7-man TASO Kick Mechanics for Deep Wings, Umpire and Back Judge 2017 DFOA REGIONAL CLINIC NOTE: I will be using the TASO mechanics manual guidelines….these may differ from CCA

Free Kicks

Responsibilities Following a score Review any enforcement actions necessary before the kick as your basic position may change Proceed directly to your sideline and pre-kick position Advise coaches, players, and team personnel to return to the team box and clear the sideline

Basic Positioning and Keys B gives ball to kicker when R signals, then take position on press box 40 yard-line. F/S take positions on their 50 yard- lines, even when onside kick likely. Have bean bag ready. F/S initial keys are kicking team #2 and #3 from respective sideline. B/U initial keys are kicking team #4 and #5 from respective sideline). 2016 Edit B move in to numbers. F/S move downfield immediately after kick, observing your keys initially then action ahead of the runner. Go no further than 10-20 yards downfield Be alert for onside, short free kick, balls that immediately strike the ground, fair catch signals

Basic Positioning

Keys: free kick

Keys: free kick (2016 edit)

Movement after ball kicked

Responsibilities F/S clear sideline in your area. Count return team. Signal when ready to B, who signals R and hands ball to kicker on que from R. Help B/U confirm all Team A players have complied with the 9-yard mark rule. F/S observe return team restraining line Always be prepared for onside kick or short free kick. Be alert for illegal and legal touching, fair-catch signals, kick-catch interference. Wind clock on legal touching Watch for holding, clips, blocks below the waist, IBB

Responsibilities F/S take runner from L/H, have sideline all the way to goal-line Mark the out of bounds spot (with flag if appropriate) when kick, in flight or rolling, goes out of bounds. Determine if inbounds Team B player touched the ball inbounds and signal time out If kicked in your area, cover any muff or advance by any Team B player who catches or recovers Avoid inadvertent whistle after muffed fair catch signal ! Observe any player who is OOB before or during the kick. Throw hat if kick team player OOB If touchback occurs, move into the field to stop any late or illegal action, but do not ignore players behind you If ball is kicked OOB in your area, it’s either a flag, or you need to kill the clock and mark the sideline spot

Short Free Kick Keys ??

Responsibilities Onside or short kicks Observe touching of the ball by either team, noting when and where the ball was touched. Did ball go 10 yards? When did Team K make first block….or did Team R player shoot in? Observe action by the kicking team on your side, blocking and/or touching the ball prior to becoming eligible by rule. Good pre-game discussion on who has what responsibility on onside kicks Know whether the ball was kicked into the ground or air. How many times did it hit the ground? On a lot of obvious on-side kicks, a receiving team lineman will come rushing in to “take out” a few members of the kicking team. This is not illegal as long as it is not the kicker, but also no foul on Team K for early contact

Scrimmage Kicks Punts, Try (PAT), Field Goals

Punts

Basic Positioning and Keys BEFORE THE SNAP: Read offensive formation. Know your keys. F/S/B count defense F/S take a basic position on sideline on your side of the field 5-yards ahead of the deepest receiver (NOTE: some crews prefer “straight line” coverage with S/F/B) When the ball is snapped at or inside the 50-yard line, F/S take initial position at the goal line pylon, B at mid field goal- line Have beanbag in your hand on plays where Team A likely to punt The offense may not kick the ball from kick formation, you need to assume usual keys and responsibilities until a kick is made

Scrimmage Kicks F/S still have outside eligible receivers

Responsibilities F/S take a basic position on sideline on your side of the field on the same yard line as the BJ. When the ball is snapped at or inside the 50-yard line, take your initial position at the goal line pylon. Observe action on your key F/S assist the B with action in the area of the deepest receiver. Get a good view of the blockers and put yourself in position to get a good angle through the action Cover the play in front of receiver and advance onto field if necessary to cover action if play away from you Do not hesitate to call a foul if you see one occur in the area where you are the cleanup man, even though you may be a considerable distance from the action

Responsibilities If return is to your side, responsible for forward progress all the way to the A-2 yard line. Focus on lead blocks and POA Help when possible on action of player who signaled for fair catch and does not touch the ball. B is responsible for coverage of the football, ruling on the end of the kick, goal line, etc. If Team B calls for fair catch but signaling player does not catch it, B will have to keep an eye on the ball and adjacent action…so F/S need to help keep an eye on the player who made the signal

Responsibilities When it is likely kick will land in your immediate area: Stay focused on your key and any action against him. Move into position to rule on validity of catch or signal; ruling on interference with catch opportunity; following the ball if receiver fails to field a kick. Be in position to rule on legality of hand-offs or lateral passes on kick return . Observe the runner until he enters another official’s zone. F/S assist the B in marking end of kick when outside the numbers. On deep kicks, only official covering ball should mark end of kick. Cover rolling kicks that go out of bounds on your sideline Be alert for the R waving you in position to spot out of bounds kick in the air .

Try and Field Goals

Try and Field Goals

Responsibilities F/B take positions inside the limit line to look up the upright of the goal on their side of the field F/B should communicate eligible receivers on their side Rule on success or failure of field goal attempts: Both officials will signal when a kick is successful (yes-yes) When the ball is wide of an upright, only the official on that side will signal the kick unsuccessful B has crossbar responsibility. Both officials may signal if no good I like just planting myself directly under the upright before the play begins. You don’t gain anything by moving 1-2 steps forward at the kick, and always better to be “still” when observing action. F/B should communicate which receivers are eligible in case the play breaks down (“fire”); there may have been numbering exceptions

Responsibilities When the field goal or try attempt narrowly passes outside an upright, the official nearer the ball may give a sweeping motion with both arms away from the upright Be alert for failed or fake field goal attempts. Be ready to cover passes, runs and even the goal-line when the ball is snapped outside the 20 yard-line Sideline and end line responsibilities Be alert for illegal touching or batting, ball striking an upright or crossbar

Responsibilities S takes a position approximately five yards beyond the neutral zone opposite the U (double umpire) and will be responsible for assisting the U with action by linemen on his side of the snapper Be aware of “pull and shoot” action by Team B