2007 CFOA MECHANICS CHANGES

1. BALL MECHANICS: The new ball will still come from the sideline thru the flank official (with occasional help from the Referee and BJ), with the ball boys remaining on the sideline. Allow the ball boys on the filed to retrieve the "old" ball on incomplete passes.
    

2. KICK-OFF MECHANICS: Back Judge at the ball. Line Judge on K's restraining line on his sideline. Linesman on R's restraining line on his sideline. Referee at the goal line on the HL side of the field between the pylon and the 9 yard mark. Umpire at or near the goal line on the LJ side of the field between the pylon and the 9 yard mark.
    

3. LOS RESPONSIBILITIES: Both flank officials should consider down and distance and "read" the play. If either flank official "reads" no pass on their side of the field, if the LOS is threatened by a screen pass or other short pass, or if the official "reads" a short pass beyond the LOS; that official should remain stationary on the LOS. If either flank official "reads" a long pass on their side of the field, particularly when their sideline is threatened, that official should move downfield to help the BJ with outside to inside pass coverage. Once downfield, the flank official should not come back toward the LOS if the quarterback scrambles; in this situation, the Referee, Umpire, and opposite flank official (if he remains on the LOS) can cover the LOS.
    

4. FIELD GOAL/PAT COVERAGE: The Referee lines up facing the holder, 3-5 yards deep and 10 yards wide of the kicker/holder. The Line Judge and Linesman are on the LOS in their normal scrimmage play position and will be responsible for LOS infractions and coverage, blocks by and against the ends, blocks against R into the kicker/holder, etc. In case of a "fake" or broken play, the flanks will be responsible fro runner progress, pass coverage, sideline coverage, goal line/pylon coverage, etc. The Back Judge and Umpire begin the play behind the uprights, and rule on kick success or failure. At the snap, the Umpire watches the snapper and the lineman on his side of the ball, while the Back Judge covers the lineman on his side of the ball. In case of a fake/broken play, the Umpire moves up into the end zone to his normal position, the Back Judge covers the end line.
    

5. SCRIMMAGE KICK MECHANICS (PUNTS): After assuring a clean snap, the Line Judge slowly leaves the LOS as he watches for any illegal blocks and potential blocking of players into the kicker. The Linesman leaves the LOS when the kicked ball crosses the LOS. The Back Judge begins the play 5 yards behind the receiver and 10 yards wide on the Linesman's side of the field; he follows the receiver and the runner from sideline to sideline. In case of a kicked ball out of bounds, the Linesman gets the out of bounds spot within 15 yards of the LOS on his sideline. The Back Judge gets the out of bounds spot beyond 15 yards on the Linesman's sideline. The Line Judge gets all kicked ball out of bounds spots on his sideline. The Referee lines up behind the kicker and on the Line Judge side, so the Linesman can come back behind the LOS in case of an errant snap to box in the play with the Referee. In this case, the Line Judge stays on the LOS until the ball crosses.
    

6. PRE-GAME: Officials are on the field 30 minutes before kick-off, or as soon thereafter as they are able to be present.
    

7. BACKWARD PASS: Officials do not signal if pass is backward, only signal if pass is incomplete.
    

8. OFF MECHANICS: Add off mechanics for obvious pass situations at the end of half/game.
    

9. COUNTING PLAYERS: Referee and Linesman: Offense. Umpire, Back Judge, Line Judge: Defense
    

10. TV TIMEOUTS: Uniform procedure will be devised.