National Federation 4 Person Mechanics Football

1 Coin Toss

• R and U bring in captains • Flanks come into the hash marks and watch their teams

2 Before Kickoff

LJ R Referee G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

Position near R’s 10-yard line opposite Linesman

Count R Players Check other G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G officials in position and signal ready for play U H after other officials and kicker ready

3 Before Kickoff

Umpire G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

Position on R’s 20 yard line opposite Line Judge

Count R Players Ensure coaches, players, G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G substitutes in proper location U Hold hand in air to inform Referee ready

4 Before Kickoff

Linesman G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

Position on K free- kick line

Hand ball to kicker H and point out Referee. Inform to wait for ready for play signal G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G Count K Players Move to sideline with line-to-gain equipment and hold hand in the air to inform Referee ready 5 Before Kickoff

Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

Position on R’s Free Kick line and identity Move to side line LJ opposite Linesman

Ensure coaches, players, substitutes and others in proper G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G location Count K Hold arm in air to inform Referee ready

6 OnSide Kickoff

LJ If the R R declares a G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G short kick mechanic, the U moves up to the 40 yard line. G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G All other officials stay U H in their normal position 7

Basic Scrimmage Position

Referee

A’s backfield 3 to 4 G 1 0 2 0 R 3 0 yards behind deepest back on passing arm of able to view opposite side U tackle

Umpire

3 to 8 yards off ball as G 1 0 2 0 3 0 to not interfere with vision or movement of defensive backs.

8 Basic Scrimmage Position

LJ Linesman &

Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 R 3 0 Start on side line straddling line-of- scrimmage. U

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

H

9 Prior to (All Plays)

Referee

Declare ball ready-for- G 1 0 2 0 R 3 0 play Count A players

Responsible for 25 second count and timeouts Check players set for one second prior to snap. G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Watch for snap infractions, illegal shifts, and false starts

10 Prior to Snap (All Plays) Umpire

Vary position as to not block view of B players G 1 0 2 0 3 0 or allow A to use you as interference Count A Players U

Check five players on line numbered 50 to 79 Be ready to rule on snap infractions, false G 1 0 2 0 3 0 starts, encroachments, disconcerting signals by defense and be aware of B players line up in free blocking zone 11 Prior to Snap (All Plays)

Linesman & LJ

Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Check number on box and signal down

Extend arm back to indicate A player closes to you off the line-of-scrimmage

Check to see if all G 1 0 2 0 3 0 backs, flankers, split ends in legal position and check eligibility H Determine if player in motion movement is legal 12 Prior to Snap (All Plays)

LJ Linesman &

Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 1 3 0 Check for seven on the 2 line-of-scrimmage 3 Help in determining 4 5 false start, encroachment, 6 interference with snap Count B players and be G 1 0 2 0 3 0 alert for illegal 7 substitutes Key off tackle for run / H pass

13 Running Play

Mechanics are LJ the same as a

5-man G 1 0 2 0 3 0 mechanic except there is not BJ.

For the long run so both flanks have G 1 0 2 0 3 0 responsibility for goal line

14 Passing Plays

LJ Linesman &

Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0

Move 5-7 yards cautiously after the snap.

Should be half way between LOS and deepest receiver G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Responsible for any receivers in your half of the field H

15 Scrimmage Kick

Referee G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G R Position 2-3 yards behind of kicker, 3-5 yards outside of tight end on Line Judge side

G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

16 Scrimmage Kick

Umpire G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

Position 4 to 7 yards deep, keeping ball in U view

G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

17 Scrimmage Kick

Linesman G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

On LOS

G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

H

18 Scrimmage Kick

LJ Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G

Position 7 to 10 yards wider and in front of deepest receiver and in position to cover sideline Carry bean bag in hand G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G Be ready to rule on momentum inside 5 yard line Observe initial action around receiver 19 Scrimmage Kick LJ Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G Drop Bean Bag to mark end of kick

Maintain responsibility of ball carrier on returns up the middle and to your side until released to other G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G official

20 Scrimmage Kick

LJ Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G If in flight, move past were ball went out and walk forward until Referee spots you

Grounded kicks out of bounds, mark G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G spot and observe action

Returns to Linesman side, move slowly behind play observe all action 21 Scrimmage Kick LJ

Line Judge G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G If K first to touch, mark spot of first touching with bean bag

If is signaled, sound whistle after kick is complete, and mark G 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 4 0 3 0 2 0 1 0 G spot

Be ready for muff

22 and Try Attempts

Referee Position 1 yard behind and 2 to 3 yards to G 1 0 2 0 3 0 side of kicker able to see kicker and holder

Rule on motion of backs

Be ready for or R fake

After kick, move G 1 0 2 0 3 0 behind kicker to Judge whether ball goes between uprights If Try is blocked, sound whistle, Field Goal, ball is live 23 Field Goal and Try Attempts

Umpire

Position 5 to 7 yards G 1 0 2 0 3 0 deep keeping ball in view and checking numbering exceptions U After snap, step toward neutral zone watching for roughing the snapper

After kick crosses G 1 0 2 0 3 0 neutral zone, pivot to line judge side and assist with coverage

24 Field Goal and Try Attempts

Linesman

Position on line-of- G 1 0 2 0 3 0 scrimmage Watch line play and for Roughing the Holder of Kicker

G 1 0 2 0 3 0

H

25 Field Goal and Try Attempts

Line Judge LJ

Position on line-of- scrimmage G 1 0 2 0 3 0

Handle same as any goal line play

After snap, move towards end line and determine if ball clears cross bar

Sound whistle when G 1 0 2 0 3 0 ball crosses plane of If unsuccessful, signal no score If field goal attempt, signal touchback 26 Field Goal and Try Attempts Line Judge Outside 15 yards Position under uprights G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Sound whistle when ball crosses plane of end zone and rule on kick LJ If successful signal score

If unsuccessful, signal no score and if field G 1 0 2 0 3 0 goal attempt, signal touchback If field goal does not cross plane, move to sideline and handle as scrimmage kick 27 Goal-Line Plays (Inside 10 yards)

LJ Referee

Same Coverage as G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Running and Passing R Plays U

Umpire

Move up to goal line, be ready to move to end line if necessary on pass G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Flanks H Move to goal line and work back on play

28 Goal-Line Plays (Inside 10 yards)

LJ All Officials

ONLY signal G 1 0 2 0 3 0 if you see R ball cross goal line U (primary coverage is wing officials – U should communicate to make sure wing officials do not have play over in FOP!) Do NOT mirror signal G 1 0 2 0 3 0 Communicate on dual coverage areas H

29 Measurement

Line Judge Align Linesman up with line and ball G 1 0 2 0 3 0

Linesman

Walk chains out, place U LJ clip on line and hold R

Umpire After Linesman ready, pull chain G 1 0 2 0 3 0

Referee H Hold ball and determine if ball across line-to-gain 30