Pointers for my first assignment as a BJ?

[procivil]

Hi All,

I am new to officiating and to this site. Ive worked 34 games so far this year, but still have much to learn. Most of these have been as a wing. Monday, I will work my first game as a BJ. I will read over the NFHS officiating mechanics which tells me my responsibilities and general location, but I am sure there is much more that I can be thinking about if I have some input here.

Any tips?

David

[VALJ]

Assuming you're working high school, and not in MA or TX:

Don't get beat to the goal line.

Review your scrimmage kick rules. If something goofy is going to happen, most likely it's going to happen on a kick.

Don't get beat to the goal line.

Remember that a field goal attempt is nothing but a punt that can score points. A field goal attempt that falls short and ends in the field of play is a first down from where the kick ends, not from the previous spot (like in NCAA) or the spot of the kick (like the NFL).

Don't get beat to the goal line.

Enjoy the view from back there. BJ was always my favorite spot to work when I'm not on the side, because of the totally different perspective on the game you get from back there. (I'm also enjoying working R for the same reason.)

Have I mentioned "don't get beat to the goal line" yet?

[Durham]

When setting up pre snap, stay between the uprights.

Know the status of the clock. Check it often and make sure it is doing what the white hat asked it to do with the wind and chop.

Most important, be active. Dead ball officiate and get to the flanks to help clean up, get there late, don't get beat deep, but get there.

Have fun.

[Sonofanump]

Your presnap routine should be:

1) deadball officiate
2) deadball officiate
3) deadball officiate
4) Clock status
5) Down
6) Count defense
7) Find you presnap key(s).

[Forksref]

Officiate from the "inside out." Stay between the hashes on live balls except "crash" the sideline when the ball goes out to deadball officiate.

Communicate with your wings as to what coverages you are employing. Communicate with the wings as to at what yard line the ball is snapped that you go to the end line and they have the goal line. We use the 15-yd line as when the switch takes place.

Know your scrimmage kick rules, especially the definition of the end of a kick and fair catch rules. The BJ has to be the expert on those rules.

Officiate with your whistle out of your mouth. More inadvertent whistles occur on muffs than any other time.

[procivil]

Thanks for the great feedback. I greatly appreciate it!