when do I throw the flag on an offsides?

Blow it dead on sight or let the play go and throw the flag simulataneous with the snap?

What about when they line up offsides????

I don't know what code you are looking for, but for NF the pertinent rules are 7-1-5 and 7-1-6. Blow it dead and flag it as soon as it happens. After the RFP sounds and the center puts his hand(s) on the ball, breaking the plane of the neutral zone is foul. If they line up in the NZ, I may give the player a brief moment to correct his position, but if he doesn't do it quickly, it is a dead ball foul. Finally, for NF rules this is "encroachment," not offsides.

I assume you a line judge---

You should call it when it occurs--- dont wait for the snap to get off.the flag.. I am in Iraq and dont have my NF rule book and will miss this whole season but---

Offsides is a loose term as well---

If defense lines up in neutral zone or offense lines up in the neutral zone do your best to talk them out of it particularly if they are out near you--

The younger the players the more likely you are to talk them out of it---

If it is a minor infraction you may just go in after a play and tell them that they are lining up too close to -look at the ball and line up right- I normally tell them a couple of times, but it still needs to be pretty obvious--

The line judge should be telling the receivers where the line starts so they are not in the neutral zone unless they jump there---( along wiht finding who is on or who is off for the eligible receiver)

we are not ther to throw the flag on every nitpicky " he lined -up wrong" penalty---

If you are new work with your Referee--- go to other games and walk the sidelines with an experience R or find a school who will let you run the chains to get down there and see how others handle it--

MY 250 dinars

But let's get it correct in our terminology...

There is no "offsides" in Federation HS football. The foul is "encroachment" - 2-8

Blow it dead right away in HS.

When I am a wing, I try to help the wide receivers, if they look at me for help. I will move my hand a little bit to signal that they may have to move back a half step or move them up if they want to be on the line. Preventive officiating is a positive thing. If they don't ask for help, I will tell them to move back the first time. After that if they don't ask for help I will flag them. Everyone appreciates the help when asked for and it doesn't hurt the game.

For interior players, I flag them as they never look to me for help.

Forksref,
In my humble opinion, NEVER use an obvious signal such as a hand movement to help get the receivers back. One coach sees you doing it for the other team and you flag his guy the next series, you may lose some credibility. Also maybe your guy was suppose to be off the line? Hopefully, he is not moving at the snap, it looks bad.

Here is my suggestion for preventive officiating. First make sure your feet straddle the ball as the teams line up. Then when the receiver looks to you for help, tell him that Your Foot is on the line of scrimmage and maybe tap your leg. This way it is up to the receiver to know if he is on or off the line of scrimmage.

If he is close to the line or slightly over, when he makes eye contact, just tilt your head to the backfield and he will get the hint to back up a little. If the guy does not look to you and is obviously over the line, you gotta flag him. But then tell him to look at you next time and your foot will be on the line of scrimmage.

That is how I work the line... good luck and have a great season!!!!

I've always been under the opinion the player is where he thinks he is unless it is blatently obvious. I usually ask the receivers to tell me where they are. So I know. Or I'll even ask them "Are you on the line?" As for the coach complaining...if you are consistant and offer the same assistance to both teams there shouldn't be a problem.

If I think a player was a little too close to the line on one play...I'll get to him and tell him to look at me or make sure he's off the line. Throughout the game, the communication with the players should never stop.

I seldom work the wings--- but isn't the accepted
mechanic that if a wide out asks you if he is
OK or some such thing that you should tell him
"I am on the line" or "my foot is on the line"
and then let him figure it out ???
I know--- you're dealing with a 16-18 year old kid-
so sometimes you may have to give him a hint--
"if you're supposed to be in the backfield- back up"
I'd rather not flag the kid if at all possible !

We go a little bit further than just telling him where the line is. If he asks if he is OK, we tell him if he is on or off the line. I do agree that you should never answer the "am I ok" question with a yes or no, because we generally don't know what the formation is supposed to be, and therefore cannot definitively determine if the player is indeed "OK."

If a player gives me "am I ok?" I will reply "you are on" or "you are off". I will also pinch in a little initially to be a little closer till he gets set. Then I back out the step or 2 to get back on the sideline where I will work. I will also assist the defender if he wants to get in close to the line to jam the receiver.
As far as linemen go, if they are just a little in the zone I will get in and tell the U and/or R to have the player back up a little. Only time I throw a flag, without a warning, is if I have an opposing coach over my shoulder hollering about it, which is actually rare, or if the player "hides" the ball on me.

Kelvin,

Thanks for being there. We appreciate what you're doing.

God Bless you guys.

Problem is, he never comes set or he backs up while someone else is in motion because you told him to back up. You flag him, then the coach is pissed.

As he comes to the line, I pat my leg that is to his side of the LOS. Our association points on and off. So, I don't have to speak. If he's on, I'm pointing downfield if he's off, I'm pointing back. I haven't told him anything, yet he knows where he's at.