HL and LJ under goalpost

[gdp1018]

In watching the Highland Park vs Waco Midway game Saturday I noticed something odd.  The HL and the LJ would alternate going under the goalpost depending on which team was kicking the extra point and or field goal.  If the HL sideline was kicking he was going under the goalpost.  If the LJ sideline was kicking he would go under the goalpost.  According the mechanic manual the LJ goes under the goalpost every time and the HL has the line of scrimmage. 

Would like to know others thoughts on this.

Thank You,

[Legacy Zebra]

I've seen crews switch based on which way the holder faced, but never based on which team was kicking. Yes, by the book, L should be under the post on all scoring kicks.

[Clear Lake ref]

I can see the logic by which leg the kicker is. Technically, the R is supposed to go to the vacated side so this way they are always looking through.

[Rulesman]

In watching the Highland Park vs Waco Midway game Saturday I noticed something odd.  The HL and the LJ would alternate going under the goalpost depending on which team was kicking the extra point and or field goal.  If the HL sideline was kicking he was going under the goalpost.  If the LJ sideline was kicking he would go under the goalpost.  According the mechanic manual the LJ goes under the goalpost every time and the HL has the line of scrimmage. 

Would like to know others thoughts on this.

Thank You,

FWIW, this is the Federation mechanic.

[JasonTX]

Hmmm.. Altering the mechanics without approval?   

[The Roamin' Umpire]

FWIW, this is the Federation mechanic.

To be clear, the Fed mechanic has nothing to do with which team is kicking. It's based on left/right footed kicker & how the holder sets up. R should set up to the same side as the kicker, looking into the hold (as opposed to at the holder's back). Whichever wing is on that side goes under the posts with the BJ, on the theory that the R can more easily get to that sideline if things break down.

[gdp1018]

As I think about officials were probably moving based on the kicker more so than which team. 

[scrounge]

I prefer the U under the goalpost mechanic (which is how we do it in our area).

No matter which you choose, there's going to be compromises. I guess I look at it from the perspective of better to cover the more likely play. Yes, you do sacrifice the best look at roughing the snapper. However, that's a fairly rare foul - and the vast majority of the time in HS, you're looking a try vs a long FG, so the U is only a few yards away from where he'd be anyway. The R can help with this too.

With the LJ (for a right handed kicker) under the post, you get marginally better RTS snapper coverage but at the cost of requiring the R to move very hurriedly to the flag if necessary, while completely sacrificing the ability to cover roughing the passer or anything else really goofy in the backfield. The odds of a broken play seem higher than a RTS to me.

[TexDoc]

I prefer the U under the goalpost mechanic (which is how we do it in our area).

No matter which you choose, there's going to be compromises. I guess I look at it from the perspective of better to cover the more likely play. Yes, you do sacrifice the best look at roughing the snapper. However, that's a fairly rare foul - and the vast majority of the time in HS, you're looking a try vs a long FG, so the U is only a few yards away from where he'd be anyway. The R can help with this too.

With the LJ (for a right handed kicker) under the post, you get marginally better RTS snapper coverage but at the cost of requiring the R to move very hurriedly to the flag if necessary, while completely sacrificing the ability to cover roughing the passer or anything else really goofy in the backfield. The odds of a broken play seem higher than a RTS to me.

You aren't in Texas, are you?

TASO has prescribed mechanics.  Crews should never deviate from these approved mechanics so we are all doing things similarly.

The one in my area that drives me nuts is that the whole crew goes out to talk to coaches before the game.  I, and several other crew chiefs, only go with the U to meet the head coaches before the game, as prescribed in the TASO mechanics.  When I go meet a coach that asks why we don't bring the entire crew, I have to explain that those guys are not doing it right. 

[RMR]

The Louisiana 5 man mechanic is for the H and L to switch depending on the kicker. Whomever has the holder's back to him stays on the LOS if that makes sense.

[backjudge85]

This was an Austin crew and if in fact they were doing this then I guess they were just trying things out, but it wasn't approved.  We have a mechanics manual for a reason and contrary to popular belief, a lot of work went into creating them.  What is the point of doing it if guys aren't going to follow it.  Whether they are popular or not, it is what we have at the present time. It is just like the rule book.  We shouldn't selectively decide which rule we are or are not going to enforce and we also shouldn't decided which mechanic we are going to use except what is printed in the mechanics manual.

[scrounge]

You aren't in Texas, are you?

TASO has prescribed mechanics.  Crews should never deviate from these approved mechanics so we are all doing things similarly.

The one in my area that drives me nuts is that the whole crew goes out to talk to coaches before the game.  I, and several other crew chiefs, only go with the U to meet the head coaches before the game, as prescribed in the TASO mechanics.  When I go meet a coach that asks why we don't bring the entire crew, I have to explain that those guys are not doing it right.

My bad, no....as the discussion turned to a more general nature, I forgot that this was in 'Texas Topics'.

Agreed on the point about not deviating from mechanics. I'm not saying Ohio's approach is the best or that it isn't taken a bit far sometimes on occasion, but I like having a prescribed, standard approach, a standard operating procedure on where to be and how to be there. It may or may not be the best in my opinion, but I know what everyone will do, whether it's a newer guy or a 30 yr vet or a fill-in from Cincy or from near Cleveland or whatever.

[TXPanhandle]

This was an Austin crew and if in fact they were doing this then I guess they were just trying things out, but it wasn't approved.  We have a mechanics manual for a reason and contrary to popular belief, a lot of work went into creating them.  What is the point of doing it if guys aren't going to follow it.  Whether they are popular or not, it is what we have at the present time. It is just like the rule book.  We shouldn't selectively decide which rule we are or are not going to enforce and we also shouldn't decided which mechanic we are going to use except what is printed in the mechanics manual.

We could start another thread on the topic of mechanics and I believe that would lead to an interesting discussion.  I firmly believe in following the mechanics manual as I believe the thought and efforts put into the mechanics are for the best possible coverage and consistency.  Here's my rub.  I take ever opportunity to watch games when I’m not doing one myself and it amazes me every time I watch crews work from other chapters, or even my local chapter, the differences in mechanics used.  For example, I still watch some crews keep the umpire by the kicker on a kickoff.  As long as it occurs but there are no repercussions to the crew or chapter who supports the incorrect mechanics than what does it matter?   

[backjudge85]

There were some repercussions for the Austin crew that worked a game with the Umpire working in the backfield part of the game.