6-Man Mechanics Manual6-Man Mechanics Manual

Author: Nick PergineAuthor: Nick PergineAssignor: Pioneer Athletic Assignor: Pioneer Athletic

Conference ( District 1)Conference ( District 1)

Reasons for the sixth manReasons for the sixth man

Expanded passing gameExpanded passing game– Deep pass plays are difficult to cover with five Deep pass plays are difficult to cover with five

officials officials

Increase number of “spread” offensive Increase number of “spread” offensive formationsformations

The new Side Judge (SJ) will assist the The new Side Judge (SJ) will assist the Head Linesmen (HL) and Back Judge Head Linesmen (HL) and Back Judge (BJ).(BJ).

Pre-Game ResponsibilitiesPre-Game Responsibilities

All officials arrive no later than 90 minutes All officials arrive no later than 90 minutes before kick off.before kick off.

60 minutes before kickoff60 minutes before kickoff– R and U will talk to coachesR and U will talk to coaches– BJ, SJ, HL, and LJ will discuss downfield BJ, SJ, HL, and LJ will discuss downfield

coverage, kicking mechanics, and officiating coverage, kicking mechanics, and officiating keys. keys.

Pre-Game ResponsibilitiesPre-Game Responsibilities

Pre-game continues until 15 minutes prior Pre-game continues until 15 minutes prior to kickoff. to kickoff.

Escort Team to the FieldEscort Team to the Field– BJ takes the HOME teamBJ takes the HOME team– SJ takes the VISITORSSJ takes the VISITORS

R and LJ walk the fieldR and LJ walk the field

U finds ball boysU finds ball boys

HL gives instructions to the chain crewHL gives instructions to the chain crew

Pre-Game ResponsibilitiesPre-Game Responsibilities

5 minutes prior to kickoff5 minutes prior to kickoff– BJ and SJ arrive on field with their teamsBJ and SJ arrive on field with their teams– BJ will introduce captains to the refereeBJ will introduce captains to the referee– SJ will introduce captains to the umpireSJ will introduce captains to the umpire

Coin toss begins three minutes prior to Coin toss begins three minutes prior to kickoffkickoff

Coin TossCoin Toss

Press Box

SCORE

Home Team Box

Visiting Team Box

SJ

BJ LJ

HL

U R

XXXX

XXXX

40

40

50

50

40

40

Coin Toss Coin Toss

BJ & SJ escort teams to the playing fieldBJ & SJ escort teams to the playing field– NO LATER THAN 5 minutes before the NO LATER THAN 5 minutes before the

scheduled kick-off time. scheduled kick-off time.

R and UR and U– No more than four captainsNo more than four captains– Referee faces the scoreboardReferee faces the scoreboard

Coin TossCoin Toss

HL & SJ position themselves between the HL & SJ position themselves between the 9 yard marks and the visiting team 9 yard marks and the visiting team sideline.sideline.

BL & LJ position themselves between the BL & LJ position themselves between the 9 yard marks and the home team sideline.9 yard marks and the home team sideline.

Keep everyone in the team boxKeep everyone in the team box

ALL official meet in the middle of the field.ALL official meet in the middle of the field.

Kick Offs and Free KicksKick Offs and Free Kicks

Press Box

SJ

BJ LJ

HL

U

R

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40

Kickoff and Other Free Kicks Kickoff and Other Free Kicks

RefereeReferee– Count the receiving team players and then Count the receiving team players and then

give and acknowledge the extended first give and acknowledge the extended first signal with the U and HL to indicate that signal with the U and HL to indicate that eleven “R” players are on the field.eleven “R” players are on the field.

Umpire & HL Umpire & HL – Clear your sidelinesClear your sidelines– Count R playersCount R players

Kickoff and other Free KicksKickoff and other Free Kicks

Line Judge and Side JudgeLine Judge and Side Judge– Count K playersCount K players– Make sure ball goes 10 yardsMake sure ball goes 10 yards– Watch R’s free kick lineWatch R’s free kick line– Keep an eye out for illegal blocksKeep an eye out for illegal blocks– Long runs; get to the goaline. Long runs; get to the goaline.

Kickoff and other Free KicksKickoff and other Free Kicks

Back JudgeBack Judge– Secure gameballSecure gameball– Count K playersCount K players– Time 25 second clockTime 25 second clock– Protect kicker until he travel 5 yardsProtect kicker until he travel 5 yards– Rule of first touching Rule of first touching – Move into the field of playMove into the field of play– Get to the goalineGet to the goaline

On-Sides KickOn-Sides Kick

Press Box

SJ

BJ LJ

HL

U

R

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G

40

On-Sides KickOn-Sides Kick

Responsibilities are similar to regular free Responsibilities are similar to regular free kicks kicks

Side Judge takes the kickers on his side. Side Judge takes the kickers on his side. Head Linesmen bumps up to the receivers Head Linesmen bumps up to the receivers free kick line.free kick line.

Referee and Umpire move up closer.Referee and Umpire move up closer.

Scrimmage DownsScrimmage Downs

Press Box

SJ

BJ

LJ

HL

U

R

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G

40

Plays from scrimmagePlays from scrimmage

RefereeReferee– Blow the ready for playBlow the ready for play– Count ACount A– Protect QBProtect QB

UmpireUmpire– Cover ball prior to RFPCover ball prior to RFP– Position 5-7 yards deep. Alternate positionPosition 5-7 yards deep. Alternate position– Come to the LOS on pass playsCome to the LOS on pass plays

Plays from scrimmagePlays from scrimmage

Head Linesmen and Line JudgeHead Linesmen and Line Judge– Rule on positioning of all eligible recieversRule on positioning of all eligible recievers– Observer all substitutionsObserver all substitutions– Maintain sideline controlMaintain sideline control– Rule false starts, encroachmentsRule false starts, encroachments– Keys => Snap, tackle, 2Keys => Snap, tackle, 2ndnd receiver inside receiver inside– Rule on forward progressRule on forward progress

Plays from scrimmagePlays from scrimmage

Head LinesmenHead Linesmen– Hold LOS on passing playsHold LOS on passing plays– Roll out to LJ, be prepared to move downfiled Roll out to LJ, be prepared to move downfiled

and cover mid-range receiversand cover mid-range receivers

Line JudgeLine Judge– Drift to mid-range position on pass playsDrift to mid-range position on pass plays– Roll out to HL, be more aggressive on Roll out to HL, be more aggressive on

downfield coveragedownfield coverage

Plays from scrimmagePlays from scrimmage

Side JudgeSide Judge– 12 -15 yards downfield pre-snap12 -15 yards downfield pre-snap– Count B playersCount B players– Keep backup timeKeep backup time– Key the widest man in the formation on your Key the widest man in the formation on your

sideside– Take 3 steps backwards and read pass firstTake 3 steps backwards and read pass first

Plays from ScrimmagePlays from Scrimmage

Back JudgeBack Judge– Enforce 25 second clockEnforce 25 second clock– Position on the hash; LJ side of fieldPosition on the hash; LJ side of field– Count B playersCount B players– Key the widest man on the LJ sideKey the widest man on the LJ side– Work inside out coverageWork inside out coverage– Responsible for deep passes. Responsible for deep passes.

NEVER GET BEAT DEEP!!!NEVER GET BEAT DEEP!!!

Scrimmage KicksScrimmage Kicks

Press Box

SJ

BJ

LJ

HL

U

R

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G

40

Scrimmage KicksScrimmage Kicks

RefereeReferee– Position on kicker’s foot sidePosition on kicker’s foot side– Always protect the kickerAlways protect the kicker– Be the last man downfieldBe the last man downfield– On long returns, work inside-out and get to On long returns, work inside-out and get to

the goalinethe goaline

Scrimmage KicksScrimmage Kicks

UmpireUmpire– Position about 10 yards deep. Away from Position about 10 yards deep. Away from

linebackerslinebackers– Protect the snapperProtect the snapper– Slowly move towards the deadball spotSlowly move towards the deadball spot– Watch illegal blocks around the ball carrierWatch illegal blocks around the ball carrier

Scrimmage KicksScrimmage Kicks

Head Linesman and Line JudgeHead Linesman and Line Judge– Breakaway returns – get to the goal line Breakaway returns – get to the goal line

before the runner doesbefore the runner does– If the kick is blocked, the officials opposite of If the kick is blocked, the officials opposite of

R will retreat into the backfieldR will retreat into the backfield

Scrimmage KicksScrimmage Kicks

Side JudgeSide Judge– Position off the sideline. About 15 yards Position off the sideline. About 15 yards

deep.deep.– Mark forward progress if the ball carrier enters Mark forward progress if the ball carrier enters

your zoneyour zone– Setup on the pylon for kicks from R’s 40 yard Setup on the pylon for kicks from R’s 40 yard

line or closer. line or closer.

Back judgeBack judge

Back JudgeBack Judge– Take position in front of deepest receiver Take position in front of deepest receiver

towards the LJ side of field. towards the LJ side of field. – Position at the pylon on Line Judges side Position at the pylon on Line Judges side

whenever R kicks from the 40 yard line or whenever R kicks from the 40 yard line or closercloser

– Execute normal kicking game responsibilitiesExecute normal kicking game responsibilities

Field Goals and Extra PointsField Goals and Extra Points

Press Box

SJ

BJ

LJ

HL

U

R

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Field Goals and Extra PointsField Goals and Extra Points

Referee – face the holder to the side and Referee – face the holder to the side and in front of the kickerin front of the kicker

Umpire – Assist in coverage on blocked, Umpire – Assist in coverage on blocked, faked kicksfaked kicks

HL and LJ – Move to the goaline HL and LJ – Move to the goaline immediately if snap within 5 yardsimmediately if snap within 5 yards

BJ and SJ – Take uprights. Move out BJ and SJ – Take uprights. Move out towards the sideline on blocked kickstowards the sideline on blocked kicks

Goal Line Plays: 15 yards and Goal Line Plays: 15 yards and closercloser

Press Box

SJ

BJ

LJ

HL

U

R

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40

Goal Line PlaysGoal Line Plays

SJ and BJ - Take a position on the end SJ and BJ - Take a position on the end line and at the inbounds pylons and be line and at the inbounds pylons and be responsible for all actions at or near the responsible for all actions at or near the end line and it’s intersections with the end line and it’s intersections with the respective sideline. Goal line responsibility respective sideline. Goal line responsibility from this point forward belongs to the HL & from this point forward belongs to the HL & LJ.LJ.

Goal Line Plays: 5 yards and closerGoal Line Plays: 5 yards and closer

Press Box

SJ

BJ

LJ

HL

U

R

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40

Goal Line plays within 5 yardsGoal Line plays within 5 yards

HL and LJ – HL and LJ – – Immediately at the snap move sharply to the Immediately at the snap move sharply to the

goal line pylon and work from the goal line goal line pylon and work from the goal line back to the field of play to mark forward back to the field of play to mark forward progress spots. progress spots.

– Beat any ball carrier and/or pass receiver to Beat any ball carrier and/or pass receiver to the goal line. the goal line.

Time OutsTime Outs

Press Box

SJ

BJ

LJ

HL

U

R

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G

40

Time OutsTime Outs

BJBJ– Time the intervalTime the interval

UmpireUmpire– Position over game ballPosition over game ball

RefereeReferee– Summon teams back once timeout is overSummon teams back once timeout is over

ALL OFFICIALS – Mark your game card. ALL OFFICIALS – Mark your game card.

MeasurementsMeasurements

Referee – Give the appropriate signal to Referee – Give the appropriate signal to Press BoxPress Box

Umpire- Grab the front stakeUmpire- Grab the front stake

HL- Clip the chainHL- Clip the chain

LJ – Mark the spot for placement of clipLJ – Mark the spot for placement of clip

SJ – Secure alternate game ballSJ – Secure alternate game ball

BJ- Hold the ball during measurementBJ- Hold the ball during measurement