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Football Officiating => Texas Topics => Topic started by: Official_21 on August 10, 2012, 05:44:39 AM
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Does anyone on this board work or has done 6-man football?
I would like to start gaining some varsity experience and was told 6-man football was the way to go.
Can anyone shed some light? Will it really be beneficial for me to do this or a waste of time?
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4man mechanics, spacing of players wider, Not much holding, penalties for no visible exchange, extra point dead when kicked, it will make you think, but as far as making you better, it is experience which is always good.
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I am a Division 3 and have been working six man football the past couple of years in addition to some 11-man varsity games as a fill in. I had been advised by many to take it up as a means of gaining experience and it has helped greatly. You are seeing snaps and officiating a game with older and usually faster players compared to subvaristy. With less players, it is a bit easier to adjust to the faster pace. Plus, you get 2 points per game. I highly recommend it for the experience.
It is also a nice change of pace from a steady diet of 11 man football and in my chapter, you really visit some hole in the wall places. ;)
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Hmm since you put it that way Welpe, I may have to seriously consider it for next season yEs:
We have already had our 6-man rules clinic down here in Houston.
The only other thing that concerns me, is travel. How far do you have to travel (typical) to get to a 6-man game?
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Be ready to run. 6-man games are wide open, and often resemble the games that we played in the backyard growing up, except in full pads.
In my opinion, you are getting a chance to see snaps on a varsity field which is always a good thing. You will see lots of open-field blocking that will instinctively seem illegal, but when you think through what you see then you realize it is legal. So, I think it helps you learn to process what you are seeing.
In my first year I worked U/B in a 6-man game, and on a reverse a D-Lineman caught a huge (perfectly legal) block from the side when he turned to follow the reverse. The R threw his flag and when the coach asked why, all the R could think to say was, "He hit him too hard." :!#
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Hmm since you put it that way Welpe, I may have to seriously consider it for next season yEs:
We have already had our 6-man rules clinic down here in Houston.
The only other thing that concerns me, is travel. How far do you have to travel (typical) to get to a 6-man game?
I'm in Houston also. Travel time varies quite a bit. There are a bunch of six man junior high teams popping up throughout the city but they don't usually field varsity. I went everywhere last year it seems. Baytown, Alvin, Conroe, Kingwood (Conroe and Kingwood in the same day actually, that was a LOT of driving), West Columbia, Bellville, Tomball and Pasadena. There are also teams in Dickinson, Sugar Land, Huntsville, a couple in Houston and probably a few places I'm forgetting.
If you live in the middle of the city....you're gonna drive. Living where I do, I'm not too far from a few schools actually.
I highly encourage you to sign up for some games. Don is good about working new officials in. Also, send me a PM if you like and we can talk more via e-mail.
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Thanks to everyone for their input/advice. It is much appreciated tiphat:
If anyone has anything else to add, please feel free to do so.
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I encourage everyone to take 6 man assignments. It beats not working, and in my view, it beats pulling chains. It also helps cover the games and shows the assigners you can handle varsity level action. Plus, the great thing is the mercy rule: 45 points after halftime and your done! In 11 man games, that's a lot, but in 6 man, it isn't much if the better team has any sort of defense. If neither team has a defense, its going to be a LONG night.
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As a white hat on 11 man crew I work 6 man on weeks that didn't get a pick.
Though few I make it up on the Sat games.
I like working with the newer division guys and gives me an opportunity to be on the lookout for crew members for other crews when asked if I know of any "good officials" for a needed crew members or subs.
Done 1st and 2nd round playoffs.
Great way to get snaps, refine your mechanics and skills.
Some great athletes particioating.
FYI - for 11 man TAPPS has evoked a "mercy rule".
Encourage all officials not on a crew to do 6 man and those that want to move up divisionally also.
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rsq: the new TAPPS rule really isn't a mercy rule, but rather one where the clock starts to run. In 6 man, its over. But I do agree with you about working with the newer guys.
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Thanks for clarifying TAPPS - it doesn't conclude game but allows for the running clock.
tiphat:
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I did a 6 man State championship last season (Throckmorton/Borden County) and it was fantastic.
Despite getting a really nice 4a/5a schedule this year, I am going to try to do as much 6 man as possible anytime that I am available. I absolutely LOVE the 6 man game.
Despite doing a lot more running, the game itself is so wide open and a lot easier to call in certain regards.
The only real differences is that you only need 3 on the line (technically no more than 3 in the backfield, but you do the math), 2 exchanges before a run, and everyone is an eligible receiver. (Center needs at least 1 yard difference between him and the passer) Plus you kill extra point kicks on a defensive procession or when the kick is no good, kickoff is from the 30, its 15 yards for a 1st down, 10 minute quarters, 45 point mercy rule after the 2nd quarter, linemen can take forward handoffs behind the line of scrimmage, etc.
The Amarillo chapter is now requiring ALL crews to do at least 1 6 man varsity game, which I think is fantastic. (We have a LOT of 6 man teams in our area)
We have ours Saturday. 6-man football is fantastic! Even if you're a little confused at first, you'll grow to love it. Let me know if you have any specific questions.
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I encourage everyone to take 6 man assignments. It beats not working, and in my view, it beats pulling chains. It also helps cover the games and shows the assigners you can handle varsity level action. Plus, the great thing is the mercy rule: 45 points after halftime and your done! In 11 man games, that's a lot, but in 6 man, it isn't much if the better team has any sort of defense. If neither team has a defense, its going to be a LONG night.
Tell yall what, a friend has worked 6-man over the years. He tells me those are high scoring games so those 45 point games aren't as unusual as you would think.
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I've had a couple of games where both teams scores broke triple digits. But I think a typical score could easily be 80-67 or similar.
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My crew picked up a 6-man in Rockwall for Friday. My first 6-man of the year! I thought it was unusual that we're sending the full crew out, though. We'll nearly outnumber the teams with all 5 of us out there!
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Working 5 officials in 6 man makes things incredibly easy. We did it for a playoff game once. The U may want to move closer to one sideline than normal.
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Our chapter has an 11 man game for the first half, then they are switching to 6 man football for the second half.
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Our chapter has an 11 man game for the first half, then they are switching to 6 man football for the second half.
Explain?
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Explain?
Both teams were looking for an opponent on the same date and couldn't find anybody. They aren't too far apart so they decided to play each other at their own game for 1 half. The first half the 6 man team is going to put 11 players on the field and play the first half under 11 man rules. The second half the 11 man team is dropping down and playing 6 man rules.
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This is a sanctioned event or a exhibition?
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Are they changing the size of the field for the 2nd half?
Thats so weird.
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Are they changing the size of the field for the 2nd half?
Thats so weird.
That's what I've been told. I will report back how it turns out this weekend.
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This is one (albeit small or rare) example of why 8 man football may be a better idea than 6 man. Its closer to 11 man football and shouldn't require many more players than 6 man. Even on Texas 4A HS teams, players go both ways, as they mostly do in 6 man. I think I've seen a 6 man team with only 8 players once, but most teams have 10-14. Putting 8 on the field shouldn't be an issue, and Oklahoma, among others, plays the same 100 yard field (though sides are in a bit) in the 8 game. Some of the hitting in 6 man is vicious as there are fewer blockers and more room to build up speed. I think in many ways, 6 man football is a ticking time bomb.
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I think in many ways, 6 man football is a ticking time bomb.
Just curious, why do you think this?
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In 11 man football, there are enough players on both teams to in most cases slow down players since they have to run around both opponents and even their own team. I'm talking primarily about long plays from scrimmages and change of possession plays. In 6 man, I've seen much harder hits from players who have attained full speed and no impediment to hitting the opponent. These hits are usually legal, but as you know, most injuries occur on plays that have no fouls. Also, 6 man plays are pretty readable and straight-forward. The safety, for example, sees the ball carrier or potential receiver very quickly and starts toward that area full speed. In 11 man, safeties have to read the play, start toward covering either their man or their zone, then read where the play went. Then, offensive players are down field and block.
Force = mass * acceleration. Full speed players ramming into heads and necks can create disaster.
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If I'm not mistaken, 6-man is only in Texas, correct? If so, it's one more way we are unique and good luck getting anyone to give THAT up. FlAg1
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If I'm not mistaken
You are. There are at least a couple of other states playing six man including Colorado and Nebraska.
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It was invented in 1934 by a coach in Nebraska. Currently Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Wyoming, Alabama and in parts of Canada they have 6-man football. But with 183 6-man teams in Texas, they lead the nation.
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That's what I've been told. I will report back how it turns out this weekend.
The game went smooth. At the end of the first half using 11 man rules the score was 7-0 in favor of the normal 11 man team. The other team transitioned to 11 man pretty well. Their defense was very solid. Then for the second half we did 6 man. The normal 11 man team had a hard time playing defense. The final was 46 to 21 with the 6 man team winning. The difference in the game was one teams ability to transition on defense.
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As an experiment on transitioning, I have always wondered how a game between two well matched teams would go with one half playing Canadian and one half American rules.
I expect the biggest adjustment would actually be the play calling of the coaches, most of the individual positions have similar jobs.