Varsity HL
 

Hello, I am filling in for a varsity crew at HL tomorrow night. This will be my first varsity contest. I am only in my second year, still learning the basics and I'm a little nervous. Can any HLs out there give me some tips/keys to remember? Also, does anyone have a link to a 5 man mechanics manual online (perhaps NFHS website) that I could study tonight and tomorrow?

Take your time with the chain crew, especially at the beginning of the game. Talk to your WH and make sure he gives you time to get them set up before he signals ready for play. You will give him a signal (pointing to him) when you are set (you can give this signal even while you are looking over your shoulder at the crew). If he signals RFP too early, don't be afraid to stop the clock and let the crew get set.

Make sure the down box moves and changes on your signal. Again, be extra careful at first until your sure they are doing things right. Don't be in a rush. Have them wait on a punt until you signal them to come down.

Tell them not to move if they see a flag down.

Have fun and relax.

Slow whistle. Slow whistle. Slow whistle.

-If you don't see the ball, don't blow the whistle.
-Get the out of bounds spot, hold it with your foot and continue to officiate action OOB.
-Stay wide on sideline or just outside it. new rule is for you. coaches need to stay out of the restricted zone when ball is snapped.
-Good communication with coaches. brief, professional, courteous.
-Don't move when ball is snapped. stay put and read the play for a second or so and then move downfield if needed.
-make sure you know who is eligible or not on your side.
-if you throw a flag know why you threw it and communicate this clearly to the R.
-if you have a nuetral zone violation or FS that is obvious go into R not straight in over the ball.
- relax, see your area of responsibility, act calm and controlled even if you don't feel that way ;-)
- be humble, ask the crew questions before game, at halftime and after. Accept criticism with a nod and a "Thank you." even if the guy giving the correction doesn't know what he is talking about...
-Enjoy yourself, thats why we do it!
-shine your shoes

Technically.....
 

There is no such thing as a HL for high school, it would be the Linesman, or L....

Get yourself some waterproof pants ;)

There is no online manual for NF.
There is a copy of instructions for the chain crew you can print off.

Check out these links:
Chain Crew Instructions

Moving to "H"

Watch PLAYERS not the ball. Watch the players in front of the ball. That is where the fouls are.

SNAP - TACKLE - END Watch what happens before the snap (false start, encroachment) ; Read the tackle - He will tell you if it is a pass or run; Watch the block on the end to make sure it is legal. Make this a routine.

On passes : The receiver must survive the contact and the ground for a completion.

Get to the goal line - When the ball is snapped from the 5-yd line in, get to the goal line. Work your way back if the ball doesn't get there. This may be necessary to rule on a safety as the R doesn't have the angle. Be safe-on sweeps to your side, get OOB a few yds behind the pylon. Sell your spot if it is short of the GL.

Have fun!

Don't forget to get your clip from the chain crew.:D

How'd it go?

What?!?!?!

Of course there is a Head Linseman.

I really don't see the reason why the word head is used by NCAA and NFL. It is just another word in there that doesn't really add anything. It must have something to do with the officials' uniforms.

It's just as dumb as the foul "illegal block in the back". As if the word illegal needs to be in there for some reason.

It does, there are legal blocks in the back.

Then why isn't there a foul called "illegal clipping"?

Excellent point....

It went pretty well. I learned a lot and it was a great first experience at the varsity level. Number one thing I learned; have a patient whistle. I screwed up in the fourth quarter and blew the play dead too early. It was a big hit and the ball had kind of snuck out and was laying on the field. Not many players or coaches or fans even noticed the fumble. It was quietly recovered by the defense. My partners informed me I was early and we had an IW. We administered it correctly and told the defense's HC. Boy did I feel like a jerk... It didn't affect the outcome of the game and no one made a stink of it so I get to call it a "learning experience" in a non essential situation (24-7 game in the 4th quarter). My crew wasn't happy but they chalked it up to learning too and were very supportive. The hardest part was trying to get past the blunder and officiate the last 10 minutes of the game.