With the first kickoff a week or so away, let’s discuss what you think about at your position when a free kick is about to happen. What do you look for on kickoffs??

Free kick mechanics.
 

6 man mechanics (CCA) for umpire:
1. Count K. Signal BJ and FJ (They have K and R's restraining lines).
2. Obtain ready signal from kicker. Signal referee.
3. Upon ready for play signal kicker to proceed.
4. Watch for kick that touches the ground in front of the kicker. (Some kickers can bounce a kick off the ground and pop it up in the air; kick catching interference does not apply afterwards.)
5. Pickup tee (Is this a good mechanic or simply unnecessary?).
6. Watch for blocks and other contact in middle zone.
7. Help lineup kicks going out of bounds on the fly.
8. Be alert for long runbacks.

Whoops, almost forgot:
9. Protect kicker and holder. Watch for illegal contact on kicker until kick has been touched and/or kicker has advanced 5 yards past his free kick line.

In NC, LJ is on the kicker's line. I don't know if that's different from other states or not. We still keep the umpire back with the kicker.

In any case, I'm looking for:

1- Encroachment by K
2- Holding and blocking below the waist at the R line.
3- I move slowly toward the play, ever ready to break downfield if there's a long run.
4- Watching for extra curricular when the play is over.
5- Mirror the stop the clock signal when the play is dead.
6- Looking for somebody with a new ball. That's probably the toughest part!

BTW Mike, we do not allow our U to remove the tee during the play. Too much opportunity to miss something that you shouldn't.


[Edited by BktBallRef on Aug 22nd, 2002 at 09:53 AM]

In Indiana, most crews use Fed mechanics. Referee back with receivers, Umpire on R's 30 on chain side of field, Linesman has kickers, line judge has receivers, Back Judge on R's 20 opposite the Umpire.
Some real good crews put Umpire with kickers, reason being to allow the Linesman more time to position chains and get ball from offence.
I think that each official knowing his coverage area during the play is a lot more important that where each official starts. This is something that we go over every week in pre-game. I am the Linesman on our crew. I watch the kickers LOS, action on and around the kicker, initial blocks along the receivers LOS and the blocks on the outside 3 kickers during the first part of the return. The linejudge has pretty much the same responsibilities on the other side, except that he doesn't have to watch the action on the kicker.

[Edited by Tom Cook on Aug 22nd, 2002 at 07:30 PM]