Backjudge Breakdown

[Texas Aggie]

BJ: 44 minutes of nothing; 2.5 minutes of intense running, and a minute to a minute and a half of pure hell!

Used to be in Texas, that was 47.5 minutes of nothing and half a minute of pure hell, but the passing game has taken shape here of late.

The only thing I can add is that you are the primary dead ball official. Run in and make your presence known on out of bounds, after pileups, etc. That will reduce the risk of someone taking a cheap shot as they will know there is someone watching.

[FredFan7]

You are out in the middle of the field, you can talk out loud to yourself and people won't think you're crazy. I always say to myself the down and distance, who my key is, etc.

The B is should be the EXPERT on kicking rules! On punts it's all you (with some help from the LJ in a five man crew). If white is punting, and red is receiving, I say to myself before the snap, "First touching white, hot potato red." That reminds me that if white touches it first, we have a first-touching situation, and if red touches first it we have a live ball! On punts hold your beanbag in your hand and hold your whistle in your other hand. Bag the catch/touching/etc. If you have a foul, you can get your flag in plenty of time. HOLD YOUR WHISTLE. I killed a muff and denied a kicking team recovery one time after the receiver signalled a fair catch and I hit the whistle when it touched the ball, then muffed it. I have never done that again.

Participate in dead ball action. Relay the ball in on gains over five yards. If a run goes to a side zone, pinch toward that side zone (but don't get burned if the runner cuts to the middle), and help clean up dead ball action. The B's head should be on a swivel looking for nonsense after the ball is dead. The B can best spot trouble and clean it up, or flag it if necessary. If a play goes out of bounds hustle over to the sideline (especially if in the bench area) and help observe. You may go out of bounds yourself or cover the wing's spot. Discuss this with your crew. A good B can really help of keeping a situation under control.

I line up 20 yards deep (sometimes deeper depending on the situation) and start moving back at the snap, even if its a running play. I'm not the fastest guy in the world and I don't want to get beaten to the goal-line! This may require you to pivot and turn your head over your shoulder. I've seen college and NFL deep officials do this.

Some guys say the B is in a rocking chair all game, but you can make this position an active and integral part of any crew and any level of play.

[tjones1]

I know you can't predict everything. But are there any unusual situations that I should be concerned with?

[tjones1]

Also, do you place both of your bean bags on your belt. Or do you put one on your belt and the other in your pocket.. or what? Thanks again.

[Warrenkicker]

There are two hundred different ways to keep your flags and bags when you are working. You may have all in front with your flags on the right and your bags on the left or vice versa. You may have bags in front and flags in your back pockets. You may keep a flag in your shirt pocket because some guy who was getting paid a lot to work on Sundays did that. Mainly you need to be able to find them when you need them. You need quick access to one flag and one bag at all times. This usually means that one of each should be on your belt in front. The second flag and second bag are far less seldomly used though the second bag is used more often than the second flag. I would keep the second bag in a pocket.

But you need to find what works for you. Look at other officials and see what is done in your area and find what is comfortable. I have my flag and bag in front but have them on opposite sides than everyone else. We are all right handed but when I started we kept the flag in the back so I had the bag on my right side as well. Now I have the flag in front but didn't move the bag. So the flag is on my front left but I still throw it with my right hand.

[Mike L]

Originally Posted by tjones1

I know you can't predict everything. But are there any unusual situations that I should be concerned with?

The "unusual" situation you will run into every game are scrimmage kicks. Your greatest chance for something to really go odd during a game will be then and you are the one everyone will be looking at to make the call. That's why I suggested know everything there is to know about scrimmage kick rules and study, study, study your assoc's mechanics regarding them.
As for bags and flags, carry as many as you feel comfortable with and where they feel comfortable. I only carry one flag but 3 bags, 1 in the belt, one in each front pocket. Makes me look a little bulgy, but I've had a couple situations where all three came in handy and I've never had to throw 2 flags on one play while BJ. And I start all kicks with a "pocket" bag already in hand so I can get to the second bag on the belt fast.

[tjones1]

Thanks everyone.

When the Referee signals ready to play, do you put the whistle in your month and spit it whenever the snap occurs or do you simply just keep it out of your month all the time?

[REQ]

Keep it out of your mouth

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by tjones1

Thanks everyone.

When the Referee signals ready to play, do you put the whistle in your month and spit it whenever the snap occurs or do you simply just keep it out of your month all the time?

As BJ, I'd only have the whistle in my mouth if we were approaching the end of my 25-second count.

[Zebra29]

As a back judge, the only times I even blow my whistle are a delay of game and a fair catch on a scrimmage kick. Other occasions are extremely rare.