Which Order to Give Signals

[grantsrc]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I did not read the referee article, and would submit that finding "facts" there or suggested "proper" procedures has been problematical in the past.

I whole heartedly agree, but I think the article was in the same issue with the '06 Fed changes.

[Theisey]

I would signal exactly as described by MCrowder. Can't see any reason to do it any other way.

[Two Call]

So, you're saying forget the manual and do it your way? Any other rules/mechanics you treat "cafeteria style"?

[Texas Aggie]

Keep in mind that MC and several of us work NCAA only (even for HS). It was never made clear in the original play or that in the Referee article Fed mechanics are involved.

[Forksref]

I agree with the order. I make sure that the first down signal is given at the new LOS (after the yardage is marked off) and not at the spot of the foul so as not to confuse people into thinking that it would be more than 1st and 10.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

From my Fed mechanics manual (2006-2007), p. 42, under "Administering Penalties":

G. When dead-ball fouls occur after fourth down.
1. Signal any live-ball fouls.
2. Signal first down.
3. Signal dead ball.
4. Signal the dead-ball fouls.

That said, I suspect this is intended only for plays without a change of possession. Seems to me that the "standard" order would work fine here.

[Robert Goodman]

Why does Fed even bother to give a mechanic for something like this? Why not a general instruction to "present the facts in order of their occurrence and resolution", and let the official apply common sense? That is, recap in order. (They even do that in Rugby Union.)

If the first down is awarded last, it should be signaled last. If the first down is awarded and then penalty yardage applied after the line-to-gain is established, that's the order they should be signaled. A dead ball signal should be given in the order of occurrence of the dead ball, or first if the ball remained dead since the last administrative action.

Can anyone describe a situation in which this common sense rule would give ambiguous results, or in which a specified mechanic would make things clearer than this general procedure?

Robert