much as possible (side step)
• Its always best to face the play with your
  shoulders parallel to the action. That gives you
  the best peripheral view and gives you a better
  chance of seeing the whole play and action around
  it. A nice side step motion also makes it easy to
  transition to a nice and accurate square off when
  taking the spot. However, if the play is getting
  away from you, do turn to not get too far behind.
  If possible, try to get back to a side step the
  last couple of steps.

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• Be aware of when to use signals to sell the call,
  and when its not necessary
• Your signals must be clear and crisp. On tight
  calls, you should use your body language and
  signals to sell the call. To be able to sell the
  call on tight plays you must save your big
  signals until you actually need them. On normal
  incomplete passes, 1 or 2 signals is enough and
  should be given in a calm unhurried manner,
  preferably while standing still. This makes you
  look calm and in control. Overselling obvious
  calls puts you in the same position as the boy
  who cried wolf. Add extra signals when necessary,
  such as a catch signal, tap the ground, sweep
  arms out of bounds etc.

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• Recognize post play situations when tempers may
  flare and nip it in the bud
• After a big play, a hard hit or similar, players
  sometimes tend to get in each others face. You
  need to be aware of situations when tempers may
  flare and move to a position where they can see
  you, getting between them if necessary, thereby
  detering them from fouling. Another prime example
  of when you should show your stripes is when a WR
  and DB jog back towards the LOS after an
  incomplete pass. Many times, the DB will try to
  get into the WRs head, sometimes even taunting
  him. Deep officials should get between them and
  jog back with them for a while, until they split
  up.

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• Use cross field mechanics if working on a
  sideline
• Using cross field mechanics is the mark of an
  experienced official. On some plays involving a
  catch and progress, often close to a sideline, it
  can be difficult for that official to get a good
  spot. The official on the other side can have a
  flatter angle and can be able to more accurately
  judge the receivers progress. The backside
  official should take progress and show the
  playside official that he has a spot by moving
  clearly into the field, up to the hash if
  necessary. Playside official must recognize
  potential cross field situations and be ready to
  look for it. Nevertheless, he must be prepared to
  take a spot of his own.

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• Know the number(s) of your key(s), and preferably
  the player facing him
• This makes it easier to clarify post play
  questions regarding formations, such as who was
  eligible on a SKF play. Remembering players
  number can make it easier to get the number in
  case he fouls. You must also always know if your
  key can legally block low and in or not, and be
  able to tell other officials about this after the
  play.

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• Wing officials should program the distance to
  the LTG before the snap
• This aids you in stopping the clock when it
  should and the mental preparedness might also
  help in spotting the ball. Remember, in our
  mechanics, the LTG should be treated as the goal
  line mechanically for the wings on 3rd and short
  (and 4th and short when going for it). To be able
  to move to the line while watching the action
  means that you must know where it is before the
  snap.

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• U should keep R informed of the result on long
  plays
• The R may not, and often should not, know what
  the result of a long play was, completion, score,
  interception and so on. The Umpire can help him
  out and keep him informed.

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• Take pride in getting the clock right on close
  sideline plays
• The clock is very important. As a wing or deep
  wing, you will have many plays that involve the
  sideline. You must get the clock status correct
  on these plays. If the ball is dead close to the
  sideline (and clock should continue to run),
  about 3 yards or less, give the wind signal.

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• Wing officials must help R with clock status on
  first down plays ending near the sideline
• The R will often not know if the runner went out
  of bounds on a play resulting in a first down
  close (in or out) to a sideline. The covering
  official must communicate this to the R. He
  should, without R asking for it, use
  supplementary signals to inform him if the clock
  is to be started on the snap (OOB) or on the RFP
  (inbounds). He can also help signal this by
  spotting the ball clearly out of bounds or
  inbounds.

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• Do not rush calls where other officials angles
  can be important
• Often, especially on a larger crew, most plays
  will be covered by officials from several angles.
  If unsure, do not rule on the play until you have
  checked with other officials if they have a
  better angle. Eye contact is often sufficient, so
  this may take no more than a second, but can save
  the crew from an embarrassing situation or even
  an incorrect ruling.

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• Clean up behind the play
• Officials finding themselves on the backside of
  a play or trailing far behind can not relax.
  Instead, they must pick up blocks and hits behind
  the play. On a run away from the wing official,
  he could be in the best position to see for
  example a clip against a pursuing defender. He
  could also pick up a hit against the QB fading
  away after a hand-off. On long plays, R will have
  clean up. On a long return, BJ would get the same
  job, after the play has moved away from him
  sufficiently.

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• Indicate direction after change of possession
• After COP in your area, you must, after you
  stopped the clock, signal direction. Be sure not
  to make a premature or incorrect signal but you
  must let everyone know what happened. You are
  also responsible to make sure the Referee gets
  informed as he often will not know what the
  result of the play was.

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• And some bigger things...

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• Use reverse mechanics properly
• When there is a change of possession, L/LJ
  switches mechanics with FJ/SJ and preferably,
  they'll keep the normal cushion. In order for a
  reverse mechanic situation to be officiated
  properly, it's important that this is done
  correctly. If not, blocks ahead of the play and
  the goal line will not be handled correctly.

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• HL/SJ and LJ/FJ (and BJ) keep their cushion
• To ensure that all plays are boxed in and that
  the goal line is covered, the deep officials must
  keep their distance, approx. 20 yards (BJ 25
  yards), during the play. The first step of a
  FJ/SJ/BJ should be backwards, until you get a
  good read of the play. If it's a running play,
  slow down and read how it develops. Sometimes
  it's best to freeze during a run, but be sure you
  read it properly. If it's a pass play, keep
  moving ahead of the play. If you are standing
  still while the ball is in the air, except if you
  are on the GL/EL, it might be to late to get in
  position.

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• Keep your head up and get a wide angle view if
  possible after the play
• Too often, late hits, especially players hitting
  opponents around the pile, are missed because the
  official spotting, and other officials, are too
  focused on the spot and the players in the pile.
  Yes, the runner must be protected from late hits,
  but don't forget the other players around the
  pile. Most of these hits that we miss are made by
  the offense.

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• Keep your sideline clear
• You are in charge of your sideline and you must
  keep it clear. This is necessary to give yourself
  the space you need to officiate the play without
  running the risk of running into someone and miss
  something, or even getting injured. This is also
  a safety rule that protects all participants from
  injury. Dont throw a flag if they move back when
  asked before the play, but dont be afraid to use
  a Sideline Warning either. Running into someone
  in the 6 foot area during the play should result
  in an immediate flag.