Mechanics question

[HoustonUmp]

If the ball is at the B4 yard line mechanics say that the H and L go to the goal line at the snap and work their way back if necessary. When this happens, who has the responsibility of the legality of a forward pass being thrown beyond the neutral zone? Neither wing can come back, as the goal line is being threatened. This is for a 7 man crew game. 

[Aussie-Zebra]

The Umpire in this situation.

From CCA mechanics manual 7 man crew.
Goal Line Positioning and Zones
Umpire: Starting position needn’t be as deep as scrimmage plays but don’t block goal line for wing officials. When the ball is snapped on or inside Team B’s seven yardline and no alternate official is available, you are primarily responsible for the line of scrimmage in determining if the passer was beyond the line of scrimmage and if the pass is beyond the line of scrimmage.

[bossman72]

The manual says the umpire, but the reality is that the wings should still own this.  They have a better perspective on this than the umpires too.

You can watch 100 plays near the goal line and I guarantee you that you will not find one where the U covers the LOS.

[TxSkyBolt]

Inside the seven, I move up to LOS if it's threatened.


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[HoustonRef]

LOS officials will have this. Umpires have a hard enough time seeing 300lb guys running around downfield.

[NVFOA_Ump]

So with the QB scrambling to his right just outside the right hash and at or beyond the LOS he dumps a pass to his RB on the goal line at the right pylon, the wing is going to have the passer beyond/not beyond the LOS?

[#92]

H and L have goal line responsability immediately after the snap, no?

[bossman72]

So with the QB scrambling to his right just outside the right hash and at or beyond the LOS he dumps a pass to his RB on the goal line at the right pylon, the wing is going to have the passer beyond/not beyond the LOS?

One of them will, yes.  They will have a much better shot than the umpire who doesn't move.

[TxSkyBolt]

Why would you say the U wouldn't cover this when it's expressly assigned to him in the mechanics manual?

[bossman72]

Why would you say the U wouldn't cover this when it's expressly assigned to him in the mechanics manual?

Go watch film.  Watch 100 goal line plays.  Guarantee you that you won't find one umpire getting to the LOS.  Maybe 1 play.

I don't trust the U's to be there and I don't trust the R's to get forward/backward pass.  They just won't do it.  Even the best officials!  They both have a lot of other stuff to watch.

Wings own this all day.  If you don't, then that play will happen and all 3 of you will be looking at each other like "were you watching him over the line?"  Guaranteed.

[NVFOA_Ump]

Why would you say the U wouldn't cover this when it's expressly assigned to him in the mechanics manual?

And it has been for awhile.  No question that the wings can help here but at the snap they are moving the other way back to the pylon.  When A shows pass I'm moving to +/- 3 yards beyond the LOS and watching for players beyond the LOS and that includes the passer.  If another official helps here great, but the manual says that I own this.  But not a bad thing to have two flags down on a play at the goal line - shows that were paying attention to the same thing.

[TxSkyBolt]

Go watch film.  Watch 100 goal line plays.  Guarantee you that you won't find one umpire getting to the LOS.  Maybe 1 play.

I don't trust the U's to be there and I don't trust the R's to get forward/backward pass.  They just won't do it.  Even the best officials!  They both have a lot of other stuff to watch.

Wings own this all day.  If you don't, then that play will happen and all 3 of you will be looking at each other like "were you watching him over the line?"  Guaranteed.

Of those 100 plays how many of them had a threatened LOS?  That's the only time a U should move to the LOS.


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