Mechanics

Here are a few suggestions for referees when announcing and signaling penalties: Think of all components of the announcement before you start (especially the down). You don’t want to be in the…

You may have heard the saying, “Smooth is fast.” This saying means performing tasks with calm, controlled movements is ultimately quicker and more efficient than rushing and making mistakes. Smooth, deliberate actions…

If you’ve officiated basketball, you know the importance of moving to achieve the proper angle: 1) to get the correct view through player matchups and 2) to avoid being straight-lined. You’ll hear…

The pregame meeting with the coaches is the only chance to make a positive first impression. Your state’s mechanics manual should provide pregame meeting instructions. In Colorado, the referee decides which officials…

I mentioned in a previous Ready for Play article I watch a lot of Hudl video during the week. One mechanics issue I see in every game is multiple officials fail to…

Swapping ends of the field and moving the chains at the end of the first and third quarters is not just a head linesman’s responsibility. As with penalty enforcement, the entire crew…

Counting players is one of the most essential pre-snap routine components. We need to verify the correct number of players are on the field at the snap. Here are a few counting…