FLAG MECHANICS

QUICK START

Update : 2015/07/12
R LM FJ SJ
 PRE-GAME CHECKING
• On the first game of each team, officials must
check :
– Flags : line up the players and ask them to pull their
two flags
– Clothes : pants with no pockets, no caps, shoes with
rubber cleats only
– Balls
• Down marker
• Home team and visiting team

R LM FJ SJ
 TOSS
• 2 men crew
– R brings the visiting team
– FJ brings the home team
• 3 or 4 men crew
– R is at midfield
– FJ, LM/SJ bring the captains (max 2)
• Reminder for the captains
– Team will save time on incomplete pass if the
receiver brings back the ball
– No contact
– The defender must raise the flag high in the air and
actively seek out the runner to return the flag

R LM FJ SJ
 DON’T FORGET
• To cover ALL the lines
• To write the score and the scorer
• To ask after each TD, 1 or 2 point
conversion
• 2 mn break between halves

R LM FJ SJ
 2 MEN MECHANICS
• Referee
– On the LOS with down marker
– 25 sec, 7 sec
– Counts the offense
– Checks DOF/FS, Illegal motion/shift, NZI
– A Goal line responsibility
– Checks any action against the blitzers during their run if QB is in
shotgun position
• Field judge
– 7 yards of the LOS
– Game time
– Counts the defense and the possible blitzers
– B Goal line responsibility

R LM FJ SJ
2 MEN MECHANICS
Near A GL

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FJ
R : wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently midfield

R LM FJ SJ
 2 MEN MECHANICS
Near midfield
R : wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then then go at midfield at snap

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FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 2 MEN MECHANICS
Near B GL and 1 or 2 point conversion or long distance on 4th down

R : wait for the runner crossing the LOS

FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go on B GL at snap
R

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FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 2 men mechanics
Situation : Pass on the
WR of the weak side.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the
weak side (check the
pattern of A2). As soon as
the pass is thrown, verify
QB A1 is not threatened
anymore and turn to see
the pass. Follow the play
and check the flag pull or
the feet out of bond
FJ : move back, stop at
midfield and when the
B1 pass is thrown, run and
B2 B4 FJ watch A3 catching (or
B3 B5 not) the ball. If the catch
A3 A2 A4 is made, try to be on the
A5
R GL before A3
A1
R LM FJ SJ
Situation : Pass on the
Slot of the strong side.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the
strong side (check the
moves of other
defenders). As soon as
the pass is thrown, verify
B1 QB A1 is not threatened
B2 B4 FJ anymore. Follow the play
B3 B5
and watch any illegal
R A3 A2 A5 A4 contact
FJ : move back and when
A1 the pass is thrown, run
and watch A5 catching
(or not) the ball. If the
catch is made, try to be
on the GL before A5
 2 men mechanics
Situation : Run on the Situation : Interception.
weak side. R : after the interception,
B4
R : Blitzer B1 is on the watch the A players and
strong side (check the go on the A GL.
pattern of A2). Follow the FJ : move back and when
pitch from A1 to A5 and the pass is intercepted by
check any illegal flag pull B4, follow him and watch
FJ : move back, watch B1 when he goes out of bond
where A5 goes out of B2 B4 FJ
B3 B5
bound
B1 A3 A2 A5 A4
B5 R
B2
FJ
B3
B4 A1
A3 A4 A2
R A1

A5

R LM FJ SJ
 2 men mechanics
Situation : short pass B1 B2 Situation : short pass
B5 FJ
for the first down. B3 for the TD.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the B4 R : Blitzer B1 is on the
weak side (check the R A3 A2 A4 weak side (check the
pattern of A2). Check A5 pattern of A2). Check
short pattern and contact A1 short pattern and contact
between A’s and B’s between A’s and B’s
FJ : move back and FJ : move back and
FJ watch short patterns, watch short patterns,
B1 B2
B5 seek for help if 1st down seek for help if A’s
B3
B4 crosses GL
R A3 A2 A4
A5

A1

R LM FJ SJ
 3 MEN MECHANICS
• Referee
– 45° behind the QB or sideline, FJ side
– Team A Goal line or LOS responsibility
– Checks any action against the blitzers during their run
– 25 sec, 7 sec
• LinesMan
– On the LOS with down marker
– Counts the offense
– Checks DOF/FS, Illegal motion/shift, NZI
– Remember the possible blitzers
– B Goal line responsibility (2nd)
• Field judge
– 7 yards of the LOS
– Game time
– Counts the defense and the possible blitzers
– B Goal line responsibility (1st) when GL covered by LM

R LM FJ SJ
 3 MEN MECHANICS
Near A GL
R : watch the QB in case of safety
LM : wait for the runner crossing the LOS
LM FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently midfield & watch

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R FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 3 MEN MECHANICS
Normal play - A Zone
R : stay 45° from the QB, check blitzers
LM : watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently at midfield

LM

I I

FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 3 MEN MECHANICS
Near midfield
R : check blitzers, watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
LM : be already at midfield
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently to B GL& watch

LM

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R FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 3 MEN MECHANICS
Normal play - B Zone
R : stay 45° from the QB, check blitzers
LM : watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go on B GL
LM

I I

FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 3 MEN MECHANICS
Near B GL and 1 or 2 point conversion or long distance on 4th Down
R : check blitzers, watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
LM : be already on B GL
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go on B end line
LM

I I

R FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 3 men mechanics
Situation : Pass on the Situation : Pass on the
WR of the weak side. Slot of the strong side.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the R : Blitzer B1 is on the
weak side (check the strong side (check the
pattern of A2). As soon as moves of A2 and A5).
the pass is thrown, verify Follow the play
QB A1 is not threatened LM : Check any illegal
anymore and follow the B1 FJ contact on short routes or
play. B2 B4 within the first 5 yards of
B3 B5
LM : Check any illegal the LOS and follow the
contact on short routes or LM A3 A2 A5 A4 play
within the first 5 yards of FJ : go directly to GL and
the LOS. After the pass is A1 when the pass is thrown
B1 thrown, follow A3 and and watch A5 catching (or
R
B2 B4 FJ check the flag pull or the not) the ball.
B3 B5 feet out of bond
LM A3 A2 A4 FJ : move back, when the
A5
pass is catched, be on
A1
the GL before A3
R

R LM FJ SJ
 3 men mechanics
Situation : Run on the Situation : Interception.
weak side. R : after the interception,
B4
R : Blitzer B1 is on the watch the A players and
strong side (check the go inside the field.
pattern of A2). Follow the LM : after the snap,
pitch from A1 to A5 and watch the receivers on
check any illegal flag pull your side
LM : as soon as you see B1 FJ : move back and go
the pitch, stay on LoS to B2 B4 FJ on the GL. After the
B3 B5
see any illegal forward interception by B4, follow
B1 pass and follow the A3 A2 A5 A4 him and watch when he
B5 LM
B2
FJ runner from this spot goes out of bond
B3
B4 FJ : go to midfield and A1
A3 A4 A2 stay, watch where A5
LM A1 R
goes out of bound
A5
R

R LM FJ SJ
 3 men mechanics
Situation : short pass B1 B2 Situation : short pass
B5 FJ
for the first down. B3 for the TD.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the B4 R : be on LoS. Blitzer B1
LM
weak side (check the A3 A2 A4 R is on the weak side
pattern of A2). Check A5 (check the pattern of A2).
short pattern and contact A1 Check short pattern and
between A’s and B’s contact between A’s and
LM : stay on LoS and B’s on your side
FJ move to midifield to help LM : already on GL,
B1 B2
B5 FJ (easy if A1 is in check short pattern and
B3
B4 shtogun position, if not, R contact between A’s and
could be on LoS and LM B’s on your side
LM A3 A2 A4
A5 moves directly at midfield FJ : move back and
at snap) watch deep patterns
A1
FJ : move back and
R watch short patterns,
seek for help if 1st down

R LM FJ SJ
 4 MEN MECHANICS
• Referee
– 45° behind the QB or sideline, FJ side
– On the LOS
– Team A Goal line responsibility
– 7 sec
– Checks any action against the blitzers during their run
• LinesMan
– On the LOS with down marker
– Counts the offense
– Checks DOF/FS, Illegal motion/shift, NZI
– Remember the possible blitzers
• Field judge
– 7 yards of the LOS
– Game time
– Counts the defense and the possible blitzers
– B Goal line responsibility
• Side judge
– 7 yards of the LOS or line to gain or GL
– 25 sec (raise arm when 10s left)
– Counts the defense and the possible blitzers
– B Goal line responsibility

R LM FJ SJ
 4 MEN MECHANICS
Near A GL
LM SJ

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R FJ
R : check blitzers and watch the QB for safety
LM : wait for the runner crossing the LOS
SJ & FJ : FJ only 7 yards from LoS then go gently at midfield (or SJ direcly at midfield)
R LM FJ SJ
 4 MEN MECHANICS
Normal play – A Zone
R : stay 45° from the QB
LM : watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently at midfield
SJ : start at midfield and go gently to B GL
LM SJ

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FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 4 MEN MECHANICS
R : check blitzers Near midfield
LM : watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently on B GL
SJ : direclty on B GL

LM SJ

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FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 4 MEN MECHANICS
Normal play – B Zone
R : stay 45° from the QB, check blitzers
LM : watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go gently to B GL
SJ : start from GL and can go to B end line
LM SJ

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FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 4 MEN MECHANICS
Near B GL and 1 or 2 point conversion or long distance on 4th down
R : check blitzers
LM : watch the QB and wait for the runner crossing the LOS
FJ : 7 yards from LoS then go on B GL
LM SJ
SJ : be directly on B end line

I I

FJ

R LM FJ SJ
 4 men mechanics
Situation : Pass on the Situation : Pass on the
WR of the weak side. Slot of the strong side.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the R : Blitzer B1 is on the
weak side (check the SJ strong side (check the
pattern of A2). moves of A2 and A5).
LM : check any illegal Follow the play
contact on the LoS. Turn LM : check any illegal
and watch A3 B1 FJ contact on the LoS and
FJ : go directly at midfield B2 B4 follow the play
B3 B5
and watch the receivers FJ : go gentle to the GL
in your zone LM A3 A2 A5 A4 and when the pass is
SJ SJ : move back and thrown, watch A5
watch the receiver in your A1 catching (or not) the ball.
B1 zone. Let midfield to the SJ : from the GL, watch
R
B2 B4 FJ FJ and go to the GL the receivers in your zone
B3 B5 and when the ball is
LM A3 A2 A4 thrown, check with FJ for
A5
the reception
A1
R

R LM FJ SJ
 4 men mechanics
Situation : Run on the Situation : Interception.
weak side. R : after the interception,
B4
R : Blitzer B1 is on the watch the A players and
SJ SJ
strong side (check the go inside the field.
pattern of A2). Follow the LM : after the snap,
pitch from A1 to A5 and watch the receivers on
check any illegal flag pull your side
LM : as soon as you see B1 FJ : moves back and go
the pitch, go to midfield B2 B4 FJ on the GL. After the
B3 B5
FJ : moves back, watch interception by B4, follow
B1 where A5 goes out of A3 A2 A5 A4 him and watch when he
B5 LM
B2
FJ bound goes out of bond
B3
B4 SJ : from the GL or less A1 SJ : from the GL or less
LM A3 A4 A2 deeper, watch the play deeper, watch the play
A1 R
developping developping
A5
R

R LM FJ SJ
 4 men mechanics
Situation : short pass SJ B1 B2 Situation : short pass
B5 FJ
for the first down. B3 for the TD.
R : Blitzer B1 is on the B4 R : be on LoS. Blitzer B1
SJ LM
weak side (check the A3 A2 A4 R is on the weak side
pattern of A2). Check A5 (check the pattern of A2).
short pattern and contact A1 Check short pattern and
between A’s and B’s contact between A’s and
LM : stay on LoS and B’s on your side
FJ move to midifield to help LM : already on GL,
B1 B2
B5 FJ (easy if A1 is in check short pattern and
B3
B4 shtogun position, if not, R contact between A’s and
could be on LoS and LM B’s on your side
LM A3 A2 A4
A5 moves directly at midfield FJ : move back and
at snap) watch deep patterns
A1
FJ : move back and SJ : already on end line
R watch short patterns, checking depp patterns
seek for help if 1st down
SJ : deeper than he FJ or
already on the GL (if the
receivers are fast or
offense is not on 4th
down)

R LM FJ SJ