Referee Mechanics

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Referee Mechanics

• Brian Ernest
• Austin Chapter

2007 TASO State Meeting College Station
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4 Main Topics

• Philosophy
• Position Keys
• Signals
• Game Administration Duties

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Philosophy

• My philosophy on
• The meaning of
• Referee

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Philosophy

• Dual Roles
• -Official working a position
• -Crew Chief in charge of the crew

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Philosophy

• Official working a position
• Know your position
• -know your mechanics
• -know your keys
• -know the rules

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Philosophy

• Official working a position
• Work other positions
• Know what the U,H,L,B need from the R
• examples U needs R to run a good pace
• H needs clear signals to move chains
• Know what the other officials are looking at in
  various play situations

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Philosophy

• Official working a position
• Concentrate!
• -maintain your focus
• -regain your focus
• -pre-snap routine
• -various concentration techniques

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Philosophy

• Crew Chief
• Be the best leader
• -What can you do to make the crew better?

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Philosophy

• Crew Chief
• R should not be a dictator
• -Let others shine
• -Let somebody else be the rules expert
• -LJ rules on 1st downs
• -BJ can be the OT expert
• -Let U decide what time we meet coaches
• -Give others game administration duties
• -Have others conduct pregame conference
• Increase their level of involvement

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Philosophy

• Crew Chief
• Post game evaluation
• -keep some type of journal
• -look up rules in rulebook
• -discuss situations
• Be better next game
• BE BETTER NEXT GAME!

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Philosophy

• Crew Chief
• Help Others
• You need strong officials to make a strong crew
• Help, advise, encourage, correct, praise
• If they look good, you look good
• Leave the game better than you found it

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Philosophy

• Crew Chief
• Have the look!
• -Look like you are in charge
• -The camera is always on
• -Swagger

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Philosophy

• QUESTIONS?

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Positioning and Keys

• Good mechanics will put the members of your crew
  in position to have the best coverage of the play.

Understand that mechanics evolve as strategies
and philosophies change.
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Positioning and Keys

• New Free Kick
• Mechanics
• For 2007

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Positioning and Keys

• Kickoff
• On the goal line, opposite the press box
• Count players on receiving team
• Who has the goal line?
• R is responsible for his 1/3

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Positioning and Keys

• Kickoff
• Short kick situations
• -Middle, deep
• -Watch for things other than the ball
• -Watch for fair catch signal/muff
• -Be prepared to assist with a clear mind

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Positioning and Keys

• Kickoff
• On Time!!!
• Big Whistle Big Signal
• Return coverage
• -Dont get caught watching the ball fly
• -kick to
• -kick away

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Plays
• Ref is wide (outside the TE)
• and deep (12-14 yards)
• -45º
• -deeper in Shot Gun
• -you shouldnt have to move to get out
• of the way
• On QBs passing hand side

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Plays
• Prior to the snap
• Know the yard line
• Know the down and distance
• Know the line to gain
• Know the clock status

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Plays
• Snap, Tackle, Pop!
• SNAP-see the ball and the backs
• TACKLE-check the Tackle for clean block.
• Quick glance. Read the play for run or
  pass.
• POP!-any hit on QB

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Plays
• Snap
• -Clean snap?
• -Backs set?
• -Muffed snap?
• -What does QB do?

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Plays
• Tackle
• Referee watches the Tackle for holding but may
  also see other linemen. Which Tackle?
• There is a huge difference between
• holding and grabbing. They may look very
  similar but grabbing is not a flag.
• mpeg, not a jpeg

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Plays
• Pop!
• Referee is SOLEY responsible for the QB
• -Protect QB extremely closely!
• -Any contact to passers head is a foul
• -Late or unnecessarily rough hits are fouls

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Positioning and Keys

• RUN PLAYS
• Check for a clean handoff
• Referee must know what happens to the ball while
  it is in the backfield--fakes fumbles
• Holding at point of attack
• When ball crosses LOS, begin watching for action
  away from the ball
• Be prepared to move toward sideline

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Positioning and Keys

• PASS PLAYS
• Primary responsibility is the passer!!!
• Say Balls Gone in a strong voice
• Remind the linemen that you are there

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Positioning and Keys
Scrimmage Plays Red Cashions Concentric
Circles -We do not need 10 eyes on the ball -H
L have forward progress (ball) -R U monitor the
next circle -On a long run, monitor the next
largest circle -Clean up duty -Requires team
work
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Positioning and Keys
H
30
40
50
40
20
10
G
R
B
U
10
20
30
40
50
40
G
L
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Positioning and Keys

• After the Play
• Speak firmly and clearly so the players
• know you are there.
• Use your Presence
• Review the play in your mind???

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Kicks
• Punts
• Even with the kicker
• Which side?
• Protect the kicker
• Out of bounds spot-step behind the kicker
• Goal line on long return
• Swift transition-signal the H

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Positioning and Keys

• Scrimmage Kicks
• Field Goals/PATs
• Several yards behind the holder and wide
• Which side?
• Protect the kicker/holder
• Dont look up too quickly! Trust B L
• Goal line on block and long return
• Clear signal Swift transition

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Positioning and Keys

• QUESTIONS?

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SIGNALS
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SIGNALS

• Clear
• and
• Crisp

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SIGNALS

• Communicate With The
• Press Box 1
• Imagine a person in the press box
• Do not mumble Be crisp

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SIGNALS

• Communicate With The
• Press Box 2
• Stand still
• Dont walk in / Dont walk out
• Get clear (line of sight) be still

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SIGNALS

• Communicate With The
• Press Box 3
• Know what your fingers and
• other hand are doing
• Be a peacock

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SIGNALS

• Penalties
• Preliminary signal is rather quick
• Second signal is slower and deliberate
• Speak as you signal

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SIGNALS

• Practice your signals
• Be consistent--signal penalties the same way each
  time
• Have the LJ keep an eye on you
• Be a great non-verbal communicator!!!

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SIGNALS

• QUESTIONS?

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Game Administration Duties

• Doing the best at this moment, puts you in the
  best position for the next moment.

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Game Administration Duties

• Prior to Game Day
• Confirm game time with home team
• Get the crew to the right place at the right time
  --Clear expectations
• Know the coaches names
• Paperwork, game card, foul report
  Have it all ready the day before

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Game Administration Duties

• Prior to Coin Toss pt.1
• Arrive early (2 hours)
• Set crews schedule -shoes polished
  by -going out in uniform at
• Meet coaches-brief (use a script/card)
• Walk the field during warm-ups -meet the QBs
• -30 minutes

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Game Administration Duties

• Prior to Coin Toss pt.2
• Pregame Conference
• -Involve the crew--no monologue
• -Do not dictate--rather, collaborate
• -Discuss mechanics and play situations
• -Funky plays and rules
• Use an outline and encourage discussion

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Game Administration Duties

• Coin Toss
• Do Not Confuse The Captains!!!
• -They do not remember what you tell them
• -Say as little as possible
• -Let the winner of the toss state his choice
  before you offer the options

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Game Administration Duties

• After Coin Toss
• Brief crew huddle-record results of toss
• Move to position with purpose
• -never stroll
• -walk like you are going somewhere

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Game Administration Duties

• Establish and Maintain A Presence!!!
• You are in charge, act like it.

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• Brian Ernest
• Austin Chapter
• bdernest_at_hotmail.com