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Complete officiating mechanics for a five-official crew — positioning, free kick, scrimmage plays, and scoring plays.
Plays with free kicks expose players to some of the hardest collisions of any football play. The speed of closure between kicking and receiving team players needs to be a focus of each free kick, and emphasis on legal blocking is crucial to help enhance both player safety and fair play.
To provide comprehensive coverage of players during a free kick, game officials should divide the players up on each side of the kicker and key on the action of those players.
The widest two players on each side of the kicking team are the responsibility of the deepest sideline official. They remain stationary unless forced to move until the kick is possessed.
The other kicking team players are the responsibility of officials on the kicking and receiving team restraining lines, observing players on their side as they progress downfield.
The official on the kicking team's restraining line watches action against the kicker. The referee ensures at least four players on each side of the kicker and rules momentum or touchback inside the 5-yard line.
Starting positions for each official before a free kick.
Starting position is on the goal line between the hash marks on the side of the field where the chains are located. Notes whether Team K has at least four players on either side of the kicker, then blows the whistle and gives the ready-for-play signal once he sees a ready signal from each official.
Ensures sideline personnel are properly positioned, then moves to the numbers on their side. Starting position is outside the sideline on the side opposite the chains, on Team R's free-kick line. Raises an arm as a ready signal when in position.
Starting position is on Team R's goal line extended, adjustable based on the deepest receiver. If adjusted, both line-of-scrimmage officials must be on the same yard line and deeper than the deepest receiver. Raise an arm as a ready signal.
Moves toward the kicker after checking kicking tee legality. Confirms Team K has 11 players, reminds the kicker not to kick until the referee's whistle, and verifies no Team K player is more than 5 yards from the free-kick line. Starting position is outside the sideline on Team K's free-kick line.
Since the play clock does not start until the referee's ready-for-play signal, a kick should never be permitted without the proper number of players for both teams.
Middle of the field, deeper than the deepest receiver.
Same side as the line judge, on Team R's free-kick line. Beanbag in hand to mark a first touch by Team K; prepared to blow the ball dead if a prone player recovers.
On Team R's free-kick line. Beanbag in hand to mark a first touch by Team K; prepared to blow the ball dead if a prone player recovers.
On Team K's free-kick line. Beanbag in hand to mark a first touch by Team K; prepared to blow the ball dead if a prone player recovers.
On the head line judge's side, on Team K's free-kick line. Prepared to blow the ball dead if a prone player from either team recovers.
All officials prepared to blow the ball dead if a prone player from either team recovers the kick — regardless of whether it has traveled 10 yards.
While Team A is in the huddle, position ~10–15 yards from the LOS and 5 yards wide. At the line, start on the passing-arm side of the QB, ~10–12 yards deep and at least as wide as the tight end.
5–10 yards behind Team B's line, between the defensive ends. Must see the ball from the snap until it is snapped.
Straddling the line of scrimmage on the sideline.
Favoring the strong side of the formation, ~20–25 yards beyond the LOS and deeper than the deepest defender.
On a running play, the referee focuses on the ball, the runner, and blocking around the runner. If the play goes opposite, move toward or parallel to the line of scrimmage — avoiding overaggressiveness in case of a reverse. If the play is to the referee's side, move behind the play and own the runner until he crosses the neutral zone or turns upfield. Watch the handoff or pitchout and ensure no one contacts the quarterback before drifting to follow the play.
The referee observes blocking by his keys and is alert for defenders threatening the QB. Stay wide and deep enough not to move if the QB drops into the pocket. If the QB rolls out, move with him keeping a 10-yard buffer. When the pass is in flight, the back judge quickly determines the intended receiver and watches both offensive and defensive players for interference.
3–5 yards outside the tight end and 2–3 yards behind the kicker, on the kicking-leg side. Ready to move on an errant snap or blocked kick. After the kick, glance at the ball's flight; if short toward a sideline, the covering official determines the out-of-bounds spot. If a return breaks long, take the runner on an inside-out look.
Sets up 4–7 yards deep, favoring the line judge's sideline. Say, "Don't charge directly into the snapper," to remind Team R. Move toward the line at the snap; once the ball is kicked and players pass, pivot to the line judge's side and observe action in front of the runner.
Head line judge stays on the line until the kick crosses the neutral zone; the line judge releases at the snap. Both wings own their sideline from end line to end line and cover the runner on returns to their area; clean up behind the play on the opposite sideline.
Begins 10–12 yards wider than and 2–3 yards behind the deepest receiver on the head line judge's side. All deep receivers are the back judge's responsibility; judges fair catch signals. Coverage transfers to the wing when the runner breaks into a side zone.
Beanbag the spot where the kick ends — that spot may be used for post-scrimmage kick penalty enforcement.
2–3 yards to the rear and 3–5 yards to the side of the potential kicker, facing the holder. Observe the kicker and holder; if the holder leaves a kneeling position to catch a poor snap, rule on whether the holder may return to kneeling. After the kick, rule on contact on the kicker/holder. On a blocked try, blow the whistle immediately (a blocked field goal stays live).
Beyond the end line, behind the upright. Rules whether the ball passed inside or outside the upright on his side.
Straddling the line of scrimmage. Rule whether the kick crossed the neutral zone; on a fake kick/pass, help rule on ineligibles downfield and whether the passer was beyond the line.
Beyond the end line, behind the upright. Rules whether the ball passed inside or outside the upright on his side, and whether it cleared the crossbar. Whistles and signals on a successful kick; deep officials confirm the ruling verbally ("good" or "no, no, no").
Chains are set to establish the 10-yard neutral zone. Referee is behind the upright; umpire is behind the upright and rules on the crossbar. Both determine whether the kick is successful. All other mechanics are the same as a kickoff.
If a blocked kick or fake results in a play toward the goal line, the umpire moves to assist on runner coverage and helps rule whether a blocked kick crossed the neutral zone. Deep officials move along the end line toward the nearest sideline on blocked/short/fake kicks.
Same number of eligible receivers outside the tackles on both sides of the snapper.
Defensive strategy where several players commit to rushing the passer.
Official not on the ballcarrier observes action behind and around the ballcarrier.
Activity during the time immediately after the ball becomes dead.
Official who burrows into a pile to determine which team recovered a fumble.
Direction the offense moves; the area beyond the neutral zone on a scrimmage down.
Giving the same signal as a crewmate (e.g., stop the clock, touchdown).
Gaining visual attention of another official before ruling, to avoid conflicting calls.
Area behind the offensive linemen in a side zone where backs receive short passes.
Turning attention from a player who entered another official's coverage area.
Imaginary circles around players that define coverage areas for officials.
Inbounds marks from which the ball is snapped if dead in a side zone or out-of-bounds.
Download the complete NFHS Football Game Officials Manual (2026–2027), including the full signal chart and all crew-of-five mechanics.
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