Encroachment Philosophy

[buckrog64]

Sometimes you can tell that there will be a problem when the receiver is looking back at the QB and he's hustling up the line. You can predict he will will cross the line. I try to catch his attention before he violates. Preventive officiating works most of the time and makes life a little easier.

[Welpe]

Thanks everyone. I'm certainly not out looking for nits to pick, and I agree that preventative officiating is best. Back to studying penalty enforcements.

[dumbref]

I learn along time ago, it’s important to know how they got in the neutral zone. First series of the game - the D-line was already on the line and fine. I was talking to the wide-out explaining my foot was the line, looked down the line and the D-tackle on my side was breaking the neutral zone (barely). Of course I had a lot of help from the coaches on my sideline to point this out! For some reason I let it go and warned the D-tackle he was close.

The next play, the same thing, the D-tackle was in the neutral zone (more this time). I have called encroachment for much less and again an assistant coach was right in my ear screaming for encroachment. Again, I did not pull the trigger – something just didn’t feel right.

On the third play, I was more observant of the D-tackle. He lined up perfectly on the line, the center went into his stance and immediately slide the ball forward about three inches putting the tackle in the neutral zone. I went through the third play with the same coach in my ear bordering on belligerent now. After the play, I told him I was not calling encroachment - but I would call an illegal snap on his center if he didn’t stop moving the ball. We didn’t have any more problems after that! It also taught me a valuable lesson.

[With_Two_Flakes]

As they break the huddle, look at the numbers of the players coming toward your side. As they start to line up you may well already have an idea (by seeing either the Tight End or the Tackle) whether your wideout is likely to be off the line or on the line.

I try to teach my guys to stick their arm out (to signal off the line) when the offense break the huddle and put it down again and verbalise to the wideout "You're on the line" as soon as they are happy he is close enough to be deemed on the line. I find this works pretty well at the lower levels in cutting out preventable fouls.

Putting your arm out every play (and then dropping again as necessary) seems to help the newer guys remember to signal the man off the line.

Dumbref's story about the center moving the ball? Be aware, I've had the same thing happen to me too.