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From the European Federation of American Football Mechanics Manual:
6. AXIOMS OF OFFICIATING
6.1 - When in doubt principles
When in>doubt:
1. it is a touchback rather than a safety; (See Rule 8-5-1-a.)
2. it is a touchback rather than a momentum exception;
3. the forward pass is incomplete rather than a fumble;
4. it is legal use of hands rather than holding or illegal use of hands;
5. the ball is accidentally kicked rather than intentionally; (See Rule 2-15-1.)
6. a departing player has left the field prior to the snap;
7. offensive players are legally on the line;
8. offensive players are legally in the backfield;
9. it is a legal block rather than clipping;
10. the passer has not intentionally grounded the ball;
11. the forward pass is catchable; (See Rule 2-19-4.)
12. the passer has thrown the ball rather than fumbled it; (See Rule 2-19-2-c.)
13. the defensive back has legally initiated contact in passing situations;
14. defensive signals are legal;
15. call timeout for injured players; (See Rule 3-3-5-b.)
16. players are legally moving rather than in illegal motion;
17. the pass is forward rather than backward behind the neutral zone; (See Rule 2-19-2-a.)
18. the pass is backward rather than forward beyond the neutral zone or when there is no neutral zone;
19. the forward pass was thrown from in or behind rather than beyond the neutral zone;
20. the ball is dead in the field rather than a touchdown;
21. the player is in bounds rather than out of bounds;
22. the block is legal rather than below the waist;
23. the back at the snap is not positioned outside the normal tackle;
24. the one second pause has been violated;
25. the foul is roughing rather than running into the kicker; (See Rule 9-1-3-a-8.)
26. kicking team members have interfered with a receiver in position to catch the kick;
27. as to touching the ball, a player has not touched it; (See Rule 2-10-4.)
28. as to disintegration of the clipping zone, it is intact;
29. as to caught or trapped, the forward pass is incomplete; (See Rule 2-2-7-e.)
30. as to a block in the back, the contact is below the waist rather than above; (See Rule 2-3-4-a.)
31. don't throw the flag;
32. don't blow the whistle.
6.2 - Points to ponder Always remember:
1. player safety is your number one concern after your own;
2. make the tough call;
3. don't get emotionally involved;
4. a pre-game conference is a must;
5. if you look like an official you'll perform like one;
6. count the players;
7. correct obvious errors;
8. see leather;
9. know the down and distance;
10. sell the call but don't over-officiate;
11. call what you see but see what you call;
12. don't guess - know;
13. if two officials are marking a spot, one could be doing something else;
14. let the mind digest what the eye has seen;
15. what affect does it have on the play?;
16. it's what you learn after you know it all that counts;
17. on the wings, don't get trapped inside;
18. in the backfield, don't get beat deep;
19. after throwing your flag continue to officiate;
20. 4th down, kill the clock;
21. take a second to take a look;
22. the three virtues of a good official are attitude, consistency and competence;
23. the only part of officiating to emphasise is your signalling;
24. be decisive - indecision (or is it indecisiveness?) gives the impression of uncertainty;
25. never stand still during an entire down - people will think you are lazy;
26. if officials are close enough to touch each other there is generally something wrong;
27. don't get mad and don't get even;
28. if the fans and coaches don't know your name or who worked the game, you've had a great game;
29. it is more important to get it right than to look good;
30. don't dillydally - if you are going to get it wrong it is better to get it wrong quickly than it is to get it wrong slowly, but it's still better to get it right;
31. false pride has no place in officiating;
32. there are probably 5 "big" calls per game -- make sure you get them right;
33. officials can influence people (affect their behaviour) because they have power (the ability to influence someone), and authority (the right to exercise power), but there can be no authority without respect for that authority and respect has to be earned -- it does not come automatically with the stripes;
34. you're only as good as your next call.
6.3 - Principles of effective officiating
All officials must:
1.be helpful (preventive officiating);
2. have a thorough pre-game conference;
3. be prepared to compromise;
4. avail themselves to other officials;
5. help fellow crew members as much as possible;
6. encourage less experienced officials to ask questions;
7. give advice when needed;
8. be on time;
9. know their position;
10. know that uniformity is important;
11. act in a professional manner at all times;
12. be aware of primary and secondary responsibilities;
13. be people watchers not ball watchers;
14. be clock conscious;
15. never miss a down;
16. give good signals;
17. not allow linemen to talk;
18. be in the position to make the call;
19. not converge on the ball;
20. not turn their back to the ball;
21. blow their whistle like they mean it;
22. keep their mouth closed around the goal line;
23. keep abreast of 3-man mechanics;
24. be able to control their sideline;
25. be able to cover situations far downfield;
26. be aware of tempo;
27. know penalty enforcements;
28. never alienate a member of their crew;
29. "make it be there" - no phantom calls;
30. "get the play right" - if there is doubt, discuss it.
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