32 65 IDENTIFYING KEYS R L LJ U BJ READS 22 42 12 83 78 55 68 63 89 LARRY THOMAS, MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION, INC. R 32 22 42 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ READING INELIGIBLES TO DETERMINE RUN OR PASS If Tackle fires off Line of Scrimmage (LOS) and contacts defender in or beyond neutral zone, officials should be alert for a RUNNING PLAY. If Tackle sets-up to pass protect, READ PASS. REFEREE: read opposite tackle when ball is snapped. LINESMAN & LINEJUDGE: Read tackle or first ineligible to your side. BACK JUDGE: Read tackle on strong side. UMPIRE: Read center and Guards. U READING INELIGIBLES TO DETERMINE RUN OR PASS If Tackle fires off Line of Scrimmage (LOS) and contacts defender in or beyond neutral zone, officials should be alert for a RUNNING PLAY. If Tackle sets-up to pass protect, READ PASS. REFEREE: read opposite tackle when ball is snapped. LINESMAN\LINEJUDGE: Read tackle or first ineligible to your side. BACK JUDGE: Read tackle on strong side. UMPIRE: Read center and Guards. Sequence 1. Determine strong side. 2. Locate KEYS 3. At snap, read tackle. 4. Pick up keys to determine initial blocks by and against them. 5. Determine Point of Attack and officiate area to this point. 6. Pass - After advancing 5 to 7 yards downfield covering keys, use Zone Coverage Dead Ball Coverage 1. Determine LOS 5. Observe for encroachment\offside 2. Signal next down, know line to gain 6. Be alert for motion 3. Count players 7. Rule on legal snap 4. Determine strength of formation and eligible receivers BJ READS

Keys Keys are intended to help determine MAN coverage at the initial snap. Definitions Strength of Formation: determined by number of eligible receivers outside tackle. Tight End: End man no more than 4 yards from nearest lineman. Back in Backfield: Player in backfield between the tackles at snap. Trips: Three or more receivers outside tackle.

FIVE MAN MECHANICS - BJ BACK JUDGE HAS FIRST KEY BASED ON STRENGTH AND NUMBER OF RECEIVERS USUALLY THE END ON THE STRONG SIDE. TRIPS: IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO OUTSIDE RECEIVERS BALANCED FORMATION - DECLARE STRENGTH TO LINE JUDGE’S SIDE FIVE MAN COVERAGE: FIVE MAN COVERAGE REQUIRES MORE COORDINATION. THE BACK JUDGE DETERMINES PRIORTY OF KEYS BY HAVING THE FIRST KEY. HIS ASSIGNMENT IS BASED ON THE STRENGTH OF THE FORMATION AND THE NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE RECEIVERS. WHEN THERE ARE TRIPS ON ONE SIDE, THE BACK JUDGE WILL WORK THE TWO OUTSIDE RECEIVERS. IF THE FORMATION IS BALANCED (SAME NUMBER OF RECEIVERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FORMATION), THE STRENGTH IS DECLARED TO THE LINE JUDGE’S SIDE.

FIVE MAN MECHANICS L & LJ LINESMAN AND LINE JUDGE HAVE SECOND KEY DO NOT KEY OFF THE SAME PLAYER AS BACK JUDGE STRONG SIDE - KEY STRONG SIDE BACK WEAK SIDE - KEY OFF RECEIVER(S) TO YOUR SIDE TRIPS: INSIDE ELIGIBLE RECEIVER BALANCED FORMATION - DECLARE STRENGTH TO LINE JUDGE’S SIDE PAGE 54

Linesman and Line Judge PRIMARY( ) & SECONDARY KEYS ( ) OR READ 32 22 42 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U Keys Keys are intended to help determine coverage at the initial snap. Definitions Strength of Formation: Determined by number of eligible receivers outside tackle. Tight End: End man no more than 4 yards from nearest lineman. Back in Backfield: Player in backfield between the tackles at snap. Trips: Three or more receivers outside tackle to one side. Back Judge Has first key Based on strength and number of receivers. Usually the End on the Strong Side. Trips: Is responsible for two outside receivers. Balanced Formation: Declare strength to Line Judge’s side. Linesman and Line Judge Has second key Do not key off the same player as Back Judge. Strong Side: Key strong side back Weak Side: Key off receiver(s) to your side Trips: Inside eligible receivers Balanced Formation: Declare strength to Line Judge’s side. Page 51 R, L, LJ, BJ: Read tackle at snap (run or pass); Umpire: Read guards and center at snap BJ PRIMARY( ) & SECONDARY KEYS ( ) OR READ

STRENGTH - L ; PRIMARY & SECONDARY KEYS 32 22 12 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ STRENGTH - L ; PRIMARY & SECONDARY KEYS

PRIMARY & SECONDARY KEYS 32 22 12 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ PRIMARY & SECONDARY KEYS

R 22 32 12 87 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ STRENGTH - LJ

R 22 32 81 12 87 78 65 55 68 63 83 L LJ U BJ STRENGTH (LJ)

R 22 87 32 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U BJ TRIPS

R 22 12 32 87 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U BJ TRIPS

R 32 22 87 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U BJ BALANCED

BALANCED (LJ) - QB SPRINTS TO L - BJ OBSERVE 83 87 32 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U Strength is to Line Judge’s side. Back Judge’s key is SE (88) Line Judge’s key is back (32) Linesman’s key is end (83) and back (87) If QB roll to Lineman’s side, back Judge should pick up end (83) BJ BALANCED (LJ) - QB SPRINTS TO L - BJ OBSERVE 83

MOTION CHANGES STRENGTH 32 22 12 22 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U Motion to Line Judge’s side creates a balanced formation once motion back is outside the tackle. Next slide The strength changes from linesman side to the Line Judge’s side. Back Judge: Switch to tight end on Line Judge’s side. BJ MOTION CHANGES STRENGTH

MOTION - STRENGTH SWITCHES TO LJ 32 12 22 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U Back Judge: Switch to Tight End (89) Linesman: Keys Tight End (83) as well as Flanker (82). Picks up motion back (22) prior to snap to rule on illegal motion. Line Judge: Keys Back (22) after snap. BJ MOTION - STRENGTH SWITCHES TO LJ

MOTION - LINESMAN REMAIN STRONG SIDE 32 22 12 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U Motion: Strength remains to HL’s side. LJ will also observe 22 for illegal motion at snap. BJ MOTION - LINESMAN REMAIN STRONG SIDE

MOTION CREATES TRIPS TO LINESMAN’S SIDE 32 22 12 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U Motion back gets outside tackle, Trips is declared. Back Judge switches to two outside receivers and Lineman switches key to Tight End BJ MOTION CREATES TRIPS TO LINESMAN’S SIDE

MOTION CREATES TRIPS TO LINESMAN 32 22 12 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ MOTION CREATES TRIPS TO LINESMAN

TRIPS TO LJ; MOTION CHANGES KEYS (LJ - STRONG SIDE) 22 32 12 32 87 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U When motion back (32) gets inside tackle, formation changes to the strong side being the line judges from trips. Back Judge: Switch to tight end and line judge switches to flanker (87) while observing motion back (32) for illegal motion foul. BJ TRIPS TO LJ; MOTION CHANGES KEYS (LJ - STRONG SIDE)

BALANCED FORMATION - STRENGTH REMAINS TO LJ’S SIDE 22 32 12 87 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U When motion back (32) clears opposite tackle, a BALANCED formation is created. The strength is still declared to the line judge’s side. The linesman’s key will be 83 and 32 at the snap. BJ BALANCED FORMATION - STRENGTH REMAINS TO LJ’S SIDE

MOTION CHANGES STRENGTH TO L’S SIDE 22 87 32 32 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U BJ MOTION CHANGES STRENGTH TO L’S SIDE

MOTION CAUSES TRIPS TO L’S SIDE 22 87 32 32 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 88 L LJ U BJ MOTION CAUSES TRIPS TO L’S SIDE

PUNT 12 R 42 22 32 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ

BALANCED FORMATION - LJ DECLARED STRONG 32 12 22 42 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ BALANCED FORMATION - LJ DECLARED STRONG

ZONE COVERAGE AFTER R HAS ADVANCED 5 TO 7 YDS READ DETERMINES PASS R 32 22 12 82 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U BJ ZONE COVERAGE AFTER R HAS ADVANCED 5 TO 7 YDS

ZONE COVERAGE AFTER R HAS ADVANCED 5 TO 7 YDS READ DETERMINES PASS R 32 22 12 78 65 55 68 63 89 LJ 83 L U 82 BJ ZONE COVERAGE AFTER R HAS ADVANCED 5 TO 7 YDS

ZONE COVERAGE AFTER R HAS ADVANCED 5 TO 7 YDS READ DETERMINES PASS R 32 22 12 78 65 55 68 63 U LJ 89 L 83 82 BJ ZONE COVERAGE AFTER R HAS ADVANCED 5 TO 7 YDS

32 65 Running Play: Back Judge Responsibility R L LJ 42 32 12 22 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ Recognize Strength of Formation Key: Tight End Read Tackle Read Key Locate POA Officiate in front of POA U READING INELIGIBLES TO DETERMINE RUN OR PASS If Tackle fires off Line of Scrimmage (LOS) and contacts defender in or beyond neutral zone, officials should be alert for a RUNNING PLAY. If Tackle sets-up to pass protect, READ PASS. REFEREE: read opposite tackle when ball is snapped. LINESMAN\LINEJUDGE: Read tackle or first ineligible to your side. BACK JUDGE: Read tackle on strong side. UMPIRE: Read center and Guards. Sequence 1. Determine strong side. 2. Locate KEYS 3. At snap, read tackle. 4. Pick up keys to determine initial blocks by and against them. 5. Determine Point of Attack and officiate area to this point. 6. Pass - After advancing 5 to 7 yards downfield covering keys, use Zone Coverage Dead Ball Coverage 1. Determine LOS 5. Observe for encroachment\offside 2. Signal next down, know line to gain 6. Be alert for motion 3. Count players 7. Rule on legal snap 4. Determine strength of formation and eligible receivers BJ LARRY THOMAS, MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION, INC.

Keys Keys are intended to help determine MAN coverage at the initial snap. Definitions Strength of Formation: Determined by number of eligible receivers outside tackle. Tight End: End man no more than 4 yards from nearest lineman. Back in Backfield: Player in backfield between the tackles at snap. Trips: Three or more receivers outside tackle to one side. Back Judge Has first key; Based on strength and number of receivers. Usually the End on the Strong Side. Trips: Is responsible for two outside receivers. Balanced Formation: Declare strength to Line Judge’s side. Linesman and Line Judge Has second key Do not key off the same player as Back Judge. Strong Side: Key strong side back Weak Side: Key off receiver(s) to your side Trips: Inside eligible receivers Balanced Formation: Declare strength to Line Judge’s side. Page 54 R, L, LJ, BJ: Read tackle at snap (run or pass); Umpire: Read guards and center at snap

32 65 THANK YOU FOR STUDING THIS PRESENTATION R L LJ U BJ 22 42 12 83 78 65 55 68 63 89 L LJ U READING INELIGIBLES TO DETERMINE RUN OR PASS If Tackle fires off Line of Scrimmage (LOS) and contacts defender in or beyond neutral zone, officials should be alert for a RUNNING PLAY. If Tackle sets-up to pass protect, READ PASS. REFEREE: read opposite tackle when ball is snapped. LINESMAN\LINEJUDGE: Read tackle or first ineligible to your side. BACK JUDGE: Read tackle on strong side. UMPIRE: Read center and Guards. Sequence 1. Determine strong side. 2. Locate KEYS 3. At snap, read tackle. 4. Pick up keys to determine initial blocks by and against them. 5. Determine Point of Attack and officiate area to this point. 6. Pass - After advancing 5 to 7 yards downfield covering keys, use Zone Coverage Dead Ball Coverage 1. Determine LOS 5. Observe for encroachment\offside 2. Signal next down, know line to gain 6. Be alert for motion 3. Count players 7. Rule on legal snap 4. Determine strength of formation and eligible receivers BJ LARRY THOMAS, MISSISSIPPI HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ASSOCIATION, INC.