1. Contra Costa Football Officials Association
New Officials Training
Session No. 2
Basic Definitions /
The Anatomy of a Play /
Working with the Chains

2. Today’s Agenda Session 1 Quiz, Discussion and Review
Basic Definitions for the New Official (Rule 2) Fundamentals – The Scrimmage Formation Pre-Snap (Rule 7-1 and 7-2)
Working with the Chains etc
Line Up, Encroachment, False Start, Motion/Shifts
Rules, Mechanics, Keys, Signals
What down is it? First Downs
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

3. Session 1 Quiz Discussion and Review
Pregame Duties Video
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

4. BASIC DEFINITIONS Rule 2
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

5. Basic Definitions Neutral Zone, Line of Scrimmage Dead Ball, Live Ball
Catch, Recovery, Touching
Fumble, Muff
Scrimmage Kick, Free Kick
Passing, Handing, Batting
Player Possession, Team Possession
Ready for Play
Rules, Mechanics, Keys, Signals
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

6. Neutral Zone , Lines of Scrimmage
10 yard separation between R and K on free kick
“Width of the ball” and across the field during a scrimmage down
Lines of Scrimmage (2-25)
Vertical planes on either side of the neutral zone during a scrimmage down
You are “on the line” essentially if you are within one yard of the line of scrimmage
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

7. Dead Ball, Live Ball Dead Ball (2-1-1) Live ball (2-1-2)
A ball not in play; essentially the interval between downs
Seldom does the official’s whistle kill the ball – it is already dead by rule when the whistle blows
No live ball foul causes the ball to become dead
Live ball (2-1-2)
A ball that is in play
Becomes live when it is legally snapped
Becomes live moment it is legally kicked on a kickoff
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

8. Catch, Recovery, Touching
Gaining possession of a live ball in flight and
First contacting the ground in bounds while maintaining possession of the ball
Recovery (2-36)
Gaining possession of a live ball after it strikes the ground and
Touching (2-44)
Any contact with a live ball
Either touching it or being touched by it
Touching always precedes possession
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

9. Fumble, Muff Fumble (2-18) Muff (2-27)
Loss of Player Possession other than by handing, passing or a legal kick
Muff (2-27)
Touching of a loose ball in an unsuccessful attempt to secure possession
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

10. Scrimmage Kick, Free Kick
Legal Kick from in or behind the neutral zone
Can be place kick, punt or drop kick
Free Kick (2-24-3)
A “Kickoff” putting ball in play:
To start the half
After a score (TD, FG, Safety)
After a fair catch (don’t worry about that)
Must be a place kick or drop kick (for kickoff after a safety may be a punt)
“A kick is a kick” until a player secures possession (catch or recovery)
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

11. Passing, Handing, Batting
Throwing a ball
The ball must travel in flight
Forward vs. Backward Passes
Handing (2-19)
Transferring possession to a teammate without ball traveling in flight
Forward vs. Backward handing
Batting (2-2)
Intentionally slapping or striking the ball with the arm or hand
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

12. Player vs. Team Possession
Player Possession (2-34-1)
A live ball held or controlled by a player
Player in possession of the ball is the “Runner”
Team Possession (2-34-2)
Ball in player possession
One that is loose following loss of player possession
A live ball is always in possession of one of the teams
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

13. Ready for Play (2-35)
Occurs when the Referee signals (chop / whistle) that the ball may now be put in play
Start of the 25 second count
Start of various restrictions on position and movement of the players
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

14. FIELD WORK Pre-snap signaling Working with Chains July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

15. ON FIELD WORK Chain Crew Accident Another Chain Crew Accident
Chain Gang Video 1
Pre-snap signaling
Chain practice
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

16. Fundamentals The Scrimmage Formation – Pre-Snap Rule 7-1 & 7-2
Encroachment
False Start
Getting Set, Shifts & Motion

17. The Fundamentals of the Scrimmage Formation; Pre-Snap
Everyone
Verify Correct Down
Hand up until Ready for Play showing down
Move to other finger at RFP
Umpire Count Defense
Every Down & Signal to Referee
If 11 - Fist
If 10 – spread fingers; hands on chest
If 12 – count again; then penalty
Flanks
Position yourself outside the sideline
Mark Offensive Scrimmage Line “my foot is the line”
Widest Receiver – On or Off? / Signal to other flank
If both off; count backfield – no more than 4
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

18. Encroachment Rule Mechanic Key = Snapper to your sideline Off & Def
After RFP no A or B player may be in neutral zone
Immediate foul no “getting back”
Youth and early in season – Use some judgment
Mechanic
Throw flag, blow whistle, signal timeout, come down line to report to Referee
Primarily Flanks’ call; U has wrong perspective
Key = Snapper to your sideline Off & Def
Signal & Subtleties
Throw flag up and slightly towards side of line of team that fouled
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

19. False Start Rule Mechanic Keys Signal & Subtleties Applies only to A
After a player Is set he can make no motion simulating a snap
A “down lineman” once down is “locked down”
Mechanic
Throw flag, blow whistle, signal time out, come down line to report to Referee
Keys
Flanks (snapper to sideline, wideouts)
U (Interior line, primarily snapper to opposite tackle)
Signal & Subtleties
Flank - Throw flag up and slightly towards A side of line
Umpire – Toss flag underhand to feet of player who fouled
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

20. Is it Encroachment or a False Start?
Come in to center to discuss with crew
Must establish which happened first – that is what it is
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

21. Getting Set, Shift, Motion
Rule:
After RFP and after each shift at some point prior to the snap all A players must be simultaneously motionless for 1 second
Shift = two players moving at same time
At snap only one player can be in motion and that motion must not be forward
Mechanic
NOT a foul until the snap
Key
R, HL, LJ all can call illegal shift
Illegal motion – HL, LJ take motion away from them
NOT the umpire’s call
Subtlety
Throw flag up, let play go and continue to officiate
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

22. First Downs & Measurements
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

23. Mechanics for First Down
Line Judge:
Signal Time out (Twice)
Point downfield “hand on chest” to indicate 1st down gained
Shout “Close” if it is too close to call and Referee will come up to line and make decision
Referee will:
Decide to measure or not
Give first down signal
Head Linesman
Only after Referee signals should chains be moved
Mark spot of back chain with foot – back stake is at front tip of the ball
Have clip attached to “the back of the closest line”
Chains to be set 6 feet off sidelines
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

24. Measurements Four Person Crew – Head Linesman
Pre-Measurement
Down marker to front stake – show “old” down
Grasp chain and clip
Escort crew onto the field
The Measurement
Place clip where indicated by LJ
Hold firmly and say “ready”
Post-Measurement
If NOT a first down
Holding clip and chain escort crew to sideline and reset
Move box to correct spot and show correct down
If a first down
You can release clip and chain and move to sideline to reset chain as any first down
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

25. Measurements Four Person Crew – Line Judge
Pre-Measurement
Set bean bag at appropriate marked line directly up field from ball
The Measurement
Observe players – everyone else is focused on measurement
Post-Measurement
Double check HL positioning of chains
Double check down
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play

26. Measurements Four Person Crew – Umpire
Pre-Measurement
Set bean bag at front tip of ball
Hold ball steady
The Measurement
Take front stake and when HL says “ready” slowly stretch chain so that it is along ball
Allow Referee a clear sight path to make call
Hand Stake back to chain crew member
Post-Measurement
Double check HL positioning of chains
Double check down
July 9, 2011
Anatomy of a Play