Referee cheat sheet

Best resource: The basics of Flag Officiating, a PowerPoint and overview video by Fatih Kaya.

The notes below need an update.

Head ref

Usually a coach, veteran player or official referee.

Position: behind the QB, 7–10 yards deep.

• Place the ball and mark ready-for-play.
• Manage the play clock (25 seconds from ball placed) and each team's time-outs.
• Watch the QB, pass mechanics and illegal forward passes.
• Responsible for flag guarding and QB run violations.
• Announce penalties and enforce them with the other refs.
• Keep track of, or assign, the game clock: 12 or 15 min, running apart from time-outs until the 2-minute warning, then stopping on out of bounds, incompletions, first downs and TDs.

Line of scrimmage

Usually a veteran player, or a player who has refereed several games.

Position: on the line of scrimmage where the ball is placed. After the snap, run with the ball, whether it's a run or a pass.

Main job: find where the ball is when the flag is pulled and stand on that line. The head ref will look to you to place the ball.

Tip: carry a flag or two, or a water bottle, and put it on the line before the snap. If you run with a throw that ends up incomplete, you can go back to it to find the line of scrimmage.

Pay extra attention to:

• The QB's arm crossing the line before throwing.
• Players running out of bounds: a step on the line is out.

Blitz line

Usually a player who has reffed a game or a few as deep judge.

Position: line up with the LOS ref or the ball, walk 7 yards (7 large steps) and stand still.

Main job: you mark the 7 yards the defence's blitzing player must start behind. Tell them if they need to move back or can move forward. Get to your spot quickly before the snap so they can be ready.