Mechanics Changes 2026 Season

Back Judge Position on Coin Toss

• BJ is the nearest Offical to the scoreboard and on the side of the field away from the press box

- Same side as the LJ and the FJ

New Jersey Change Mechanics

• If the head coach chose to designate standard jersey changes for every scrimmage kick (to not be hindered by the new scrimmage kick formation rule) they may do so in the pregame meeting with the R

• Whenever the team chooses to make use of this the R will announce “[Team name] is making jersey changes for a scrimmage kick formation”

- The sideline officials will then relay this announcement to the coaches because hearing the stadium PA is often difficult

Referee on a fair catch kick

• Responsibilities

- Count the kicking team players

- Verify there are 4 players on either side of the kicker

- Hand the ball to the kicker

- Wind the clock when the ball is kicked

- A’s GL if it is threatened

• Position

- Middle of the field, 10yd behind K’s restraining line

U on a fair catch kick

• Responsibilities

- Count the kicking team players

- KOF on K and making sure K is within 5yd of the restraining line (responsible for whole line)

- Alert to the GL and sideline on long runs

• Positioning

- Just off the field on K’s restraining line

B and FJ on a fair catch kick

• Responsibilities

- Rule on success of field goal attempt

- If return B stay on EL and FJ move to anywhere that will help officiate the play better

• Positioning

- Under the uprights (FJ on his side of the field, B on the opposite side)

LOS on a fair catch kick

• Responsibilities

- Count R

- Wind the clock when the ball is kicked

- R’s GL

- Return to your side: Blocks in-front of the runner and the runner

- Return away from your side: Blocks behind the runner

• Positioning

- On respective GL pylon

SJ on a fair catch kick

• Responsibilities

- Count R

- Watch for KOF on R (responsible for whole line)

• Positioning

- Just off the field on R’s restraining line

Play clock under 2:00

• The play clock will be paused when there is an officals’s timeout under 2:00 to go in either half

• If the stoppage is for instant replay and the ruling on field is upheld then the play clock will resume from the spot it was previously paused

- Exception: If the clock value must be rest to 10 it will be

R During a 10 Second Runoff

• Announce that there will be a 10-second runoff

• Inform the QB that the clock will start on the ready

• Give the offense a chance to rush up to the ball (if they want to)

• Wind the clock

10-second runoff: Offending team has a timeout left

• Sideline officials will ask the offending coach if he wants to use he timeout to doge the 10-second runoff

Then

• Then offended team will have the option to take the 10-second runoff or not

10-second runoff: Offending team does not have a timeout left

• Sideline officials will ask the offended coach if he wants to accept the 10-second runoff or not

UNS Fouls

• Automatics

- Any form of gun violence including brandishing a weapon
- A slashing of the throat or a nose wipe signal
- A player removing their helmet after the ball is dead (with exceptions for timeouts and equipment adjustments)
- Dead-ball contact fouls such as pushing, shoving, striking, etc. that occur clearly after the ball is dead and that are not part of the game action
- After the ball is dead, using forcible contact to push or pull an opponent off the pile

- Coaches coming onto the field to protest a call