Welcome to Art of Officiating’s “Weekly Dozen, Episode 4” featuring plays from games through September 20, 2026. I’m Mark Bradley.
These plays are from games officiated in Colorado Springs, so I’ll reference the Colorado 5-person mechanics manual, along with Colorado rules interpretations and modifications. If anything I say doesn’t match what you do in your state, please consult your state’s mechanics manual and rules interpretations.
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1 – In this play, we’re going to key on the left tackle, A54. At the snap, he takes three steps before diving and contacting B55 below the waist. At the same time, A78 is blocking B55 above the waist. This is a classic chop block.
Rule 2-3-8 defines a chop block as “a combination block by two or more teammates against an opponent other than the runner, with or without delay, where one of the blocks is below the waist and one of the blocks is above the waist.”
But let’s take A78 out of the play for a moment. Even if A78 had never contacted B55 above the waist, A54’s block would still be illegal.
Rule 2-17-2c requires a legal block below the waist in the free-blocking zone to be an immediate, initial action following the snap.
That clearly doesn’t happen here. A54 takes at least three steps before diving at B55’s legs. This is not an immediate, initial action following the snap.
So with A78’s block, we have a chop block. Without A78’s block, we would still have an illegal block below the waist by A54.
The referee and line judge share A54, the left tackle, as a primary key at the snap. The line judge should see A54’s illegal block below the waist, and he may also pick up A78’s block above the waist and recognize the combination as a chop block. The referee has the opportunity to see the same thing.
The umpire also has a good look at this action. His keys include A78, the left guard, so he may see A78 engaged with B55 and then A54 come in low. That gives the umpire another opportunity to recognize and flag the chop block.
This is a foul that multiple officials have an opportunity to see. At a minimum, we need to get the illegal block below the waist by A54. Ideally, we recognize the entire action and correctly identify it as a chop block.
2 – Here’s another block by A54 that could be flagged as an illegal block below the waist. But in this clip, the timing of the block is not the issue.
In Colorado, we interpret “immediate” as no more than two steps. A54 takes exactly two steps and then dives and contacts B7 below the waist. So let’s look at another requirement for a legal block below the waist.
Rule 2-17-1 defines the free-blocking zone as a rectangular area extending laterally four yards on either side of the spot of the snap and three yards behind each line of scrimmage.
Rules 2-17-2a and b require all players involved in a legal block below the waist to have been on the line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, with the contact occurring in the zone.
Watch where B7 lines up. At the snap, he is approximately five yards laterally from the football. The free-blocking zone extends only four yards laterally from the spot of the snap. That puts B7 outside the free-blocking zone.
So even though A54’s block occurs within our two-step interpretation of “immediate,” he cannot legally block B7 below the waist. B7 was not in the free-blocking zone at the snap. This is an illegal block below the waist.
Rule 2-25-3 says, “A defensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he is within 1 yard of his scrimmage line at the snap.” B7 is obviously a lineman, so that part isn’t difficult.
What is much harder to determine is B7’s lateral position relative to the football. That involves a little Kentucky windage. We know the free-blocking zone extends four yards laterally from the ball, but there isn’t a line on the field showing us where those four yards end.
During pregame, we watch offensive formations and try to establish where offensive players typically line up in relation to the free-blocking zone. I’ve never done the same thing with defensive formations, and that makes this a difficult play for the wing official.
Here, B7 is approximately five yards laterally from the football at the snap. That puts him outside the free-blocking zone. A54 cannot legally block him below the waist, even though A54’s block is immediate and B7 is on his line of scrimmage.
This is a tough call in real time. The timing looks good. The block itself may look like the type of block we routinely see in the free-blocking zone. The key is recognizing where B7 was positioned at the snap.
3 – In this play, we’re going to focus on A30, who is lined up behind the tight end on the line judge’s side of the field.
Watch his block. Do you see demonstrated restriction?
B1 staggers, and A30’s contact clearly interrupts his stride. The block occurs right at the point of attack, and if we determine this is a foul, there’s no question it impacts the play.
I’d be interested to see what would happen if we showed this clip to 100 high school football officials. How many would flag this for holding, and how many would say there simply isn’t enough restriction to warrant a flag?
In my judgment, this crosses the threshold. I have demonstrated restriction, and I would flag A30 for holding.
From a mechanics standpoint, we could have two officials looking at this matchup. A30 is on the line judge’s side, so the line judge can see the block. The back judge may also be looking at this matchup, giving us two sets of eyes to recognize the restriction.
This block occurs out in the open, so visibility shouldn’t be an issue. It appears both officials had an opportunity to see the entire block and ultimately decided there wasn’t enough restriction to warrant a flag.
4 – Before we look at the end of this play, I want to point out something that I’m pretty sure we would only pick up while watching Hudl video in slow motion.
The ball has been marked ready for play, and the snapper has placed his hands on the ball, establishing the neutral zone. Rule 7-1-6a says that after the ready-for-play and after the snapper has placed his hands on the ball, it is encroachment if any other player breaks the plane of the neutral zone.
Look at A7 and B35. Both players are breaking the plane of the neutral zone.
So, what do we do with this?
I think there are at least two schools of thought. We could strictly enforce the rule, shut the play down and penalize the encroachment. Or we could recognize that neither player gained an advantage, nobody reacted to the other player, and simply let it go.
I’m conflicted on this one. It seems to fit into that difficult category of, “When should we strictly enforce the rules, and when can we give some grace and move on?”
Because if a savvy coach points this out, what am I going to tell him? “Coach, I saw it, but I decided not to enforce that rule this time”? Where do we draw that line?
I can argue both sides of this one. We can’t undermine our credibility by telling a coach we simply aren’t going to enforce a clear foul. But we also have to recognize that there are times when good officiating requires some discretion in deciding whether something really needs to be called.
I wrote a Ready for Play article that I’ll post on November 6 discussing that very question, so stay tuned.
Now let’s move on to the end of the play.
The runner is down at the B-30. Watch A54 trailing the play. He doesn’t deliver a direct blow to B9, but he wraps him up and spins him to the ground.
Does that action warrant a flag? Or can we address this verbally with A54 after the play?
B9 certainly doesn’t like it. He gets up and shoves A54 back to the ground. And A54 immediately begins his audition for an Academy Award, making sure everyone knows just how terribly he has been wronged by that shove.
Now watch the line judge. He does a great job with his eyes. He doesn’t laser-focus on the forward-progress spot. He keeps his eyes up and continues officiating the players around the pile.
Initially, he must deal with A7 and B1, who have gone out of bounds. The line judge does an outstanding job staying with those two players and making sure nothing happens out there.
Unfortunately, when he turns his attention back toward the field, he catches only the second act of the interaction between A54 and B9. He sees B9 shove A54 to the ground, and B9 gets flagged for the personal foul.
Obviously, B9 has something to gripe about. He was pulled to the ground, retaliated, and got caught, while A54 walked away without a flag.
But this is something that happens in football. Sometimes, as officials, we simply don’t see the first act. We see the retaliation.
I’ve had this conversation with players many times over the years when they’ve complained that an opponent was goading them or that the other player did something first. My response is usually pretty simple: “We often only see the second event. Don’t retaliate, because that may be the only thing we see.”
That’s exactly what happened here.
5 – In Weekly Dozen Episode 2, we spent quite a bit of time discussing illegal personal contact against a defenseless receiver. We see this type of play quite a bit at all levels of football, so let’s revisit the topic with this video.
First, a few quick mechanics points.
The formation is balanced, although there is one receiver on the line judge’s side who is outside the frame. The back judge’s initial passing-play key is A11, who is the player out of the picture. The line judge will key on A1, who goes in motion. In Colorado, the line judge rules on the legality of A1’s motion. The linesman will key on the two receivers on his side of the formation.
At the snap, both of the linesman’s receivers sprint downfield. I can’t clearly see the linesman’s eyes, but I hope he is tracking those two receivers rather than staring into the backfield.
By the time those receivers reach the A-30, or perhaps even before then because the receivers are sprinting, the linesman needs to pivot and begin hustling downfield. Instead, he remains at the line of scrimmage. It appears he doesn’t begin moving and looking downfield until the pass is released.
That leaves the back judge on an island as the only official in position to rule on the action when the ball arrives. The linesman hasn’t earned the right to rule on player contact 30 yards downfield because he hasn’t put himself in position to see it.
In my judgment, the back judge is too close to the contact. I’d like to see him back up at least another five yards and be stationary around the B-40 when the ball arrives. That gives him a wider field of vision and a much better opportunity to see the entire play.
Now let’s look at the contact.
A4 is a defenseless receiver. B15’s contact is forceful. He doesn’t make a play on the ball, he doesn’t use open hands, and he doesn’t attempt to wrap up A4. In my judgment, this is illegal personal contact against a defenseless receiver.
You could also make an argument for illegal helmet contact. B15 appears to use his shoulder to contact A4 above the shoulders.
And, like a boss, A4 catches the pass.
There’s an important penalty enforcement point here. Hypothetically, if the back judge throws a flag for the personal foul, we do not tack 15 yards onto the end of A4’s run.
The foul occurs before A4 completes the catch. Therefore, it occurs during the loose-ball portion of the play, and the penalty would be enforced from the previous spot. In this situation, Team A’s best option is to decline the penalty and take the result of the play.
There’s one more nuance worth discussing.
Someone might argue, “A4 has the ball when he is contacted. Isn’t he already a runner? If the contact would otherwise be legal, how can we have illegal personal contact against a defenseless receiver?”
Here’s the question I would ask: If the ball had come loose when B15 hit A4, would you rule catch and fumble, or incomplete pass?
I think 99 percent of officials watching this play would rule it an incomplete pass.
That answers the question. If A4 has not possessed the ball long enough to complete the catch, he hasn’t become a runner. At the moment B15 contacts him, A4 is still attempting to catch the pass and remains a defenseless receiver.
So don’t let the fact that A4 ultimately hangs onto the football change how we judge the contact. We have to judge A4’s status at the moment he is contacted, not based on what happens afterward.
6 – It’s fourth down, with about two yards to the line to gain. Watch A5 after he gets under center. He emphatically bobs his head and upper body three times.
Is this a foul?
Rule 7-1-7b prohibits a false start by any act clearly intended to cause Team B to encroach.
Ultimately, the referee must judge whether A5’s movement is enough to constitute a false start. Is A5 using an exaggerated movement that simulates action at the snap?
One thing I think is important when making that judgment: watch A5 when he steps back under center and actually receives the snap. His head doesn’t move at all.
Compare that with the three pronounced head and body movements beforehand. If those movements were simply part of his normal manner of receiving the snap, I’d expect to see something similar when the ball is actually snapped.
That contrast gives the referee something useful to consider when deciding whether A5’s actions cross the line and become a false start.
7 – Here’s another example from the same game. This time, it’s fourth and 7, and A5 is in the shotgun.
Watch his body movement before the snap, and especially watch the step forward.
In my judgment, this action is even more exaggerated than what we saw in the previous clip. A5 doesn’t simply move his head or upper body. He takes a pronounced step toward the line of scrimmage.
In my judgment, this is a false start. We don’t need to wait to see if Team B encroaches. A5’s action is a foul regardless of what Team B does.
On fourth down or when the ball is snapped close to the line to gain, especially, be alert for exaggerated actions designed to get the defense to react.
8 – During a free kick, the five officials have discrete assigned players and areas of responsibility. Know your assignment, and then carry it out with precision.
The line judge, positioned at midfield, is responsible for the four Team K players on his side of the field. But as the ball is kicked, watch his eyes. He looks straight up and follows the ball’s flight. He then walks slowly down the sideline, looking straight ahead.
Meanwhile, his four assigned Team K players are essentially free to do whatever they want. Whatever happens, it will probably be missed because the line judge is not watching his assigned area.
The kick crosses the sideline in flight and lands well out of bounds. Watch the umpire. He skies his flag, looks up at it, and then turns away from the players, presumably to retrieve it.
At about the same time, the line judge also turns his back to the players to get a clean ball from his sideline.
So, what’s the punchline?
We need good eye discipline while the ball is live, but that responsibility doesn’t end when the play ends. Good dead-ball officiating is just as important.
Watch the colors separate.
Before you pick up a flag, retrieve a clean ball, report a foul, or move on to your next responsibility, make sure the opposing colors have separated.
The flag isn’t going anywhere. The clean ball isn’t going anywhere. Keep your eyes on the players.
9 – Here’s a scrimmage kick, and the same eye-discipline principles apply. Watch your assigned players, and allow your crewmates to watch theirs.
At the snap, the line judge must immediately move downfield while observing his key, the gunner on his side. In fact, he really shouldn’t be able to tell us much about what happens in the backfield because that’s not where he should be looking.
K7 uses a rugby-style kick, and the line judge gets suckered into watching him as he approaches the sideline.
But the line judge doesn’t need to watch the kicker. The referee is getting paid good money to do that. Okay, he’s getting paid. The point is, the line judge needs to trust his crewmate to do his job and concentrate on his own responsibility.
Meanwhile, the contact between R20 and K12 goes unobserved. The line judge doesn’t turn his attention downfield until the ball is kicked. R20 could be holding K12 big time, and no one would see it.
There’s also a positioning issue. The line judge is walking downfield rather than sprinting. He’s much too far upfield to properly officiate the return. By the time K7 kicks the ball, I’d like the line judge to be around the K-30 or even farther downfield.
Now watch the end of the kick.
The ball bounces at the R-34. K12 first touches the kick and then possesses the ball at the R-34. The ball is dead inbounds at that spot.
The back judge will mark the dead-ball spot. The line judge should stop upfield and dead-ball officiate. There’s no reason for the line judge to continue downfield or chase the football.
The back judge can toss a beanbag to mark the end of the kick. Trust your crewmate to handle his responsibility while you handle yours.
That’s really the lesson throughout this play: know your assignment, trust your crewmates, and discipline your eyes to look at your assigned keys and areas.
10 – It’s third and one from the A-29. At the snap, both wings must immediately move to the line to gain. Instead, the linesman remains fixed at the line of scrimmage.
Think about the optic. If the runner is downed at the A-30 and the linesman has to make a decision about the location of the ball, isn’t it better to make that ruling while standing on the A-30 rather than the A-29?
The runner is, in fact, downed very close to the line to gain.
Part of demonstrating that we got this right is being present at the money line when the ball arrives. Another part is selling our confidence after the play. When the ball is downed this close to the line to gain, we need some urgency.
Instead, both wings casually walk toward the ball, and the umpire ultimately spots it a fraction short of the A-30.
In my judgment, this is a bad optic.
When the ball is downed this close to the line to gain, both wings need to pinch hard. And one of the wings, not the umpire, needs to come in and spot the football.
Be at the money line when the play arrives, and when the ruling is this close, sell it with confident mechanics.
By the way, if you’re the umpire and the wings aren’t crashing in, hold the ball straight out as if to say, “Come and get it and spot it.” Don’t put the ball on the ground yourself.
If Team A’s coach asks for a measurement, we don’t want to measure a spot the umpire provided. We want one of the wings, who is responsible for forward progress, to come in and spot the football.
That’s all part of providing the right optic. Be at the line to gain, come in with confidence, and have the official responsible for forward progress establish the spot.
11 – It’s third and 9 from the B-47. The formation is strong to the line judge’s side. The back judge will key on the two outside players in the backfield on the line judge’s side. The line judge will key on the tight end, A25, and the linesman will key on the single receiver on his side, A11.
Since it’s third and 9, I’d like to see the umpire set up a little closer to the line of scrimmage, maybe six yards away instead of eight. That gives him a better opportunity to reach the line of scrimmage before the pass is released on a passing play.
Now watch the wings at the snap. Both immediately begin drifting downfield.
Don’t move!
Stay on the line of scrimmage until your passing-play key is more than 10 yards downfield. There is no advantage to drifting downfield before your key takes you there.
This is a designed screen play. A11 is supposed to catch the pass behind the neutral zone, and the offensive linemen release downfield to block.
When the pass is released, those linemen are already four or five yards beyond the neutral zone. Because this is such a quick pass, the umpire doesn’t have time to get to the line of scrimmage. That means the wings have to help determine if the forward pass crosses the neutral zone.
But both wings have drifted downfield. Now nobody is properly positioned on the line of scrimmage to rule whether the pass crosses the neutral zone.
Watch A11. He first touches the pass just a few inches beyond the neutral zone.
I would not get overly technical here. And I certainly would not use A11’s location when he eventually completes the catch by coming to the ground. What matters is where the pass is first touched.
This is close enough for me to rule that the pass did not cross the neutral zone.
Finally, watch the crew after the play. Nobody gives the stop-the-clock signal.
Every official should be signaling stop the clock.
There are several lessons in this one play, but most of them come back to positioning and discipline. Don’t move simply because the ball has been snapped. Remain on the line of scrimmage until you are compelled to move to stay connected to the play.
12 – One more clip to talk mechanics.
The ball is snapped from the B-1. It’s one quick step to the pylon, and we see the line judge properly move to the goal line at the snap.
This is another example of double action, and the line judge gets it right.
Watch the runner’s knee. His knee is down while the ball is still short of the goal line. He then dives forward from his knees and extends the ball across the goal line.
The line judge isn’t fooled by that second action. He correctly rules the runner is down short of the goal line.
He also does a great job selling the call by emphatically pointing to the ground. If we had volume, I’d hope to hear him yell, “Knee is down here! Short, short!”
There’s just one thing I’d like to see him add. Pinch hard to the ball, get it from the umpire, and spot the ball himself.
When the runner is down this close to the goal line, having the wing spot the ball provides the best optic.
Get to the goal line first, sell the call with movement and voice, and then finish the mechanic by spotting the football.
That’s your Weekly Dozen, Episode 4 for games through September 20, 2026. Thanks for watching!
If you find these videos helpful, please like the video, subscribe to the channel, and share the link with other officials who may benefit. I also invite you to visit artofofficiating.com for more high school football officiating content.
And if you encounter an interesting or unusual play during your season, I’d love to see it. You can send it to me at contact@artofofficiating.com.