Mechanics Information

As many of you know, Tom Rau Sr is part of the MHSAA mechanics revision committee.  Any update info that Tom receives will be available on this page.

 

 

OFFICIATING STANDARDS

 

Officiating responsibilities and mechanics are specified in this Manual. Officials are responsible for knowing and applying the material in the Manual. Included in this appendix are the rules-based Officiating Standards which have been adopted for all NFHS games.

 

Section 1. Ball-Spotting

1. The ball can be placed on a yard line to begin the next series after a change of possession. (Exception: If the change of possession occurs on a fourth-down running or passing play, the ball will be left at the dead-ball spot to begin the next series.) For example, if a punt return ends with the ball between Team R’s 33 and 34 yard lines, move the ball forward to Team R’s 34 yard line. At all other times, the ball is placed where it became dead.

2. If a punt is downed on the ground inside Team R’s five-yard line, the ball should be left and not moved to the next yard line.

 

Section 2. Line of Scrimmage

1. When in question as to whether an action is a false start or illegal motion, it is a false start.

2. Officials will work to keep offensive linemen legal and will call only when obvious or when a warning to the player and a subsequent warning to the coach are ignored. Don’t wait till the fourth quarter to enforce the rule.

3. If the offensive player is lined up with their head clearly behind the rear end of the snapper, a foul will be called without a warning.

4. Don’t be technical on an offensive player who is a wide receiver or slot back in determining if they are off the line of scrimmage. When in question, it is not a foul.

5. Wide receivers or slot backs lined up outside a tight end will be ruled on the line of scrimmage and covering the tight end if there is no stagger between their alignments. If in question, they are not covered up.

6. When in question regarding player position on movement by the defense into the neutral zone which causes the offense to move, a player is moving toward the offensive player. This protects both that player and the two adjacent offensive players.

7. Any time a defensive player initially aligned tight to the line of scrimmage jumps forward, and there is a question whether they were in the neutral zone and the appropriate offensive player(s) moves, shut down the play and penalize the defense.

8. Any time a defensive player shoots the gap, and there is a question as to contact, err on the side of offside and shut the play down to avoid a free shot on the quarterback.

9. Formations during the execution of a trick or unusual play have the highest degree of scrutiny and should be completely legal.

10. When in question, a quick or abrupt movement by the center or quarterback is a false start.

 

Section 3. Fumbles

1. When in question, the runner was down and there was no fumble.

2. When in question regarding whether the quarterback passed or fumbled, it will be ruled an incomplete pass.

 

Section 4. Defensive Pass Interference

Actions that constitute defensive pass interference include, but are not limited to, the following six categories:

1. Early contact by a defender who is not playing the ball is defensive pass interference provided the other requirements for defensive pass interference have been met, regardless of how deep the pass is thrown to the receiver.

2. Playing through the back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the ball.

3. Grabbing and restricting a receiver’s arm(s) or body in such a manner that restricts their opportunity to catch a pass.

4. Extending an arm across the body (arm bar) of a receiver thus restricting their ability to catch a pass, regardless of the fact of whether or not the defender is looking for the ball.

5. Cutting off or riding the receiver out of the path to the ball by making contact without playing the ball.

6. Hooking and restricting a receiver in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that causes the receiver’s body to turn prior to the ball arriving.

 

Section 5. Offensive Pass Interference

Actions that constitute offensive pass interference include but are not limited to the following four categories:

1. Initiating contact with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus creating separation in an attempt to catch a pass.

2. Driving through a defender who has established a position on the field.

3. Blocking downfield during a pass that legally crosses the line of scrimmage.

4. Picking off a defender who is attempting to cover a receiver.

 

Section 6. Not Offensive Pass Interference

1. Offensive pass interference for blocking downfield will not be called if the passer is legally grounding the ball out of bounds, near or beyond the sideline.

2. Offensive pass interference will not be called on a screen pass when the ball is overthrown behind the line of scrimmage but subsequently lands beyond the line of scrimmage and linemen are blocking downfield, unless such blocking prevents a defensive player from catching the ball.

3. On a pick play, it is not offensive pass interference if the defensive player is blocking the offensive player when the pick occurs and the offensive player doesn’t make a separate action, or if the blocker’s entire body is clearly not beyond the neutral zone.

 

Section 7. Other Passing Situations

1. When in question on action against the passer, it is roughing the passer if the defender attempts to punish.

2. The Team A player who originally controls the snap can throw the ball anywhere if they are not under duress, except spiking the ball straight down. The clock is not a factor. Exception: Rule 7-5-2d Exc 1 allows the quarterback to spike the ball to stop the clock.

3. When the Team A player who originally controls the snap is outside the tackle box and is throwing the ball away to avoid a sack, when in question as to whether the ball is beyond the neutral zone, it is beyond the line. Don’t be technical.

4. If in question as to whether passers are or have been outside the free-blocking zone, they are outside the zone.

5. If the passer is contacted after starting the passing motion, it may be ruled no intentional grounding due to this contact.

6. If the passer is contacted clearly before starting the passing motion, there will be a foul for intentional grounding if there is no eligible receiver in the vicinity or if the pass does not reach the line of scrimmage after the quarterback has been outside of the free-blocking zone.

7. If an interception is near the goal line and there is a question as to whether possession is gained in the field of play or end zone, it is to be ruled a touchback.

8. If the passer is legally throwing the ball away and it lands near or beyond the sideline, do not penalize the offense for having ineligible players downfield.

 

Section 8. Blocking

1. If a player is illegally blocked or held “into” making a tackle, no foul should be called unless the action is a personal foul or there is an element of time between the foul and the tackle.

2. Obvious and intentional takedowns create special focus and should be called.

3. If there is a potential offensive holding but the action occurs clearly away from the point of attack and has no (or could have no) effect on the play, offensive holding should not be called.

4. If there is a potential for defensive holding but the action occurs clearly away from the point of attack and has no (or could have no) effect on the play, defensive holding should not be called. Example: A defensive back on the opposite side of the field holding a wide receiver on a designed run play to the other side.

5. For blocks in the back, if one hand is on the number and the other hand is on the side and the initial force is on the number, it is a block in the back. The force of the block could be slight and still a foul if the contact propels the player past the runner or prevents the player from making the play. If the force is clearly from the side, it is not a foul. If the blocker is in a “chase mode” all the action must be from the side to be legal.

6. Blocks that start on the side and subsequently end up in the back are not fouls as long as contact is maintained throughout the block.

7. Blocks in the back that occur at or about the same time a runner is being tackled should not be called, unless they are in the nature of a personal foul or there is forcible contact that involves player safety.

8. A grab of the receiver’s jersey that materially restricts the receiver and takes away their feet should be defensive holding if other criteria are met, and could also be defensive pass interference.

9. Holding can be called even if the quarterback is subsequently sacked, and there is an element of time between the foul and the tackle.

10. Rarely should you have a hold on a double team block unless there is a takedown or the defender breaks the double team and is pulled back.

11. When in question if an illegal block occurs in the end zone or field of play, it occurs in the field of play.

12. Regarding blocking below the waist, when in question, the block is an immediate, initial action.

 

 

Section 9. Kicking Plays

1. The kicker’s restraining line on onside and short pooch kickoffs should be officiated as a plane. Any player (other than the kicker or holder) breaking the plane before the ball is kicked should be called for encroachment. The same plane applies on normal kickoffs, but officials should not be too technical in regard to players breaking the plane.

2. An illegal block in the back can be called on fair catches, but not if the illegal block occurs away from the play as the fair catch is being made, or the play results in a touchback and contact is slight. (Note: Personal fouls should always be called, as should forcible contact that involves player safety.)

3. It shall always be roughing the kicker when there is forcible contact to the plant leg, whether or not that leg is on the ground. It shall be running into the kicker if a defender simply “runs through” the kicking leg and there is no forcible contact. All other contact shall be based on the severity and the potential for injury to the kicker.

4. When in question, a foul by the receiving team on a scrimmage kick occurs after the ball is kicked.

5. When in question, the kicker was contacted unavoidably.

6. The intent of the scrimmage kick formation numbering exception is to allow teams to make substitutions that are not deceptive. When in question, it is not a scrimmage kick formation.

 

Section 10. Plays at the Sideline

1. If legal contact occurs before the runner has a foot down out of bounds, consider it a legal hit. If runners have obviously given themselves up very near the sideline and forcible contact is made attempting to punish, a foul should be called.

2. If the whistle has blown and a runner continuing to advance down the sideline has eased up, contact by the opponent against the runner is a foul. Officials should be alert and be sure any action is not part of the initial play before calling a foul.

3. When in question as to whether the runner stepped out of bounds, officials should rule the runner did not step out of bounds.

 

Section 11. Scoring Plays

1. When in question, it is not a touchdown.

2. When in question, it is not a safety.

3. When in question, it is a touchdown when a non-airborne runner crosses the goal inside the pylon with the ball crossing the goal line extended.

 

Section 12. Personal Fouls

1. If action is deemed to be “fighting,” the player must be ejected.

2. When in question if an act is a flagrant personal foul or fighting, the player is not fighting.

3. Players committing flagrant personal fouls must be ejected.

4. When in question regarding hits away from the ball near the end of the play, consider it a dead-ball rather than live-ball foul.

5. Regarding defenseless players, when in question, a player is defenseless.

 

Section 13. Unsportsmanlike Conduct

1. When in question whether an unsportsmanlike act is a live-ball or dead-ball foul, it is a dead-ball foul.

2. Do not be overly technical in applying Rules 9-5 and 9-8.

3. Allow for brief, spontaneous, emotional reactions at the end of a play.

4. Beyond the brief, spontaneous bursts of energy, officials should flag those acts that are clearly prolonged, self-congratulatory, and that make a mockery of the game.

5. A list of specifically prohibited acts are in Rules 9-5 and 9-8. Those lists are intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. All agree that when those acts are clearly intended to taunt or demean, they should be penalized.

6. Spitting on an opponent requires ejection.

 

Section 14. Game Clock

1. When in question, a charged team timeout precedes a foul that prevents the snap.

2. Any time loss due to the clock being started erroneously, such as when a dead-ball foul is called, the clock must be adjusted.

3. 5/5 axiom: In order to adjust game clock errors, there must be more than a five-second differential if there is more than five minutes remaining in either half.

4. As a guideline, when there is between two and five minutes remaining in a half and the clock is stopped to complete a penalty by the team ahead in the score, or the score is tied, the Referee should consider invoking Rule 3-4-6, and afford the offended team the option of starting the game clock on the snap. If the score of the game is not competitive, the Referee should not invoke Rule 3-4-6 in this situation.

5. When Team A has been flagged for a pre-snap illegal substitution foul, a timeout called at the same time by Team A does not negate the foul.

 

Section 15. Miscellaneous

     The ankle or wrist is considered part of the foot or hand, respectively, and does not make a runner down.

 

 

Section 1: General Football Officiating

 

1. Officiating Philosophies and Axioms (Alphabetical by Topic)

Officiating axioms relate to situations when there is question or doubt caused by positioning, timing, view or circumstance. When this occurs, officials should apply these “rules of thumb” to make the best possible ruling. There is a difference between, and these do not apply to, plays that are close calls; and they should never be used as an excuse for being out of position, not using approved mechanics or failing to focus on proper keys and coverages. Officials should continually work to be in the proper position to see the plays and rule on them correctly. Just because a play is close does not mean the official should be in doubt. When an official is certain of what occurred, he should rule on exactly what he observed.

Axioms will be identified throughout this section with the bullet point led with (Axiom).

 

1. Ball Spotting

• When the next series following a change of possession begins outside of Team B’s or R’s 10-yard line, or when Team A obviously reaches the line-to-gain, the ball should be placed on the back of the nearest advanced whole yard line. If inside of Team B’s or R’s 10-yard line, or short or close to the line-to-gain, the ball should be placed precisely where the play ended.
• On as grass field, measurements should be granted in critical situations when requested and the ball is within ½-yard on either side of the line-to-gain. This is not necessary for turf fields when the series started on a whole yard line.

 

2. Blocking

• If a player is illegally blocked or held into making a tackle, no foul should be called unless the action is a personal foul or there is an extended element of time between the foul and the tackle.
• If there is a potential holding by either the offensive or defensive team, but the action occurs clearly away from the point of attack and has no (or could have no) effect on the play, holding should not be called.
• Obvious and intentional takedowns create special focus and should be called.
• Rarely should you have a hold on a team block unless a clear hold takes place after the defender breaks through the combination.
• If the blocker is in a “chase mode” all the action must be from the side to be legal. It is a block in the back when the force is on the back, even if one hand is on the number and one hand is on the side. The force of the block could be slight and still a foul if the contact propels the player past the runner or prevents him from making the play. If the force is clearly from the side, it is not a foul. Blocks that start on the side and subsequently end up in the back are also not fouls as long as contact is maintained throughout the block.
• Blocks in the back that occur at the same time a runner is being tackled should not be called, unless they are in the nature of a personal foul or there is forcible contact that involves player safety.
• (Axiom) If there is question whether an illegal block or hold takes place in the endzone or in the field of play, it occurred in the field of play.

 

3. Catch/No Catch

• A completed catch occurs when a player secures a ball in flight before the ball touches the ground, first touches the ground in bounds with any part of his body and then maintains possession throughout the catch attempt.
• Secure possession is proven:
  1. When an upright player controls the ball and holds it long enough to advance, elude a defender or hand off or pitch the ball.
  2. When a player that is going to the ground during the act of the catch controls the ball maintains possession of the ball through the process of contacting the ground and momentum of the catch ending. If the ball contacts the ground during the process, but the contact with the ground does not cause the player to bobble or lose control of the ball, the official should determine secure possession has been proven.
• If a player attempts to make a catch while going out of bounds at the sideline or end line, he must secure possession of the ball inbounds and maintain possession as he goes out of bounds. If a player is bobbling the ball while any part of his body is touching out of bounds, it cannot be a catch.
• (Axiom) When in question, a catch (or interception) is incomplete.

 

4. False Starts vs. Motion

• Sudden, irregular movements or those movements that are clearly meant to simulate the start of a play should be flagged as a false start regardless of the position of the player(s).
• Trick plays to entice encroachment by the defense should be held to the highest level of scrutiny as to their legality.
• Players in motion that turn perpendicular with the line of scrimmage and then start forward should be flagged for a false start; but players that remain relatively parallel with the line of scrimmage and just start drifting toward the line of scrimmage should be flagged for illegal motion.
• If the ball is snapped as a back is moving toward the line of scrimmage while going in motion (to be distinguished from a “sudden, irregular movement”), this should be flagged for illegal motion.
• (Axiom) When there is a question to whether an action is a false start or illegal motion, rule illegal motion.

 

5. Fumbles

• (Axiom) When in question, the runner fumbled the ball and was not down.
• (Axiom) When in question as to whether the quarterback passed or fumbled, it should be ruled an incomplete pass.
• (Axiom) When in question, forward progress has ended instead of the runner breaking out of the grasp or fumbling the ball.

 

6. Game Clock

• (Axiom) When in question, a charged team timeout precedes a foul that prevents the snap.
• (Axiom) When in question, stop the clock for potentially injured players.

 

7. Kicking Plays

• For onside or “pooch” kicks, the kicker’s retraining line should be officiated as a plane, and encroachment should be called anytime a K player (other than the holder or kicker) breaks the plane before the ball is kicked. This line is not officiated as strictly on normal kickoffs.
• If an illegal block in the back occurs on a kick that will not be returned, i.e., fair catch, kick out of bounds or touchback, and the contact was slight (not a personal contact foul) and near the end of the kick, no flag should be dropped.
• Roughing the kicker will be called for forcible contact to the plant leg, and running into the kicker is general called when the contact is on the kicking leg unless severe and/or forceful.
• (Axiom) When in question, Team A is not in a scrimmage kick formation and is required to meet numbering requirements.
• (Axiom) When there is question as to whether a kicked ball crossed the plane of the goal line, consider the ball having entered the endzone.
• (Axiom) When in question, a foul by the receiving team on a scrimmage kick occurs before the end of the kick.
• (Axiom) When there is question as to whether a Team K player interfered with a Team R player before the ball was touched, it was kick-catch interference rather than a clean play.
• (Axiom) When there is a question whether a kicked ball has been touched by either Team K or Team R, the ball was not touched.

 

8. Line of Scrimmage

• Officials should work to keep offensive linemen legal and address issues immediately. Only call formation fouls when obvious, or when a warning to a player and subsequent warning to the head coach are ignored.
• Formations during a planned trick play should be officiated with a high-level of scrutiny.
• (Axiom) When in question, the tight end is not covered up when there are already enough players on the line of scrimmage and should be considered covered up if there are not.
• (Axiom) When there is a question as to whether a defensive player aligned tight on the line of scrimmage jumps into the neutral zone, call the foul.
• (Axiom) When in question, a quick or abrupt movement by the center or quarterback is a false start.

 

1. Pass Interference

• When a flag is thrown for pass interference, the calling official should be able to articulate the reason for the foul.
  1. Offensive Pass Interference (OPI)
     1. Blocking beyond the expanded neutral zone. If a Team A or K player blocks an opponent beyond the expanded neutral zone during a pass that crosses the line of scrimmage, it is OPI. This will not be called on an overthrown screen pass intended for a player behind the line of scrimmage unless the blocking prevents the player from catching the ball.
     2. Pick plays. Intentional contact by a Team A or K player against a defender beyond the expanded neutral zone (or not immediately against a player across from him) intended to free up another player during a pass that crosses the line of scrimmage is a foul for OPI.
     3. Pushing off. It is OPI if a receiver attempts to create separation by shoving a defender. Hand checking or other normal or incidental contact is not enough to be considered as pushing off.
     4. Playing through the defender. It is OPI when, because of the location of the pass, the receiver defends against a catch by the Team B or R player that has established his position by making contact before the ball arrives that hinders his opponent from making a play on the pass.
  2. Defensive Pass Interference (DPI)
     1. Arm bar. DPI occurs when a defender extends his arm across and into the body of the receiver before the ball arrives and restricts his opportunity to catch the pass.
     2. Grab and restriction. When a defender grabs ahold of a receiver’s arms or pins them against his body in a way that restricts his ability to catch the pass, it is DPI.
     3. Not playing the ball. DPI should be called when a defender making no attempt at the ball contacts the receiver before the ball arrives.
     4. Playing through the receiver. It is DPI when a defensive player plays through a receiver’s back, regardless of whether he is attempting to play the ball or not.
     5. Hook and turn. If a defender uses his arm to hook a receiver’s arm or body and restricts him by causing the receiver to turn before the ball arrives, it is DPI.
     6. Cutoff. It is DPI when a defender cuts off the path of a receiver using contact or “rides” him away from the path of the pass.

 

10. Passing Situations (Miscellaneous)

• Unless the quarterback is under duress or illegally attempting to conserve time (not a spike immediately following the snap), intentional grounding should not be called.
• If the passer is contacted after he starts his passing motion, intentional grounding will likely not be called; but if he is contacted clearly before he starts his passing motion, there should be a foul for intentional grounding if there is no eligible receiver in the vicinity.
• If the passer is throwing the ball away and it lands incomplete near or beyond the sideline, do not penalize the offense for having ineligible players downfield.
• (Axiom) If an interception is near the goal line and there is a question as to whether possession is gained in the field of play or endzone, it was made in the endzone and a potential touchback.

 

11. Personal Fouls

• If action is deemed to be “fighting,” i.e., a strike or attempted strike with the arm, hand, leg or foot, the player must be disqualified.
• (Axiom) When there is a question as to whether an act is a fight or simply unnecessary roughness, it should be deemed unnecessary roughness (not unsportsmanlike conduct).
• (Axiom) When in doubt, it is a block below the waist, a clip or a chop block.
• (Axiom) When there is question as to whether a player is in a defenseless position, they should be considered defenseless.
• (Axiom) When there is question as to whether to eject for an illegal helmet contact or targeting foul, the player should not be ejected.
• (Axiom) When there is a question on the severity of a facemask penalty, it is a 15-yard penalty rather than a 5-yard penalty. MIBT – make it be there.
• (Axiom) When there is question to the status of the ball when a hit near the end of, and away from, the play, it should be considered a dead-ball rather than live-ball foul.

 

12. Runner Down

• The ankle or wrist is considered part of the foot or hand, respectively, and does not make a runner down.

 

13. Scoring Plays

• (Axiom) When in question, it is not a touchdown.
• (Axiom) When in question, it is not a safety.

 

14. Sideline Plays

• If contact occurs on a runner before he has a foot down out of bounds, it should be considered legal unless the contact is forcible and meant to punish.
• If a runner continuing down the sideline after the whistle has blown eases up, forcible contact by an opponent is a foul unless it was part of the initial action.
• (Axiom) If there is a question as to whether a runner has stepped out of bounds, the runner should be considered as remaining in bounds.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Helpful Hints for Officiating Football

• Be mentally and physically prepared to work the game.
• Concentration is imperative. Be prepared to focus intently for 5-10 seconds, 120-150 times per game.
• Be professional, respectful and a good communicator.
• Display integrity, courage and poise. Your true character is revealed in the tough calls.
• Use preventative officiating early and often.
• Hustle and move with a purpose! Every movement should improve your angle to get a better look at the play.
• Be a great dead-ball official. Make certain all players are covered after the play and continue to officiate until both sides are back with their teammates.
• Before you blow a whistle, see the ball.
• Crisp and efficient ball relays maintain a proper pace of play.
• Call quality fouls. See everything you call, but don’t call everything you see. Get the big ones (the “ooh-makers”) and pass on the inconsequential contact.
• Do not reach for your flag unless you’re prepared to drop it. When you see a foul, get a number and keep officiating.
• If you miss a call, don’t dwell on it. Always be ready to officiate the next play. Thinking about past decisions will keep you from thinking about the next decision.