Offsides / Encroachment on kickoff
 

I was working head linesman the other night in a JV game and on a kickoff one of the K players crossed the free kick line before the kicker kicked the ball. I blew my whistle to stop the play and threw my flag. The WH got the ball and tossed it back to me and told me to signal the penalty...I didn't know what to do. Should I...

• Turn to the pressbox.
• Raise my hand for a dead ball foul (signal #7) and say, "We have a dead ball foul..."
• Signal encroachment (signal #18), and say "...Encroachment..."
• Point towards the kicking team and say, "...on the kicking team."
• Say "Five yard penalty, repeat the kick."

It is encroachment, right? Not a false start.

If you are not mic-ed up I wouldn't say anything. You could but no one would hear you. I would give the dead ball signal, the encroachment signal, and then point to the kicking team and then march off 5 yards.

If you just want to mouth the words, I would dsay. "Dead ball, encroachment, kicking team, 5 yard peanlty."

Yes that is what you do. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to, and that may be easier for you since you are not a referee and used to signaling the fouls.

When reporting fouls, don't say "we have"

Why were you signaling?

I'm assuming the WH was way downfield with the receiving team and told the guys upfield at the SOF to take care of it. I'm assuming also that he doesn't do that for a varsity contest..

Why not?

I have the BJ signal before marking off any yardage gained due to a bridge foul. Encroachment? Would probably work, too.

The mechanics manual has the BJ signal fouls by the kicking team when the ball is rekicked or when their is encroachment.

We're miked up in almost all of our games, so the white hat does the signal and hustles a bit upfield to take care of the signal/call while the guys upfield mark off the yardage and set their new free kick lines. Had that situation a few weeks back at Notre Dame Acadamy up in Green Bay versus Bayport.

I need to start working up in that direction. Now that I've moved to Columbia County I need to start talking to some other commissioners, I guess.

On point, I agree. If the R is miked, he should give the signal and announcement.