7 Man Mechanics Question
 

How many states use 7 man for their State Finals or any level of the championship games?

Peace

Two years ago, NC started using 6 man. That lasted one year. 6 man sucks.

Last year, we went to 7 man. Hope I get a shot at working those mechanics this year. :)

In ND we use 5 regular season, playoffs and finals.

(I will be WH for a final this year, 3rd final but first as WH.)

Wish we had more than 5 but we are very experienced at 5-man mechanics so we are confident.

My first final 15 years ago was 4 man and I was a wing. I think I collapsed after the game (actually more of a track meet!). :)

Congratulations Forks.

There's only one final? How many high schools?

We have the option to use 7 in the playoffs at the will and pleasure of our masters...err I mean coaches.

NC uses 7. Hopefully get to test it out this year!

Anybody have a good 7 man mechanics guide or know where to view one online?

Our booking agent has a short one on his website, but it's only a couple of pages. Doesn't address pregame, coin toss, timeouts, etc, etc.

CCA manual. I have an extra one I'll sell ya for a couple of bucks plus shipping. :)

Texas has 7 man in both regular season and playoffs. We've had a handful of both over the last few years and I expect more in the next few.

I don't think fees are as much an issue as the perception that 7 officials will call more fouls.

If we have enough officials we just send 7 without even getting their permission. If the coaches ask who the crew is, we give them all 7 names. We haven't used 7 any this year and won't, due to having too many games and not enough officials. Perhaps the playoffs we will.

I need to move to where you are Jason!

Our state uses 7 in the finals. Other playoff rounds are 5-man, or 7 by mutual agreement of the coaches.

We use 5 in MN during the season and post-season. As a white hat I would be reluctant to change the complexion of my crew, especially in a state playoff game. I trust my crew and know their capabilities. Adding new faces would make me a bit uneasy in a high stakes game.

Normally I'd agree with you, but adding a SJ and FJ only changes the responsibilities of the BJ - and not in too difficult a way.

The only weirdness is on kicks.

The short wings have to remember to stop at the 2 yard line on scrimmage plays that start from outside the 5. Lots of verbal communication is necessary between short and deep wings. The key for deep wings is to remember that outside the 2 yard line they have no spotting responsibilities and to keep a cushion.

The addition of deep wings can change keys for the short wings, too. That's not a trivial thing, but worked properly means we can stay with our keys a bit longer.

As a first year SJ, it's not a trivial adjustment and I would want good officials in those positions if we did this on my HS crew. But I think the deep wings bring a LOT to the table and relieve the short wings of a lot of work.

One thing I'll disagree with in this thread. I'd rather work with 6 than 5. Yes, I do think 7 is much better than 6, but I'd rather have two deep wings than one official trying to cover the entire field deep. Two deep wings provide a lot. The only place I really don't like 6 is when the deep wings start at a pylon and still have to cover the end line.

If we HAD to work 6 (many around here have and feel 5 is better), I'd work it in a modified way with a Back Judge and Side Judge. The BJ would favor the LJ side but still take the punt returner and the middle if they threw a post route. We did this in a JV game (schedule mix up) several years ago. It allowed the HL to work much like he would on punts and FG attempts -- stay closer to the line.