Welcome to Art of Officiating’s “Weekly Dozen”, comprising plays through September 13th. These videos are from Colorado games, so I’ll reference the Colorado 5-person mechanics manual and Colorado rules interpretations and modifications. Please consult your state’s mechanics manual and rules interpretations if I say something that doesn’t match what you do in your state. I’ve collected more than a dozen clips for this week’s video and want to incorporate a few theme discussions.
1 – Alright, before we dive into this week’s plays, I need to confess a mistake I made with a clip from last week that a friend pointed out. Let’s take another look and point out my oversight so I can put my OCD to rest. This is the clip where Team A ran a halfback pass on the first scrimmage play of the game. I pointed out that while A71 was “by rule” beyond the neutral zone, we shouldn’t flag him. However, his buddy A53 was four yards downfield. This is clearly a foul for an ineligible player downfield. Okay, now I feel much better. Let’s continue.
1 – While we’re on the ineligible downfield theme, let’s look at another clip that features this foul with an added offensive pass interference component. Team A will run a fake and throw a legal forward pass. “Trick plays” must be perfect. Let’s see if Team A perfectly executes this play.
There are three line of scrimmage components with a scrimmage pass. The first is: did the passer release the ball with both feet in or behind the neutral zone? (That’s rule 7-5-1). In this formation, the umpire is properly standing deeper and wider than normal, so the head linesman, who stands on the line of scrimmage until the kick crosses the neutral zone, will make that ruling.
The second component found in rule 7-5-12 is: ineligible A players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone is in flight. The ball is snapped from the A-38. Therefore, ineligible players may not advance beyond the A-40 until the ball is released. A60 is nine yards downfield when the ball is released. He is an ineligible downfield.
The third component is: did the pass cross the neutral zone? If the pass is caught in or behind the neutral zone, linemen can range downfield and even block an opponent before the pass is caught. (That is rule 7-5-7). If the pass crosses the neutral zone, then Team A players may not interfere with an eligible opponent’s opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass. A60 moves downfield, blocks B44 at the A-44, and drives him to the A-46. This action interferes with B44’s opportunity to move toward the pass. A60 is guilty of offensive pass interference.
A71 blocks B50 beyond the neutral zone before the pass is released, but B50 is not attempting to move toward the pass, so in my judgment, A71 is not guilty of pass interference.
The umpire throws a flag for an ineligible downfield. Team B declined the penalty as Team A did not reach the line to gain. I’d like to see the umpire continue to officiate the play, as if he had not thrown a flag. We need to officiate to the end of the play, dead ball officiate, take a breath, and then report the fould to the referee.
2 – This umpire throws a flag for holding and then officiates to the end of the play. His job is to run to the nose of the ball and ensure the players separate without incident. He takes care of that responsibility before he reports the foul to the referee. The line judge has his hand in the air to indicate the 40 second play clock should start. If he saw the umpire’s flag, he needs to give the stop the clock signal. Even if he didn’t see the flag, the runner is well beyond the line to gain, so he needs to give the stop the clock signal. Finally, the line judge is not the covering official, so he doesn’t need to raise his hand to indicate the ball is dead and the 40 second play clock should start. Check with your state’s mechanics manual; maybe your state wants both wings to raise an arm. If that’s the case, follow your mechanics manual.
I want you to see a subtle but very important act by the head linesman. As he is marking forward progress, he signals to the box holder to stay at the A-25. We don’t want the box or chains to move until the penalty is sorted out.
Finally, let’s get these coaches out of the restricted area. We need to have the full 2 yards available to move up and down the sideline.
3 – Here is another holding flag from the umpire. A1 fakes a handoff and runs around the right end. The umpire needs to shift his focus more quickly to the blocks ahead of the runner. The line judge is responsible to watch all of these players behind the ball.
(Stop when the blocker reaches the B-41). The umpire is looking at the runner, not the important block downfield. He finally looks downfield and sees the very end of an illegal block. The umpire tossed a flag for a clear foul, but as I mentioned, I’d prefer to have the umpire view the beginning, middle, and end of the block to accurately rule on the entire action. Hypothetically, if the blocker contacted the defender from the front or side, and then if the defender turned his back to the blocker, the umpire might have flagged the blocker for an illegal block in the back because he only saw the end of the action.
The umpire needs to continue to officiate to the end of the play. If you throw a flag where the spot will matter for penalty enforcement, don’t adjust the flag until the play is over and the players have separated. Just make a mental note of where the flag should have landed, continue to officiate, and then fix the flag’s location before you report the foul to the referee.
A4 is the running back. Watch him for the entire play…he definitely has a sense of humor. I love how the line judge remained focused on those players well behind the ball. If the line judge runs downfield, no one is watching these players, and who knows what might happen.
4 – I promised another wing eye discipline clip, and I must confess, I’m conflicted about this play. The formation is strong to the linesman’s side, so the back judge has the outside receiver on the linesman’s side, the linesman has the inside receiver, and the line judge has the sole receiver on his side.
The line judge keys on the left tackle at the snap to read pass or run. The referee’s initial key is also the left tackle. A69 twists B53 to the ground and the line judge throws a flag.
When the tackle retreats, the line judge needs to shift his focus to his passing play initial responsibility, A19.
But, if the initial action catches the line judge’s eye, does he stay with it or let it go? Are you going to pass up a sure thing, the obvious hold by A69, for a “maybe” thing? A19 is running with no defender within 4 yards; he is free of foul. So maybe I’m okay with the line judge flagging this foul.
You’ve heard me preach, the wings need to quickly shift focus to their passing play initial responsibility. During passing plays, we don’t want the line judge to fixate on that left tackle when they read pass. But we can also give the line judge the latitude to stay with the tackle’s block for a few more seconds.
When the line judge reads pass, he should not move off the line of scrimmage until his passing play initial responsibility advances more than 10 yard downfield.
Now let’s look at the hit on the quarterback. This hit looks legal at full speed on film, but the referee caught an important facet of the tackle. The defender wraps up with his arms, but he also whacks the quarterback in the head with his helmet. The referee throws a flag for roughing the passer. When tackling, the defender cannot initiate contact against the runner with his helmet. Yes, he wraps up, but the helmet contact is a foul. That type of hit is a blind spot for me as a referee, and I need to better focus on helmet contact against a runner.
The umpire needs to officiate to the end of the play. His job is to hustle to the nose of the ball to help separate the players.
Let’s now look back at the line judge who tossed the flag for holding. As soon as he tosses the flag, he stops officiating. He’s on the field before the play is over. Help with the forward progress spot as a cross-field mechanic, then give the stop the clock signal. Two stop the clock signals is sufficient. Look at the clock when signaling to make sure the clock actually stops.
5 – Hits on the quarterback is the theme of the following videos. The defense cannot take free shots at the quarterback following a forward or backward pass or handoff. Focus on the quarterback in the next two clips. The referee correctly rules the contact is unnecessary and throws a flag for roughing the passer.
Now let’s view two videos that show hits on the QB following handoffs. One might argue the quarterback is simulating possession of the ball and therefore is, by rule, a runner. That’s a valid argument. However, B4 just smacks him to the ground. He doesn’t attempt to tackle the quarterback, so in my judgment, B4 knew the QB didn’t have the ball and his shove was unnecessary. I agree with this flag. Also, when viewing the play in slow motion, it appears B4 hits the QB in the helmet with his helmet (second video) B4 again shoves the QB to the ground. This time the referee does not flag the defender. I think a flag is warranted. B4 can’t take a free shot on the quarterback.
I’ve found that as a referee, hits on the quarterback are a personal blind spot. I either miss illegal helmet contact, or I shift focus too soon away from the QB when he hands off or pitches the ball. I need to watch the QB for one or 2 more seconds before shifting my gaze to the runner behind the line of scrimmage and I need to be hyper-aware of the defender’s helmet level when he makes contact.
6 – Let’s stay with a quarterback discussion for one more play. Is this intentional grounding? Rule 7-5-2d says illegal forward passes include a pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver. I don’t see an eligible offensive receiver in the area.
Table 7-5-2 provides an exception to an illegal forward pass. There are three components:
One, the passer has possessed the ball beyond the lateral boundary of the free-blocking zone as established at the snap. There is no “tackle box.” There is a free blocking zone, which is 4 yards to the right and left of the ball, and three yards beyond and behind the ball. The QB clearly moves beyond the lateral boundary of the free blocking zone. Even if the QB returns to the middle of the field, he has satisfied this component.
Two, the pass reaches the neutral zone, including the extension beyond the sideline. We are used to seeing passes thrown toward a sideline. This time the QB throws the ball directly upfield. The ball reached the neutral zone, so he has satisfied this component.
And three, the passer is the only player to possess the ball after the snap ends. This component is satisfied. If the QB had pitched the ball to a back who then threw the ball downfield in an area not occupied by an eligible receiver, it would be a foul.
This is a legal play, move on to the next down.
7 – The ball is snapped on the B-20, so the back judge is responsible for the goal line.
When the ball is caught, we have zero sets of eyes on the goal line. I think the back judge retreated toward the end line when receivers approached the goal line. This is a tough job for the back judge with 5-person mechanics. In this case, the back judge should stay on the goal line and then race toward the end line if the ball is thrown to a receiver near the end line.
Rule 2-15-2 says when an airborne player makes a catch, forward progress is the furthest point of advancement after he possesses the ball if contacted by a defender. If there is no contact and the runner lands in the field of play and is downed, we don’t give the receiver a touchdown. If there is contact in the end zone and the airborne receiver lands back in the field of play, it is a touchdown.
This catch is right on the goal line; that’s why we need the back judge on the goal line to make this ruling. I’d like the back judge to sell his spot a little more. Make a ruling, and then sell it with energy and a loud voice.
One more item. Following a long pass downfield, the umpire should remain focused on the linemen. He won’t rule on the catch, so looking at the ball provides no value. Notice how the line judge continues to look at the linemen in the middle of the field. The majority of the players are still at the line of scrimmage, so it’s appropriate for the referee, umpire, and line judge to focus on those players. If this was a shorter pass, it would be appropriate for the umpire to spin and help with catch/no-catch
8 – Let’s remind ourselves of correct wing mechanics when the ball is snapped between the B-10 and the goal line. In each of these videos, the back judge is correctly on the end line, and the wings are responsible to rule on the end line.
The ball is snapped on the B-4. The correct mechanic is for the wings to move immediately to the goal line at the snap. This is what right looks like, the line judge moves to the goal line and then backs up so his safety is not in jeopardy.
The ball is snapped on the B-5. The correct mechanic is for the wings to move immediately to the goal line at the snap. The linesman moves to the goal line, but the line judge doesn’t move. If the runner breaks a tackle, no one is at the goal line. The line judge should immediately move to the goal line, and then work back if the runner is downed.
The ball is snapped from the B-5 and a half. Between the B-5 and B-10, the wings do not immediately move to the goal line, but they are responsible for the goal line, so they can’t track with the runner and stay on the same yard line. The B-5 and a half is splitting hairs, so I’d like to see the line judge move immediately to the goal line. He arrives late and the runner is downed right at the goal line. When the ball arrives at the goal line, we need eyes on that line! One more thing, the umpire should not cross the goal line when the ball is live. Set up deeper, in the end zone, and then stay there unless it is a pass and you need to move to the line of scrimmage. We don’t want the umpire blocking the wings’ line of sight to the ball. And, we don’t want the umpire to snap a tibia or fibula (see, I paid attention in my anatomy and physiology class!)
Now watch the head linesman. The ball is snapped on the B-7. He moves to the goal line and then works back to the ball. Perfect.
The ball is snapped on the B-10, so the back judge is on the end line and the wings are responsible for the goal line. The line judge stands, and then moves with the runner. If the runner breaks free, the line judge will be late to the goal line. Get there first.
9 – The runner runs out of bounds, and we have all players within approximately a 10 yard by 10 yard area. We need to look for colors going against the flow, and for colors going faster than everyone else.
I like how the linesman immediately moves to separate the players out of bounds. I’d like to see the referee, umpire, and back judge do the same.
Here’s a drone view of the same play. A26’s hit is a blindside block and should be flagged.
10 – Watch B24. Is this illegal participation?
A60 shoves B24 from behind. This is an illegal block in the back. The contact does not have to be forceful. Then B24 runs out of bounds.
Rule 9-6 addresses illegal participation. Article 1 says Team A or K players are prohibited from going out of bounds and then returning to the field of play unless blocked out of bounds. The implication is the Team A or K player unintentionally went out of bounds, and this restriction does not apply to Team B or R.
Article 2 says no player shall intentionally go out of bounds during the down and return to the field, intentionally touch the ball, influence the play, or otherwise participate.
The covering official must determine if B24 intentionally went out of bounds. In my judgment he did not. If he unintentionally goes out of bounds, he may return to the field of play and tackle the runner.
This is a first down, so the line judge should only give the stop the clock signal. The line judge is way too close to the players. Either stop short of the pile and wait for them to go back to their huddles, or back up. The intent is to create separation. This line judge can’t see anything because he’s too close to the players. I love how the back judge has hustled to the players and the referee has closed down as well.
11 – Let’s finish this week’s video with some scrimmage kick craziness. The ball is snapped on the K-36. The snapper launches the ball over the punters head.
The referee retreats to Team K’s goal line, because that becomes an important line.
The punter then kicks the ball. The linesman inexplicably moves from the line of scrimmage. He must remain on the line of scrimmage, because in this situation, a Team K player can pick up the ball in or behind the neutral zone and then run, pass, or kick the ball. Notice, for some reason, the box guy moves the box to the K-35 while the ball is live.
K53 picks up the ball at the K-35, so he could have run with it. But he gives up. When this happens, the officiating crew should hold their whistles for a second or two, and then blow the play dead. We don’t want to just stand there if K53 has stopped playing. But…don’t be too quick to kill the play when K53 possesses the ball.
I don’t like one armed signals, the linesman simultaneously blows his whistle and waves with one arm to stop the clock. If you use a finger whistle, blow the whistle, take the whistle out of your mouth, and then give a two-armed stop the clock signal.
Finally, notice the umpire throws a flag for a foul at the line of scrimmage. I’m not sure what the foul was for. If it was on Team K, enforcement would be from the succeeding spot, the K-35, where the ball was ruled dead.
That’s your weekly dozen for games through September 13, 2025. Thanks for watching!
If you encounter any interesting plays during your season, I’d love to see them. You can send them to me at contact@artofofficiating.com.