WDFOA
Mike Peel and Ricardo Green

MPSSAA Website


Under Football->Officials->6 Man Mechanics
WDFOA Website

Under Mechanics and Pre-Game


Your key is the player you watch at the
beginning of the play before transitioning to
zone coverage
Typically the most outside guy




Sometimes you have no key in very strange
formations
Sometimes you have a secondary key
If he is pressed (defender within 1 yard of the
LOS) we watch him from the snap
If no press, we can eye the tackle to see if we
have a run or pass
20 Yards
S
F
20 Yards
S
22-24 Yards
F



We need coverage of all offensive players
Your key will usually take you to the play
You can then move or stand still based on his
action
If he blocks, we have a run and there is no need to back
peddle yet
 If he goes around the defender, we probably have a pass
and you’ll move back a bit and transition to zone


Only stick with your key if he stays in your zone
and the play still has a chance of coming that way

Read and react



Don’t go past the runner, stay behind
You have the spot unless it ends right away in
front of the short wing
Take the spot from the wing, we have to work
together and if the wing doesn’t know to go to
the goal line, we have to help
S
F

What do we look for?
In charge of the final spot
 Run to your side, watch the blocking in front of the
runner
 Run away from you, watch for illegal blocks toward
the middle


With no B, everyone must watch the defensive
backfield for personal fouls behind the play

Decide pregame with your fellow downfield
person if we’re splitting 50/50 or 33/66



Signal to your partner who has the receiver pre-snap
If the ball takes the receiver into the opposite
official’s area, switch responsibilities
Offside, watch for block in the back fouls

They come quick but are easy to see if you’re looking
for them
S
F

Know your ineligible eligibles


Who has an eligible number but lined up in an
ineligible position? Typically the center
Work from inside out


Begin a spread from under the upright to around the
inbounds marks
Watch receivers stepping out of the endzone





Jog in to the 9 yard marks if play is inside the
numbers
Survey the field, look for any players you may
need to separate
Watch for personal fouls
Slowly back out
The football is your last responsibility