6 PERSON MECHANICS BJ & BU WHAT THE MECHANICS MANUAL DOES NOT TELL YOU!
THINGS TO CONSIDER The mechanics manual is just a guide to help with an official’s • starting point. It is based on percentages. No manual can cover every possible • game scenario. The competent official must know when to adjust to team • tendencies, coaching styles, particular play situations, weather, personal physical abilities, etc. This does not mean that an official should be freelancing on every • play. This would jeopardize the ability of fellow officials to carry out their responsibilities correctly.
In 6 person mechanics, the deep officials will be responsible to cover • more area than any other official on most plays. There is an expectation that the deep officials will have a high level of • fitness to be able to get into position to make the required/correct calls. The higher the level (age group) of the game, the greater demand on the • officials to be physically ready to meet the required expectations of the “job”. It is no longer acceptable to say that an individual has x number of years • of experience and that qualifies that person to do “the job”. Professionalism demands that all officials develop a high level of • proficiency in rules knowledge, mechanics and physical fitness.
JUDGEMENT Definition: The ability to make informed decisions. • In industry, this can happen over minutes, hours, days, etc. before a final decision is • made. In a football game this must happen over a period of seconds. • Nobody wants to see a foul called on every play, even if one occurred. • The underlying concept is to make the call if the infraction had an impact on the play. • The higher the level of football, the more “grey” this decision becomes. This is • because the players are better athletes and are much stronger and faster than at the lower age groups. Obvious foul ………………..Grey area…………………. Obviously not a foul • Officials need to minimize the “grey area” •
Judgement needs to be appropriate for the age group you are working. At • the younger levels, coaching the players might be more beneficial than calling the foul. At the senior levels, stay away from coaching unless you are asked for assistance. Coaching at this level is the job of the coaches. Generally, if a opponent is placed at a disadvantage by some illegal tactic • that prevents the opponent from having an “immediate” impact on a play, or if the player’s safety is at risk (URs), then the infraction should be called. As an informal guide, if the infraction occurs within 10 yards of the ball • then it needs to be called. Sometimes judgement needs to be re-assessed while the play is ongoing. • The hold 25 yards away initially has no impact until the play breaks down, the ball carrier reverses direction and heads straight for the holding location. Now, the original hold might need to be called.
How do officials increase their ability to provide the correct judgement on a • particular play? by working at a particular position on the field as often as possible • (experience). observing others working the position(s) you are interested in. Find a mentor • to help you. natural talents (being physically fit and mentally sharp). • being coachable (can you accept constructive criticism). • people skills (how you manage the game can assist in how your judgement • is received). develop the ability to focus on the pertinent things. • develop a pattern of consistency (make the same call in the “same” • situation). Do not try to “even up” a bad call.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER Does each official need to know all aspects of the rulebook? • Yes! • Will the BU/BJ likely need to call procedure, offside (offence or • defence), intentional grounding, roughing the passer, etc? No! • What are 5 fouls that the deep officials are most likely required to • rule on during a game? holding, illegal contact vs pass interference (offence and defence), • no yards, illegal blocks and unnecessary roughness.
The previous infractions make up the largest percentage of calls • that need to be ruled on by deep officials. Other considerations to be discussed will include: • ruling on possession at the sideline including what are the • requirements for a completed catch. scoring at the goal line (going in and coming out) and the • pylon. coverage on a short kick off (interference by Team A) • control of the sideline (safety factor, sleeper play, • substitutions, etc.)
LET’S MAKE THE CALL The primary responsibility of the BJ/BU on scrimmage plays is the • widest receivers. These are referred to as your keys. The BJ/BU need to analyze the actions on & by these keys. • If there is no threat on or by your keys, then the point of focus • needs to shift . The officials’ job is not over. Switch to the zone around the ball … not at the ball. The farther away the ball is, the wider your zone of coverage • becomes. Scan, do not fixate, while looking for infractions away from the ball • …. especially unnecessary roughing.
HOLDING By knowing the definition, the official will know what to look for. • (Rule 7 - 1 - 1) The accepted standard not covered by the rulebook: • a) grabbing an opponent on the front of that player’s jersey is • allowed. b) grabbing on the shoulder(s) or extending around to the back of • the opponent is illegal. c) holding as mentioned in (a) but with the hands/arms extended to • the side is illegal . The holder must maintain a “face to face” position if the hold is not to be called.
d) grabbing an opponent as in (a) but then pulling the opponent towards • the ground is illegal. e) if the legally “held” opponent tries to break free to pursue the ball, the • hold has to be let go. This usually occurs when the ball carrier has passed the player being “held”. In (b) - (e) above a clear advantage needs to occur for the foul to be • called. The BJ/BU’s job is to look for the above actions on or by their keys. • by your keys - examples include sweeps and off tackle plays, long • plays down your side where the key tries to assist the ball carrier’s progress by interfering with the opponent. on your keys - examples are potential pass routes, kick plays to • restrict your keys progress to get down field.
ILLEGAL BLOCKS Include illegal blocks (7 - 1 - 2), crackback blocks (7 - 3 - 10) & • blocks from the rear (7 - 3 - 15) CBB usually is committed by your key(s) on non-kicking plays. Be • alert when a key starts heading along the L of S towards the centre prior to the snap. The BJ/BU are likely to be the only ones to see all the action to determine if the contact is illegal. All officials need to have a clear understanding of the difference • between an illegal block and a block from the rear (UR). Too often officials opt for the lesser of the two when, in fact, we • should be penalizing for unnecessary roughing.
These illegal blocks most often occur during kick returns and are on the • “first wave” of players trying to get to the ball carrier. These “victims” are usually your keys but not always. These infractions are also quite frequently missed or applied incorrectly. Rarely, on these kick situations, should both the BU/BJ be watching the • ball (exception: loose ball on the ground). The BU determines who has the ball. The other deep official (and • possibly the HL on K/Os) will take the blocking on his/her side of the field and/or the 1st threatened kicking team players near the ball. The deep officials need to move to get the best view of player action. • They must be able to determine if the contact point was on the side or on the back corner of the opponent. They cannot accurately rule on contact in the back by looking through • the front of the “victim”.
NO YARDS The primary responsibility for this coverage is determined by the BU. If his • arm goes up, he has the ball. If he points upfield then the BJ has the ball. Mechanics require the covering official to start 5 yards ahead of and 8 - 10 • yards wide of the potential kick receiver. The covering official needs to be able to adjust quickly to the flight of the ball. Kickers at the lower levels are extremely unpredictable. Deep officials need to consider the kicker’s tendencies, wind conditions and their own fitness abilities. Deep officials need to be able to get into a position to see the 5 yard zone • at the moment the ball is touched. At the higher levels, you will not be able to focus on the touch and then switch to where the players are. You will miss the call. Be wide enough to use “soft eyes” to see both the touching and the • position of the attacking opponents at the same time.
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