19. CALLING FOULS
19.1 – Calling official
19.1.a –
Priorities
When observing a foul:
-
Dropping or throwing a penalty marker (flag) at the proper spot,
i.e. where the foul occurs.
-
Making sure that the flag falls on the correct side of the goal
line on spot fouls near either end zone.
-
Throwing the flag high in the air when there is no importance to marking
the spot of the foul (e.g. line of scrimmage infractions, dead-ball
fouls).
-
Noting
the yard line where the foul occurred.
-
Noting the status of the ball, i.e. which team had possession of the
ball at the moment the foul occurred, whether it was in player possession
or loose, and whether the ball was live or dead.
At the end of the play:
-
When the ball becomes dead, ensuring that all colleagues know that you
have thrown a penalty flag.
-
Staying at the dead-ball spot (if you are the Coverer)
until another
official relieves you of the responsibility.
-
Consulting with colleagues who also had a flag on the play, or who may
have had a better view of the play than you.
This is particularly important for targeting fouls.
-
Ensuring that the Referee and the Umpire are aware of what the foul is.
-
Verifying that the Referee and Umpire enforce the foul correctly.
Staying in the vicinity of the Referee to make sure he has all the
necessary information or in case he
needs a reminder of the player's number.
Checking the enforcement spot, the distance, and the direction.
If you think anything
is wrong, informing the Referee immediately.
-
Recording for each foul you call:
-
the time on the clock (if known);
-
the foul (using the codes listed in section 28);
-
the number of the fouling player;
-
whether the penalty was accepted, declined, offset or cancelled by rule.
19.1.b –
Response to what happens (movement and signals)
-
If the ball is live when the foul occurred, do
not
blow the whistle until the ball becomes dead (unless the foul causes
the
ball to become dead).
-
When the ball becomes dead, continue to toot your whistle in short
blasts until all other officials know that you have seen a foul.
Give the timeout signal [S3] prominently.
-
If the foul is a spot foul, ask an available colleague to cover your
flag.
-
If you are the Coverer, do not leave the dead-ball spot until another
official takes over responsibility for the spot from you.
If you are not relieved, make the Referee and Umpire
@
come to you.
If you have a foul for defensive pass interference, stay by your flag
and make the Referee and Umpire
@
come to you.
If you are not the Coverer,
once all action has ceased in your area, move quickly towards the
Referee and Umpire.
@
-
[REFEREE]
Report the foul to the Umpire.
[UMPIRE]
Report the foul to the Referee.
[OTHERWISE]
Report the foul to the Referee and Umpire.
@
-
Give the following information:
-
the nature of the foul;
-
the offending team, by
colour
and/or by offense/defense;
-
the offending player, by number or position;
-
the spot of the foul and the likely enforcement spot;
-
whether the ball was live or dead at the time of the foul and, if
appropriate, whether it occurred before or after a change of team
possession or while loose from a pass, kick or fumble.
-
If more than one official throws his flag for a foul (e.g. scrimmage
line infractions, interference), all calling officials should consult
with each other before reporting the foul.
-
If you observe an official throw a flag which may be for pass
interference and you believe the pass was uncatchable, the recommended
thing to say to the official is, "Was that pass catchable?"
If sure it was he should reply, "Yes, it was."
If not sure that it was, he should reply, "What did you see?"
-
Don't assume that everyone saw the same as you.
-
If you have to throw a flag for a foul clearly in someone else's area,
it is courteous to discuss it with them.
-
If your flag is for targeting, you must have direct, verbal communication
with at least one other official prior to reporting the foul to the
Referee.
Rarely does targeting occur where there are not multiple views of the
action.
Because the penalty involves mandatory disqualification, we require this
communication to reduce the risk of an incorrect call.
-
When a defensive player, before the snap, moves and an offensive player
reacts, a conference between the Umpire and the wing officials is
mandatory.
This is to determine if the defensive player was in the neutral zone
and if the offensive player was threatened.
-
When reporting fouls to the Referee, do not point to teams or players.
After reporting, stay near the Referee in case he needs to ask you for
further details.
Avoid conferences except when absolutely necessary to obtain
information from more than one official.
Only those involved should be included.
-
In the event of a disqualifying foul:
-
Accompany the Referee to notify the Head Coach of the number of the
player disqualified and the nature of the foul.
-
When notifying the Head Coach,
the recommended wording is "X just disqualified himself because
..." or "X is disqualified because ...", rather than "I am
disqualifying X because ...".
-
[REFEREE]
If you called the foul, the wing official should accompany you.
-
Another official (normally the opposite wing official) should inform the
opposing Head Coach
of the disqualification.
19.1.c –
Advanced techniques
-
If your flag falls on the wrong spot, move it to the correct spot.
Move the flag with authority - don't try to nudge it with your foot
in the hope that no one will notice!
19.2 – Other officials
19.2.a –
Priorities
-
If the flag was thrown in your normal area of responsibility, or you
believe the penalty may be against a player for whom you were responsible
during the down (e.g. your key player at the snap, or a receiver who
passed through your area of responsibility):
-
making sure that you know what the penalty is;
-
reporting any information relevant to it;
-
not allowing the penalty to be incorrectly administered because someone
else did not know what you knew or saw.
-
Covering
the dead-ball spot if nobody else is doing it.
If a ball is not at the dead-ball spot, assisting in getting one there.
Leaving the ball on the ground at the dead-ball spot until it is
called for.
-
[REFEREE]
Identifying the official(s) who has/have
thrown a flag, going towards them, and finding out the details of the
foul they observed.
-
[UMPIRE]
Identifying the official(s) who has/have
thrown a flag, hearing what they tell the Referee and ensuring that the
Referee has understood what they said.
-
[CENTRE JUDGE]
Assisting the Referee and Umpire with their penalty enforcement duties.
-
Noting the yard line where the ball is dead.
-
If the foul is a spot foul, covering and holding the spot of the foul.
If the foul has post-scrimmage kick enforcement,
covering and holding the spot where the kick ends.
-
If other officials are huddling to discuss a situation, keeping players
away from them.
-
If all spots are covered, observing the players and assisting where needed.
-
Getting a new ball to the Umpire/Centre Judge.
-
If you are the nearest official to the Head Coach
(and you have nothing else to do), standing near him and assisting
in communicating to him what the penalty is and what his options are,
and relaying his decision to the Referee.
This is particularly important when there is:
-
a complex penalty situation;
-
a 10-second subtraction option (or a timeout to avoid it).
-
Sharing an equal responsibility for rule interpretation.
If you believe a foul has been called or administered incorrectly it is
your responsibility to draw this to the Referee's attention without fuss,
indiscretion or delay.
If you have information to contribute, make sure that your colleagues,
especially the Referee know about it.
If an official blows a rule interpretation, the whole crew has blown
it.
-
[IN xx0/xx1 FORMATION (4/5/6C-MAN CREW)]
[LINE JUDGE]
[IN 3x1/xx2/xx3 FORMATION (6C/6D/7/8-MAN CREW)]
[FIELD JUDGE]
Recording for each foul called: quarter, time, team, player,
foul code, calling official(s)
and whether the penalty is
accepted, declined, offset or cancelled by rule.
19.2.b –
Response to what happens (movement and signals)
-
At the end of the play, repeat the timeout signal [S3] given by an
official who has thrown a flag.
-
When the Umpire starts to enforce the penalty, pick up the flag (or
bean bag) you are covering and return it to the official who called
the foul.
19.3 – Enforcement procedure
-
[REFEREE]
After receiving the report of the foul:
-
If you are unsure of whether a penalty would bring up a first down, use
the "penalty yards for a first down" signal [Sup43] to ask the question of
the Linesman.
-
Unless the
enforcement is obvious,
give the preliminary signals
in a crisp clear manner
to the press box side.
(Preliminary signals consist
of (i) the signal for the foul; and (ii) point to the offending team's
end line.)
If there is potential confusion as to whether a foul is live- or
dead-ball,
give the dead-ball signal [S7]
before giving the foul signal for each dead-ball foul.
Do
not
announce the foul over the radio microphone
at this stage.
-
If the enforcement is "obvious", inform the on-field captain of the
offended team of the foul and where the ball will be placed.
You may forgo
this if you believe he is already aware of the nature of the foul.
If the captain objects, follow the procedure below for "non-obvious"
enforcement.
If the captain makes an obviously inappropriate choice, confirm that he
fully understands the ramifications of it.
-
If not obvious, explain to him the foul(s) and his options.
If he has a genuine decision to make, make sure he is facing his team
area so that he can see signals from his Head Coach.
-
Notify the on-field
captain of the offending team of the foul called and, if possible,
the number or position of the offending player.
-
Notify the on-field captain and Head Coach of each team
if the penalty involves the loss
of a down.
-
If he does not already know,
instruct the Umpire as to the spot of enforcement and the yardage to be
marked off.
-
[UMPIRE]
and
[CENTRE JUDGE]
-
[IN 3xx FORMATION (6C/8-MAN CREW)]
The Umpire and Centre Judge should work in cooperation to do the
following.
It does not matter much which official performs each specific task, but
they must communicate together to ensure that all the tasks are done and
none are duplicated.
-
Ensure that you know what the foul is that has been reported to the
Referee.
-
If the acceptance/declination of the penalty is not obvious, call a
captain of the offended team while the Referee gives the preliminary
signals,
so that he may be notified of the foul and the options.
If the penalty is complex or may involve options for both teams, call
both captains.
-
Obtain a new ball.
Other officials may assist in relaying one to you.
Hold it in your hand rather than place it on the ground.
-
Be present if
the options are given, and check that they are given correctly.
-
While carrying a ball, determine the spot to which the ball should
be taken and move directly to it, without stepping off each yard of
the penalty.
It should only be necessary to step off the penalty on badly marked
fields.
Do not place the ball on the ground until you have checked with the
wing officials that you are at the right spot.
-
[LINE JUDGE]
If there is less than one minute remaining in the half, ensure that the
rest of the crew know that a 10-second subtraction may apply.
-
[LINE JUDGE]
Excepting penalties enforced on a free kick, monitor
the enforcement spot (e.g. the spot of the foul or the end of the run)
until the penalty administration
is completed.
Check that the penalty is enforced from the correct spot.
-
[LINESMAN]
Be prepared to respond to the Referee giving the "penalty yards for a
first down" signal [Sup43] to you.
Answer yes (or nod or give thumbs up) if the enforcement of the penalty
from the previous spot would give a first down.
Answer no (or shake head or give thumbs down) if not.
-
[IN xx0/xx1 FORMATION (4/5/6C-MAN CREW)]
[LINESMAN]
[IN 3x1/xx2/xx3 FORMATION (6C/6D/7/8-MAN CREW)]
[SIDE JUDGE]
For penalties enforced on a free kick, monitor
the enforcement spot
(e.g. the spot of the foul or the end of the run) until the penalty
is completed.
Check that the penalty is enforced from the correct spot.
-
[LINESMAN]
Excepting penalties enforced on a free kick, move the same distance
and direction as the Umpire, visually checking that the distance moved
is correct and that enforcement is made from the correct spot.
-
[IN xx0 FORMATION (4-MAN CREW)]
[LINESMAN]
[IN xx1 FORMATION (5/6C-MAN CREW)]
[BACK JUDGE]
[IN 3x1/xx2/xx3 FORMATION (6C/6D/7/8-MAN CREW)]
[FIELD JUDGE]
For penalties enforced on a free kick, move the same distance and
direction as the Umpire, visually checking that the distance moved
is correct and that enforcement is made from the correct spot.
-
[REFEREE]
-
While the Umpire is enforcing
the penalty, move to a position in clear view and give the final signals
to the press box side of the field only.
(The Head Coach on the opposite side will be notified by the Linesman
or Side Judge).
Don't take too long to get into position, though occasionally taking an
extra second can help you compose yourself and think about what you are
going to say.
Come to a complete stop before starting the announcement.
-
For each foul, give the appropriate signal and then
point towards the offending team's goal line.
-
In the case of the following penalties, precede the appropriate signal
by the personal foul signal [S38]:
-
facemask [S45]
-
roughing the passer [S34]
-
horse collar tackle [S25]
-
roughing the kicker/snapper/holder [S30]
-
chop block [S41]
-
targeting [S24]
-
If the penalty is declined, also give the penalty declined signal [S10].
-
If there are offsetting penalties,
signal the home team's foul, point to that team's goal
line, then signal the away team's foul, point to that team's goal line,
and finally give the offsetting penalty signal [S10].
-
While facing the press box, indicate the number of the next down.
-
Announce the penalty, including the identity of the offending player by
number (or position if the number is not known).
For brevity, the numbers of the players may be omitted if there are
more than two fouls.
Use a radio microphone if provided.
Under no circumstances use a microphone for which you do not have a control
switch.
-
If there are multiple dead-ball fouls which do not cancel by rule, each
penalty distance must be traversed
and (except for fouls between series) the
position of the chain reconsidered after each.
Half distance enforcement should also be checked before each penalty
administration.
The chain clip, however, need only be set after the last penalty has
been enforced.
-
The nearest sideline
official on the appropriate side of the field
must
relay to the Head Coach
details of the foul if it is by his team, including, where possible,
the number or position of the offending player and precisely what the
player did that was illegal.
If the penalty involves loss of down, the Coach must be notified of
that fact.
The Coach must also be notified of any unusual enforcements or
judgments whether or not they are against his team.
Examples might include: flags waved off (disregarded); uncatchable
passes; any unfair tactics or unfair acts calls
(Rules 9-2-2 and 9-2-3).
-
[REFEREE]
If the penalty for a foul is
to be enforced at the next free kick,
give the final signals (and announce the penalty) and
point to the spot of the kick.
[UMPIRE]
Repeat the final signals before enforcing the penalty from the kickoff
spot.
-
[REFEREE]
If a penalty flag is to be disregarded, give the
disregard flag signal [S13] to the press box.
This signal is not given by the official who threw the flag (unless it
was the Referee).
19.4 – Obvious and non-obvious enforcement
-
Officials may normally regard enforcement of the following penalties as
"obviously" accepted:
-
dead-ball penalties (except possibly those committed by teams about to
punt) will be accepted;
-
post-scrimmage kick penalties will be accepted;
-
defensive penalties where the yardage is added to the end of the play
will be accepted;
-
Team A penalties that include loss of down will be accepted;
-
Team B penalties that include an automatic first down will be accepted
(unless declining gives better field position);
-
Team A penalties that result in a safety will be accepted (unless
declining gives Team B the ball in good field position);
-
Team A penalties on plays where they gained a first down will be
accepted.
-
Officials may normally regard enforcement of the following penalties as
"obviously" declined:
-
penalties where the result of the play is the same as the penalty (e.g.
defensive pass interference at the spot of the catch beyond the line to
gain, or
a safety) will be declined;
-
penalties against the opponents of the team that scores a touchdown
(or 2-point try) will be declined unless they carry over to the next
free kick;
-
opponent's
penalties prior to the offended team gaining possession will
be declined;
-
defensive penalties that leave the offense in a less favourable position
and less favourable down number will be declined;
-
Team A penalties on plays where they lost significant
yardage will be declined.
-
In the following cases, acceptance/declination will be obvious based on
the state of the game:
-
where there are multiple penalties, the one that puts the offending team in
the worst position will be accepted;
-
where a penalty will extend/terminate the game, it will be
accepted/declined according to which team is leading;
-
where a penalty will extend/terminate the first half, it will be
accepted/declined according to whether either team is in position to
score.
-
Note, however, that a team captain may at any time up to the ready for
play overrule the officials' choice of option in the cases above.
-
Officials should normally regard enforcement of the following penalties as
not "obvious":
-
where the penalty removes/awards points for a field goal, safety or
1-point try;
-
where better/worse field position has to be traded against more/less
favourable down number;
-
where Team B can choose enforcement at the previous spot or the dead-ball
spot after a kick (including when an untouched
free kick has gone out of bounds) and the length of the kick and/or
return does not "obviously" indicate the preferable outcome (generally,
a long kick and a short return will suggest previous spot enforcement;
a short kick or long return will suggest dead-ball spot enforcement);
-
where (at or near the end of a quarter) a strong wind or other factors
may affect which way a team wants to play the next down.
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Editor: Jim Briggs, Editor, IAFOA Manual of Football Officiating
mechanics@myiafoa.org
Generated: 10/2/2019, 1627