I watch many high school football plays on Hudl during the week and often see the same wing mechanics mistakes from numerous wing officials. Here are the top five:
Eye Discipline during Passing Plays: Wing officials must resist the temptation to stare into the backfield at the quarterback. The wings first observe their tackle’s action at the snap. If they read “pass,” they must shift their attention to their receiver keys and watch those players. In Hudl, I’ve observed wings stare into the backfield and shift their gaze only when the quarterback releases the ball. We miss a lot when we have three officials (the referee and two wings) looking at one player (the quarterback) while up to five eligible receivers are running routes with only the back judge to witness ten or more players (receivers and defenders). Wings can quickly peek into the backfield if 4-5 seconds have passed without a throw to see if the quarterback is running.
Note the LTG Before the Snap: This is an essential pre-snap routine component. Head linesman: During your pregame chain crew briefing, you can ask the box person to help you. As you back up to the sideline following your accordion onto the field, the box person can tell you the number on the box, and the yard line to reach for a first down. “James, I have 3 on the box and we’re going to the 46.” The head linesman should never have to look back at the chains to locate the front stake. Noting the line to gain prior to each snap will help with other wing mechanics.
Clear the Sideline before the Snap: Clearing the coaches’ area should be one of your final presnap actions. The coaches’ area becomes the restricted area when the ball is live, and the wings should be the only life forms in that 2-yard belt between the sideline and the team box. Ensure coaches, players, staff, attendants, and ball runners vacate the coaches’ area before every snap. “Coach, I need you back please!” or “Coach, I’m coming your way!” Insist on this. Be polite and firm; don’t be a jerk about it. Don’t give up asking if the coaches don’t comply. Toss a flag if you have to run around a coach or player in the restricted area while the ball is live.
Pinch and Spot the Ball if it is Downed Close to the LTG or GL (money lines): We need to sell our confidence in our spot if the ball is downed close to the line to gain or goal line. It looks bad if the wing stays on the sideline or moves only a few feet onto the field when the ball is less than a yard behind or beyond the LTG or less than a yard short of the GL. Pinch onto the field, ask for the ball, and spot the ball immediately when you have it in your hands (don’t run the ball inside the hash before spotting it). We should never measure if the umpire spots the ball because we won’t have a precise spot. When the wings race in and spot the ball, we can measure (or confidently sell a “it’s short” or “it’s a first down” ruling).
Keep a Cushion: Wings should rarely be within 3-5 yards of players after the ball is dead. Don’t step into/over the players when you mark forward progress. Don’t bump into players as you move to the FP spot. If the players are between the numbers and the sideline, stay on the sideline as you mark FP. If the players are on the sideline, stop short of the FP spot, wait for the players to separate, and then move to the FP spot after it is clear to proceed. Forward progress is a plane, not an actual spot, so the wings can move onto the field or farther out of bounds as they watch players and mark FP somewhere on the plane. We only need to step close to players if they need help separating.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.
3/15 from the A-36. Running back A24 gains 4 yards to the A-40. During A24’s run, B44 grabs and twists A53’s facemask at the A-35 (1 yard behind the LOS). After A24 is downed, A53 runs to B44 and loudly curses him.
- B44’s and A53’s fouls offset. Replay the down
- B44’s foul will be enforced from the previous spot
- Team A will next snap the ball, 1/10 from the A-40
- Team A will next snap the ball, 1/25 from the A-40
Review Rules 9-4-3h, 9-5-1b, 10-2-5a, 10-4-6a