Pre-Snap Communication w/ Players

[FHSUref]

So what I am reading is that if a DB is lined up in the NZ that BEFORE the snap, you would provide a little assistance/communication to have him backup?

I agree completly with this. I would not want the game to come down to a DB or WR for that matter lining up in the NZ when I could have prevented it and "let the kids decide the outcome of the game"

This has bothered me all week. Mainly since the team I was cheering for lost. I just replayed all the games I called where I had to tell kids to back up a little. I know it's not my responsibility... But my rule of thumb is/was if I can prevent a penalty or infraction by providing a little bit of communication, then I would.

[cmathews]

FHSU were you in Golden this weekend??

[jTheUmp]

Our crew mentions this to the head coach during pregame: If the wing's arm is raised, that means he thinks the player closest to him is off the line. If the wing's arm is at his side, that means the player is on the line.

We also never respond to a player who says "am I good?" because we, as officials, don't know where he's supposed to line up.
However, if the player asks "am I on?" or "am I off?", we can (and will) respond appropriately.

If the player doesn't ask, we won't say anything.

[BuckeyeRef]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

We also never respond to a player who says "am I good?" because we, as officials, don't know where he's supposed to line up.
However, if the player asks "am I on?" or "am I off?", we can (and will) respond appropriately.

If the player doesn't ask, we won't say anything.

In a varsity game, I usually try to tell the wideouts during the first series that my foot is the line of scrimmage if they want to be on. If a player asks for help I simply tell him he's on or off, I never tell someone to move.

If a player doesn't ask for help, my foot is still there to show the line of scrimmage but he hears nothing from me. Same goes for a DB who moves up to the line of scrimmage right in front of me. If he checks with me to make sure he is not offside I tell him. If he doesn't check with me then I flag him if he is in the neutral zone.

[Mike L]

I guess I've never understood the rationale behind the whole tapping the leg thing like we're protecting some great secret or testing him or something. I'd rather make it easier for him to understand and avoid more stupid formation fouls.
I just simply tell the player who asks 1) you're on the line or 2) you're back. On those rare occassions he'll get a "you're over the line". With any of them it's up to him to figure out what to do at that point.
If it's B lining up in the zone, if there's time he'll get a "back up defense". If A comes up quick and snaps or he doesn't hear me, too bad for B.

[FHSUref]

Originally Posted by cmathews

FHSU were you in Golden this weekend??

Did you see the same thing I did? What are your thoughts?

[FHSUref]

Originally Posted by cmathews

well I can tell you what I do. I tell any player that asks whether they are on/over or off of the line. I wasn't at the game, but I know about the play. I am not at liberty to discuss it publicly, but I can say that the DB didn't use all of the information he could have had at his disposal...

I agree. I just know that in that situation... for me to throw that flag would be awful tough. I know i'm gonna hear the "you aren't there to make rules" etc... "you are there to enforce them" But to walk off the field knowing that I called a penalty that could have been avoided would be awful rough.

It's the same thing as holding... Honestly, it could be called on EVERY play. But we use our judgement. Did it affect the play? Did the player make an effort to get away or did he just stand there and get held and expect me to throw a penalty etc... Decisions, decisions.

Either way, it was a great game and it was unfortunate how it ended. It's a game of inches and there were several oppoetunities for both teams to put away the other. The home team made one more play than the visitors.

[cmathews]

I wasn't at the game, but I saw the film and I talked to the official involved. He tried to get the DB back but with the crowd noise he couldn't hear him...The DB was lined up in press coverage and could either end up getting a jump on the coverage or blitzing the qb, thereby creating a big advantage/disadvantage situation.

Like anyone else he haited to throw the flag.

Like I said I saw the film, from the sideline view (50 yd line) and the play occuring on the 9 yd line, I could tell before I even talked to him who it was that was offsides.

With him being that far off (blicking the view of the ball) the guy can't let it go, his credibility is on the line, people will either think he is cheating for the visitors or blind. When the fouls are that blatant, you can't let them go, especially in a tight game....45 -3 yeah you can let it go, and head for the locker room...16-12, you just have to get it......

[FHSUref]

I agree. He could have had an unfair advantage. Looking at the clip, the ball is on the 9yd line and his feet are behind the 9yd line. He must have had the crown of his helmet over the LOS.

Bad break.

[HLin NC]

Don't do college.

I will tap my leg and tell the receiver my foot is the line. Also we only signal off here but I doubt the players know that. Some coaches might.

DB's are on their own. He'll know when he's gotten too close