Welcome

1. Welcome If you don’t have good reception and want to log onto wi-fi, select Old World from your wi-fi settings The password issurfownetupper and lower case matter • Please open the Attendance Application link that was sent to you https://ocfoa.org/new/attendance/ • Allow the application access to your location • Please enter your name and email address into the attendance application. • Use the number printed on the sticker that you received to fill in “Attendance Code” field in the application. Do not use a previously issued sticker • You should receive a confirmation email with the subject line “OCFOA has received your attendance submission”

2. Agenda Log into attendance app Pledge Introduction Transfers, New Officials and Recruitment Testing, Rule Books, Digital Rule Book Mechanics manual June 30th Redding Guide order and playoff applications due Bring up Kahoot Paul Caldera Meetings – new format Guest Speakers Aug 7th –Chris Coyte, September 11th – Steve Coover Ready Ref Overview Preparing for the season Philosophy and Points of Emphasis Kahoot

3. Ref Smart Timer • Ready Ref Overview

4. Ref Smart Timer

5. Ref Smart Timer

6. Ref Smart Timer

7. Ready Ref 1190 Universal Timer

8. All other Ready Ref Timershttps://ready-ref.com/nfhs-rule-change/

9. Preparing for the season • Get into the rule book and case book • Review the Summer Study Guide and Rules Videos on the OCFOA YouTube Channel • Browse the Redding Guide • Read Penalty Enforcement Made Easy • Start running • Review Kirk Van Rooyen’s OCFOA Football Hydration Stretching Info • Warm up with dynamic stretching, cool down with static stretches • Stretch your hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, calves and Achilles tendon

10. Warming up before a run or before a game • https://youtu.be/7xVm98cBNBw

11. Calf Stretch – The calf is composed of the 2-headed gastrocnemius muscle and the soleus muscle. Both must be stretched • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEJgPRgsnnY

12. Philosophy The Ratio of the Critical Elements of Great Officiating – Carl Cheffers NFL Referee

13. General OCFOA Philosophy and Principles • Make it Big! Fouls should be obvious to the skilled observer • It is impossible to build a successful officiating career by calling fouls that result in debates over whether they are quality calls or not. • I pass on fouls where I did not see the entire action. • If I am correct in all of my line-of-scrimmage and game administration fouls, plus correct in penalizing all safety and major unsportsmanlike fouls, and then correct in the few fouls where there was a material restriction which created advantage/disadvantage, then I had an outstanding game! • You can never go wrong by following the rule book

14. OCFOA Philosophy - Fouls should always be called • Line of scrimmage fouls (false start, encroachment, snap infraction) • Safety fouls including excessive contact on a defenseless player • Unsportsmanlike Conduct • PSK Fouls • Any required player equipment is missing or improperly worn

15. OCFOA Game situation Philosophies

16. Not OCFOA Philosophy • Don’t fish in my pond • A good game is one that comes in under 2:15 • That’s just a good football hit • I’m not the uniform police • I’ll take care of my sideline the way I see fit • I’m not going to piss the coach off because I don’t want to get red lined

17. Points of Emphasis NFHS • Proper Procedures for Weather Delays

18. Problem • The guidelines in the back of the rule book with regard to practices and games during Lightning or Thunder Disturbances contradicts other NFHS published guidance.

19. NFHS Guidelines on Handling Practices and Contests During Lightning or Thunder Disturbances • 3. Develop criteria for suspension and resumption of play: • a. When thunder is heard within 30 seconds of a visible lightning strike, or a cloud-to-ground lightning bolt is seen, the thunderstorm is close enough to strike your location with lightning. Suspend play for thirty minutes and take shelter immediately. • b. Thirty-minute rule. Once play has been suspended, wait at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard or flash of lightning is witnessed prior to resuming play. • c. Any subsequent thunder or lightning after the beginning of the 30-minute count will reset the clock and another 30-minute count should begin.

20. Proper Procedures for Weather Delays At some point during the high school football season, many parts of the country have to address weather issues. Some of these, according to NFHS guidelines, dictate a suspension/ delay during a game. Most of the time, the delay is due to lightning and thunder (either lightning seen or thunder heard); and when a suspension or delay occurs, the teams are sent to a safe, sheltered area until the weather situation has ended. NFHS guidelines on handling lightning and thunder delays require use of the 30-minute rule, meaning when the game has been suspended, play cannot resume until at least 30 minutes have elapsed following the last sighting of lightning or the sound of thunder. Once the game is suspended, each further instance of lightning or thunder requires a reset of the clock and the commencement of a new 30-minute interval. Seldom is there a problem with game officials or site administrators following the basic 30-minute rule when there is lightning or thunder. However, some game officials and administrators are not abiding by the mandatory halftime intermission and warm-up rule when there is a lightning delay near the end of the first half. If there is such a delay late in the second period, once the second period is completed, NFHS playing rules require a halftime intermission of at least 10 minutes followed by the required 3-minute warm-up period before the third period may begin. Coaches or game officials cannot shorten the halftime intermission or the warm-up period. However, both coaches could agree to shorten (end) the second period during the delay, and then the third period could start after the delay as soon as the mandatory warm-up period is completed. It is important for game officials, coaches and administrators to be aware of the halftime intermission and warm-up rules on nights when the weather could present delays and to administer those NFHS football rules correctly.

24. Weather Monitoring Apps • Apple - My Lightning Tracker & Alerts ($2.99) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-lightning-tracker-alerts/id1175031987 • Apple - Lightning Alarm (free) https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lightning-alarm/id1015876499?mt=8 • Android - My Lightning Tracker - Live Thunderstorm Alerts https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrustonapps.mylightningtracker • Android - Lightning Alarm Weatherplazahttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meteoplaza.flash

25. Points of Emphasis NFHS • Proper Procedures for Weather Delays • Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking

26. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area established when the ball is snapped. It extends 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball, and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. Blocking below the waist and blocking in the back may be permitted in the free-blocking zone provided that certain conditions are met. Offensive and defensive linemen may block each other below the waist in the free-blocking zone provided that all players involved in the blocking are on their line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the ball is in the zone. Each team’s line of scrimmage is a vertical plane through the point of the ball closest to that team’s goal line. Offensive linemen may block defensive players in the back in the free-blocking zone as long as the blocker is on his line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, the opponent is in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the contact is in the zone. To determine whether blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal, game officials must first determine whether players are in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Since offensive linemen are in the zone if any part of their body is in the zone at the snap, game officials must check the spacing between offensive linemen. As long as the line is using “normal” splits and the formation is “balanced” (i.e., the distance between the outside foot of each lineman and the inside foot of the adjacent linemen is no greater than 2 feet and an equal number of linemen are on each side of the snapper), all players, including the tight end, are deemed to be in the zone at the snap. If the splits are wider than 2 feet, the tight end is considered out of the zone and therefore cannot legally block below the waist or in the back. Once game officials determine which players are in the zone at the snap, the next determination is whether a block below the waist or a block in the back occurs in the free-blocking zone. Because the free-blocking zone disintegrates once the ball leaves the zone, it may be difficult to determine whether the ball is in the zone at the time the block occurs when the offense is using a “shotgun” formation (a formation where there is no direct hand-to-hand snap and the player who receives the snap is more than 3 yards behind his line of scrimmage), due to the very short time interval between the snap and the ball leaving the zone. In addition to observing blocking by offensive linemen, game officials must also be alert to defenders “cutting” running backs and wide receivers who are not on their line of scrimmage or in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Restrictions on blocking below the waist apply equally to offensive and defensive players. Finally, offensive players in the backfield can never legally block below the waist or in the back.

27. Why is blocking below the waist illegal? It can be the source of a season or even career ending injury. These injuries can affect the player for the rest of his life.

28. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area established when the ball is snapped. It extends 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball, and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. Blocking below the waist and blocking in the back may be permitted in the free-blocking zone provided that certain conditions are met.

29. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking Offensive and defensive linemen may block each other below the waist in the free-blocking zone provided that all players involved in the blocking are on their line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the ball is in the zone. Each team’s line of scrimmage is a vertical plane through the point of the ball closest to that team’s goal line. .

30. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area established when the ball is snapped. It extends 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball, and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. Blocking below the waist and blocking in the back may be permitted in the free-blocking zone provided that certain conditions are met. Offensive and defensive linemen may block each other below the waist in the free-blocking zone provided that all players involved in the blocking are on their line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the ball is in the zone. Each team’s line of scrimmage is a vertical plane through the point of the ball closest to that team’s goal line. Offensive linemen may block defensive players in the back in the free-blocking zone as long as the blocker is on his line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, the opponent is in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the contact is in the zone. To determine whether blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal, game officials must first determine whether players are in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Since offensive linemen are in the zone if any part of their body is in the zone at the snap, game officials must check the spacing between offensive linemen. As long as the line is using “normal” splits and the formation is “balanced” (i.e., the distance between the outside foot of each lineman and the inside foot of the adjacent linemen is no greater than 2 feet and an equal number of linemen are on each side of the snapper), all players, including the tight end, are deemed to be in the zone at the snap. If the splits are wider than 2 feet, the tight end is considered out of the zone and therefore cannot legally block below the waist or in the back.

31. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking To determine whether blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal, game officials must first determine whether players are in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Since offensive linemen are in the zone if any part of their body is in the zone at the snap, game officials must check the spacing between offensive linemen. As long as the line is using “normal” splits and the formation is “balanced” (i.e., the distance between the outside foot of each lineman and the inside foot of the adjacent linemen is no greater than 2 feet and an equal number of linemen are on each side of the snapper), all players, including the tight end, are deemed to be in the zone at the snap. If the splits are wider than 2 feet, the tight end is considered out of the zone and therefore cannot legally block below the waist or in the back.

33. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area established when the ball is snapped. It extends 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball, and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. Blocking below the waist and blocking in the back may be permitted in the free-blocking zone provided that certain conditions are met. Offensive and defensive linemen may block each other below the waist in the free-blocking zone provided that all players involved in the blocking are on their line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the ball is in the zone. Each team’s line of scrimmage is a vertical plane through the point of the ball closest to that team’s goal line. Offensive linemen may block defensive players in the back in the free-blocking zone as long as the blocker is on his line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, the opponent is in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the contact is in the zone. To determine whether blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal, game officials must first determine whether players are in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Since offensive linemen are in the zone if any part of their body is in the zone at the snap, game officials must check the spacing between offensive linemen. As long as the line is using “normal” splits and the formation is “balanced” (i.e., the distance between the outside foot of each lineman and the inside foot of the adjacent linemen is no greater than 2 feet and an equal number of linemen are on each side of the snapper), all players, including the tight end, are deemed to be in the zone at the snap. If the splits are wider than 2 feet, the tight end is considered out of the zone and therefore cannot legally block below the waist or in the back. Once game officials determine which players are in the zone at the snap, the next determination is whether a block below the waist or a block in the back occurs in the free-blocking zone. Because the free-blocking zone disintegrates once the ball leaves the zone, it may be difficult to determine whether the ball is in the zone at the time the block occurs when the offense is using a “shotgun” formation (a formation where there is no direct hand-to-hand snap and the player who receives the snap is more than 3 yards behind his line of scrimmage), due to the very short time interval between the snap and the ball leaving the zone.

34. OCFOA Philosophy BBW in the FBZ – Shotgun Formation a) The offensive blocker must be in a 3 or 4 point stance b)The defensive player being blocked must be directly in front of the offensive player committing the block below the waist c) The block must be initiated immediately at the snap.

35. The Rule: 2-17-5 The Free Blocking Zone disintegrates and the exception for a player to block below the waist and/or the exception for an offensive lineman to block in the back is not to continue after the ball has left the zone. DX T D D G D QB C G D RB DZ T D R

36. Shotgun Snap In research conducted on 37 high school snaps in a game this season, the average snap took 0.5 seconds.

37. Shotgun Snap In this photo the ball has left the Free Blocking Zone. The initial charge of both lines is just beginning to take shape. This action is taking place approximately one second after the snap. Any low blocks would be a BBW and a foul.

38. Shotgun Snap Notice that even though the snap has been made, there is NO charge by the defensive line at this point which means there is no simultaneous block initiated at the snap. Any player blocks low at this point it will be BBW.

39. Keys All four officials in this setting have keys to observe for BBW. The BJ has his/her own keys. At the Snap: Referee - Tackle on opposite side (LT), observe all blocks behind Neutral Zone, cover quarterback. In this case, look for low block by player HB. U LJ HL R Umpire – Center and both Guards. LJ – Watch initial charge of lineman, in this case, LT. Also, look for BBW and cut back blocks by players U and X. HL – Watch initial charge of lineman, in this case, Y and RT. Also, look for BBW and cut back block by player Z.

40. Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking The free-blocking zone is a rectangular area established when the ball is snapped. It extends 4 yards laterally on either side of the ball, and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. Blocking below the waist and blocking in the back may be permitted in the free-blocking zone provided that certain conditions are met. Offensive and defensive linemen may block each other below the waist in the free-blocking zone provided that all players involved in the blocking are on their line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the ball is in the zone. Each team’s line of scrimmage is a vertical plane through the point of the ball closest to that team’s goal line. Offensive linemen may block defensive players in the back in the free-blocking zone as long as the blocker is on his line of scrimmage and in the free-blocking zone at the snap, the opponent is in the free-blocking zone at the snap, and the contact is in the zone. To determine whether blocking below the waist and blocking in the back are legal, game officials must first determine whether players are in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Since offensive linemen are in the zone if any part of their body is in the zone at the snap, game officials must check the spacing between offensive linemen. As long as the line is using “normal” splits and the formation is “balanced” (i.e., the distance between the outside foot of each lineman and the inside foot of the adjacent linemen is no greater than 2 feet and an equal number of linemen are on each side of the snapper), all players, including the tight end, are deemed to be in the zone at the snap. If the splits are wider than 2 feet, the tight end is considered out of the zone and therefore cannot legally block below the waist or in the back. Once game officials determine which players are in the zone at the snap, the next determination is whether a block below the waist or a block in the back occurs in the free-blocking zone. Because the free-blocking zone disintegrates once the ball leaves the zone, it may be difficult to determine whether the ball is in the zone at the time the block occurs when the offense is using a “shotgun” formation (a formation where there is no direct hand-to-hand snap and the player who receives the snap is more than 3 yards behind his line of scrimmage), due to the very short time interval between the snap and the ball leaving the zone. In addition to observing blocking by offensive linemen, game officials must also be alert to defenders “cutting” running backs and wide receivers who are not on their line of scrimmage or in the free-blocking zone at the snap. Restrictions on blocking below the waist apply equally to offensive and defensive players. Finally, offensive players in the backfield can never legally block below the waist or in the back.

41. Points of Emphasis NFHS • Proper Procedures for Weather Delays • Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking OCFOA/CFOA • Expanded Neutral Zone as it Applies to Run or Pass Options - IDP

42. Expanded Neutral Zone as it Applies to Run or Pass Options • 2-28-2The neutral zone may be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage, in the field of play, during any scrimmage down. • 7-5-12Ineligible A players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone is in flight. If B touches the pass in or behind the neutral zone, this restriction is terminated. An ineligible is not illegally downfield if, at the snap, he immediately contacts a B lineman and the contact does not continue beyond the expanded neutral zone.

43. Interpretations • There has been a clarification of rule 7-5-12. In the past the rule has been interpreted to require an ineligible receiver to be engaged with a defensive player in order to proceed beyond the LOS. That is no longer true. Engaged or not, “Ineligible A players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone is in flight.

44. The Expanded Neutral Zone T G C G T

45. Why are we focusing on IDP? • New RPO offense • Officials are accustomed to not strictly enforcing the rule as written

46. Points of Emphasis NFHS • Proper Procedures for Weather Delays • Free-Blocking Zone and Legal Blocking OCFOA/CFOA • Expanded Neutral Zone as it Applies to Run or Pass Options – IDP • Legal Equipment • The Restricted Area