6 PERSON MECHANICS BJ & BU

WHAT THE MECHANICS MANUAL

DOES NOT TELL YOU!

THINGS TO CONSIDER

• The mechanics manual is just a guide to help with an official’s

starting point.

• It is based on percentages. No manual can cover every possible

game scenario.

• The competent official must know when to adjust to team

tendencies, coaching styles, particular play situations, weather,

personal physical abilities, etc.

• This does not mean that an official should be freelancing on every

play. This would jeopardize the ability of fellow officials to carry out

their responsibilities correctly.

• In 6 person mechanics, the deep officials will be responsible to cover

more area than any other official on most plays.

• There is an expectation that the deep officials will have a high level of

fitness to be able to get into position to make the required/correct calls.

• The higher the level (age group) of the game, the greater demand on the

officials to be physically ready to meet the required expectations of the

“job”.

• It is no longer acceptable to say that an individual has x number of years

of experience and that qualifies that person to do “the job”.

• Professionalism demands that all officials develop a high level of

proficiency in rules knowledge, mechanics and physical fitness.

JUDGEMENT

• Definition: The ability to make informed decisions.

• In industry, this can happen over minutes, hours, days, etc. before a final decision is

made.

• In a football game this must happen over a period of seconds.

• Nobody wants to see a foul called on every play, even if one occurred.

• The underlying concept is to make the call if the infraction had an impact on the play.

• The higher the level of football, the more “grey” this decision becomes. This is

because the players are better athletes and are much stronger and faster than at the

lower age groups.

• Obvious foul ………………..Grey area…………………. Obviously not a foul

• Officials need to minimize the “grey area”

• Judgement needs to be appropriate for the age group you are working. At

the younger levels, coaching the players might be more beneficial than

calling the foul. At the senior levels, stay away from coaching unless you

are asked for assistance. Coaching at this level is the job of the coaches.

• Generally, if a opponent is placed at a disadvantage by some illegal tactic

that prevents the opponent from having an “immediate” impact on a play,

or if the player’s safety is at risk (URs), then the infraction should be

called.

• As an informal guide, if the infraction occurs within 10 yards of the ball

then it needs to be called.

• Sometimes judgement needs to be re-assessed while the play is ongoing.

The hold 25 yards away initially has no impact until the play breaks down,

the ball carrier reverses direction and heads straight for the holding

location. Now, the original hold might need to be called.

• How do officials increase their ability to provide the correct judgement on a

particular play?

• by working at a particular position on the field as often as possible

(experience).

• observing others working the position(s) you are interested in. Find a mentor

to help you.

• natural talents (being physically fit and mentally sharp).

• being coachable (can you accept constructive criticism).

• people skills (how you manage the game can assist in how your judgement

is received).

• develop the ability to focus on the pertinent things.

• develop a pattern of consistency (make the same call in the “same”

situation). Do not try to “even up” a bad call.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

• Does each official need to know all aspects of the rulebook?

• Yes!

• Will the BU/BJ likely need to call procedure, offside (offence or

defence), intentional grounding, roughing the passer, etc?

• No!

• What are 5 fouls that the deep officials are most likely required to

rule on during a game?

• holding, illegal contact vs pass interference (offence and defence),

no yards, illegal blocks and unnecessary roughness.

• The previous infractions make up the largest percentage of calls

that need to be ruled on by deep officials.

• Other considerations to be discussed will include:

• ruling on possession at the sideline including what are the

requirements for a completed catch.

• scoring at the goal line (going in and coming out) and the

pylon.

• coverage on a short kick off (interference by Team A)

• control of the sideline (safety factor, sleeper play,

substitutions, etc.)

LET’S MAKE THE CALL

• The primary responsibility of the BJ/BU on scrimmage plays is the

widest receivers. These are referred to as your keys.

• The BJ/BU need to analyze the actions on & by these keys.

• If there is no threat on or by your keys, then the point of focus

needs to shift. The officials’ job is not over. Switch to the zone

around the ball … not at the ball.

• The farther away the ball is, the wider your zone of coverage

becomes.

• Scan, do not fixate, while looking for infractions away from the ball

…. especially unnecessary roughing.

HOLDING

• By knowing the definition, the official will know what to look for.

(Rule 7 - 1 - 1)

• The accepted standard not covered by the rulebook:

• a) grabbing an opponent on the front of that player’s jersey is

allowed.

• b) grabbing on the shoulder(s) or extending around to the back of

the opponent is illegal.

• c) holding as mentioned in (a) but with the hands/arms extended to

the side is illegal. The holder must maintain a “face to face” position

if the hold is not to be called.

• d) grabbing an opponent as in (a) but then pulling the opponent towards

the ground is illegal.

• e) if the legally “held” opponent tries to break free to pursue the ball, the

hold has to be let go. This usually occurs when the ball carrier has

passed the player being “held”.

• In (b) - (e) above a clear advantage needs to occur for the foul to be

called.

• The BJ/BU’s job is to look for the above actions on or by their keys.

• by your keys - examples include sweeps and off tackle plays, long

plays down your side where the key tries to assist the ball carrier’s

progress by interfering with the opponent.

• on your keys - examples are potential pass routes, kick plays to

restrict your keys progress to get down field.

ILLEGAL BLOCKS

• Include illegal blocks (7 - 1 - 2), crackback blocks (7 - 3 - 10) &

blocks from the rear (7 - 3 - 15)

• CBB usually is committed by your key(s) on non-kicking plays. Be

alert when a key starts heading along the L of S towards the centre

prior to the snap. The BJ/BU are likely to be the only ones to see all

the action to determine if the contact is illegal.

• All officials need to have a clear understanding of the difference

between an illegal block and a block from the rear (UR).

• Too often officials opt for the lesser of the two when, in fact, we

should be penalizing for unnecessary roughing.

• These illegal blocks most often occur during kick returns and are on the

“first wave” of players trying to get to the ball carrier. These “victims” are

usually your keys but not always. These infractions are also quite

frequently missed or applied incorrectly.

• Rarely, on these kick situations, should both the BU/BJ be watching the

ball (exception: loose ball on the ground).

• The BU determines who has the ball. The other deep official (and

possibly the HL on K/Os) will take the blocking on his/her side of the

field and/or the 1st threatened kicking team players near the ball.

• The deep officials need to move to get the best view of player action.

They must be able to determine if the contact point was on the side or

on the back corner of the opponent.

• They cannot accurately rule on contact in the back by looking through

the front of the “victim”.

NO YARDS

• The primary responsibility for this coverage is determined by the BU. If his

arm goes up, he has the ball. If he points upfield then the BJ has the ball.

• Mechanics require the covering official to start 5 yards ahead of and 8 - 10

yards wide of the potential kick receiver. The covering official needs to be

able to adjust quickly to the flight of the ball. Kickers at the lower levels are

extremely unpredictable. Deep officials need to consider the kicker’s

tendencies, wind conditions and their own fitness abilities.

• Deep officials need to be able to get into a position to see the 5 yard zone

at the moment the ball is touched. At the higher levels, you will not be able

to focus on the touch and then switch to where the players are. You will

miss the call.

• Be wide enough to use “soft eyes” to see both the touching and the

position of the attacking opponents at the same time.

• Unmarked fields present a challenge for no yards calls. To assist oneself,

practice pacing off 5 yards and use markers. Stand back and observe the

actual distance. Then, without pacing it off, try to place the markers 5 yards

apart. Work at this until you can consistently be within 1 foot of the 5 yard

radius.

• How do the deep officials cover the kick if the ball bounces and is on the

ground?

• i) between the BU and the open sideline:

• it is the BU’s call. The BJ needs to move off the sideline more and cover

the blocking

• ii) between the BU and the BJ (or outside the hash on the BJ side):

• could have 2 flags on this play. The need is to get the correct

possession/no yards. It is OK to sacrifice a missed illegal block to ensure

the proper team gets possession of the ball.

ILLEGAL CONTACT VS FORWARD PASS INTERFERENCE (O & D)

• Illegal Contact (Rules 6 - 4 - 9, 6 - 4 - 10)

• Occurs prior to the pass being thrown

• Team A can block up to 1 yard in advance of the L of S on passes thrown across

the L of S.

• Team B can protect their position but cannot go “hunting”. The acceptable

standard is:

• taking 1 step in a generally forward direction to contact the opponent on the

front is considered protecting one’s position and is legal.

• taking 1 step to contact a potential receiver on the side (or back) is not

protecting one’s position and is, therefore, illegal.

• The general guideline is, if B’s action against a potential receiver not threatening

B’s position causes that A receiver to be redirected, impeded, or restricted in the

A player’s ability to run a pass route, then the contact is illegal.

• Forward Pass Interference (Rules 6 - 4 - 9, 6 - 4 - 10)

• Illegal contact that occurs with the ball in the air.

• O.P.I. - usually designed to create separation between the Team A

receiver and the opponent. It includes tactics such as: a push-off,

charging into the opponent and cutting away or coming back to the ball,

the “pick play”.

• A “pick play” occurs when A5 (an eligible Team A receiver) takes a path

and contacts an opponent who is not covering A5. This contact allows

another A receiver to now be “free” from coverage and therefore gain an

advantage. This action is illegal. However, if A5 gets to a spot that

obstructs the opponent’s ability to cover a receiver (other than A5) but

does not initiate contact with that opponent, then this “pick” is legal.

• Also includes actions that are not a simultaneous and bonafide attempt to

play the ball.

• D.P.I. - similar to illegal contact but, instead of affecting the

receiver’s ability to run a route, the contact affects the ability of the

receiver to play the ball.

• Screening, with or without contact, is included under this rule.

• Incidental contact, when playing the ball, is legal. Looking back to

the ball and making incidental contact with the receiver is usually

classified as playing the ball.

• Not looking back and making contact is illegal.

• Looking back to the ball and driving the opponent off of a route or

away from the ball is not incidental contact and is illegal.

BU AND BJ CONSIDERATIONS FOR O.P.I AND D.P.I

• Most of the time the previously mentioned actions occur on your keys.

• These actions usually occur a fair distance downfield.

• Deep officials need to be extremely mobile to cover large distances. Most

rulings become simplified if the official can work hard to get into position

see the separation between a potential receiver and the opponent.

• Getting caught in a “straight line” with the receiver and opponent increases

the chance that the deep official will miss certain illegal tactics. These

include, but are not limited to:

• i) early (subtle) contact made resulting in a advantage gained

• ii) arm bar or slight jersey pull

• iii) screening vs a well timed “arm shoot” that hits the ball

UNNECESSARY ROUGHNESS

• Have a thorough knowledge of these rules. They impact game control and

player safety. (Rule 7 - 2 and 7 - 3)

• Officials need to adopt a zero tolerance attitude. “If you think it is

unnecessary roughness, then it is”.

• Know your zone of responsibility prior to the snap, during the play and after

the play is terminated.

• One of the most frequently missed fouls is the “tourist hit”. This occurs

when a player blind-sides an opponent who is not taking part in the play

and that opponent has no chance of protecting himself/herself against the

hit.

• These are missed because too many officials “ball hawk” just prior to, and

as the play is going dead. Missing these is one of the fastest ways of

having an otherwise good game, deteriorate into an officiating nightmare.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE BU AND BJ POSITIONS

• a) Possession (Rule 1 - 6 - 1)

• i) sideline coverage (inbounds vs OB between the HL/BJ and

LJ/BU partners

• the partner, who the receiver is “looking at” observes the

hands and ball and rules on the catch while the other official

rules on the feet inbounds or out.

• the primary decision lies with the L of S official and the deep

partner provides input only when asked.

• ii) Incomplete vs Catch and Fumble:

• Catch = must have control of the ball

• for an element of time (there is no such thing as an “athletic

move”).

• survive contact with the ground &/or an other player.

• If there is any doubt, then rule the pass incomplete. A possible turn-over

should not be created by a guess or poor judgement from an official.

• Do not rush the decision and, if possible, look for help from other officials.

• Understand the concept of a force out. They are rare but can be part of a

big play especially if they occur in the end zone.

• b) Scoring

• Work hard to be in a position to see the ball going into and coming out of the

goal area i.e. be keenly aware of any possible threat at the goal line. Do not

“echo” other official’s signal.

• Do not rush your signal and if required, look for help.

• Understand the rules as they apply to the pylon with the ball and/or player

contacting it or going over it.

• c) Short Kick Offs

• Know where to set up and who decides when to adjust (Referee).

• Know when you cover the tactics of the B blockers and potential A tacklers

(prior to the ball getting to you)

• Know when you take the ball (as it passes you). Be ready to control the clock,

rule on 1st touched and last touched, players inbounds or OB, etc.

SUMMARY

• Mechanics provide guidance in terms of where to start and where to

focus i.e. ball responsibility or specific zones away from the ball.

• Discipline and experience allow the official to implement the

mechanics effectively (no ball hawking) and guide them in using

good judgement to enforce the rules.

• Common sense can be an asset to the deep official. If the ball is in

the air (on a pass or punt) look to the potential destination of the

ball, not the flight. Fouls do not occur 30 feet in the air. Also, if a

game is lop-sided and the losing team commits a foul (other than

UR or OC), we probably do not need to make this call.

• Deep officials need to maintain a high level of fitness. This will:

• allow for proper focus on appropriate responsibilities for each play

prior to the snap, as the play unfolds and after the play terminates.

• allow officials to get into position to get the best angle to rule on:

• illegal blocks (side or back),

• contact between potential pass receivers,

• bang-bang plays with respect to catches in the field of play and at

the sideline,

• ball position as it pertains to the goal line and pylon

• all other aspects of the game in the official’s zone(s) of responsibility

during and after the play.