SAAF Arena

4 Person Mechanics Football

Mechanics Criteria
 Communication
Field Positions
Keys & General Mechanics

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 Mechanics – 4 man

Basic Scrimmage Position

Prior to the Snap
Running Plays
Passing Plays
 Goal line – inside 10 yard line
 Measurements
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 Basic Scrimmage Position
Referee
A’s backfield 3 to 4 G 10 20 R 30
yards behind deepest
back on passing arm
of Quarterback able to
view opposite side BJ
tackle

Beck Judge
10 to 12 yards off ball G 10 20 30
as to not interfere with
vision or movement of
defensive backs.

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 Basic Scrimmage Position
LJ
Linesman &
Line Judge G 10 20 R 30
Start on side line
aligned to line-of-
scrimmage.
BJ

G 10 20 30

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 Prior to Snap (All Plays)
Referee
Declare ball ready-for- G 10 20 R 30
play
Count A players
Responsible for 25
second count
Check players set for
one second prior to
snap.
G 10 20 30
Watch for snap
infractions, illegal
shifts, and false starts

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 Prior to Snap (All Plays)
Back Judge
Vary position as to not
block view of B players G 10 20 30
or allow A to use you
as interference
Count A Players BJ
Check three players
on line numbered 50 to
79
Be ready to rule on
snap infractions, false G 10 20 30
starts, encroachments,
disconcerting signals
by defense and be
aware of B players line
up in free blocking
zone 13.mart 2011 6
 Prior to Snap (All Plays)
LJ
Linesman &
Line Judge
G 10 20 30
Check down number
on box and signal
down
Extend arm back to
indicate A player
closes to you off the
line-of-scrimmage
Check to see if all G 10 20 30
backs, flankers, split
ends in legal position
and check eligibility H
Determine if player in
motion movement is
legal 13.mart 2011 7
 Prior to Snap (All Plays)
LJ
Linesman &
Line Judge G 10 20 30
Check for five on the
line-of-scrimmage 1
Help in determining 2 3
false start,
encroachment, 4
interference with snap
Count B players and be
G 10 20 30
alert for illegal 5
substitutes
Key off tackle for run / H
pass

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 Running Play
Referee
Key opposite guard / G 10 20 30
tackle
R
Responsible for ball
carrier and action
around him to the
neutral zone

G 10 20 30

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 Running Play
Referee
Move behind play G 10 20 30
toward side of field
R
which plays advances
and cover runner until
reaching neutral zone
or if down near line-of-
scrimmage
Watch action behind
ball and away from
runner, action on G 10 20 30
quarterback, and
backward or forward
passes.

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 Running Play
Referee
When ball is dead, G 10 20 30
move to location and
R
signal next down
Help relay ball and
assist back judge with
spot
If first down, stop clock
and signal
Make sure all officials G 10 20 30
ready to go before
signal ball ready for
play

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 Running Play
Back Judge
Read point of attack

Watch line play for G 10 20 30

illegal action around
ball carrier and in free
blocking zone
BJ
Move accordingly
depending play
working inside out

Be alert for fumbles G 10 20 30

beyond neutral zone
and help determine
who gains possession

After play spot ball

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 Running Play
Linesman
Action toward you
G 10 20 30
Work off the field

Observe actions of
linemen your side and
blockers in front of ball
carrier

Pick up responsibility
of ball carrier, mark G 10 20 30
forward progress and
stop clock if out of
bounds H

Follow runner to goal

line 13.mart 2011 13
 Running Play
Linesman
Action away from you G 10 20 30

Move cautiously onto

field ready for reverse
action

Observe action behind

play

Be ready to help with G 10 20 30

forward progress spot
or goal line
H

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 Running Play
LJ
Line Judge
Action toward you G 10 20 30

Work off the field

Observe actions of
linemen your side and
blockers in front of ball
carrier

Pick up responsibility G 10 20 30
of ball carrier, mark
forward progress and
stop clock if out of
bounds

Follow runner to goal 13.mart 2011 15

line
 Running Play
LJ
Line Judge
Action away from you
G 10 20 30
Move cautiously onto
field ready for reverse
action

Observe action behind

play

Be ready to help with

forward progress spot G 10 20 30
or goal line

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 Passing Plays

Referee
Key opposite guard / G 10 20 30
R
tackle

Watch blocking

Remain wider and

deeper than passer

After pass released,

verbally alert G 10 20 30
defenders and observe
action on passer not
ball

Determine pass
forward or backward 13.mart 2011 17
 Passing Plays
Referee
Sole responsibility for G 10 20 R 30
intentional grounding,
however, can get
assistance from
covering official
Determine if passer
crosses neutral zone
Continue to observe
action behind neutral G 10 20 30
zone before leaving

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 Passing Plays
Back Judge
Watch for Illegal
contact in free blocking G 10 20 30
zone
BJ
Move from line-of-
scrimmage

Observe action of
players in neutral
zone
G 10 20 30
Be ready to rule on
pass incomplete /
complete and
interference

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 Passing Plays
Back Judge
Know if ball tipped at
line-of-scrimmage G 10 20 30

Pivot after pass

BJ
crosses neutral zone
and assist on
determining catch or
no catch

G 10 20 30

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 Passing Plays
Linesman & LJ
Line Judge
Watch initial action off
line for holding G 10 20 30

Move downfield
cautiously on passes
to your side and be
ready to adjust back
for run

Assist Referee in
determining if forward G 10 20 30
pass released beyond
neutral zone
H
Be ready to rule on
pass incomplete /
complete and 13.mart 2011 21
interference
 Passing Plays
LJ
Linesman &
Line Judge R
If ball intercepted, G 10 20 30
observe action until ball is
dead, covering official
stop clock and signal first BJ
down, if inside defensive
5 yard line, be ready to
rule on momentum

If incomplete pass in your

area, sound whistle and
signal
G 10 20 30
Be alert for illegal passes

Rule on touching or H
catching by ineligibles

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 Goal-Line Plays (Inside 10 yards)
LJ
Referee
Same Coverage as G 10 20 30
Running and Passing
BJ R
Plays

Back Judge
Move up to goal line,
be ready to move to
end line if necessary
on pass G 10 20 30

Linesman H
Move to goal line and
work back on play
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 Goal-Line Plays (Inside 10 yards)
LJ
All Officials
ONLY signal G 10 20 30
Touchdown if you see
BJ R
ball cross goal line
(primary coverage is
wing officials – BJ
should communicate
to make sure wing
officials do not have
play over in field of
play!) G 10 20 30
Do NOT mirror signal
H
Communicate on dual
coverage areas

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 Measurement
Line Judge
Align Linesman up
with line and ball G 10 20 30

Linesman
Walk chains out, place BJ LJ
clip on line and hold R

Back Judge
After Linesman ready,
pull chain G 10 20 30

Referee
H
Hold ball and
determine if ball
across line-to-gain
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