Illegal Formation

Freshman B game, same thing. 5 in the backfield. I flagged it the first time, the coaches were all over me, asking why I didn't say anything to them. I said it was the first time, and I'm not going to coddle your players, since they should already know how to line up. Assistant coach started to go off, and my backup flag went flying. What an ugly game.

[cmathews]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Freshman B game, same thing. 5 in the backfield. I flagged it the first time, the coaches were all over me, asking why I didn't say anything to them. I said it was the first time, and I'm not going to coddle your players, since they should already know how to line up. Assistant coach started to go off, and my backup flag went flying. What an ugly game.

you set yourself up for an ugly game....first by not preventively officiating and second by telling the coach they should already know where to line up. Even in the NCAA the philosophies are to "make em where they are supposed to be". Linemen are to be warned first to move up, unless their head is clearly behind the snapper, wideouts are to be given leeway to make them where they are supposed to be...don't be too technical...only flag after a warning unless it is material to the play...and very very obvious...as my whitehat says, lets not pick boogers here...

Originally Posted by cmathews

you set yourself up for an ugly game....first by not preventively officiating and second by telling the coach they should already know where to line up. Even in the NCAA the philosophies are to "make em where they are supposed to be". Linemen are to be warned first to move up, unless their head is clearly behind the snapper, wideouts are to be given leeway to make them where they are supposed to be...don't be too technical...only flag after a warning unless it is material to the play...and very very obvious...as my whitehat says, lets not pick boogers here...

I've been taught only to tap my backside leg, and say "back side of the neutral zone" or give the off the line signal. I gave the off the line signal, and was right in front of the coach when that happened. This wasn't the first "ticky-tack" penalty in the game, because I had already flagged them for lining up in the neutral zone on offense. This team wanted a warning for EACH type of foul or infraction before we flagged them. My white hat said we'll do what we can, but there's only three sets of eyes. I was a little more lenient with those on the other side of the line, but my side of the line, the coach was there to say something to his players. That was our philosophy, and they just wouldn't accept it. The head coach actually used the penalties as a teaching moment, while the assistant was being the a**.

[cmathews]

running good cop bad cop on ya hu LOL those nasty little coaches

Originally Posted by cmathews

running good cop bad cop on ya hu LOL those nasty little coaches

And that assistant is the one I described on another thread as nearly costing them 15 unless the head coach muzzled him.

[bisonlj]

I'm lenient and will warn if they are close to being off the line when they are supposed to be on. But if they have 5 guys obviously in the backfield (i.e. 2 receivers that are both being punched back, a QB and 2 RB), there will be a flag and no warning. If one of those receivers is close but still technically in the back field, I'll put him on the line and warn him after the play.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

If one of those receivers is close but still technically in the back field, I'll put him on the line and warn him after the play.

By "put him on the line", do you mean "deem him on the line", or "direct him to shift onto the line"? If it's the latter, what do you do if he follows your instruction, thanks you, and then goes into shallow "fly" motion before the snap?

[RadioBlue]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

I'm lenient and will warn if they are close to being off the line when they are supposed to be on. But if they have 5 guys obviously in the backfield (i.e. 2 receivers that are both being punched back, a QB and 2 RB), there will be a flag and no warning. If one of those receivers is close but still technically in the back field, I'll put him on the line and warn him after the play.

When I work a wing (which is always lower-level games since I'm a BJ on Fridays), I'll ask the WR coming towards me, "On or off, sir?" He'll tell me and when he lines up I'll say, "You're on" or "You're off".

If he tells me "I'm off" and he has four of his teammates in the backfield, too, then I'll drop a flag.

[parepat]

I indicate the line and say "this is the line". When they line up I say: "You are on/off the line"

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ChicagoLJ

How tight are you guys on this, and at what level do you maybe stop giving breaks??

I was working a freshman game this weekend, and on a two point conversion I had QB, two RBs, slot receiver, and the guy closest to me was off the line (there might have been a sixth man off the line). Conversion was no good, and I warned the coach that the formation was illegal.

There is something called a slot receiver? Wow, I thought we were not supposed to use this term?

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Flag it the first time. And the second.

Don't move the receiver. Tell him he's on or punch him back and tell him he's off. If he doesn't move up and there's only 6 on the line, throw a flag simultaneous with the snap.

I disagree on this level. Freshman often do not know where they are going to go, so I feel we should and can not be nit picky on where they stand. If they are clearly not lined up correctly, then that is another issue. But I will move a "wide receiver" if they are clearly off sides or they know they are supposed to be on the line but they clearly are not. Varsity ball is different, but lower level ball I have no problem with some concessions early in a game.

Peace