1. 2017
FHSAA Football
7 Man Mechanics 1

2. Notable Past Mechanics Changes
Coin Toss Mechanics Clarified (Adapted To FHSAA)
Following the coin toss, the HL or LJ should secure the proper game
ball of the team kicking off and provide it to the BJ.
Referee Responsible For A Pass’ Direction Inside The 5 Yard Line
If the ball is snapped on or inside B’s 5 yard line, the R is responsible
for knowing if the pass is forward or backward.
Mechanic For A Blocked Kick Or Snap Over
The Kicker’s / Holder’s Head
- The R and the wing official he / she is facing will retreat to cover
the ball and box in the play.
The wing official on the same side as the R will remain on the line
of scrimmage until that line is no longer threaten. As the play develops,
he / she will then move to officiate the play. HL LJ BJ R R HL LJ

3. Notable Past Mechanics ChangesU SJ BJ FJ
Umpire, Side Judge, Back Judge And Field Judge’s
Coverage On Scoring Kicks Clarified
On all trys and field goal attempts, the SJ should be positioned on the
side of the defensive formation that has the most players.
If the defensive formation is balanced, the SJ should be on the side
closest to the side line he / she came from (side opposite the press box).
Referee Microphone Mechanic For A Flag That Is To Be Disregarded
- If a flag is to be disregarded, the R announces that there is no foul
for (name of the violation, explanation or often no further explanation
needed) and the disregard the flag signal is given (S13).
For example, “There is no foul for an ineligible receiver downfield,
for the pass did not cross the line of scrimmage.” R

4. Notable Past Mechanics ChangesSJ FJ
Side Judge and Field Judge Positioning From 25 – Goal
The SJ and FJ will now be at the goal line pylon when the ball
is snapped inside team B’s 25 yard line.
Head Lineman and Line Judge Motion Man Responsibility
If a man goes in motion, observe him if he is on your side of the ball
to ensure his motion is legal.
Head Lineman and Line Judge Reverse Goal Line Mechanics
From the 3 yard line to goal line, both the HL and LJ move to the
goal line pylon at the snap.
From the 5 yard line to 3 yard line, the LJ moves to the goal line
pylon at the snap and the HL reads the play and moves to the pylon
if appropriate. HL LJ HL LJ

5. Notable Past Mechanics ChangesHL LJ BJ FJ
Fake Field Goal Responsibilities
When a fake field goal is attempted from a snap inside team B’s
20 yard line, the HL and LJ will have the goal line.
When a fake field goal is attempted from a snap on or outside team B’s
20 yard line, the BJ and FJ will have the goal line.
Umpire Positioning
The starting position for the Umpire is on the side opposite the tight end,
generally 5 – 7 yards (but not more than 8 yards) from the line of
scrimmage. For non-scoring kicks (punts), however, the Umpire may be
up to 10 yards off the line of scrimmage. U

6. Pregame Mechanics
6:45 pm  Officials take the field in uniform.  At least 2 officials
monitor the 45 – 45 yard line “no fly zone”
Prior to 7:00 pm – Coach/Referee/Umpire meetings completed               Note: If one team leaves the field – the officials may leave
the field
7:23 pm  FJ and SJ have captains on the 50 yard line by 7:25 pm
7:25 pm  BJ and LJ bring teams to the field – home team should
enter first
7:26 pm  R and U enter together from the home side and take their
coin toss positions
7:27 pm  Coin toss
7:30 pm  Kick Off

7. Walking The Field LJ FJ R BJ U SJ 2 0 4 0 3 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 HL
5 Man Field Inspection
- Releases R And U To Talk To The Coaches
Press Box LJ X X X X X X X FJ R BJ U SJ
2 0
4 0
3 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
<
< HL 1

8. Pregame HL SJ LJ FJ BJ Head Linesman And Side Judge
Check the chains and down marker
Find your chain crew and brief them
Spot check the field with the chains (Make sure no 1st and Goal
from the 11 yard line)
Find your ball boys and brief them
Secure the game balls and make sure the Referee checks them
Introduce yourself to the coaching staff, especially the head coach
Line Judge And Field Judge
Back Judge
Be the police officer on the field. Patrol the 45 yard line zone and
look out for unsportsmanlike behavior
- Help the Umpire with getting adornments removed LJ FJ BJ

9. Pregame R U SJ FJ Referee And Umpire Talk to the head coaches
Verify legality of equipment and players (Umpire)
Get the adornments off players
Approve game balls (Referee get with the LJ and FJ, HL and SJ),
remember that Spalding® balls must be used in the post season
Side Judge And Field Judge
Find out from the Referee and/or Umpire who the talking captain
is for your sideline’s team so you can line up the captains appropriately
for the coin toss SJ FJ

10. Pregame Field Policing
Cover The 45 Yard Line Zone
- 4 Corners Version
Press Box LJ FJ X X X X X X X BJ
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
4 5
4 0
<
3 5
<
<
<
<
< HL SJ 1

11. direct the captains forward then turn around and return
Coin Toss
Proper Positioning
Press Box FJ T LJ
Once you reach the hash,
direct the captains forward
then turn around and return
to the sideline R U
Score Board
1 0
2 0
4 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< SJ BJ T 1 HL

12. Coin Toss To Kick Off FJ LJ BJ R U HL SJ 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0
Proper Positioning
Press Box FJ LJ BJ R U K
Score Board HL SJ
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< 1

13. Kick Off LJ FJ R BJ 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ U HL Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ FJ
BJ Hands The
Ball To The Kicker R
Count R BJ
Count K K
Score Board
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< SJ U HL 1

14. Onside Kick LJ FJ BJ R 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ U HL
Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ FJ BJ
Did Either Team
Touch The Ball?
Did The Ball
Hit The Ground?
Did The Ball
Go 10 yards? R
Score Board
1 0
2 0
4 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< SJ U HL 1

15. Standard Play FJ LJ R U BJ 2 0 4 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ HL
Standard Play Proper Positioning
Press Box FJ LJ
18-22 Yards
FJ, SJ and BJ
will ALWAYS
line up on a
major yard line R U
Score Board BJ
5 Yards Deeper Than SJ and FJ
2 0
4 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
<
18-22 Yards SJ HL 1

16. Inside The 25 / 20 Yard Line FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 HL SJ
25 / 20 – 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning
Press Box FJ LJ
At The Pylon R U
On The Endline BJ
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0
At The Pylon HL 1 SJ

17. Approaching The Goal Line
5 - G Yard Line Proper Positioning
> 5 Yard Line Proper Positioning
Press Box FJ LJ LJ
5 Yard Line R R U BJ
<
1 0
2 0
3 0
<
< HL HL 2 SJ 1

18. Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 To G
Press Box LJ FJ
3 Yard Line U BJ R
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0 HL SJ 2

19. Moves To G If Appropriate
Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 – 5
Reverse Goal Line Mechanics 3 to 5
Press Box
LJ Moves To G
At The Snap LJ FJ
5 Yard Line U BJ R
HL Reads The Play And
Moves To G If Appropriate
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0 HL SJ 2

20. Pre-Snap Duties FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ HL Counting
Press Box FJ LJ
Count Offense
Count Defense R U
Score Board BJ
1 0
2 0
4 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< SJ HL 1

21. Collapsing Box Coverage
Boxing The Play In
The “Accordion” Principle
Press Box FJ LJ
LJ and HL
Hold Position
Until The Ball
Crosses The Line
LJ and HL
Square In
At The Spot X X X X X X
At The Snap,
BJ, FJ And SJ
Move Back
All Officials
“Accordion” In R U
Score Board BJ
“Accordion” Principle
- Dead Ball Officiating
- Talk To Players
- Break Up Confrontations
- Make A Presence
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< SJ HL 2 1

22. Long Run Down Sideline FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL
Keep Relative Positioning
Press Box FJ LJ
At The Snap,
BJ And Deep Wings
Start Backing Up R U
Score Board BJ
1 0
2 0
3 0
Trailing Official
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
<
Get The Spot
<
<
<
18-22 Yards SJ HL
Assume
Goal Line
Position
Clean Up
Out-Of-Bounds 1
Leading
Official

23. Long Run Down Sideline FJ LJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL
Keep Relative Positioning
- Don’t Run Over The SJ Or FJ
Press Box FJ LJ
2 Yard Line R U
Score Board BJ
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0
Trailing Official
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
<
18-22 Yards SJ HL
Assume
Goal Line
Position 1
Leading
Official
Signals Touchdown

24. Initial Keys FJ LJ R U BJ BJ 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Pro Set
Press Box FJ LJ R U BJ
Score Board BJ
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< SJ HL 1

25. Initial Keys FJ LJ BJ R BJ U 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL Double Wing
Press Box FJ LJ BJ R BJ
Score Board U
<
1 0
2 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< SJ HL 1

26. Initial Keys FJ LJ BJ R BJ U 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL
Trips Formation
Press Box FJ LJ BJ R BJ
Score Board U
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< SJ HL 1

27. Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 SJ HL
“Stacked” Formation
Press Box FJ LJ
No Formal Keys R BJ BJ
Score Board U
1 0
2 0
4 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
< SJ HL 1

28. Initial Keys FJ LJ R BJ BJ U 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 SJ HL
Double Tight End
Press Box FJ LJ R BJ BJ
Score Board U
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
< SJ HL 1

29. Punt Mechanics LJ FJ R BJ U 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 SJ SJ SJ HL
Punt Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ FJ R BJ
45 Yards
Score Board U
1 0
2 0
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
3 0
<
<
<
<
< SJ SJ SJ HL
3 Deep Officials
Stand On The Closest
Major Yard Line 4

30. “Reverse” Mechanics LJ FJ R U BJ 1 0 2 0 4 0 3 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 HL SJ
- Occurs On Punt And Interception Returns, HL/SJ And LJ/FJ Duties Flip
R Has Goal Line Duty
Press Box
Signals
Touchdown
Assume Goal
Line Position LJ FJ
Leading
Official
Trailing Official R
2 Yard Line
Referee Shares
Goal Line Duty
(Don’t Get Beat)
Score Board U BJ
1 0
2 0
4 0
3 0
<
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
<
< HL SJ 4

31. FG And Try Mechanics LJ FJ U SJ BJ R 2 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 HL
FG And Try Proper Positioning
Press Box LJ FJ U SJ BJ R
2 0
<
1 0
<
<
3 0
<
4 0
5 0
4 0
<
3 0
< HL 4

32. Of The Remaining Officials Are Exactly As
Measurement Mechanics
Press Box FJ
Field Judge
Clears Players Away
And Secures A New Ball
If Appropriate
The Mechanics
Of The Remaining Officials Are Exactly As
In A NFHS 5 Man Crew LJ FJ R BJ U HL
4 0
<
3 0
<
2 0
<
1 0
< SJ
Side Judge
Takes Charge
Of The Box 2 2 HL SJ

33. Penalty Enforcement Mechanics
- Checks And Balances (Opposite From NFHS)
- CCA Holds The Official Calling The Foul Primarily Responsible
For Making Sure The Enforcement Is Correct (Whole Crew Really Is)
Press Box FJ
Line Judge Goes
To Where The Foul
Will Be Assessed To LJ
Offensive Holding R BJ U
Head Linesman Marches Off
The Penalty
With The Umpire
From The Enforcement Spot
3 0
2 0
1 0
<
<
< HL SJ 2
All 3 Should End Up At The Same
Yard Line With The Same Down

34. During Game ResponsibilitiesSJ
Side Judge
Deals with all issues involving the game clock
Keeps the time on the field if the scoreboard malfunctions
Alerts the Referee of timing errors
Side Judge And Field Judge
During time outs, take charge of instructing the teams to return
to the field at the 15 seconds to ready-for-play whistle by the BJ
Take chief responsibility for communicating penalty information,
time outs remaining, game developments, etc. to the head coach
Acts as the apprentice to the HL or LJ and assists them whenever
possible
- Help with ball rotation, those coming out from the BJ and those
going in to the U SJ FJ .

35. Odds And Ends CCA 7 Man Mechanics – Sort Of
Use the positioning, coverage mechanics, keys, etc.
Ignore the sections of the book obviously addressing NCAA mechanics
such as throwing your hat when players go out of bounds,
the 40 second clock, etc.
Ignore the CCA “if in doubts”, they are opposite from the NFHS ones
because they have instant replay to fix their mistakes while we don’t
It’s only the mechanics, not the rules we are borrowing – it’s still NFHS rules
Official Conferences
We now have 7, rather than 5 different opinions and views
Conference when you need to, otherwise keep your distance and positions
Numerous conferences make it look like you don’t know what’s going on .

36. Microphone Mechanics Sounding And Looking Professional
Practice, practice, practice
Say the words even in games you don’t have a microphone on you
- Face the press box and STAND STILL
There is no need to yell, that’s why you have a microphone
Speak in a conversational and unhurried tone
Be informative and concise, but not ridiculously brief
“Rehearse” with the Umpire to know you have all the information before
making a formal announcement (foul, down, ½ the distance, etc.)
Basic information includes:
Foul
Offense or defense / Kicking team or receiving team
Yardage of the penalty
Down
Use “Prior to the snap” or “After the conclusion of the play”
rather than “Dead ball”
Never say the number of the player or the player’s position, but when
necessary you can say vaguely “the player involved” .