metro detroit officials association august 20, 2005fred wirth officiating the dead ball

August 20, 2005 Fred Wirth

Metro Detroit Officials Association

Officiating the Dead ball



•Definition

•Primary Dead ball times

•Communications

•Penalty Administration

•Hints/tips - Dead ball efficiencies



Definition• Term used to indicate the interval between downs

• Most of a football game is during the dead ball, therefore to be a great official, you have to be a great DEAD BALL official!

• Jon Bible – “Avoid the tendency to relax ...this is when disaster can strike”



Primary Dead Ball Times• Before/after scrimmage plays

• After scores

• Timeouts

• Penalty administration / measurement

• Injuries

• Between periods



Communication• Sidelines

• Crew

• Players

• Press Box



Communication - Sidelines

• Wing officials – good personal skills – develop rapport

• Communicate unusual rulings or problems w/players

• Maintain poise at all times. “...keep your head when all about you are losing theirs – and blaming it on you”.

• Silence can never be misquoted



Communication - Crew

• R calling out the down and distance on every play

• All officials counting all players on every down

• Wingmen signals to indicate 7-men on the line - un-balanced

• “Tee” or “brick” to alert the LJ / BJ of an attempted kick



Communication - Crew

• “Take a look” to alert the R of a possible first down

• “It’s my goal line…” - reminder between wings and BJ

• After a penalty occurs - toot your whistle several times

• LJ/L – Play in sidezone signal live ball or dead ball to the R

• LJ / BJ communication on kicks between the uprights



Communication - Players

• Talk to players as they un-pile –

• Compliment the players - “good tackle”, “good run”

• Umpire relationship w/players is critical

• Use preventive officiating techniques …



Communication - Press box

•Signals – make sure to watch players

•Don’t oversell or become emotional in giving signals

•Plays inbounds close to the sideline wind the clock

•Penalty administration – give clear signal



Penalty Administration

• Dead ball fouls administered separately- in order of occurrence

• Never combined with live ball fouls

• Play situations …

B1 intercepts and returns to his own 40 yd line. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul at the 35 yd line.

Dead ball foul occursDead ball foul occurs

a) 1st & 25 from 25 yd line

b) 1st & 10 from 25 yd line

c) 1st & 10 from 20 yd line

B1 intercepts and returns to his own 40 yd line. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul at the 35 yd line.

Ruling: Penalty is enforced from the end of run, not the spot of foul. When a new series is awarded all fouls prior to the ready for play are enforced before chains are set (5-3-1)

b) 1st & 10 from 25 yd line

On the last play of the 2nd quarter K1 commits a dead ball personal foul. How is this administered?

Ruling: Dead ball fouls are always enforced from the succeeding spot. The foul is administered on the 2nd half kick-off. Make sure both coaches are aware before they leave the field (10-4-5c)

2nd & 5 for A from B’s 26 yd line. A1 gains 6 yards. After the play A2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. a.) 1st & 10 from 35 yd line

b.) 2nd & 14 from 35 yd line

c.) 3rd & 14 from 35 yd line

d.) 3rd & 19 from 40 yd line


2nd & 5 for A from B’s 26 yd line. A1 gains 6 yards. After the play A2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. a.) 1st & 10 from 35 yd line

Ruling: On first, second, or third down new series is awarded when considering any act including any dead ball foul by B (5-1-2a)

4th & 5 for A from B’s 24 yd line. A1 gains 4 yards. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line. a.) 1st & goal for A from 10 yd line

b.) 1st & goal for A from 121/2 yd line

c.) 1st & 10 for B from 10 yd line


4th & 5 for A from B’s 24 yd line. A1 gains 4 yards. After the play B2 commits a dead ball personal foul on the 25 yd line.

11stst & 10 for Team B & 10 for Team B

c.) 1st & 10 for B from 10 yd line

Ruling: On 4th down a new series is awarded based on the acts during the down (5-1-2b)

3rd & 5 for A from B’s 20 yd line. During an incomplete forward pass A1 holds at the 25 yd line. After the play A1 commits a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct. How is this administered?

Hold by A1Hold by A1

Ruling: Dead-ball fouls are not coupled with live-ball fouls to create multiple or double fouls.

Approach – Assume the dead-ball will be enforced. Options to present: 3rd & 35 from 50 or 4th & 20 from 35 yd line.

Unsport. ConductUnsport. Conduct



Hints/tips – dead ball efficiencies

• Use preventive officiating techniques …

• Get to the pile …

• Line player up …

• Kicks going into the end-zone

• Work as a unit

• The type of game …




• Spotting the ball …

• Hustle but don’t hurry to the spot

• Ball relay …

• Off-ball officiating …

• Players going out-of-bounds …

• Continue to watch players

• Use the bean bag




• Digging for fumbles …

• Only the closest official becomes the digger

• Don’t be shy – tap/pull players off the pile

• Verbal techniques …

• Red Cashion – Concepts of rings in dead ball officiating

• Covering official responsible for the first ring

• Rings expand with to the other officials

• Accordion effect – creates a presence

L

LJ

R

UBJ



Questions ??????

References:

Referee Magazine - Jan 2004Football Officials GuidebookReferee Magazine - Oct 1984Referee Magazine - Sept 1997Referee Magazine - Nov 1985



Thanks for coming and have a great season

metro detroit officials association august 20, 2005fred wirth officiating the dead ball

Documents

dead ball slide

yd line slide

dead ball personal foul

box slide

great dead ball official

misquoted slide

yd line b1

fred wirth definition