Reading and Understanding Keys

1
Reading and Understanding Keys

• Bux-Mont Chapter
• PIAA Football Officials District One

2
Determining Strength
0
4
4
0

• In recognizing the strength of the formation
  (strong vs. weak side), officials must pay
  attention to the offensive team.
• Strength has nothing to do with the number of
  offensive lineman on each side of the center or
  the wide side of the field (unless you are still
  playing the game).
• To determine the strength of the formation, take
  note which side of the formation has more
  eligible receivers outside the tackle.
• If players are stacked, the player nearest the
  LOS is considered to be the widest.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
3
Determining Strength
0
4
4
0

• The back judge has priority followed by the wing
  men.
• Wing officials should never key the same player
  as the back judge.
• Be alert for motion as this can change the
  strength and keys.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
4
Formations
0
4
4
0

• Unbalanced
• Back judge keys on the widest receiver on the
  strong side of the field.
• Wing official on the strong side keys on the
  inside player of the formation, normally a
  flanker or wing back.
• Wing official on the weak side will key on the
  end nearest his side, normally a wideout.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
5
Formations
0
4
4
0

• Balanced
• Strength is always considered to be to the line
  judge side of the field.
• Back judge keys on the widest receiver on the
  strong side of the field (line judge side).
• The wing officials key on receivers other than
  the back judges key and any backs who move
  toward them at the snap.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
6
Formations
0
4
4
0

• Trips
• The back judge keys on the two widest receivers.
• Strong side wing official keys on the inside-most
  receiver.
• Weak side wing official keys on the end nearest
  him.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
7
Formations
0
4
4
0

• Double Wing
• Strength is always considered to be to the line
  judge side of the field.
• Back judge keys on the widest receiver on the
  strong side of the field (line judge side).
• Line judge keys on inside receiver.
• The linesman has both receivers on his side.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
8
Formations
0
4
4
0

• Wishbone
• Strength is always considered to be to the line
  judge side of the field.
• Back judge keys on the widest receiver on the
  strong side of the field (line judge side).
• Line judge keys the backs.
• Linesman keys the end on his side.

0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
9
HL Pro Set
Strength to HL Side
0
4
4
0
0
3
3
0
TE
WR
2
1
WR
1
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
10
HL - I Formation
Strength to HL Side
4
0
0
4
3
0
3
0
TE
WR
1
1
FL
2
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
11
LJ Pro Set
Strength to LJ Side
4
0
0
4
3
0
3
0
WR
TE
1
2
TE
1
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
12
LJ - I Formation
Strength to LJ Side
4
0
0
4
3
0
3
0
TE
WR
2
1
FL
1
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
13
Strength to Head Linesman side of the field
0
4
4
0
0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
14
Pro Set - Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to HL Side
0
4
4
0
U
0
3
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
15
I Formation - Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to HL Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
FL
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
16
2 Tight Ends - Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to HL Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
TE
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
17
Trips
BJ
Strength to HL Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
FL
FL
HB
2
0
0
2
R
18
Strength to Line Judge side of the field
0
4
4
0
0
3
3
0
2
0
0
2
19
Single Back - Balanced
Balanced Formation, Strength to LJ side
BJ
0
4
4
0
U
0
3
3
0
HL
LJ
WR
WR
FL
FL
HB
2
0
0
2
R
20
Pro Set - Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to LJ Side
0
4
4
0
U
0
3
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
21
I Formation - Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to LJ Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
FL
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
22
2 Tight Ends Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to LJ Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
TE
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
23
Wing T - Balanced
Balanced Formation, Strength to LJ side
BJ
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
TE
WB
WB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
24
Trips
BJ
Strength to LJ Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
FL
FL
HB
2
0
0
2
R
25
One back - Balanced
Balanced Formation, Strength to LJ side
BJ
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
FL
FL
HB
2
0
0
2
R
26
Wish Bone - Balanced
BJ
Balanced Formation, Strength to LJ side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
TE
FB
HB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
27
Veer - Unbalanced
BJ
Strength to LJ Side
4
0
0
4
U
3
0
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
TE
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
28
Motion Change of Strength
BJ
Strength to LJ Side
0
4
4
0
U
0
3
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
29
Motion Change of Strength
BJ
BJ
0
4
4
0
U
0
3
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R
30
Motion Change of Strength
BJ
Strength to HL Side
0
4
4
0
U
0
3
3
0
HL
LJ
TE
WR
WR
FB
HB
2
0
0
2
R