Short wing officials - what is your sight line/concentration pre-snap?

[Fatso]

I'm asking specifically where you focus your eyes prior to the snap.  Do you stare directly over the ball and watch peripherally for movement from either side?  Do you look down the offensive side more, or defensive side more?   

Kind of a vague/dumb question maybe, just wondering if there are any tips or focal points that allow you to get false start/encroachment right more often.   Thx

[ilyazhito]

I'm a deep official for varsity games and above, but when I work sub-varsity games as a wing official, I will count both teams (and display the count for B) prior to the snap. I then glance over the formation to make sure there are no more than 4 in the backfield and mark the nearest receiver. I then look straight down the line to make sure no false starts or encroachment occur. I maintain awareness of any motion by the offense in my peripheral vision.

[HLinNC]

Look down the line and detect motion with your peripheral vision.

[Lhaskins]

Your main focus is from the Center to your side of the field. Let your other eing offcial take care of his side. now that will free your vision up to catch illegal motion of illegal shifts.

[animalspooker]

Curious?  What's a short wing official?  Is this a 6 man crew thing?

[HLinNC]

Is this a 6 man crew thing?

Or 7, or 8.

[Fatso]

Curious?  What's a short wing official?  Is this a 6 man crew thing?

HL or LJ.   line of scrimmage guys

[Etref]

Or 7, or 8.

Under 5’4” 😂

[dammitbobby]

Your main focus is from the Center to your side of the field. Let your other eing offcial take care of his side. now that will free your vision up to catch illegal motion of illegal shifts.

You still have to be cognizant of shifts on  the far side - I got burned early this season when I didn't notice that on the far side, one receiver came in motion to my side, and set up off the line, and the second receiver (outermost) simply took a step back, putting 5 in the backfield... and the H didn't see that the receiver on my side stayed off the line.

 Always check both sides when you have any movement/motion at all.

[ilyazhito]

Curious?  What's a short wing official?  Is this a 6 man crew thing?

When there are more than 5 officials on the field, there are two officials on each sideline. To differentiate them, the officials on the line of scrimmage are called short wings, while the field judge and side judge are called deep wings. That is why when you hear a college official talking about short wings, you know he is talking about the Head Linesman (Head Line-Judge in NCAA) or Line Judge.