GTOA - Mechanics Survey Results

Off-Season Survey

What is the best part of your off-season?:

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : N/A

Game End

At the end of the game, officials should :

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When the game has ended, all officials will leave the field immediately and together as a unit, avoiding contact with players, coaches and fans.

Chains

The chains have been set for A, 1 & 10 at the A22. The clip should be placed on:

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When placing the clip after the chains have been set, the marker should be placed at the major line divider (5-yard interval) nearer the back stake, on the baskside of the line. This will allow the larger portion of the chain to be toward the line to gain and the clip will not interfere should a measurement be necessary. If the chains are set on major line dividers (example: back stake on the 10 yard line and the front stake on the 20 yard line), the clip will be placed at the middle major line divider on the backside of the line (for the example: clip would be placed on the backside of the 15 yard line).

In the situation given, the clip would be placed on the backside of the A25 yard line.

Fumble

There is a fumble at the LOS. The U and L are separating players to determine possession. What should the other officials do?

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When there is a fumble, the covering official(s) will remove players until player-possession can be determined (if not immediately known). Officials not involved in player-possession determination, will continue to dead ball officiate and not allow additional players to interfere with player-possession determination. This may involve stopping the clock, if the clock was not stopped, until player-possession is determined.

Umpire

If the Umpire is being continually asked to move by the Line Backers and Safeties, he should:

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : The Umpire should never be outside of the guard's outside shoulders. He may adjust as necessary between the guard's positions to be out of the line-of-sight for defensive backs, and should be 5 to 6 yards from the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball location. The Umpire should never set up in front of the Line Backers.

Signals

The Line Judge has a wideout off of the line on his side:

GTOA Mechanics Philosophy : This is purely a crew-determined philosophy. It is acceptable to either chuck until the ball is snapped or chuck until the opposite wing official acknowledges your chuck. Furthermore, the offensive team count taken and signaled with a chuck between the Referee and Umpire is the same philosophy (hold until snap, hold until acknowledged).

Spot II

When the ball is close to a 1st down inside the inbounds marks, what should occur?

GTOA Mechanics Philosophy : If the ball becomes dead inbounds near a first down, inside the inbounds marks, the covering wing official will come inside of the inbounds marks to the hold the spot of forward progress for possible measurement, if needed. The ball should not be tossed outside of the inbounds marks to a wing official as this could provide an inaccurate spot from the original location of the ball. Furthermore, if there is a need for a measurement and the ball is short of the first down, the ball would have to be moved twice - toss to the wing official outside of the inbounds mark and then brought back into the original location creating unnecessary movement of the ball location.

Spot

When the ball is dead inbounds, and the wing official is marking the spot, he should :

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When marking the spot from the wing position, the official will trail the play down the sideline and square in at the spot of forward progress. The Umpire will place the ball at the inbounds spot that was determined by the nearest wing official.

Snap

When the snap is imminent, the Referee's keys are:

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : At the snap, the Referee's keys are the backfield and opposite tackle. The refereee is looking for illegal motion/false start from the backfield, sudden movements from the QB that could cause the defense to encroach, and movement by the opposite tackle, which would be a false start.

PAT/Field Goal

On a PAT for Field Goal, who is responsible for sounding the whistle and when?

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : On a PAT/Field Goal, the ball is not dead until it crosses the goal line. When the ball is kicked, the whistle shall not be blown until the ball crosses the goal line and is deemed successful/unsuccessful and the Back Judge shall sound the whistle. (Editor's note: On a blocked field goal attempt, the ball is not dead until recovered. On a blocked PAT attempt, the ball is dead when the PAT is deemed unsuccessful.)

Deep Pass

When a deep, incomplete pass is thrown to the middle of the field, how is the ball relayed back to the inbounds spot?

NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : After a deep, middle pass, the ball shall be relayed back to the inbounds spot by the wing official from the side line of the team in possession. The Back Judge shall retrieve the loose ball and return it to the sideline, should it remain in the field of play.

Pre-Season II

During pre-season scrimmages, what does your crew focus on?

GTOA Information: Pre-season scrimmages are very important to get your crew into regular season form. There is no right or wrong answer.

Pre-Season

What is the most important aspect of your pre-season preparation?

GTOA Information: Pre-season preparation is an integral part of your overall performance and knowledge. It is important to have a structure off-season & pre-season regimen so that you are in top form during the season.

Crew Improvement

After looking back at the 2008 season, what would your crew like to improve ?

GTOA Information : There is no right or wrong answers to this survey. It was meant to allow you to retrospectively think about your crew and what you would like to improve upon during the 2009 football season.

Fighting

When a fight between players occurs and bench players leave to get involved, what should you do?

OSSA Recommedation: When players are fighting and team members from either team leave the bench area and become involved in the fight, officials should write down all players' numbers involved and immediately eject them from the game. No official should put himself/herself in harms way or risk injury attempting to break up any fighting on the field. Game administration and security should be summoned to handle these types of situations.

Players - Bench Area

When players from the visiting team are in the home team's bench area after a play, who is responsible for clearing the area?

GTOA Philosophy : When team players are in the opposing bench area, the wing official to that side along with the Back Judge and Referee (when necessary) will clear the bench area and return players to the field while performing good dead ball officiating to ensure that no unsportsmanlike action occurs.

Kick Off

Using standard kick off mechanics, the Umpire has responsiblity for the spot to what yard line? (Assuming the runner is to his side of the field)

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: The area of responsiblity for the Umpire during a kick off is from his goal line to the 40 yard line at which time the Line Judge will pick up the runner and will continue responsibility to the opposite goal line. At the point where the Line Judge takes the runner, the Umpire will assist with players/action behind the runner.

Foul Reporting

When the Back Judge has a foul and moves to report, who covers his flag ?

NFHS Philosophy: When the Back Judge reports a foul, the Line Judge will cover the penalty marker. The Head Linesman must stay with the chains and be prepared to make adjustments after the penalty administration is completed. The Referee and Upmire will consult with the Back Judge regarding the foul and determine necessary enforcement.

Bean Bag Usage

Proper use fo the bean bag includes:

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: In several sections of the NFHS rule book there are rulings regarding appropriate use of the bean bag and they include, spot of fumble, spot of a fielded punt, spot of the end of a run if you must leave to continue to officiate and most recently, the bean bag can be provided to the down box operator to mark the spot of the snap on goal-to-go situations.

Game Equipment - Footballs

While inspecting game balls, you notice that the home team footballs are not marked with the NFHS Authenticating markings. What should occur?

OSSAA Philosophy : If game balls are not properly marked with the NFHS Authenticating mark by one or both teams, play the game with the provided footballs and report to the OSSAA that a team was not prepared and did not provide approved game balls.

Sideline Warning (Initial)

When giving the first sideline warning to a team, the wing official should:

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: An initial sideline interference occurrence results in a warning for the offending team. The flag shall be thrown, the referee informed that a warning has been given, but no penalty administration will occur. A 2nd occurrence shall result in a 5-yard penalty and a 3rd and any subsequent occurrences shall result in a 15-yard penalty.

Goal-to-Go Situations

On goal to go situations, when the chains are not necessary, the box operator should:

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: New NFHS philosophies suggest providing the down operator a bean bag to mark the spot of the snap.

Measurement - Line to Gain

When measuring for a first down, the Back Judge should:

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: The Back Judge shall not permit attendants to enter the field, help clear players from the measurement area, observe all players, and tend to the ball at the time of measurement .

Dead Ball In-Bounds

If ball becomes dead near sideline and 1st down is gained, the covering official should:

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: Sound whistle that play is dead and indicate player is in-bounds using 2-turns of the arm (wind) immediately followed by 2-crossing motions of the arms above the head while holding spot.

Coin Toss Mechanics #2

At the pre-game coin toss, when do you recieve the choice of "heads or tails" from the visiting captain?

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: In the presence of the upmire, the Referee will instruct the visting captain to give "heads" or "tails" choice BEFORE the toss.

Coin Toss Mechanics #1

When working the referee position, at the coin toss, do you let the coin fall to the ground or catch the coin in the air?

Ruling from the NFHS Officials Manual: "The Referee will tell the captains that he will re-toss the coin if he doesn't catch it." Philosophy is that the Referee will catch the coin and NOT let it fall to the ground.