4 man mechanics question

[dammitbobby]

This situation happened 2x tonight.  4 man short kick mechanics. 

Everyone is in position - white hat back, wings on R's restraining line, BJ (me, first time) on K's restraining line, home field side. 

Ball is kicked deep. 

B receives the ball, and breaks big on the sideline where I am at.  I am drifting quickly down the field, even with/little behind the runner (don't want to be too far in front) but it's obvious he is going to score.

Since the runner is coming down the sideline, I am 2-4 yards off the playing field, giving him plenty of room.  B scores, I am .02 seconds behind him on the goal line, still 2-4 yards off the field.  As I signal TD, the LJ come sprinting in, positions himself on the exact corner of the field where goal line and sideline meet, and signals touchdown.  (Basically have two officials, 2 yards apart, facing the same way, signaling TD.)  Not a good look.

My understanding, is that on kicks, if the ball is coming up the side the BJ is on, the correct mechanic is to stay on the sideline, and officiate from there, and the LJ would have cleanup action. To me, this makes sense, since I am already 10-15 yards ahead of him at the kick (11 man 10, 6 man 15.)  Had the ball gone the other way, I would have started moving across the field, and officiate from the middle to the far sideline, and have both runner and possible cleanup, depending on the position of the HL (if he was ahead, he would take the runner). 

Is that correct?  Or should the BJ at the kick, immediately go the middle of the field? 

If I'm wrong, I'm wrong, but the way I described it, is my understanding.  Overall was a rough night, but this is by far the biggest issue.

[JasonTX]

In a 4 man crew no official goes to the middle on a kickoff.  Since you are using Back Judge in your question I assume that this is a sixman game.  Regardless, U/B in 4 man mechanics will remain on the sideline and cover the goalline.  H will cover the goalline on the other sideline.  R and L will take forward progress up the sideline.

[dammitbobby]

Thanks. From a positioning perspective, would the BJ want to stay ahead of the runner in this scenario, or trail him slightly?

[JasonTX]

Thanks. From a positioning perspective, would the BJ want to stay ahead of the runner in this scenario, or trail him slightly?

No.  Get out in front.  B and H will lead from the front and R and L will be trailing the play.  B and H should make every effort to beat the runner to the GL.

[dammitbobby]

Thanks, that's what I thought.  I wish the mechanics mechanics were more precise.  I'm getting better at rules, but then there's lots of resources that deal with rules, (rule book case book, redding's, this forum, tons of other online material) but less so for the finer points of mechanics.   I won't say mechanics are more important than rules, but if you're in the wrong spot to see something you can't really make an informed, correct rule application.  Plus the optics alone.  Look sharp - be perceived as sharp.  Hoping that clinics are back next year, I think that will help as well.