IFAF officials

[Legacy Zebra]

Is there anybody on the board who works with the IFAF? I'm watching the World University Championship and I had a couple questions.

[Kalle]

I'm not an IFAF official as such, but we do work IFAF rules and mechanics here in Finland. Fire away, there are others here, too

[Legacy Zebra]

Ok, I have a few, so I'll list them.

1) I've noticed an official behind the kicking team on free kicks. Which one is that and what is the reasoning for it as opposed to moving him to the sideline?

2) There have been a couple kicks that have bounced in the endzone, but weren't blown dead until they went out of bounds. Is this a difference between IFAF and NCAA, or was the rule just misapplied?

3) Where can I find either an IFAF rulebook or a comparison to NCAA?

4) What is the process like to become an IFAF official?


Thanks for your input.

[Kalle]

1) I've noticed an official behind the kicking team on free kicks. Which one is that and what is the reasoning for it as opposed to moving him to the sideline?

I'm going to punt this to Dommer1 or bafra31, I'm not sure about that.

2) There have been a couple kicks that have bounced in the endzone, but weren't blown dead until they went out of bounds. Is this a difference between IFAF and NCAA, or was the rule just misapplied?

There is no rule difference, sounds like the rule was not applied correctly.

3) Where can I find either an IFAF rulebook or a comparison to NCAA?

Strangely it's not at the IFAF site but the Danish officials have it up. http://daff.dk/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/IFAF-Rulebook-2014-2015.pdf

The only three differences to 2013 NCAA rules are:

1. Two players in the same position can wear the same number in a game (but not at the same time, obviously)
2. No 3-2-5 minimum spike time rule
3. Touchbacks are to the 20-yard line

4) What is the process like to become an IFAF official?

Dommer1/bafra31 can clarify, but my understanding is (I do this for the Finnish officials, and this is the process we use):

You need to participate in at least one IFAF officials clinic, and then you are eligible to the IFAF games. It is up to your country's officiating association to either assign you to a game or recommend you to be assigned. IFAF assigns the referees directly without any country association input.

[Osric Pureheart]

1) I've noticed an official behind the kicking team on free kicks. Which one is that and what is the reasoning for it as opposed to moving him to the sideline?

That's the Umpire.  As I understand it, having nobody start in the middle of the field on a free kick is a relatively recent (and NFL-influenced) CCA mechanics change that we've let be for the time being ("The referee shall declare the ball ready for play when the ball is handed to the kicker", anyone?).  The biggest advantage at the level most of us work is probably that someone standing next to the kicker makes it easy to solve the problems we often get with less-than-completely-competent players: stop him kicking before the RFP, tell him to get 4 on each side and everyone within 5 yards, that sort of thing. 

I'm also a big fan of having someone who can get the inside-out look when an onside kick comes along.  I guess maybe it's less important if you've got instant replay?  We. um, don't.

[HLinNC]

It has not been that long ago that some NFHS 5 man mechanics kept the U behind K after handing the ball/instructing K1.  We now use the B who comes off to the H side.

[VALJ]

Our association still has the U in the center of the field after instructing K1.

[clearwall]

It has not been that long ago that some NFHS 5 man mechanics kept the U behind K after handing the ball/instructing K1.  We now use the B who comes off to the H side.

I've noticed many HS officials still use 'The Diamond' formation in Texas as well. Im not a fan of it. What is the U seeing back there that he cant if he's on the line and how much more can he NOT see that he COULD if he were on the kicking restraining line?

[Osric Pureheart]

If the ball goes deep, he's in a great position to see that nobody cleans the kicker out, check for things like 4 on each side and all within 5 yards (perhaps not so relevant to some of us) and then watch the blocks against Team A's inside players as they head downfield.

If the ball goes short, he's got a great inside-out look at who touched what and when.  Officials on the sideline can easily get blindsided by players running between them and the football as it bounces and hops; it's the U with the inside-out look who's going to come and save you in that situation.  Same reason he turns to follow the end of a pass.

[clearwall]

But after the ball is kicked, the U moves in towards the field for those post-kick purposes. On top of that, why wouldnt your R restraining line officials get touching/when?

Regarding the 4 on each side, that's why I mentioned you could do the same job from the restraining line. If you get blocked from view on something like that, then you probably have ANOTHER problem(offsides). And I would argue further that if the K team is going to have fewer than 4 on each side, you'll see that coming a good bit before the ball is actually kicked anyway and if it's THAT close you maybe shouldnt call it.

[Etref]

I've noticed many HS officials still use 'The Diamond' formation in Texas as well. Im not a fan of it. What is the U seeing back there that he cant if he's on the line and how much more can he NOT see that he COULD if he were on the kicking restraining line?

If they are using it in Texas, they shouldn't be. Not an approved mechanic.

[Legacy Zebra]

I see it used a lot on Thursday nights with four man crews. I don't mind it for SV stuff, especially if it's one of those nights where you have three games and they all score 70 points. Saving 20 seconds and letting the U stay in the middle can help speed things along.

[Tobbe56]

I worked some of the games that were mentioned. They were all done using 7-man mechanics. As the play develops there are actually two officials in the middle of the field since the B moves from Ks restrainingline to the middle of the field. U being the other one.
On 5-man mechanics U has the responsibility.