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 2013 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 2013 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. /tls

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. 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. Preferably use before the season s first game: A. Review the MOA Handbook. Review and discuss the following changes for this year that apply to general MOA information and football: MOA Handbook Changes and reminders for are as follows: 1. Mileage has increased from 55.5 cents per mile last year to 56.5 cents per mile this year. Per diem for each official, including the driver, has increased to 12 cents per mile. So, the driver, for a regular season match, would receive 68.5 cents per mile while the rider official would receive 12 cents per mile. Reminders from Previous years: 2. 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. 3. Language has been added to the MOA Handbook to allow officials whose employment requires them to be away from home during the week to attend study clubs at an alternate pool location with the permission of both the regional director and the MOA Commissioner. 4. When football crews wear the approved black pants, black socks are required. 5. 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

3 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. 6. For clarification, the football coin toss must occur three (3) minutes prior to the game. A pregame procedure guide can be found on the MHSA football page at 7. Mercy Rule If a score occurs and the point differential is still greater than 35 in any Class A, B or C (8 and 6 player) football game, the clock will stop between the score and the ensuing free kick. 8. The MHSA Board approved the following addition to Section (34), D.1. (MHSA Crowd Control policy): Special attention must be given to the supervision of student cheering sections including having an administrator present near the vicinity of the student cheering section for home and post season contests to assist with crowd control. III. Review and discuss all of the following new NFHS rule changes for 2013 SOLID-COLORED TOWELS NOW LEGAL (1-5-3a(5)a): The committee modified the rule regarding the authorized wearing of a moisture-absorbing towel. Towels that are one solid color may now be worn, as long as they are not the color of the football or penalty flag. The towel cannot have no more than one visible manufacturer s logo/trademark, which cannot exceed 2 ¼ square inches in any dimension. Towels worn by teammates must be the same color. Previously, the towel could only be white and unmarked. USE OF COMMUNICATION DEVICES EXPANDED (1-6): The committee has expanded use of communication devices to allow, coaches, players and nonplayers to use any form of available communication technology during authorized conferences outside the 9-yard marks (7-yard marks in nine-, eight- and six-player competition), on the sidelines and during the halftime intermission period. Use of communication devices by players except during conferences outside the 9-yard marks continues to be prohibited. DEFINITION OF A CATCH CLARIFIED (2-4-1): The committee clarified the definition of a catch. An airborne player who has forward progress stopped inbounds and is carried out of bounds by an opponent before contacting the ground is awarded a catch at the spot of forward progress. LOSS OF HELMET AFTER THE DOWN (3-5-10d): The committee clarified that if the helmet comes completely off during subsequent dead-ball action related to the down, and is not directly attributable to a foul by the opponent, the player must leave the game for at least one down (unless half-time or overtime intermission occurs). An official s time-out shall be called. KICK-CATCHING INTERFERENCE (6-5-6 PENALTY; 2-9-2; 5-2-1; 5-2-2; 6-5-4; b): The committee added a 15-yard penalty to the existing option of accepting an awarded fair catch for kickcatch interference. The option to try a scoring free kick after an awarded fair catch remains. PASS INTERFERENCE PENALTIES REVISED ( PENALTY; Table 7-5): This rule change removes the automatic first down for defensive pass interference and the loss of down for offensive pass interference. The 15-yard penalty provision remains for both fouls. CLARIFICATION ON SCORE ON A TRY (8-3-3): The committee clarified that the touchdown scoring team is the only team that can score on a try. BLOCKING ON FREE KICKS REVISED (9-3-8c NEW): A new provision added to the existing rule stipulates the kicking team may initiate contact once the receiving team has initiated a block within the neutral zone.

4 INITIATING CONTACT WITH A HELMET-LESS OPPONENT (9-4-3l NEW): In the interest of minimizing risk, the committee added a new illegal personal contact foul. This foul is charged to any player who initiates contact with an opposing player whose helmet has come completely off. ILLEGAL PARTICIPATION FOR PLAYERS CONTINUING TO PLAY WITHOUT A HELMET (9-6-4g NEW): Continuing with focus on risk minimization, the committee determined that a helmet-less player shall not block, tackle or otherwise participate beyond the immediate action in which the player is engaged when the helmet came completely off. The penalty would be a live-ball, basic-spot foul Editorial Changes Field Diagrams; 1-2-3b NOTES 2; 1-2-3f; 1-2-3l; 1-5-2b; 1-5-3c(2); 1-5, 1-6 PENALTY (Deleted); 1-7; a, b; ; b; ; 3-5-8c; 3-6-3; 6-5-4; 7-5-2c; Table 7-5-2e; 9-3-8; 9-3 PENALTY; 9-4 PENALTY; 9-6 PENALTY; 9-8-1f NOTE; 9-8-1g, h; 9-8 PENALTY; b; 10-6; Football Fundamentals II-4, 5, IX-6, X-3e, 6-8; Resolving Tied Games ; Situations G, H, I; Nine-, Eight- and Six- Player Rules Differences; PENALTY SUMMARY; Official Football Signals 40, Points of Emphasis 1. Prohibition on Contact to and with the Helmet 2. Reconditioning and Recertification of Football Equipment 3. Free Blocking Zone Enforcement Consistent Enforcement of Blocking Below the Waist See the NFHS rule book for more information on this 2013 Point of Emphasis. IV. Review and discuss the articles listed in the Football Preseason Guide 2013 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 2013 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. OUTLINE MUST BE SIGNED BY ALL PRESENT AND SENT TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR BY DECEMBER 1, 2013

5 and Football Mechanics Five-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, unless a four-game official crew is specifically designated. 1. The game officials appearance does not affect the attitude of coaches, players and fans. 2. The penalty marker shall be a light gold flag (15 inches x 15 inches) with a middle pouch weighted with sand or beans, etc. 3. By state association adoption, full-length, lined black pants with a single 1¼-inch white stripe down each leg may be worn in place of the traditional knickers if worn by the entire crew. 4. Football game officials must have a football sense which supersedes the technical application of the rules so that the game goes smoothly. 5. Before the game, the linesman 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. 6. In the pregame conference, the umpire should review starting time and be sure an auxiliary stopwatch, which records accumulated time, is available. 7. The line judge should check the line-to-gain equipment and meet the crew before the game. 8. Game officials should arrive at the site of the game at least 1½ hours before the scheduled game time. 9. The referee is authorized to correct an obvious error in timing if discovered prior to the second live ball following an error unless the period has officially ended. 10. The back judge notifies all other game officials when period-shortening procedures are in effect.

6 11. The referee shall coordinate the inspection of playing field and pylons. 12. The line judge should take care of the game ball after approval by the referee. 13. When using a field microphone, the referee shall not announce the number of the player who committed the foul. 14. The referee s use of a field microphone adds another dimension to communication a positive dimension when used properly. 15. In the presence of the line judge, the referee shall instruct the visiting captain to give heads or tails choice before the coin toss. 16. At the conclusion of the coin-toss procedures and after the captains have been dismissed, only the umpire and linesman move together for final instructions from the referee. 17. If the winner of the coin toss defers, the referee will step toward the press box and give the toss option-deferred signal twice. 18. The back judge should bring an approved game ball from each team to the coin toss. 19. 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. 20. It is not mandatory that any coach receiving two unsportsmanlike fouls carrying 15-yard penalties vacate the stadium area. 21. The line judge or linesman should notify the coach on his/her side as to the reason for disqualification. 22. The referee is the only game official who is to notify the opposing coach of a disqualification. 23. All game officials must consistently administer and enforce team-box and coaches area restrictions. 24. If a team-personnel altercation is in a game official s area, he/she should attempt to stop initial confrontation.

7 25. In controlling team-personnel altercations, the linesman and the line judge should alert the coach on their side to keep all team personnel off of the playing area. 26. The umpire is the game official who will indicate the end of the fourth period. 27. After a score or try, prior to the free kick, the line judge, while at the 9-yard marks, counts K players and identifies the free-kick line for the receiving team. 28. After a score or try, prior to the free kick, the linesman does need to check with the line-to-gain crew for questions and positions. 29. After a score or try, prior to the free kick, all game officials need to encourage both teams to take free-kick positions quickly. 30. For all game officials, the bean bag is to serve as an aid to enforcement and is the absolute reference point. 31. The penalty marker should be tucked out of sight for all game officials. 32. Discretion, officiating position and game situation should determine whether the penalty marker is dropped or tossed following an infraction. 33. Before the kick on the kickoff, the referee should be on R s 10-yard line on the linesman s side just outside hash marks. 34. Before the kick on the kickoff, the referee will count R players. 35. On a kickoff, the referee, on a deep kick, shall retreat to the 5-yard line to rule on a touchback. 36. The referee, on a kick down the middle on a kickoff, should pick up the runner and follow him/her until releasing to the covering official. 37. The umpire, on a kickoff, if a short kick is anticipated, should be positioned on K s free-kick line. 38. The umpire, on a kickoff, before the kick, holds arm above his/her head to indicate he/she is ready.

8 39. 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. 40. Before the kick on the kickoff, the umpire should count K players. 41. The linesman, on a kickoff, before the kick, should monitor bench area. 42. The linesman, on a kickoff, should maintain position-enabling coverage of the middle of the field. 43. The linesman, on a kickoff, on a kick to the opposite side of the field, should observe action of other players in vicinity of kicker. 44. The linesman should move cautiously with play along the sideline on a kick to the opposite side of field on a kickoff. 45. The line judge, on a kickoff, should watch for any infractions involving K s free-kick line. 46. The line judge, on a kickoff, if a short kick is anticipated, should observe legality of blocks and action away from the ball. 47. After a kick on a kickoff, the line judge should be alert for first touching, and should mark spot with penalty marker. 48. 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. 49. The back judge s position, on a kickoff before the kick, is on K s free-kick line in side zone to monitor bench area and assist kicking team in getting into position. 50. The back judge, on a kickoff, should count R players. 51. The back judge, on a kickoff, should be in position to take over coverage of the runner in his area on a long return.

9 52. Before the kick on the kickoff, if the ball falls or blows off the tee, the back judge should sound whistle to prevent action. 53. All game officials shall assist the referee with halftime intermission responsibilities. 54. All game officials should leave the field together between halves. 55. The umpire should escort the captain to center of field with the linesman between halves. 56. 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. 57. The line judge determines which team has choice for second half. 58. All game officials should return to the field at least five minutes before the second half is to begin. 59. Between halves, all game officials should discuss the overtime procedure, if applicable. 60. Between periods, the referee quickly takes the ball to a corresponding point on the other half of field and reverses directions. 61. Between periods, the back judge will check number of down and distance to gain. 62. The linesman, between periods, will reverse ends of the line-to-gain indicator and two crew members. 63. Between periods, the line judge and back judge will check team box and huddle areas for appropriate conference procedure as during charged time-out. 64. During an injury time-out, the back judge will summon appropriate health-care professional(s) and/or coaches on field. 65. During an injury time-out, the linesman makes sure summoned appropriate health-care professional(s) and/or coaches are not on the field for coaching purposes. 66. The referee will attempt to keep players a significant distance away from the seriously injured

10 player(s) during an injury time-out. 67. When time expires and ball becomes dead at the end of the period, the umpire will sound whistle and repeat time-out signal twice. 68. 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. 69. When the field clock is not used, the back judge will notify the referee approximately four minutes before the end of the second and fourth periods. 70. If the ball is snapped immediately after time has expired at the end of the period, the linesman will sound his/her whistle loud and long. 71. During a time-out, the umpire will observe Team A until the referee is ready to start play. 72. All game officials, during a time-out, should confirm number of remaining time-outs. 73. 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. 74. During a time-out, the referee should maintain position over ball. 75. The line judge, during a time-out, should check number of time-outs remaining for each team. 76. During a time-out, the referee will inform each team s huddle of down and time remaining in period. 77. When measuring for a first down, the line judge will place foot just behind yard line where clip is to be placed to align linesman so that chains are parallel to sidelines. 78. The referee, when measuring for a first down, will rotate the ball so the long axis is parallel to sideline. 79. When measuring for a first down, the back judge will take the forward indicator from crew members at place of measurement.

11 80. The referee will mark foremost point of ball for down-marker operator on all first downs. 81. When measuring for a first down, the referee will spot the ball at the proper place when measurement is completed. 82. In administering penalties, the umpire will make note of enforcement spot for penalty. 83. All game officials, in administering penalties, will record unsportsmanlike penalties. 84. The umpire will assist in relaying foul information to appropriate sideline. 85. The referee should be ready to have line-to-gain equipment moved after penalty administration. 86. When there is a double foul, the referee will signal each foul, facing the press box. 87. After a safety, try or field goal, the back judge will begin timing one-minute interval after the linesman signals score or no score. 88. All game officials should hustle up sidelines to free-kick position and then fill out game cards after a safety, try or field goal. 89. 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. 90. On a running play, the umpire should check for disconcerting signals by B. 91. The referee, on a running play, should assist with relay of ball in side zone from wing official to umpire. 92. In an unbalanced formation, the strength of the formation is not determined by the number of eligible receivers outside of the offensive tackles. 93. If motion occurs, the strength of the formation is not determined until the snap. 94. The linesman and line judge should be ready to adjust coverage if potential passer decides to

12 run. 95. The referee should be ready to rule on the direction (forward or backward) of a quick quarterback pass. 96. On a forward pass, the covering officials should observe touching or catching by an ineligible player. 97. The referee should verbally alert defenders when passer has released the ball. 98. On a scrimmage kick, after the snap, the umpire should be alert to assist the referee in covering a short or blocked kick and determining if the ball crosses neutral zone. 99. Following a fair catch, the umpire needs to be sure referee knows it was a fair catch The game officials not observing a touchdown do not mirror signal. OUTLINE MUST BE SIGNED BY ALL PRESENT AND SENT TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR BY DECEMBER 1, 2013

13 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 every August. 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. The Great Falls and Missoula pools put together the first mechanics training session at the MCA Clinic and then Tom Oberweiser put on the second 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 1. The second half choices will be done through communication with the head coaches. Captains are no longer brought to the center of the field. The line judge and umpire switch positions on the Five-Game Officials kickoff coverage. The alignment and coverage areas for the Five-Game Officials kickoff coverage has been adjusted. When the ball becomes dead near the sidelines and the first down is gained, the covering official will stop the clock. Crew communication will notify the referee when to wind the clock following the ready-for-play signal if the player was inbounds. Second Half Choice Information: For the 2012 Season, there will be a change in the second half coin toss procedure in all levels of Montana high school football. The second half choices will be done through communication with the head coaches at the end of the half. Captains will no longer be brought to the center of the field. Here are the adjustments that were made to the 2012 and 2013 Game Officials Manual for specific reference: (Underlining shows additions; strikethrough shows deletions.) Page 14, II. UMPIRE: B. Second-half choices: 1. On signal from referee, escort captain(s) to center of field. 2. Remain with referee and captains and check on options given teams to ensure accuracy. Page 14, III. LINESMAN, LINE JUDGE AND BACK JUDGE: a. Pregame: and start of second half:

14 Page 14, IV. ALL GAME OFFICIALS: B. Second-half choices: 1. Use same mechanic as used for pregame. 1. 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. 2. The referee then obtains the opposing team s response to the second-half choice team s choice from the game official escorting that team After choices are completed, come together at center of field for any final instructions Hustle to kickoff positions. Linesman, umpire and judge(s) clear sidelines before going to kickoff position. 5. Following the mandatory three-minute warm-up period after the halftime intermission expires, both teams assume their respective free-kick formations. The processes that will be implemented for all MHSA Contests are as follows: The 1 st half ends Both head coaches must communicate with the officials before they leave the field for halftime. The MOA official (wing official on their sideline) who is escorting the team with the secondhalf choice finds the head coach and obtains from that team s head coach its second-half choice. This official immediately communicates this information to the referee. The referee then obtains the opposing team s response to the second-half choice team s choice from the game official escorting that team. After the teams come back from the halftime intermission, the officials will come together at center of field for any final instructions. Following the mandatory three-minute warm-up period after the halftime intermission expires, there will not be a meeting in the center of the field and both teams will assume their respective free-kick formations.

15 Five-Game Official Positions for Kickoff: Four-Game Official Positions for Kickoff: GAME OFFICIALS MANUAL POINTS OF EMPHASIS 1 - SPORTSMANSHIP END OF GAME MANAGEMENT The NFHS Game Officials Manual Committee has once again made Sportsmanship a point of emphasis for the football seasons and wants to extend the focus to include end-of-game protocol/preventive officiating. NFHS football rules allow state associations to prescribe a point differential that allows the game to be terminated or a running clock to be used. The NFHS Football Rules Committee shares the concern about potential injuries and the issues surrounding sportsmanship in those situations when the point differential is implemented. A basic requirement for all athletes is to be able to control their emotions when things occur that could trigger unsportsmanlike behavior. It is of the utmost importance that participants, coaches and game officials carefully and diligently enforce all playing rules, but particularly those regarding safety and risk minimization. Unwarranted and unnecessary punishing of an opponent has become a style of play that is specifically condemned when a game has been decided. Players must be made aware of potentially unsafe techniques and refrain from their use. For game officials, dead-ball officiating is critical in these types of games. Players must be monitored carefully as they may resort to cheap shots. Game officials must be ever vigilant to make calls involving player safety and potential risk. There are several areas of officiating that should never be compromised. Taunting and fouls that endanger player safety must never be ignored. Obvious and blatant acts cannot be ignored. Players also have responsibilities to their teams and their opponents to play within the rules for the whole game. All game officials have an opportunity to exercise preventive officiating but must call those fouls related to player safety. Game officials will at times need to be more vocal on the field and empower the captains to help game officials keep their teammates in line. Coaches and game officials must act decisively to eliminate - to the greatest extent possible - threats to the welfare of football players.

16 2 - ENFORCING THAT LEGAL EQUIPMENT IS WORN PROPERLY Head Coaches and game officials should always keep in mind that risk minimization comes first. Required equipment is mandated for the well-being of the players. Coaches and game officials must remember that high school players are apt to mimic what they see collegiate or professional players do on television. Note that what is allowed at those levels by either rule or application of rules can be totally different than what is legal or should be allowed in high school. Permitting players to wear knee pads that do not cover the knee is one such area of concern. Requiring the play card to be worn on the wrist as intended by the manufacturer is another. Enforcing the NFHS football equipment rules is just as important as enforcing a clip or chop block as both of these rules deal directly with player safety. Ideally, the head coach should shoulder a great deal of this responsibility because the coach is required to verify that all of the team s players are legally equipped. Game officials have the responsibility to penalize the head coach when players are not legally equipped and to prohibit the players from participating until they become legally equipped. It is suggested that game officials address these equipment concerns during the pre-game activities through a diligent review of all players. Coaches and game officials must work together to require compliance with NFHS football equipment rules. 3 - LINESMAN AND LINE JUDGE POSITIONING It is important that the Linesman and Line Judge begin each play positioned on the sideline, outside the field of play. The Linesman and Line Judge should start each play aligned opposite each other straddling the neutral zone, working just out of bounds but inside the restraining line that aligns with their respective sideline. This will help the wing officials with several field management duties: Player and non-player safety as well as sideline control with the prospect for clear communication between the game officials and coaches is very important. Positioning along the sideline allows the action to be in front of them. Working wide will give the Linesman and Line Judge a broader view of the play with complete outside-in coverage while keeping the play boxed in. Working outside the field of play will also prevent game officials from having players lining up or positioned behind them. It is essential to begin each play wide. This gives the game official a better perspective with a wider peripheral view for better officiating opportunities. 4 - KICKOFF MECHANICS AND COVERAGE Significant changes were implemented by the NFHS Game Officials Manual Committee regarding kickoff mechanics and coverage. As a result of the addition of the new NFHS football rule 9-3-8, the committee is emphasizing the new mechanics and coverage on the kickoff. The rationale for the changes has to do with the addition of NFHS football rule and the number of deep kicks that are occurring throughout the country. The Umpire and Line Judge have reversed their positions. This will allow for the Line Judge to be on the line during runbacks and allow him/her to make the calls on the line he/she would typically make during the other plays of the game. In addition, the positioning of the Line Judge has been moved back to the 10-yard line to help with kicks in the deep corner. The Referee has been positioned closer to the sideline to take care of deep kicks to his/her deep corner. The Linesman has been moved up to the receiver s free-kick line to have a better look at the legality of blocks if an on-sides kick occurs. As in other situations, the crew should consider other factors such as wind conditions, skill of the kicker, etc., in adjusting their positions on the kickoff. OUTLINE MUST BE SIGNED BY ALL PRESENT AND SENT TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR BY DECEMBER 1, 2013

17 MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL STUDY CLUBS LESSON # NAME CLUB DATE I. Recommendations for Study Club #3 A. That the NFHS Football Examination Part I be taken by the pool at home or in a manner appropriate to the pool. If taken at home we suggest answers be discussed orally as a group at the next meeting. II. Discuss any problems, clarifications, concerns, or ideas that occurred while administering the major rule changes from last year. A. Review and discuss all of the 2012 rule changes as follows: RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FOR CORPORATE ADVERTISING AND MARKINGS ON THE FIELD OF PLAY (1-2-3h, 1-2-3l NEW): The committee cleared the way for State Associations and their member schools to place corporate advertising and/or commercial markings on the field of play. This advertising is not permitted to obstruct the yard lines, hash marks or nine-yard marks. If needed, shadow lines may be utilized to ensure the visibility of the required marks. Previously, advertising was only allowed in the end zones and outside the field. FOOTBALL GLOVES MUST MEET THE NOCSAE TEST STANDARD STARTING IN 2013 (1-5- 2b): The implementation date for the NOCSAE test standard on football gloves was delayed for one year. Beginning with the 2013 season, all football gloves must meet the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture, unless made of unaltered plain cloth. PLAY CARDS MUST BE WORN ON THE WRIST (1-5-3c(8) NEW): The committee expanded the list of illegal equipment to include play cards that are not worn on the wrist. The committee had received concerns about players wearing these cards in a location other than the wrist. BLOCKING-BELOW-THE-WAIST RULES REVISED (2-3-7): Under a longstanding interpretation, it was not a foul for a player to block below the waist if the hand(s) of the opponent was first contacted below the waist. This revision changes that interpretation and stipulates that such action is a foul. DEFINITION OF A CATCH REVISED (2-4-1): Previously, the covering official could have ruled that an airborne player attempting to catch the ball would have come down inbounds, but was prevented from doing so because of contact by an opponent. The revision stipulates that in order to be ruled a catch, a player is required to establish possession of the ball and contact the ground inbounds while maintaining possession, regardless of the opponent s action. PLAYER REQUIRED TO BE REMOVED IF HELMET COMES OFF DURING THE DOWN ( d): The committee reviewed data gathered from multiple states regarding the frequency of

18 helmets coming off during the down. Based on this review, the committee approved a rule change stipulating that if any player s helmet comes off during the down, and it is not due to a foul by the opponent, that player must leave the game for at least one down (unless halftime or an overtime intermission occurs). In such circumstances, an officials time-out occurs. RESTRICTIONS ADDED TO BLOCKING ON FREE KICKS (9-3-8 NEW): The committee changed the rule to prohibit members of the kicking team from initiating contact (blocking) against members of the receiving team until the ball has broken the plane of the receiving team s restraining line, or until the kicking team is eligible to recover the free-kick. Kicking team members are permitted to block if blocked by members of the receiving team prior to either of these conditions being met. ILLEGAL PERSONAL CONTACT PENALTY HAS BEEN REVISED (9-4-3h): With this change, the foul for grasping the face mask has been expanded to include grasping the tooth and mouth protector attached to the face mask. HORSE-COLLAR RULE HAS BEEN MODIFIED (9-4-3k): The committee clarified the rule by adding the direction in which the opponent was pulled to give guidance to game officials Point of Emphasis 1. Concussions, Contact to and with the Helmet, Helmet Technology and Proper Helmet Fitting 2. Heat Acclimatization and Preventing Heat Illness 3. Hurdling 4. Illegal Blocking Below the Waist 5. Illegal Shifts Involving the Quarterback 6. Improper Uniforms 2013 NFHS Football Exam - Part I 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. 1. Football gloves must meet the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture, unless made of unaltered plain cloth. A. B. 2. Play cards may be attached to the pants. A. B.

19 3. Only A may score on a try. A. B. 4. The penalty for both offensive and defensive pass interference fouls is 15 yards. A. B. 5. Use of communication devices by players, except during authorized conferences outside the 9-yard marks, is prohibited. A. B. 6. The moisture-absorbing towel worn by a player can be ball- or penalty flag-colored. A. B. 7. It is unsportsmanlike conduct for a player whose helmet comes completely off during a down to continue to participate beyond the immediate action in which the player is engaged. A. B. 8. An airborne player who has forward progress stopped inbounds and is carried out of bounds by an opponent before contacting the ground is awarded a catch at the spot of forward progress. A. B. 9. For kick-catching interference, R may accept the results of the play, an awarded fair catch after enforcement of a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul, or a 15-yard penalty from the previous spot and a replay of the down. A. B. 10. 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. A. B. 11. Spearing is an act by a defensive player who initiates contact with a ball carrier with the front of his helmet. A. B. 12. If a loose ball touches a game official who is straddling the sideline, the ball is not out of bounds. A. B. 13. Touching is any contact with the ball either by touching it or being touched by it. A.

20 B. 14. Encroachment may be a live-ball foul. A. B. 15. It is an illegal personal contact foul if a player initiates contact with an opposing player whose helmet has come completely off. A. B. 16. An unofficial auxiliary down indicator is required field equipment for a game. A. B. 17. If the field is wet, the referee may allow use of a mat or towel on the ground to improve the kicker s footing on a place-kick. A. B. 18. The kicking team may not initiate contact once the receiving team has initiated a block within the neutral zone. A. B. 19. Eye shade (grease or no-glare strips or stickers) that is a solid stroke can have words, numbers, logos or other symbols within the eye shade. A. B. 20. If the helmet comes completely off during subsequent dead-ball action related to the down, and is not directly attributable to a foul by the opponent, the player must leave the game for at least one down (unless halftime or overtime intermission occurs). A. B. 21. Jerseys shall be long enough to reach the top of the pants. A. B. 22. An official s time-out shall be declared to permit prompt repair of equipment that becomes illegal or defective during use. A. B. 23. Players of the same team can participate during the same down while wearing identical numbers. A. B.

21 24. If a penalty resulting in a safety occurs on the last timed down of a period, the period is extended. A. B. 25. If time for any period expires during a down, play shall continue until the down ends. A. B. 26. Nonplayer and unsportsmanlike fouls are not considered when determining if a period ends or must be extended. A. B. 27. When weather conditions are construed to be hazardous to life or limb of the participants, the crew of game officials is authorized to delay or suspend the game. A. B. 28. Any receiver may signal for a fair catch while any legal kick is in flight. A. B. 29. A fair catch can be made in or behind K's neutral zone. A. B. 30. Two arms raised full length above the head and waved is an invalid fair-catch signal. A. B. 31. It is a fair catch when R1 gives a valid signal and R2 catches the scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone. A. B. 32. The penalty for an invalid fair-catch signal by R1 is 5 yards and an automatic first down for K. A. B. 33. If K1 kicks the ball between the uprights and above the crossbar on a kickoff, it is a field goal. A. B. 34. After a field goal, the opponent of the scoring team shall designate which team will kick off. A. B.

22 35. If a drop kick or place kick is used following a safety, it is possible to score a field goal. A. B. 36. A backward pass ends when it is caught, recovered or is out of bounds. A. B. 37. A player who is an eligible receiver at the snap may become ineligible during the down. A. B. 38. A passer is a player who throws a forward or backward pass. A. B. 39. A passer continues to be a passer until the legal forward pass ends or until he moves to participate in the play. A. B. 40. A false start is a live-ball foul penalized like a dead-ball foul. A. B. 41. After Team A has been set for at least one second, it is a foul if back A1 moves to a new backfield position and sets for less than one second before the snap. A. B. 42. If B1 clips A1 and B2 piles on after A2 is tackled, it is a multiple foul. A. B. 43. An offensive player may push, pull or lift the runner to assist his forward progress. A. B. 44. If a false start causes B to encroach, only the false start is penalized. A. B. 45. If A1 clips B1 and the coach of Team B enters the field during the down to protest an apparent foul that was not called, it is a double foul. A. B.

23 46. A free kick may be recovered by K in R s end zone. A. B. 47. If any K player recovers or catches a free kick, the ball becomes dead. A. B. 48. If a pool of water forces the referee to move the ball for K1 s kick, the free-kick lines may be less than 10 yards apart. A. B. 49. After a safety, unless moved by a penalty, R s free-kick line is K s 30-yard line. A. B. 50. While it is possible to have several running plays during a down, with each one having its own basic spot of penalty enforcement (where the related run ended), there can only be one loose-ball play during a down. A. B. 51. A foul can cause the loss of the ball. A. B. 52. It is illegal participation if a player is lying on the ground to deceive the opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick. A. B. 53. It is illegal participation if a replaced player attempts but fails to leave the field prior to the snap. A. B. 54. An inadvertent whistle does not end the down. A. B. 55. Enforcement provisions apply to all player fouls. A. B. 56. Helping the runner carries a 15-yard penalty. A. B.

24 57. If an inadvertent whistle sounds with A1 in possession, the down may or may not be replayed. A. B. 58. If R fouls during a successful field goal by K, the penalty is automatically declined. A. B. 59. The penalty for a chop block is 5 yards. A. B. 60. Dead-ball fouls are administered separately and in order of their occurrence. A. B. 61. No series can ever start on a down other than first. A. B. 62. A live ball is in player possession or is loose. A. B. 63. If end A1 accidentally goes out of bounds and returns during the down, he becomes an ineligible pass receiver. A. B. 64. If a substitute or replaced player influences the play, it is illegal participation. A. B. 65. Fouls that occur after an inadvertent whistle can only be dead-ball fouls. A. B. 66. Protests of NFHS rules are not recognized. A. B. 67. Immediately at the end of each period, the umpire shall hold the ball in one hand overhead to indicate the period has officially ended. A. B.

25 68. The head coach of each team is not responsible for his team being on the field for the mandatory threeminute warm-up period after halftime intermission. A. B. 69. A period may be shortened in any emergency by agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee. A. B. 70. By state association adoption, a point differential may be established whereby if one team has gained the established point differential, the game shall be terminated. A. B. 71. It is a touchback when a grounded three-point field-goal attempt breaks the plane of R s goal line unless R chooses spot of first touching by K. A. B. 72. It is a safety if A1 s fumble is declared dead in B s end zone other than from an inadvertent whistle and no player of either team is in possession. A. B. 73. If K1 holds R1 in K s end zone to prevent R1 from recovering a blocked punt, it will be a safety if R accepts the penalty. A. B. 74. If B1 intercepts a forward pass in B s end zone and drops to one knee, it is a safety. A. B. 75. Each team is allowed three charged time-outs per half. A. B. 76. Unused second half time-outs can be used in overtime. A. B. 77. Any player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional. A. B.

26 78. A television time-out is not charged to either team. A. B. 79. The game officials are responsible for ensuring that there is a three-minute warm-up period posted on the clock and that the clock starts immediately after the halftime intermission expires. A. B. 80. The clock will start with the snap following the enforcement of a delay of game penalty. A. B. 81. A clock stopped during a period for an official s time-out will start with the ready-for-play signal with the only exception being when a free kick follows. A. B. 82. The referee may correct an obvious timing error after a period has officially ended, if discovery is prior to the second live ball following the error. A. B. 83. On a free kick to start a period, the clock will start when the ball is touched other than first touching by K. A. B. 84. It is a touchback when A1 fumbles on B s 2-yard line and the ball goes into B s end zone and out-of-bounds there. A. B. 85. If A1 is in his own end zone when he intentionally grounds a forward pass, it is a safety even if B declines the penalty. A. B. 86. If B1 intercepts a forward pass in B s end zone and begins to return, but is tackled in the end zone, it is a touchback. A. B. 87. A touchdown is worth seven points. A. B.

27 88. It is not a touchdown when a runner advances from the field of play so that the ball penetrates the vertical plane of the opponent's goal line. A. B. 89. If receiver A1 controls the ball in B s end zone, but prior to touching the ground inbounds, A1 brushes the upright, it is a touchdown. A. B. 90. It is possible to have more than one spot of first touching during a scrimmage kick. A. B. 91. Team boxes shall be marked on each side of the field outside the coaches area between the for use of coaches, substitutes, athletic trainers, etc., affiliated with the team. A. 10-yard lines B. 15-yard lines C. 20-yard lines D. 25-yard lines 92. An act by an offensive or defensive player who initiates contact against any opponent with the top of his helmet is: A. Spearing B. Face Tackling C. Butt Blocking D. None of the above 93. The clock running time for a game shall be minutes for high schools with periods and intermissions as indicated by the NFHS Football Rules Book. A. 40 B. 48 C. 60 D. None of the above 94. In attempting to tackle A1, B1 s helmet comes completely off. A1 does not go down and he runs for a touchdown. A. The score stands and B1 must leave the field for one play. B. The score stands and B1 can stay in the game for the try. C. The play is stopped and the ball becomes dead when B1 s helmet came off. D. None of the above. 95. When a scrimmage down ends with the ball in the field of play or out of bounds between the goal lines, a new series is awarded to: A. A, if the ball belongs to A on or beyond the line to gain.

28 B. B, if the ball belongs to B at the end of any down. C. R at the spot of first touching by K, if K is first to touch the kicked ball beyond the expanded neutral zone before it is touched beyond this zone by R and before it has come to rest. D. Any of the above. E. None of the above. 96. For any free kick, a free-kick line, corresponding to a scrimmage line, is established for each team. These lines are always 10 yards apart. Unless moved by a penalty, K s free-kick line is: A. Its 35-yard line for a kickoff. B. Its 25-yard line after a safety. C. Any of the above. D. None of the above. 97. It is not forward pass interference if: A. Unavoidable contact occurs when two or more eligibles are making a simultaneous, bona-fide attempt to move toward, catch or bat the pass. B. Contact by A is immediately made on a B lineman and the contact does not continue beyond the expanded neutral zone. C. Contact by B is obviously away from the direction of the pass. D. Any of the above. E. None of the above. 98. A scrimmage kick by K1 from his own end zone is muffed in flight beyond the neutral zone by R1 and rebounds into the end zone where it is recovered by K2. The ball becomes dead in the end zone when K2 is tackled there. A. Touchback for K. B. Touchdown for K. C. Safety and R will be awarded two points. D. None of the above. 99. A maximum of coaches may be in the restricted area on the sidelines. No player, nonplayer or coach shall be in the restricted area when the ball is live. A. Two B. Three C. Four D. Five 100. The basic spot is the succeeding spot: A. For an unsportsmanlike foul. B. For a dead-ball foul. C. For a nonplayer foul. D. When the final result is a touchback. E. Any of the above.

29 MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL STUDY CLUBS LESSON # NAME CLUB DATE I. Below is a list of excellent videos from the Football Officials International Aloha Clinic Online Videos and Archives from Referee Clinic. To see videos, click this link or the links below: New Rules - download Helmet Hits - download LOS and GL Plays - download Catch, Fumble, Progress - download Blocking - download Holding & QB Plays - download Kick Plays - download Other Stuff - download II. Preseason Guide 2013 Great articles In addition to the articles that deal with the new football rule changes and rationale, the NFHS preseason guide this year has some other excellent articles for football officials. The articles provide great insight on many of the issues that we have had challenges in the past in Montana. Many of the topics that have been discussed are similar to issues that have been sent out in the MOA weekly football memos the past three years. Here is a summary of the articles from pages that all officials should read, review and discuss: 1. You Blew it! Here s how you fix it 2. Your Goal: Get Pylon Plays Right 3. Review: Illegal Forward Pass 4. Officiating the No-Huddle Offense 5. Punt out of Bounds: Whose Ball is it? 6. You Can Take Back the Flag 7. Safety First? Maybe, Maybe Not 8. LOD Foul: No Extension 9. The Language of Signals 10. Great Dead-Ball Officiating 11. Easy Steps to Proper Penalty Enforcement These articles provide great information for all levels of officials. Please include this information in your rules study as the season goes on You will see some of these references this year, and also in future years in the MOA weekly memos.

30 III. Read and discuss the following article What are you doing locally to build these relationships? Have you invited local coaches to your weekly meetings? Do you have an open line of communication with coaches? IV. Discuss the following topics about coaches which were in a recent publication in regard to DEALING WITH HEAD COACHES : Dealing with Head Coaches 1. Make eye contact. A coach wants to be assured that he has your attention. Don t act distracted. 2. Never call coaches by their first names. They ll feel most comfortable, particularly in front of their players, simply by being called coach. If you know their last name, it is all right to say mister. 3. Show respect to get respect. That means using formal language, keeping communication brief, adopting a neutral tone and avoiding any personal remarks. Stick to the issue at hand in a straight forward way. 4. Ask them to deal with problem players. Be sure to identify the problem in explicit terms, without making the player to be an evil person. Sometimes that is hard to do, but can be accomplished with a careful choice of language. 5. Remain calm under all circumstances. If a coach moves toward you to get in your face, pivot sideways so that you are shoulder-to-shoulder. It is hard for someone to speak in an aggressive, confrontational way when the proximity between parties is side-by-side. 6. Let coaches have their say. When a coach approaches to protest or argue, adopt an instant listening mode and let the aggrieved individual finish his remarks. Do not interrupt. 7. Use non-confrontational body language. To be aware of body posture, facial expression, head tilt and arm position, one must say, I am going to appear receptive and contemplative. I can think best and measure my words that way. I am determined to not escalate the problem. 8. If you make a mistake, admit it. A simple apology is sufficient; do not elaborate or rationalize (i.e., make excuses). 9. When coaches raise their voice, lower yours. A soft voice has a way of triggering a reciprocal soft reply. 10. Get both coaches together. Sometimes there is a need to reach a uniform agreement in a joint consultation. Weather problems in an outdoor situation are examples. Other issues could include clock problems or difficulties with game equipment. 11. Support fellow officials. Never betray partners by showing that you doubt their judgment. Instead indicate faith in someone else s decision by saying the partner had a better view of a more favorable angle than the responding official or protester. 12. Acknowledge the coach: I hear what you re saying. I understand or I see what you mean are equally effective. If the next sensible step is to confer with a partner over a controversy, make that next move firmly. 13. Give praises when proper; promote sportsmanship. When a coach makes a gesture of consideration for the opponents or toward the officials, be sure to acknowledge it. Sometimes a smile and a nod of the head are enough. 14. Determine from where the coach is coming. Put yourself in their shoes just as you would in trying to understand a player s viewpoint. That means having some insight about a coach s motivation and overall goal. Sometimes how the coach will be viewed in the eyes of players and team supporters is the primary stimulus for behavior. 15. Keep your ego under control. Often a mere glance will carry a significant message, whether it s negative or positive, whether it is meant to curtail dialogue or to encourage it. A quizzical expression can signal a desire for additional input, whereas a frown may denote closure. 16. Give the coach the benefit of the doubt, but be sure there is doubt. If you are uncertain about the accuracy of a ruling, make a decision and tell the coach what you believe is correct. Avoid being too adamant about a rule interpretation. Someone has defined the word positive as being wrong at the top of your voice.

31 17. Permit the coach to disengage. Recognize (through facial expression, body language, and terminating vocal patterns) when it is time to cease a dialogue. Nothing is gained by insisting on the last word. 18. Don t use your hands when talking to a coach. Your gestures will reveal more than you ll want to convey. Remember that a coach s job depends on many factors and doing your best is one of them. He prepares hard for many hours, so you should work hard in being consistent and fair. Help the coach to be a better coach by allowing him to coach and not be overly concerned with officiating. Listen to him, answer his questions honestly, and provide him the respect that he deserves, within the spirit and intent of the rules, and you will reduce his anxieties about the one aspect of the game that he cannot control and should not be focused on officiating. Refereeing a game is not brain surgery, but managing people in a highly emotional environment takes constant awareness and skills. The most successful officials have these skills. Practice the above skills and take the time use them every game when an opportunity arises. You ll be surprised at the results. Answer the following questions: Question 1: Standing in his end zone, R27 catches the kickoff and hands the ball forward to R30 who crosses the goal line and is tackled at the 12 yard line. Is foul for handing ball forward? Question 2: With the game clock running, Team K is in a scrimmage kick formation with fourth and eight at Team R s 35 yard line. The 25 second clock expires. Team R declines the penalty for the delay-ofgame foul. When does the clock start? Question 3: Before the snap and with the game clock running, B79 jumps into the neutral zone and gets back without making contact. His action causes lineman A65 (lined up directly across from B79) to lift his hand from the ground, and he falls forward into the neutral zone without making contact. Do you have a false start on A65? When does the clock start? Question 4: On second down, Team A snaps the ball at its 30 yard line. Quarterback A11 hands the ball to A36 on a draw play, and A36 fumbles behind the neutral zone. Who can recover and advance the ball? Question 5: Second and 12 from Team A s six yard line. Quarterback A19, in his end zone, is unable to find an open receiver. Under a heavy rush he throws the ball away. His forward pass in flight hits lineman A71 in the back, also in his end zone, and falls incomplete. Do you have illegal touching by A71? Question 6: On third down and 17, A2 drops back to pass and is sacked for a seven yard loss. During the play linebacker B63 holds eligible receiver A84 10 yards beyond the neutral zone. What is the down and yardage for the next play? Question 7: A12 throws a legal forward pass to eligible A30 who catches the ball and then fumbles. B23 recovers and returns the ball to his 39 yard line where A42 tackles him by twisting the face mask. B71 blocks below the waist at his 30 yard line during B23 s run. What is the ruling? Answer the following true / false questions? 8. Mandatory knee pads must be worn over the knees and the pants must cover the knee pads. 9. If the helmet of the tackler comes off in making contact with the runner, the ball becomes dead immediately. 10. Jerseys may not be altered to produce a knot like protrusion or a tear away type jersey. 11. When a airborne player makes a catch, forward progress is the furthest point of advancement after he possesses the ball if contacted by a defender.

32 12. 1st and 10 on Team A s 20-yard line. A16 throws forward to A82 who jumps straight up at his 40-yard line when he s shoved out-of-bounds by B29. A82 lands outside his (a) 37-yard line; (b) 40-yard line; or (c) 43-yard line. Do you have a completed forward pass? 13. A has third down and seven yards to gain at B's 30. A1 leaps near the sideline to attempt to catch a pass near B's 30-yard line. A1 is: (a) airborne trying to make the catch and is knocked backwards by B2 attempting to make the tackle and A1 lands outside the sideline at B's 32 or (b) airborne when he controls the ball attempting to complete the catch and is carried off the field by B2 landing out of bounds. 14. During a free kick (including an onside kick attempt): (a) R touches the ball prior to it traveling 10 yards after which K contacts R and recovers the ball; (b) after the ball travels 10 yards, K contacts R prior to R touching the ball; (c) after the ball touches the ground and travels 10 yards, K contacts R prior to recovering the ball; (d) after R initiates a block against K in the neutral zone, K recovers the ball; or (e) R and K contact each other approximately the same time prior to the ball traveling 10 yards. 15. If a player has a play card specifically manufactured for wear on the belt, he may wear it. 16. Knee braces can be worn over the pants. 17. Player A85 has a white towel; Player A12 has a blue towel. This is legal. 18. Prior to the game, the head coach shall be responsible for verifying to the referee and umpire that all of his team s players are equipped in compliance with the rules. OUTLINE MUST BE SIGNED BY ALL PRESENT AND SENT TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR BY DECEMBER 1, 2013

33 MONTANA OFFICIALS ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL STUDY CLUBS LESSON # NAME CLUB DATE I. Recommendations for Study Club #5 Here is a great article about from Referee Magazine about officiating. Read this article and discuss in your pool. By Referee Magazine Editors: It takes courage and passion to officiate the right way. After covering officiating for many years and refereeing and umpiring games ourselves, we ve learned a few truths about our industry. It s insider knowledge that those outside of officiating circles wouldn t necessarily agree with or understand. The 13 absolutes of officiating we ve developed apply to all sports and all levels. They are realities and truths all officials can learn from and take to heart. Are you ready to face the truth? 1. Officiating isn t fair. Assigners, conference commissioners and association leaders simply cannot be fair to all officials all the time. There are more factors involved in assigning officials to plum games or matches than just the individual or crew s performance. That includes concocting a healthy blend of gender, minorities, younger officials and experienced officials from various associations, cities or regions of a state that have performed at a high level and are capable of handling that plum assignment. Does that mean that officials working a state or conference tournament are the best available officials in that particular sport? In some cases, no, but it is an effort and opportunity for officiating to progress as a whole. While that may not be fair to every individual each season, it is the reality in officiating. 2. You re going to be noticed. The best officiated games are the ones in which nobody notices you. Most of you have probably heard that saying in one form or another. Now, do us a favor, get out your pen and cross it out. You re going to be noticed. The best officiated games are actually the ones in which you re noticed for the right stuff making the correct calls, managing the game properly and communicating crisp and clear signals. Don t try to hide in the background and not get involved when a critical call is needed. You re going to be noticed either way. You are a better official when you re able to step up and sell that blocking foul or offside call. Yes, the game is about the players, but you are a major factor as well. Embrace your role and don t try to shrink in the background. You ll be a better official and the game will be better for it. 3. It s more important to be respected than liked. Some unpleasant truths must be accepted when we decide to become officials. One of the big ones is the realization that doing the right thing won t make us popular with everyone. But getting the tough call correct in a key situation will result in your gaining respect from your peers, from assigners and more importantly, from the person who looks back at you in the mirror every day. Ironically, gaining a reputation as a competent, fair-minded official will lead to some like. Assigners like to hire that type of official. Other officials like to work with them. And coaches like going into a game knowing the game is in competent hands. If you work to be liked instead of respected, you will achieve neither. Those who like you will stop liking you the moment what you do is no longer seen as helping them. No one of import respects someone whose acts are obviously designed to breed popularity. 4. Not everyone is there to help you. One of the reasons some newer officials don t rise through the ranks at all (or move up as quickly as they could or should) is because their path is blocked by veterans. In some cases, those more experienced officials are still in their

34 prime and have earned those plum assignments. But in other cases, they are simply protecting their own schedules, afraid that if assigners, coordinators and coaches get a look at the up-and-corners, the newer officials will get the assignments they used to get. Most veterans aren t as blatant in their unwillingness to help but still manage to retard the growth of newer officials by holding back information and techniques they have come to learn through experience over the years. Officials with whom you work games may also be less than scrupulous. Sad to say, there are people who will throw you under the proverbial bus if something goes awry in a game. More than one official has caught excessive heat from a coach because a partner or crewmate said something inflammatory. An example would be a partner who tells a coach, You re right to be upset. My partner blew that call. 5. It s your job to get to know somebody. It is true that officiating can get very political when it comes to which officials work the best schedules and the most prestigious games. It also is true that it can come down to politics on which officials handle rating decisions and hold leadership positions within an officials association. If you are an aspiring official seeking to improve your schedule or obtain a leadership position within an association, it is your job to network within your officiating community. Networking is a more attractive side of politics. It s getting to know people that can help you and also letting them know by placing your information, your tools and your skills in front of the right people. If those people have integrity and any ethics, they eventually will give you an opportunity. Bottom line: Study the rules, perfect your mechanics, gain some experience, make yourself available and network, network, network. Attend association meetings on a regular basis; socialize with officials in the circle and things may start to happen for you. 6. You re not as good as you think you are, and you re not as bad as some people say you are. You need to have confidence in your abilities when you re on the field and court, but arrogance and overconfidence can hurt your career. Sure, maybe you ve worked a few title games or a huge rivalry match-up. So what? Without that drive to improve at whatever level you ve achieved, you re in trouble. Without the understanding that you have something to learn, you ll be that partner that no one wants to work with. You can always get better by being open to feedback, watching video, attending association meetings and going to camps. Camps are available at all levels for a reason. Your current ability is never as good as it gets. Individuals from the stands and sidelines will help to keep you humble. But don t get too high or low based on what players, coaches and fans say about you bad or good. Their comments are biased and chances are you re not a horrible official. Sure, maybe you messed up a time or two. So what? So did your partner, so did the officials in the previous game and so does every official every game. Celebrate your achievements in officiating, and understand that you re going to make mistakes. When you do, keep your head up, learn from them and move on. 7. You re going to get yelled at. Officials don t care who wins, but everyone else involved in the game cares a lot (some a whole lot) about who wins. As a result of those facts, you re going to get yelled at. You re going to get called some names. It doesn t matter how right-on your calls are, it doesn t matter how close the score is or what level you re working, you re going to get yelled at. Nobody likes getting called a name or two or three or four eyes. But if you love what you do and you know that jeers come with the territory, as long as they don t cross the line, officials should tune them out or better yet, embrace them. There s a saying that goes: If you want to officiate, you ve got to love it when they boo. In your next ballgame, consider those jeers cheers from clueless fans and coaches who often don t know any better, which leads to the next absolute. 8. The players, coaches and media don t know the rules as well as you do. In a recent Referee survey, 82 percent of respondents said that most players don t know the rules. Ditto goes for coaches and the media. Unfortunately the number of players, coaches and media members who think they know the rules is significantly higher. There are all kinds of reasons for the lack of rules knowledge. Many grow up playing the game and feel like they pick up the rules that way. Some watch a lot of sports and learn from the calls and announcements they see and hear. The fact they may be watching a different level with different rules doesn t always dawn on some. There are others who don t think it s part of their job to know the rules.

35 Well, it is in your job description. As a result, you re going to know the rules better than the average player, coach and media person. Knowing that going in can eliminate some frustrations. Rather than getting angry with a player or coach who is yelling for you to call a pro rule at the high school level, you can calmly and quickly educate the individual about the correct rule. And just because there will likely be some rules ignorance around you doesn t give you the green light to not study the rules as thoroughly as you need to. It s your responsibility, so embrace it. 9. Responding skills are the number-one skill. It s not the call you made that will be remembered; it s how you reacted to the objections of the coaches and players. If your first reaction is a 15-yard flag, a technical foul or an ejection, you won t have a long career as an official. You ll be deemed unapproachable and your assigner won t have anywhere that he or she can send you. On the other hand, if you can keep your emotions in check while bringing their levels of anger and frustration down, you will be successful as an official. They might still disagree with your call, but they understand what you saw and they will have been afforded the opportunity to be heard. That doesn t mean you can t respond with those severe penalties, but they shouldn t be your first option, unless warranted. Let the coach have his or her say, respond in an even-keeled tone and only when he or she doesn t get the point, use those options. 10. Seldom do you get a chance to defend yourself. The reason it is vitally important to make every effort to do the right thing every time in officiating is that once something is done, it can t be changed. And like it or not, you often won t get the chance to defend your actions. Sure, you might get a chance to tell a coach or a player why a call was made or how you saw it (using your responding skills), but if something goes really wrong, people won t be coming to you for those thoughts. They ll go to your supervisor and demand your head on a platter. Or they ll go to the media, which will take a coach s quotes and run them as ~ gospel without getting your side. Levi Rippy, Seattle, listens to a player and reponds in a calm manner. Officials need to focus on improving their response skills. Tiara Cruse, Washington D.C., may need to educate a player or coach about the rules since her expertise will likely go beyond that of the participants. The way to avoid that is to not do things that require defending yourself. If you work within the rules and the guidelines provided by your supervisor, your actions can be defended. Ignore the court of public opinion as best you can. 11. Perception is reality. As officials you are being judged on everything you do. And those judgments will often not be based on fact, but on what is perceived. If you are overweight, it s predetermined that you are out of shape and won t be able to be in position for a play. Therefore, when there is a close play that requires you to move quickly, you can expect disagreement because there is no way that fat official could have been in position to see it correctly. Opinions are formed about you from the time you arrive at the game until the time you leave. Most of those opinions will have no basis in fact as they relate to your actual officiating. People will make judgments about you whether you are old or young, short or tall, thin or fat, etc. There is nothing you can do to overcome those perceptions on that day because what the people who are judging you see is their reality. What you have to do is make changes so that they change their perception. Lose weight, get a haircut, have a pressed uniform. If possible, change whatever it is that you feel is causing you to be received in a negative light. Give people a reason to form a positive perception and be happy to see you walking on to the field or court. 12. There is no greater feeling than getting a tough play right. Like hitting a long, majestic drive off the tee, getting a tough play right is an exhilarating experience and perhaps the main reason that keeps officials coming back for more. Maybe it s calling a block/charge during a key, gamechanging moment in basketball or ruling on a catch or no catch along the sideline late in a tight football game, getting the play right and knowing it is a thrill that can t be topped. It s why we officiate.

36 It s also that moment of getting a tough play right that can define an official and help him or her advance in his or her career. Not only do you get the thrill and satisfaction from getting the play right, but greater confidence to go out and do it again. 13. The mission of officiating commitment to the game is unique. When you officiate, for whom are you working? The teams? The coaches? The assigner? The league or conference? In a way, yes, to all of the above. But when it comes down to it, you are working for the game. Not just the game you are working. But every game everywhere. When your efforts result in a game that is played within the bounds of the rules, enforcing penalties when appropriate and ensuring that neither team gains an unfair advantage over the other, you advance the game and respect its traditions. You also honor the many officials who have preceded you by maintaining the standards they established. Those are the absolutes we know to be true. They are important for all officials to recognize and understand. What absolutes in officiating have you learned through experience Enforcement Plays & Rulings Question 1: Eligible receiver A23 is in his opponent s end zone and running toward the field of play. While still in the end zone, A23 leaps to receive a forward pass and first lands (a) at the 1-yard line where he is downed; or (b) out-of-bounds. What is the ruling? Question 2: Team A snaps the ball with goal-to-go at the 6-yard line. A12 hands off to running back A49 who fumbles at the 4-yard line. The ball rolls into the end zone and is recovered by A81. This happens on (a) 3rd down; or (b) 4th down. What is the ruling? Question 3: A23 takes a handoff, leaps at Team B s 2-yard line near the right sideline and his first contact with the ground is out-of-bounds three (3) yards beyond the goal line. Does A23 score a touchdown? Question 4: K10 s placekick (a) sails between the uprights and clears the cross bar by a foot; (b) hits the left upright and goes through the uprights over the cross bar; or (c) goes directly over an upright. Is the field goal good? Question 5: K11 attempts a field goal into a stiff wind and the ball passes between the uprights and above the cross bar. A gust then blows the ball back and on its way back, the ball (a) passes above the cross bar; or (b) passes below the cross bar. Do you have a successful field goal? Question 6: A7 s long pass is intercepted by B12 in his end zone. B12 (a) immediately falls down; (b) runs over the end line; or (c) is tackled in the end zone while attempting to return the ball. Where is the ball spotted? Question 7: Team A scores a touchdown as the clock expires in the 4th quarter and leads Do you play the extra point down? Question 8: Ball carrier A45 dives for a touchdown with the ball just penetrating the plane of the goal line when A45 is thrown back to the 1-yard line. Do you have a touchdown? Question 9: A86 is running along the sideline and approaches the goal line. A86 leaps to catch a pass. As he returns to the ground, his foot glances the goal line pylon, but the first foot to touch the ground does so inbounds. Do you have a touchdown? Question 10: If R40 signals for a fair catch beyond the neutral zone, but he muffs the scrimmage kick, K15 may recover beyond the neutral zone and advance? or? Question 11: Eligible receiver A88 pushes linebacker B56 five yards beyond the neutral zone and breaks open on a deep corner route. A10 s pass is well over the head of A88 and lands out of bounds about 20 yards beyond him. Is there no foul because the ball is uncatchable?

37 Question 12: A37 is lined up as a slot in the gap between the right tackle and A89, the widest man on the line of scrimmage. While in a three-point stance, A37 notices he is in no-man s-land, neither on the line nor in the backfield. He moves back to get into the backfield and re-sets. Is this a legal play? Question 13: At the snap, Team A s formation is legal except A25, lined up outside the tight end, is not on the line, but his head breaks the vertical plane through the waist of the tight end. Is this formation legal? Question 14: As he attempts to tackle A16, B52 s helmet comes completely off. A16 does not go down and he runs for a touchdown. Do you count the score? Question 15: B31 intercepts a forward pass in his end zone. While still in his end zone, B31 fumbles. The ball rolls forward and goes out of bounds on Team B s two yard line. From what yard line will Team B snap the ball? Question 16: After a touchback, Team A throws four consecutive incomplete passes. What yard line will Team B start their series of downs? Question 17: During a play where the legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone, snapper A58 holds B74 behind the neutral zone either (a) before, or (b) during the pass. Where is the penalty enforced? Question 18: Fourth and five on Team A s 35 yard line. A33 gains six yards, but A69 holds at Team A s 40 yard line. What is the ruling? Question 19: During a play where a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone, defensive back B38 holds A84 beyond the neutral zone either (a) during, or (b) after the pass is completed. What is the ruling? Question 20: First and 10 at Team A s 10 yard line. A7 drops back into his end zone to pass and his face mask is pulled by B73. A7 (a) is downed in the end zone, or (b) fumbles and the ball goes out of bounds in the end zone. What is the ruling? Question 21: On fourth down, Team A commits an illegal shift. Ball carrier A23 is stopped short of the line-to-gain and B76 piles on after the ball is dead. What is the ruling? Question 22: Team A s ball at its own 20 yard line. A24 gains four yards to the 24 yard line and during the run A79 holds at the 18 yard line. What is the ruling? Question 23: First and 10 for Team A from its own 10 yard line. A1 intentionally grounds a forward that falls incomplete. The pass is thrown from Team A s end zone. What is the ruling? Question 24: A13 is under a strong rush when he flips the ball forward with two hands to eligible A43, who catches the ball behind the neutral zone and carries for a big gain. Is this a legal pass? Question 25: K12 s kickoff is short and lands at Team R s 48 yard line where it is scooped on the bounce by K49 who takes it to Team R s 30 yard line before being tackled. What is the ruling? Question 26: R24 muffs a punt beyond the neutral zone. An official inadvertently sounds his whistle while the ball is loose. What is the ruling? Question 27: Fourth and six at Team B s eight yard line. A25 takes a hand off from quarterback A10 and then fumbles at the six yard line. Who may recover the fourth down fumble? Question 28: Second and 18 at Team B s 40 yard line. After throwing a legal forward pass, Quarterback A12 is roughed by B61. A84 catches the ball and runs to Team B s six yard line. Where is Team B penalized from?

38 Question 29: The down is ended when K catches or recovers a free kick anywhere. or? Question 30: If R2 muffs a kickoff at his five yard line and it is caught in flight by K32 in the end zone, it is a touchdown for Team K. or?

39 Review the MHSA Concussion and Injury Procedure for Officials MHSA/MOA Concussion and Injury Procedure Officials, coaches and administrators are being asked to make all efforts to ensure the safety of athletes who participate in MHSA activities. In regard to players experiencing possible concussions or other serious injuries during MHSA contests or practices, the following procedures will be immediately implemented: Officials Responsibilities: 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 (listed below from the NFHS Rule Book), 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. Ultimately, the decision to return an athlete to competition rests with the coach, after the affected player is evaluated by an appropriate health-care professional (MD, DO, NP or PAC). Remember, when in doubt, sit them out! Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion (NFHS Rule Book) A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that interferes with normal brain function. An athlete does not have to lose consciousness (be knocked out ) to have suffered a concussion. Common Symptoms of Concussion Include: Headache Fogginess Difficulty concentrating Easily confused Slowed thought processes Difficulty with memory Nausea Lack of energy, tiredness Dizziness, poor balance Blurred vision Sensitive to light and sounds Mood changes- irritable, anxious, or tearful OUTLINE MUST BE SIGNED BY ALL PRESENT AND SENT TO YOUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR BY DECEMBER 1, 2012