The Referee: Positioning and Duties

The Referee is Charged with the Following Responsibilities:

• Maintain the proper tempo of the game
• Signal and enforce all penalties
• Set the pucks and announce the down and line to gain
• Blow the ready for play whistle and begin the play clock count
• Count the offense's flag belts and give the signal to the Line Judge
• Communicate that the goal line or end line is covered, if needed
• Watch and follow the Quarterback
• Control the game with preventive officiating and manage the Captains
• Conduct the Coin Toss and the Captain's Meeting

Positioning

The Referee should start on the opposite side of the field from the Line Judge, 7 yards back and 7 yards to the side of the QB. The R should move with the QB throughout the play to maintain this distance.

Pre-Snap Responsibilities:

Set the pucks, check with the other officials for the correct down, announce the down and line-to-gain, move into position, sound the ready for play whistle, start 25 second count, inform the QB when 15, 10, and 5 seconds remain on the play clock, check for legality of equipment on the offense.

At the Time of the Snap

Watch the snap to ensure it's legal, watch the Defensive rushers and Offensive screen blockers for Illegal Contact, verbalize to teams "Watch the Contact", adjust your position as the quarterback moves, stay wide so as not to interfere with the QB or runner changing directions, verbalize forward or backward passes in the backfield, watch for and rule on illegal forward passes, roughing the passer, and intentional grounding, mark the spot where the quarterback/runner is deflagged behind the line of scrimmage, vocalize "Ball's Away" when the passer releases the ball.

DO NOT WATCH THE BALL AFTER IT IS PASSED !!!
Keep your eyes on the QB.

Goal Line Plays

Responsibilities remain the same, rely on the LJ and FJ to rule if the ball has broken the plane. If the offense is backed up in their own zone, cover either the end line or goal line and vocalize which is covered.

Post Play: Duties & Penalty Enforcement

Setting the Line and Enforcing Penalties

After every play, while the line is being established, the Referee will check the field to see if there are any penalty flags down before doing anything else.

No Flags on the Play

If there are no flags, the R will pick up the pucks and place the orange puck where the Line Judge has marked the forward progress of the ball. The Line Judge will chop in the Referee when the orange puck is in the correct position. The yellow puck will be placed 1 yard away from the orange puck to establish the neutral zone. Finally, the Referee will announce the down, the line to gain, retreat to the pre-snap position, and blow the 'ready for play' whistle

Flag on the Play

Always establish the new line at the end of the run, the new line may be necessary. An official, other than the Referee and the one that threw the penalty flag, will hold this line. The last remaining official will 'guard' the flag so it is not moved.

The Referee will confer with the calling official to determine what penalty has occurred. The Referee will then signal the foul. Next, the team captain will be given their choice to Accept or Decline the penalty. It is OK to explain to the captain what will happen with each choice, and if the choice is obvious, advise the captain as to which choice is better.

If accepted the Referee will enforce the penalty by marching off the correct penalty yards. Finally, the Referee will then announce the foul, the penalty, the down, and the line to gain;set the pucks, retreat to the pre-snap position, and blow the 'ready for play' whistle.

Additional Information:

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