New Back Judge

[AndrewMcCarthy]

Originally Posted by Blue37

This might be a true statement if your state uses its own mechanics manual, but please note the following if it uses NFHS mechanics:

NFHS 2006-2007 Officials Manual, Pages 54 and 55
Keys and Priority of Keys
III. Balanced Formation: When there are the same number of eligible receivers outside the offensive tackles on each side of the formation, then the back judge will key on the widest eligible receiver to the line judge's side of the formation.
IV. Unbalanced Formation: The strength of the formation is determined by the number of eligible receivers outside of the offensive tackles. The back judge takes the widest eligible/s to the strength of the formation.

(Emphasis Added)

This is a mechanics change this year. As BJ, I'm going to be making sure I'm communicating with the wings on every play so they know if I'm taking the outside guy on their side. They may have no idea.