Stripes—Life as a Zebra

The Umpire Position: Part One in a Series
by: Bob Holliday
Umpire, Big 12 Conference
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As coaches, I'm sure all of you know that Division One and NFL games are officiated by seven-man crews, consisting of the referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, field judge, side judge and the back judge. But are you completely aware of the mechanics of each position? And do you know about the changes that have taken place within the past few years at each position? Furthermore, how familiar are you with the preparation each official puts forth, both individually and as a crew, before the season and prior to each game?

The purpose of this series of articles - all written by Division I-A officials - is to educate and acquaint the reader more thoroughly about the mechanics, changes and issues associated with officiating each position on the field. All of the articles will be authored by Big 12 Conference officials, thus it is understood that this series acknowledges the nuances from conference to conference and the NFL.

Umpire Position -
The Hub of the Wheel

The umpire is like a cop who walks the beat, controlling the trenches. He must be able to spot potential trouble, hopefully defusing much of it before it starts.

The essence of the umpire position is one that requires him to have more direct contact with the players than any other position in the officiating crew. Any official doing his job properly will also throw in a complimentary word at a player, when it's deserving. For example, when a defensive player dives over a downed runner instead of piling on. Call it preventive maintenance.

Perhaps the best way to describe the umpire position is to take the reader into the pre-game conference that normally convenes a few hours before gametime at each game site. Attendees include all crewmembers and an observer or technical advisor, who is a retired official.

These sessions can last from two to three hours. Several points of interest are discussed during the meetings, among which is what will occur in the event than an official is injured during the game. In such an event, a rotation system takes place, with officials leaving one position for another. The exception to this is if the umpire is hurt. Then it becomes obvious which members of the crew have served in the military. No hands go up. No one volunteers.

Who, What and Where

Prior to the snap, the umpire positions himself five to six yards off of the ball, facing the offensive line and inside the shoulder of one of the offensive guards. He wants to be in position to see both guards' hands on the ground and the ball on the ground prior to the snap. Umpires also become well acquainted with the linebackers during the course of a game.

As is the case with the other six members of his crew, the umpire's keys are extremely important. The mechanics used by officials have progressed as the game itself has progressed. Until a few years ago, the umpire was not even given keys to watch at the start of the play. His job was just to watch and be in control of the action of the linemen. But with the advent of better officiating mechanics, the umpire now zeroes in on the two guards and the center at the snap.

Today's mechanics include an increased emphasis on knowing the status of the clock and the down-and-distance during each play. If the down and count is third and eight, most teams line up in a passing set. The umpire will always look at this and won't be surprised if a pass develops but he is still always alert to a run, especially a draw play up the middle. When the ball is snapped and the offensive linemen go into their pass-blocking techniques, the umpire will take a few steps toward the line of scrimmage. This allows for a better view of his keys as well as to serve as a backup for the line judge in determining if the quarterback has crossed the line before passing the ball.

Once the ball is thrown, the umpire turns upfield to watch the flight of the ball. He will watch to see if the ball gets tipped and assist on calls involving balls that may have been trapped by a receiver on the ground.

Holding Your Attention

Obviously, watching for holding on passing and running plays is a critical part of the umpire's job. The new mechanics allow the umpire to better see pulldowns and throwdowns by offensive linemen. But it should be understood that the umpire does not focus only on the guards and center during every play. He also must take a look at the tackles, a shared duty with other officials.

With new technology, the overwhelming majority of fouls that result in flags can be readily seen by the men who review and grade officials each week. In the Big 12, at the end of each game each official fills out a game report, spelling out each major foul he called during the game. For a holding call, the official must use an action verb to describe what took place. It is no longer acceptable to merely report a holding call as: "offensive guard, No. 64, held at 12:13 in the third quarter." Now the calling official must accurately, and with detail, describe what happened, such as: "At 12:13 in the third quarter, offensive guard, No. 64, on a pass play, grabbed, twisted and threw down the defensive man." Or on a running play: "At 9:17 of the fourth quarter, tight end, No. 83, grabbed, twisted and turned the defensive end from the play, preventing him from attempting to get to the ball carrier."

Keeping on the Run

The umpire must be able to read the run. New keys designated for the umpire greatly assist this task. In most cases he can learn early when a running play is coming by concentrating on the two guards and center. He is not only looking for holding but also watching to see what makes the play go. Therefore, the umpire will only stay on his keys as long as it appears necessary.

Officials always try to keep a play "boxed in." In other words, to see the action from all angles. We must be at the right place at the right time to make sure this happens. There are new mechanics and new keys in place to assist in this. For example, on a running play around end for several yards - once the umpire recognizes that it is a running play around the end and everything is copasetic on the line, he needs to haul his fanny downfield, staying in line with the runner. This gives him a good view of the blocking, in and around the ball carrier. Any activity going on behind the umpire will be picked up by a trailing wing official, leaving him free to move.

Details, Details

The entire crew is responsible for making sure that the players are wearing the required equipment and that they are wearing it properly, but the umpire is ultimately responsible for making sure that this occurs. Also, the umpire is charged with counting the offensive players to make certain that no more than 11 are on the field.

Lights...Cameras...Action

The rising number of televised games have made the timing of the game an even greater factor in officiating. Many networks now have tripleheaders on any given Saturday, so it's critical that the officials keep up with the action through efficient ball handling.

Obviously, when a pass is completed down the middle, or a long run has occurred, the ball will usually already be down and in place when the umpire and referee arrive at the dead-ball spot. But on all other plays, including plays that end in a side zone, in which the umpire must retrieve the ball from a side official and hustle it back to the spot for the next snap, the umpire is normally the official responsible for ball placement. The old saying that "the umpire merely stands in one spot, killing grass" is a thing of the past.

The Officials' Motto: Be Prepared

Good umpires, and all good officials, take their jobs very seriously. And they know preparation is the name of the game. Officiating today requires not only hours of studying mechanics and the rules, but also an equal amount of time watching game and training tapes. Additionally, discussions among fellow umpires are extremely beneficial.

Shape Up or Ship Out

Staying in shape is also an absolute must. Officiating today requires men who are committed enough to this avocation to put in more than an occasional workout.

The days of the overweight, out-of-shape umpire are gone. An unfit umpire working a Division I-A or NFL game today would be putting himself in a very unhealthy situation. Today's players are bigger, stronger and faster. A middle-aged man stepping onto the field had better have good reaction time and be prepared to run with them. No longer can an official start getting in shape for the upcoming season in July. He must stay in shape all year long.

The men who officiate big-time college and NFL football games have to be dedicated individuals. This can be said for officials at all levels of the game. As one can easily see, this is more than just a weekend hobby. Bob Holliday has officiated college football for the past 34 years, with the last 21 seasons in the Big Eight and Big 12 Conference. He has worked nine bowl games including two Cotton Bowls and one Rose Bowl.

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