Wing Official Pre-snap Routine

You’ll hear veteran officials talk about developing a pre-snap routine. Wing officials should progress through the same sequence of events before every snap. The pre-snap routine begins when a play ends (the ball is dead by rule) and ends when the next snap or free kick occurs. Here is a suggested routine:

Dead-ball officiating is one of our most critical actions. When the ball is dead by rule, we must keep our eyes on the players until the colors separate. Don’t be in a hurry to get a clean ball from the sidelines or speak to a coach. Take the extra 3-5 seconds to dead-ball officiate before you move to the next task.

As you dead-ball officiate, quickly check the clock to see if it’s running or stopped.

If possession has changed, facilitate getting a clean ball onto the field or the dirty ball off the field. Hustle onto the field with the clean ball, or run onto the field to collect the dirty ball. We don’t want to throw long passes, so work to cut down the distance to/from the umpire, back judge, or referee.

You now have time to speak with coaches if required. Don’t start a conversation unless you are sharing essential information the coach needs. Don’t start a conversation to educate the coach or say something to prove you were right about a previous encounter.

If there is no possession change, observe the players running on and off the field. This will aid with counting. “Two on, two off…I’m full.”

Look at the chains and the down indicator to ensure they are correctly positioned and have the proper down showing. Line Judge, you are facing the chains, so you are perfectly positioned to help the Head Linesman if the chains or down box are incorrect. HL, you can verbally confirm the down with the box person without turning your head to look at the box.

Move to your position on the sideline. Don’t turn your back to the field. If you are on the field, back up to your position.

(Colorado Mechanic) Count your sideline. You can slightly move left or right from the line of scrimmage to better view the players you’re counting (sometimes you’ll be straight-lined). If your sideline is on defense, it’s a little easier to count. If your sideline is on offense, count the players as they break the huddle. I like to count groups of players: five linemen, three receivers on the line, and three players in the backfield; that makes 11. Don’t point as you count.

If your sideline has too many or too few players on the field, loudly communicate with the coach. “Coach, you’re one up/down!” or “Coach, you need one more!”

Show the “full” signal (a fist with a bent arm) to the other official(s) counting your sideline’s players. It will be to the referee with 3-person mechanics. It will be to the referee or umpire with 4-person mechanics. You do not signal to the opposite wing; he’s counting his sideline.

(VERY IMPORTANT STEP!) Physically look at the line to gain and mentally note the distance. “We’re going to the 37. That’s 7 yards away.” How many yard lines (the solid line every 5 yards) and hashes to the line to gain?

If the line of scrimmage is behind the back stake, signal “two stakes” (Colorado Mechanic is crossed arms) to the opposite wing.

Head Linesman: If the box is near the middle tape (halfway between the two stakes), communicate with the referee with a signal. “A five-yard penalty will/will not result in a first down.”

As the players break the huddle and receivers come to your sideline, declare their position. “You are on the line” or “You are in the backfield.” (Colorado Mechanic) Point to the line (the nearest player is on the line) or punch back (the nearest player is in the backfield). If the snap is imminent, do not attempt to move a player.

(Colorado Mechanic) If the opposite wing is punching back, acknowledge his signal with a tip of the cap. If you are punching back, you can drop your arm when your partner acknowledges your signal.

Count the players in the backfield. (If the opposite wing is punching back and you are punching back, there can be no more than two additional players in the backfield.) If you have five Team A players in the backfield, tap your flag as a visible sign to the opposite wing that you will sky your flag if the formation stays the same and the ball is snapped.

Find the TE and determine if he is covered. Determine if slot receivers are covered. Try to anticipate the play based on the formation. (During warmups, observe the different plays run from each formation.)

Pay attention to Team A shifts. After the last shift, all offensive team members must stop and remain still for at least one second.

The wings’ initial key is the tackle. It’s okay to slightly move off the line of scrimmage if the outside receiver on the line is blocking your sight line to the tackle.

You will rule on false starts by the receiver(s), slot back(s), and the center, guard, and tackle on your side of the line. You will not rule on false starts on the quarterback or backs close to the quarterback (those are the referee’s keys). You will rule on encroachment on the linemen on your side of the line.

(Colorado Mechanic) The wing will rule on motion away from his side of the line.

If you use a lanyard-type whistle, put the whistle in your mouth and spit it out at the snap.


Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s).

3/5 from the B-35. The line judge throws a flag for holding on A30 at the B-10. A12 runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown.

  1. 1/10 at the B-20. The clock will start on the ready for play
  2. 1/10 at the B-20. The clock will start on the snap
  3. 3/15 at the B-45. The clock will start on the ready for play
  4. 3/15 at the B-45. The clock will start on the snap

Review Rules 3-4-3, 5-1-2a, and 10-4-4

Click below to reveal the Quiz answer and accompanying explanations.