Montana Officials Association MHSA 1 South Dakota Avenue Helena, MT Fax

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1 Montana Officials Association MHSA 1 South Dakota Avenue Helena, MT Fax July 2018 TO: FOOTBALL OFFICIALS REGISTERED WITH THE MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION FROM: RE: BRIAN MICHELOTTI, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOOTBALL STUDY CLUBS This packet contains the six study clubs that will help you prepare for the 2018 football officiating season. Our hope is that these study clubs will be a challenging study tool that you will use for your best interest and that of the coaches and players of Montana. Association regulations mandate that you attend six study clubs. The MOA expects you to complete each of the six lessons enclosed in a timely manner so that you will be on top of every change and all the rules completely. Please start the outlines before the season commences, and note that this year s study clubs are emphasizing mechanics applications. For those of you not located in the city where the pool is located, or those whose employment prevents the officials from attending study clubs please note the following regulation from the MOA Handbook: If an MOA member s employment prevents him/her from attending study clubs the official may receive credit for attendance if he/she complies as follows: 1. Makes prior arrangements with the regional director or head of pool. 2. Completes the study club outlines and presents them to the regional director or head of pool in advance of the meetings missed. 3. Exceptions may be made for certain military actions or other extenuating circumstances. 4. An official whose employment requires him/her to be away from home during the week may attend study clubs at an alternate pool location if he/she receives permission from the regional director(s) and the MOA Commissioner. PLEASE NOTE: Your regional director must sign your individual study clubs in order for you to receive credit. Football study club attendance must be in the hands of the Directors by December 1 st. Please send your study clubs to your regional director, not to the MOA office. As requested by the regional directors, the mechanics examination is Study Club #1, while the NFHS Football Exam Part 1 has been moved to Study Club #3. We will continue to designate study club #2 to be the Football Mechanics training. Best of luck to each and every one of you as you approach the season, and don t hesitate to contact us with any ideas about improving the scope and format of these study guides. BM/sw

2 MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL STUDY CLUBS LESSON # NAME CLUB DATE I. Concussion State Law - Officials Responsibilities: The MHSA/MOA requires each official to take the NFHS Concussion In Sports What You Need To Know course each year. This is the second year that you will be required to watch this same clinic. That course must be taken after June 1st for the subsequent school year and must be completed before officiating scrimmages or contests. Also, officials are asked to use their best judgment in observing the signs, symptoms and behaviors of a concussion and other possible serious injuries. If there is a player that exhibits signs and symptoms of an injury, officials will make coaches aware of the injured player and call an injury time out. The official should notify the coach by making the following statement: Coach, you need to take a look at this player; he/she is exhibiting signs and symptoms of an injury. Once the official notifies the coach, it is now the coach s responsibility. The official does not need written permission for an athlete to return to play nor does the official need to verify the credentials of the appropriate health-care professional. The youth cannot return to play until they are evaluated by a licensed health care professional and receives written clearance to return to play from the licensed health care professional. II. Review and discuss the 2018 MHSA / MOA Football Rules Clinic on This clinic must be completed individually by each member of the pool by August 24, III. MOA Handbook Changes and reminders for are as follows: Changes for 2018: 1. Mileage has increased from 53.5 cents per mile last year to 54.5 cents per mile this year. Per diem for each official, remains at 12 cents per mile. So, the driver, for a regular season match, would receive 66.5 cents per mile while the rider official would receive 12 cents per mile. Reminders from Previous years: 1. Uniform Change in Football -approved in addition to the 1-inch striped shirts, the 2-inch stripe shirt as an option, as long as the entire crew wears matching shirts. 2. Remember that the requirements approved by the MOA Board for football warm-up jackets begin this school year. 3. Officials who coach are a member of the coaching staff are prohibited from working a varsity contest or tournament of his/her gender specific sport in the classification he/she coaches. 4. Study clubs cam be conducted via real time video conferencing (which includes, but is not limited to: FaceTime, SKYPE, etc.) with the approval of the Regional Director. 5. Payment of Officials the MOA Board and MHSA Executive Board approved the following in regard to the payment of officials and this payment change was instituted this past year (Previously, it was stated that an official must be paid before the contest unless another of the two payment options was agreed upon. Now, it isn t mandatory to pay before the contest however one of the three following methods must be utilized:

3 1) All assigned officials may be paid within seven (7) business days of the contest with a check issued by the member school. 2) All assigned officials may be paid with Ref Pay via Arbiter assignment software. A member school has (7) seven business days from the date of the contest to issue payment via RefPay/ArbiterPay. 3) All assigned officials may be paid before the contest with a check issued by the member school. MOA officials are not allowed to accept checks written to other member officials. A member school has seven (7) business days from the date of the contest to reissue appropriate checks to the official(s) who actually worked the contest, if there has been an assigned official change. 6. Pink whistles may be used by officials at contests designated as breast cancer awareness events. Any other uniform modifications for the purpose of supporting a charitable fundraising event must be approved in advance by the MOA Commissioner. 7. MOA exams are now offered exclusively online. All are open book exams. The passing percentage for apprentice and certified remain at 60% and 80% respectively, and the passing percentage for master has increased from 70% to 85%. Note: The deadline for requesting an upgrade has been reduced from twenty (20) days to seven (7) days prior to the opening of the exam NFHS FOOTBALL RULES CHANGES 1-5-4, 1-5-5, e (NEW) 3-6-2, 9-9: Improperly equipped player shall be replaced for at least one down. Rationale: Prior to the game, the head coach is responsible for verifying that the players are legally equipped and will not use illegal equipment. The penalty for a player who is not properly equipped has changed from a distance penalty against the team to removal of that player for at least one down. The penalty provisions for any use of illegal equipment remain unchanged and result in an unsportsmanlike conduct foul charged to the head coach a: Defenseless player provisions for passer clarified. Rationale: The committee clarified that defenseless player provisions do not apply to a passer until a legal forward pass is thrown. The passer continues to be a defenseless player until the pass ends or the passer moves to participate in the play b PENALTY, PENALTY: Signal change for free kick infractions. Rationale: The signal for free kick infractions, other than encroachment of the neutral zone, has been changed from signal 18 to signal b (NEW), 6-1-9b PENALTY (NEW), EXCEPTION (NEW), j (NEW): New penalty option adopted for fouls by kicking team. Rationale: In an effort to reduce re-kicks, further minimize risk and ensure that appropriate penalties are in place for all fouls, the committee has added an option for fouls committed by the kicking team during free and scrimmage kicks. The change would allow the receiving team all of the previous options as well as accepting the distance penalty at the end of the down. SIX-PLAYER FOOTBALL (RULE 3): Length of time between periods revised. Rationale: The timing rule between periods and intermission for six-player football has been standardized to match the current NFHS 8-, 9- and 11-player football rules FOOTBALL EDITORIAL CHANGES Field Diagrams, 1-3-7, Table 1-7 (9.), 3-4-2c, 3-5-2b, 3-5-5b, 3-6 PENALTY, 5-1-2a, 7-2-5b EXCEPTION (1), Table 7-5-4, 7-5-5, 9-4 PENALTY, 9-5-1h, EXCEPTION, 9-8-1j, , Resolving Tied Games, Penalty Summary, NFHS Official Football Signals, Index.

4 2018 FOOTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS Proper Wearing and Use of Required Equipment (Point of Emphasis): Prior to the start of each game, the head coach must verify that all of his players have the proper equipment and that no illegal equipment will be used. The purpose of equipment rules is to ensure the safety and protection of both the player wearing the equipment and his opponent. Due to the potential for injury, game officials must strictly enforce equipment rules. Game officials have been reluctant to penalize a team for the failure of a player to properly wear all of the required equipment. This reluctance may be due to game officials assuming that equipment violations are a minor offense and do not warrant penalties. In view of this reluctance, a rule change has been implemented to lessen the severity of the consequence of violating equipment rules. With the lessened severity, it is imperative that game officials follow appropriate procedures when equipment violations occur. Equipment rules are an extremely important part of the game, and it is therefore essential that game officials are diligent in promptly addressing any and all equipment rule violations. Equipment violations can be grouped into three categories: (1) failure to properly wear required equipment, (2) failure to wear or use legal and/or required equipment, and (3) wearing illegal equipment. The first category encompasses instances where the required equipment is present, but is not worn properly. Examples include, but are not limited to, unsnapped chin straps, tooth and mouth protectors that are dangling, or jerseys that do not fully cover the shoulder pads or back pads. If game officials observe any improperly worn equipment during a dead-ball period, they should declare an official s time-out and ask the player to make a correction. However, if the equipment issue is not recognized until the snap is imminent, the game official should immediately sound his whistle to prevent the snap from occurring, declare an official s time-out and require that the player leave the game for at least one down to address the equipment issue. The second category is when a player is missing any required equipment. In this situation, an official s time-out must be declared, the player must leave the game for at least one down and will not be allowed to return to the game until the missing equipment is obtained and properly worn by the player. The third category occurs when a player wears illegal equipment. Examples include, but are not limited to, the wearing of cleats that exceed ½-inch, or the presence of a sticky substance on a player s uniform. If a player is detected wearing illegal equipment, his head coach is charged with an unsportsmanlike conduct foul under Rule 9-8-1h. If any equipment becomes illegal or defective during the game, correction must be made before the player continues to participate. Examples include chin-strap snaps which break off of the helmet or a jersey that slides up over the top of the shoulder pad. If the correction can be made without the assistance of a team attendant, and without delaying the ready-for-play signal by more than 25 seconds, an official s time-out may be called to perform such correction. Alternatively, a team may request a charged time-out to perform the correction. However, if correction cannot be completed within 25 seconds, or during a charged timeout, the player may not continue to participate until correction is made. Defenseless Player and Blindside Blocks (Point of Emphasis): In 2017, the NFHS adopted rules defining and giving examples of defenseless players, and rules prohibiting forceful blindside blocks outside the free-blocking zone unless initiated with open hands. Coaches and game officials should understand, teach and apply these rules in a manner promoting player safety and minimizing the risk of player injury. Defenseless Player A defenseless player is one who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury. The most common types of defenseless players include passers, receivers, sliding runners, runners whose forward progress is stopped, players out of the play and players who are blindside blocked. A defenseless player is not in an equal physical position with the player attacking him and could be severely injured when contacted. For example, a player passing or attempting to catch a ball is completely exposed to opponents. A player obviously out of the play has no reason to think an opponent will charge into him. A runner in an opponent s grasp and whose forward progress has been stopped cannot defend himself from an opponent taking a free shot at him. A downed runner or a runner giving himself up and sliding feet first cannot protect himself against unnecessary contact. A player receiving a blindside block is unaware of the opponent charging him. What is common among all these situations is that the player cannot defend himself or avoid potential contact, leaving himself vulnerable to injury.

5 Special attention must be given to contact against these players to determine if it is legal. Although defenseless players who are involved in the play may be contacted by an opponent, the player initiating contact must do so in a legal manner. The term defenseless player is relatively new to the rules, but the protection afforded these players is not. For several years, the rules have penalized roughing the passer, kick catching interference, illegal helmet contact, unnecessary roughness and late hits. Classifying players as defenseless reinforces the prohibition against illegal contact and emphasizes the need to protect the most vulnerable players. Excessive and unnecessary contact, including forceful contact to the head or neck area of a defenseless player, has long been illegal, and it has no part in the game. Coaches must exercise leadership in eliminating illegal contact, and game officials must act decisively to penalize illegal contact to minimize the risk of player injury. Blindside Blocks A blindside block is an effective blocking technique. There is nothing improper in executing blindside blocks generally, and the rules do not preclude their use altogether. Instead, to enhance player safety and minimize the risk of injury, the rules prohibit a specific type of blindside block: one that is forceful, is not initiated with open hands and occurs outside the free-blocking zone. A blindside block is a foul if: (1) the block occurs outside of the free-blocking zone; (2) the blocker does not initiate the block with open hands; and (3) the block is forceful. If all three of these factors are present, the blindside block is illegal. Coaches should teach proper blindside blocking techniques, and game officials should evaluate whether a blindside block is legal, based on these three factors and the considerations below, as well as the underlying spirit and intent of the rules to promote safety, eliminate illegal contact and minimize the risk of injury to players. Whether the player being blocked can see the block coming. A blindside block is a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching. In other words, it is a block that the opponent does not see coming. Game officials must first determine whether a block is a blindside block. Usually, this will be obvious. The player being blocked will be looking away from the blocker while being blocked from the side by an opponent. In some situations, however, the player being blocked may turn his head to see the blocker just before contact occurs. Such contact is still considered a blindside block. Though the player may have seen the blocker approach, he did not do so in sufficient time to have a reasonable opportunity to react, adjust and defend himself. Some element of time, though it may be very short, is necessary to accomplish the rule s safety purposes. In most situations, the blocker is running at full speed, increasing his momentum and focusing on one player. The player being blocked, however, is focused elsewhere and completely unaware of the charging blocker. Such a player who turns his head at the last second and sees his opponent just before contact cannot realistically protect himself. He is just as defenseless and vulnerable to injury as if he had not turned his head at all. Game officials should not be overly technical with this requirement and should always err on the side of player safety. The intent of this rule is to protect the player being blocked. It is not intended to create a legal way of throwing a shoulder or body block. When in question, the block is a blindside block. Whether the block occurred outside of the free-blocking zone. If a blindside block occurs in the freeblocking zone, it is legal even if the contact is forceful and even if it is not initiated with open hands. Of course, the contact must otherwise be legal a player cannot clip or target an opponent, for example. However, the free-blocking zone exists only during scrimmage plays, and it disintegrates as soon as the ball leaves the zone. When the zone is gone, any blindside block by rule occurs outside of the freeblocking zone and, if forceful, must be initiated with open hands to be legal. Whether the block was initiated with the open hands. Any forceful blindside block outside the free-blocking zone must be initiated with open hands. Blocks initiated with the shoulder or body are dangerous because of the amount of force they generate. Blocks initiated with open hands are significantly less dangerous because they do not typically generate that same amount of force. The open-hands requirement is intended to reduce the force associated with blindside blocks. As a result, game officials should consider two things in determining whether a blocker has complied with the open-hand requirement. First, the blocker s initial contact with his opponent must be with open hands if the block is forceful. Second, the force of the block should come from the blocker s hands and arms rather than from his shoulder or body. A player who makes first contact with open hands and imparts a force to the opponent by extending his hands and arms has complied with this rule. However, a player who makes first contact with open

6 hands but nonetheless forcefully drives his shoulder or body into his opponent has not complied with the rule. Instead, he has thrown a shoulder or body block with all the force that his shoulder and body carry. The open-hand requirement is meant to reduce that type of force. It is not intended to allow an otherwise illegal shoulder or body block simply by placing open hands on the opponent at the last second. Whether the block was forceful. If a player has thrown a non-open-handed blindside block outside the free-blocking zone, game officials must finally determine whether the block is forceful. If the block is forceful, it is a foul; if not forceful, it is not. Forceful contact is something more than minor contact but something less than excessive contact. The contact should be significant enough to notice, but it does not have to be violent or otherwise unnecessary to be forceful. As an aid to judging whether a block is forceful, the covering official should consider whether the blocker was only attempting to take his opponent out of the play, or whether the block was intended to take the opponent out of the game. The former is legal, while the latter is illegal. Game officials should take the entire block into consideration. The focus should be on the block itself and the blocker, because he is the player generating the force behind the block. The reaction of the player being blocked may help, but it is not the determining factor. Game officials should never base their decision on forceful contact solely on whether the player goes to the ground. Where a blocker s shoulder or body contact results in minor movement of the opponent and the force of the block is not obvious, the block is not forceful. However, where the blocker makes contact with some obvious degree of force behind the block, contact is forceful regardless of the effect on the opponent. Finally, game officials should be diligent in observing these blocks and penalizing infractions. Although the rule applies throughout the game, blindside blocks are most likely to be made by the offense on returns following interceptions, free kicks and punts. They may also occur when the offense reverses direction on the field. Game officials must use proper mechanics on these plays and be in position to observe players throwing blindside blocks. The most likely offenders will be those doing something different from others. For example, if most players are moving north, these players will be moving south or east and west. These are the players who crack or peel back, swim upstream or go against the grain, and they are suspect for potentially committing illegal contact fouls. Through good position and technique, a player initiating an open-handed blindside block can effectively obstruct his opponent with sufficient forceful contact while minimizing the risk of player injury. By teaching these techniques and consistently penalizing infractions, coaches and game officials will have continued taking positive steps toward reinforcing player safety, minimizing injury, and removing unnecessary and excessive contact from the game. Enforcement of Penalties for Personal Fouls and Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls (Point of Emphasis): Rule 9-4 provides a list of illegal personal contact fouls. These acts are illegal due to the potential for injury to an opponent. With a few notable exceptions, these fouls do not carry an automatic disqualification, although disqualification may result if the covering official judges the foul to be flagrant. Additionally, the penalties for repeated violations in the same game are not cumulative. For example, if a player pulls a ball carrier down by the face mask and later in the game commits a taunting foul, the player remains in the game. Unnecessary roughness fouls are personal fouls not unsportsmanlike conduct fouls and are not being included in the specific fouls that would lead to disqualification unless the act is flagrant. Unsportsmanlike conduct fouls never involve contact with an opponent. Game officials need to be aware of all circumstances before enforcing the distance penalty for a personal foul as there are several factors to be evaluated, such as the type of play (loose ball vs. running play), whether there was a change of possession, whether a score occurred during the play or whether a double foul or multiple fouls occurred. Rules 9-5 and define noncontact unsportsmanlike conduct and provide general examples of such fouls including using profanity, vulgar language or gestures, attempting to influence a game official s decision, a coach allowing his players to use illegal equipment, being on the field except as a substitute or replaced player and several other situations. Specific examples of unsportsmanlike conduct include but are not limited to the following: any delayed, excessive or prolonged act by which a player attempts to focus attention upon himself; using abusive, threatening or insulting language or gestures to opponents, teammates or game officials; or using baiting or taunting acts or words that engender ill will between teams. Unsportsmanlike conduct fouls accumulate and any player or non-player who receives two such fouls is automatically disqualified from the contest. However, any single foul judged by the game official to be

7 flagrant is disqualification. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties are always enforced from the succeeding spot. Situations have arisen in recent years regarding unsportsmanlike conduct that have not been correctly called. For example, the Where s the tee? play described in the case book is an example of unsportsmanlike conduct. The ball should be declared dead and the penalty should be enforced as a dead-ball foul. Football has been and will continue to be a game of deception and trickery involving multiple shifts, unusual formations and creative plays; however, actions and language designed to confuse the defense into believing there is a problem and a snap isn t imminent are beyond the scope of fair play. Pace of Play and Timing Issues (Point of Emphasis): In order to maintain a fair balance between offense and defense, a consistent pace of play should be established and maintained by the game officials during the entire contest. Each team should be allowed an equal opportunity to make substitutions and call plays during the time between the dead ball and the next ready-for-play signal. The pace of play should not change during the contest, and should be the same from game to game, and from officiating crew to officiating crew. Therefore, the committee recommends the ready-for-play signal be given between 12 and 15 seconds after the previous dead ball. This pace of play should be consistent no matter if either team wants to hurry up or slow down. Long incomplete passes, plays into the side zones and first downs may require the game officials to hustle to get the ball and line-to-gain equipment properly set, while short runs up the middle may require a slight delay before marking the ball ready for play. Consistency is the goal without regard to particular game situations. To accomplish a consistent pace, the referee should develop a feel for 12 to 15 seconds. This feel can be accomplished in many ways. A few examples could be for a referee to establish a routine of duties to perform after each dead-ball whistle, then mark the ball ready-for-play after completing those duties. A referee could also use the game clock to time 12 to 15 seconds if it is running and easily observable. Lastly, a referee could ask an observer to record the amount of time between a dead-ball whistle and the next ready-for-play so pace -of-play adjustments can be made during their next contest. With some attention by the referee and effort by the entire officiating crew, consistent pace of play can be achieved. In a similar fashion, game officials should also be vigilant about unfair use of the game clock. Rule has been around for many years and allows the referee to start or stop the game clock when a team attempts to illegally conserve or consume time. This rule applies at any time during the contest including the last two minutes of either half. Game officials are encouraged to become clock aware at 4:00 in each half for potential illegal clock manipulation. Game officials should also be clock aware near the end of the first and third periods if weather conditions or field conditions could give a team an advantage through the delay or acceleration of the reversal-of-field position at the end of each period. In 2017, the NFHS Football Rules Committee adopted Rule which gives an offended team the option to start the clock on the snap when a penalty is accepted with less than two minutes left in either half. This option applies to any accepted penalty by either team if the clock would otherwise start on the subsequent ready-for-play signal. In a situation where there is a live-ball foul by one team and a dead-ball foul by the other, or a dead-ball foul by both teams, each team would be given the option to start the clock on the snap if it would have otherwise started on the ready-for-play. If either team exercises this option, the clock will start on the snap. It is of no significance whether or not the clock was running at the time a foul occurred. IV. Review and discuss the articles listed in the Football Preseason Guide 2018 which was included in your football packet. (Please review the plays and rulings for each rule change area if they are provided). V. Answer and discuss all questions on the 2018 Officiating Mechanics Examination. We recommend that you complete it orally as a group. Please contact the office if you note any errors. The MOA expects all officials to go by the book the NFHS Football Officials Manual.

8 Football Mechanics 5-Game Official Exam NOTE: In the exam situations, A refers to the offensive Team and B refers to their opponents the defensive team. K refers to the kicking team and R refers to the receiving team. A1, B1, K1 and R1 are players of these teams. If team possession changes during the down, each team retains its identity. In kicking situations, it is not during a try and no fair-catch signal has been given unless specified. Unless stated, acts occur while: the ball is inbounds; a forward pass is legal; any out-of-bounds is between the goal lines. Line means scrimmage line. Reference to a foul is to a player foul which is not unsportsmanlike. There is no foul or change of possession, unless it is mentioned, and penalties are considered accepted for enforcement. The questions in this examination are to be answered on the basis of a five-game official crew of game officials (Referee, Umpire, Head Linesman, Line Judge, Back Judge) as outlined in the current NFHS Football Game Officials Manual, unless a four-game official crew is specifically designated. 1 - The game official is required to wear black football shoes, which may include some white accents, with black laces. 2 - The penalty marker shall not be used to mark the appropriate yard line on which a game official has observed an infraction. 3 - No game official shall use alcohol on the day of the contest or any form of tobacco product (e-cigarette or similar item) beginning with the arrival at the competition site until departure following the completion of the contest. 4 - After a score or try, prior to the free kick, all game officials need to encourage both teams to take free-kick positions quickly. 5 - After a score or try, prior to the free kick, the referee does not need to check with the lineto-gain crew for questions and positions. 6 - The game officials retain clerical authority over the game through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualifications, that are responsive to actions occurring

9 while the game officials had jurisdiction. 7 - The line judge is the game official who will indicate the end of the fourth period. 8 - In controlling team-personnel altercations, the head linesman and the line judge should alert the coach on their side to keep all team personnel off of the playing area. 9 - If a team-personnel altercation is in a game official s area, he/she should not attempt to stop initial confrontation Only the referee must consistently administer and enforce team-box and coaches' area restrictions The head linesman is the only game official who is to notify the opposing coach of a disqualification The line judge or head linesman should notify the coach on his/her side as to the reason for disqualification It is mandatory that any coach receiving two unsportsmanlike fouls carrying 15-yard penalties vacate the stadium area The game official - escorting the team with the second-half choice - obtains from that team's head coach its second-half choice and communicates same to the referee The back judge and line judge should bring an approved game ball from each team to the coin toss The back judge is to give a visible count of the last five seconds when on-field 25-second clocks are not utilized.

10 17 - At the conclusion of the coin-toss procedures and after the captains have been dismissed, only the umpire and head linesman move together for final instructions from the referee In the presence of the umpire, the referee shall instruct the visiting captain to give heads or tails choice before the coin toss The referee s use of a field microphone adds another dimension to communication a positive dimension when used properly When using a field microphone, the referee may announce the number of the player who committed the foul The head linesman should take care of the game ball after approval by the referee The referee shall coordinate the inspection of playing field and pylons The referee notifies all other game officials when period-shortening procedures are in effect The clock operator(s) should report to the game officials at the stadium at least 30 minutes before the game time Game officials should arrive at the site of the game at least 60 minutes before the scheduled game time The head linesman should check the line-to-gain equipment and meet the crew before the game In the pregame conference, the back judge should review starting time and be sure an auxiliary stopwatch, which records accumulated time, is available.

11 28 - Before the game, the umpire should accompany the referee as he/she visits with each head coach, and examine and rule on any player equipment about which the coach has a question of legality Football game officials must have a football sense which supersedes the technical application of the rules so that the game goes smoothly The umpire shall furnish a clipping device for use in measuring first downs. Use of a second clip is recommended The penalty marker shall be a light gold flag (15 inches x 15 inches) with a middle pouch weighted with sand or beans, etc The game officials appearance does not affect the attitude of coaches, players and fans Both arms crossed in front of the chest is the recommended crew communication signal for game officials to indicate 11 players in game when counting is complete All game officials need to establish and maintain the same tempo throughout the game While serving on the line-to-gain crew, the crew should refrain from using items that would distract them from their responsibilities (i.e., electronic devices) All game officials shall enter the field together at least 30 minutes before game time or at an earlier time if required by the state association The game official must draw distinction between contact necessary to make a legal block or tackle, and that which targets defenseless players.

12 38 - Game officials who are familiar with the mechanics and understand their individual duties find the intangible requirements of good officiating usually follow naturally Use of any replay or television monitoring equipment in making any decision related to the game is not prohibited The umpire, on a kickoff, if a short kick is anticipated, should be positioned on R s free-kick line The referee, on a kickoff, before the kick, holds arm above his/her head to indicate he/she is ready The umpire, on a kickoff, on a kick to his/her side, signals clock to start when the kick is touched, only if the ball is even or upfield from the umpire Before the kick on the kickoff, the referee should count R players The head linesman, on a kickoff, before the kick, should monitor bench area After the kick on the kickoff, the back judge is to observe legality of blocks and action away from ball Before the kick on the kickoff, the line judge should hold a bean bag to mark first touching by K The head linesman should move cautiously with play along the sideline on a kick to the opposite side of field on a kickoff The line judge, on a kickoff, should watch for any infractions involving K s free-kick line.

13 49 - The line judge, on a kickoff, if a short kick is anticipated, should observe legality of blocks and action away from the ball After a kick on a kickoff, the line judge should be alert for first touching by K, and should mark spot with bean bag After a kick on a kickoff, the line judge should be in position to take over coverage of runner in his/her area on long return Before a kick on a kickoff, the back judge should take charge of the ball The back judge, on a kickoff, should count R players The back judge, on a kickoff, should be in position to take over coverage of the runner in his area on a long return Before the kick on the kickoff, if the ball falls or blows off the tee, the back judge should sound whistle to prevent action Only the head linesman shall assist the referee with halftime intermission responsibilities All game officials should leave the field together between halves The head linesman should signal time to start clock to time intermission The back judge should secure the game ball, hand it to the kicker, and instruct him/her to wait for referee s signal before he/she kicks The umpire determines which team has choice for second half.

14 61 - All game officials should return to the field at least five minutes before the second half is to begin Between halves, all game officials should discuss the overtime procedure, if applicable Between periods, the head linesman quickly takes the ball to a corresponding point on the other half of field and reverses directions Between periods, the line judge will check number of down and distance to gain If play is in progress and time expires for the period, the horn should be sounded On a scrimmage kick out of bounds in flight, the referee lines up the covering official at the spot where the ball crossed the sideline by using an outstretched arm During an injury time-out, the referee will summon appropriate health-care professional(s) and/or coaches onto the field During an injury time-out, the umpire makes sure summoned appropriate health-care professional(s) and/or coaches are not on the field for coaching purposes The umpire will attempt to keep players a significant distance away from the seriously injured player(s) during an injury time-out.

15 70 - When time expires and ball becomes dead at the end of the period, the referee will sound whistle and repeat time-out signal twice If the field clock is used and if time expires prior to the snap, the referee will sound his/her whistle to prevent snap, if possible When the field clock is not used, the line judge will notify the referee approximately four minutes before the end of the second and fourth periods If the ball is snapped immediately after time has expired at the end of the period, the head linesman will sound his/her whistle loud and long During a time-out, the line judge will observe Team A until the referee is ready to start play All game officials, during a time-out, should confirm number of remaining time-outs The back judge, during a time-out, should time 60-second interval and notify referee at 45 seconds and again when 60-second interval expires During a time-out, the umpire should maintain position over ball The head linesman, during a time-out, should check number of time-outs remaining for each team During a time-out, the referee will inform each team s huddle of down and time remaining in period When measuring for a first down, the back judge will place foot just behind yard line where clip is to be placed to align linesman so that chains are parallel to sidelines.

16 81 - The referee, when measuring for a first down, will rotate the ball so the long axis is parallel to sideline When measuring for a first down, the umpire will take the forward indicator from crew members at place of measurement The head linesman will mark foremost point of ball for down-marker operator on all first downs When measuring for a first down, the referee will spot the ball at the proper place when measurement is completed In administering penalties, the umpire will make note of enforcement spot for penalty Only the back judge, in administering penalties, will record unsportsmanlike penalties The umpire will assist in relaying foul information to appropriate sideline The head linesman should be ready to have line-to-gain equipment moved after penalty administration When there is a double foul, the referee will signal each foul, facing the press box After a safety, try or field goal, the back judge will begin timing one-minute interval after the head linesman signals score or no score All game officials should hustle up sidelines to free-kick position and then fill out game cards after a safety, try or field goal.

17 92 - The referee, on a running play, should move behind play toward side of field to which play advances to cover runner if he/she is downed near line On a running play, the umpire should check for disconcerting signals by B The back judge, on a running play, should assist with relay of ball in side zone from wing official to umpire In an unbalanced formation, the strength of the formation is not determined by the number of eligible receivers outside of the offensive tackles If motion occurs, the strength of the formation is not determined until the snap The head linesman and umpire should be ready to adjust coverage if potential passer decides to run The line-to-gain indicator shall be set to establish a 10-yard neutral zone before a field-goal attempt by free kick, after fair catch or awarded fair catch When the offensive formation shows trips to one side (three receivers), the back judge has the two outside receivers The referee should verbally alert defenders when passer has released the ball. OUTLINE MUST BE SIGNED BY ALL PRESENT AND SENT TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR BY DECEMBER 1, 2018

18 MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL STUDY CLUBS LESSON # NAME CLUB DATE The MOA Regional Directors have discontinued the required mechanics clinics (train the trainer) that have been held at the MCA convention in Great Falls. The reason for the discontinuation is that the intensive training shared with pool leaders and representatives over the past several years has now become repetitive except for the few new mechanics changes every other year. A different mechanics training requirement (hopefully an online offering) is being explored for future years. The MOA will still designate study club #2 to be centered on mechanics training for football. The MOA Office still has all of the resources from the Train the Trainer clinics during previous summers held in conjunction with the Montana Coaches Association (MCA) Clinic in Great Falls. We expect pools to use these resources to continue their training and if pools need information or material from these clinics for these study clubs, please contact the MHSA office. Review the NFHS Football Officials Manual Significant Changes A new NFHS Official Football Signal for Illegal Blindside Block (Signal 26) was added to the NFHS Official Football Signals. Targeting was added to Signal 24 of the NFHS Official Football Signals. Free kick infraction was added to Signal 19 of the NFHS Official Football Signals. Added that some white accents are now allowed on the black football shoe that game officials wear as a part of the game official uniform. Added that No game official shall use alcohol on the day of the contest or any form of tobacco product (e-cigarette or similar item) beginning with the arrival at the competition site until departure following the completion of the contest. Under END-OF-GAME AND OVERTIME PROCEDURE, added that The game officials retain clerical authority over the game through the completion of any reports, including those imposing disqualifications, that are responsive to actions occurring while the game officials had jurisdiction. Under RUNNING PLAY REFEREE (Five-Game Officials), after the ball is spotted, move to a position that is visible to clock operator, approximately yards from the line-of scrimmage and 5 yards wide of the huddle. 1 - NEW OFFICIAL FOOTBALL SIGNAL - #26 (ILLEGAL BLINDSIDE BLOCK) Signal 26 is a new signal and has been added to the NFHS Official Football Signals chart. To indicate an illegal blindside block, the fists are bumped together at chest level.

19 2 - Mechanics for pop-up kicks The game official on K s free-kick line (back judge in crew of 5, head linesman in crew of 4) is primary for judging a pop-up kick. The game official on R s free-kick line (line judge in crews of 5 or 4) is secondary. Review from previous seasons: 3 - Five-Man official crew strength to line judge s side 4 Five-game official crew - trips to one side (three Receivers)

20 5 - New guides for When in question back of the book: Incomplete pass or fumble - Incomplete pass Forward or backward pass - Forward Kick or pass touched or not not Catch or not no catch Passer has thrown or fumbled has thrown Touchback or safety Touchback Defenseless or not Defenseless Excessive / unnecessary or not Excessive / unnecessary Fumble or dead ball - Dead ball Helmet on or off off Accidental or intentional Accidental o Contact o Touching o Kicking 5 or 15 Face Mask 15 5 or 15 Kicker / Holder Announcing the number of the offending player is now allowed (not required) when the referee is using a microphone. The NFHS Football Officials Manual has changed to now allow for the Referee to announce the number of the offending player when the referee is using a microphone. Announcements of the offending player will be allowed even on football fields that are not equipped with a field microphone. Here is the rule in the NFHS Officials Manual: USE OF THE MICROPHONE I. REFEREE A. The referee s use of a field microphone adds another dimension to communication a positive dimension when used properly. The microphone should be used to explain penalties and unusual situations. The referee should have the option to use or not use a field microphone. The referee should have control (on/off switch) of the microphone. If used, the

21 microphone should be tested prior to the start of the contest and the following guidelines should be followed: 1. Signals are still necessary, starting with a preliminary signal (no microphone) and then (after the penalty is accepted or declined) the final signal in conjunction with the use of the microphone. 2. Normal voice quality no shouting (realize that there often is a delay between speaking and hearing what was said over the loud speakers). 3. Speak in short phrases. Pause briefly between phrases. 4. The number of the player who committed the foul may be announced. 5. Turn microphone off so other comments are not broadcast. We believe this is a positive change and will help with the communication between officials and coaches. This will make the sport of football consistent with many of the other high school sports that announce player s numbers when a foul is committed NFHS FOOTBALL GAME OFFICIALS MANUAL POINTS OF EMPHASIS - Review and Discuss: Equipment Issues to be Addressed It is critical for all game officials to continue to strengthen their efforts to address all issues that deal with the current equipment requirements. Game officials must focus on these three areas of concern: (1) required equipment not worn properly (pants that do not cover the knees), (2) required and/or legal equipment missing or not being used correctly (no knee pads, thigh guards or hip pads), and (3) wearing illegal equipment (a hard cast not properly covered). One adjustment made to Rule requires that the head coach will verify to the referee and another game official prior to the game that "his players have been issued all of the required equipment and they will not use illegal equipment." Crew members are encouraged to become very observant throughout their pre-game responsibilities and to be prepared to immediately address any equipment issues with the player and a coach. Appropriate communication with the player in the presence of the coach allows for correction to be made prior to the beginning of the contest and avoids problems during the game. Once the game has started, a major rule change (NFHS Football Rule e) for 2018 calls for an official's time-out to be declared for the removal from the game for at least one down of any player who is wearing required/legal equipment improperly or not at all or is wearing illegal equipment. It is certainly appropriate to allow the correction of the equipment problem quickly and avoid removing the player if the correction/repair is clearly possible in a timely manner (a tooth and mouth protector is hanging from the face mask or a back pad attached to the shoulder pads is not covered by the jersey). Multiple requests are NOT recommended/encouraged to address an equipment problem that continues to be an issue. NFHS Football Rule e is likely to get results as this concern is addressed. Rule 9-9 (Failure to Properly Wear Required Equipment) has been deleted from the 2018 NFHS Football Rules Book. Rule no longer calls for a delay-of-game foul for failure to properly wear required/legal equipment. An important change to Rule 9-8-1h calls for an unsportsmanlike foul charged to the head coach if, and only if, a player(s) is wearing illegal equipment. Game officials are very strongly urged to immediately address this current problem with equipment issues early and often as the 2018 season begins. There is appropriate rule support now for dealing with these problems, and this problem cannot be ignored. It will not go away if game officials fail to take appropriate action. Consistent Pace of Play Throughout the Game