At the end of the game, officials should :
| Monitor handshakes between players and coaches | 2 votes = 4% |
| Certify the score with the statisticians | 0 votes = 0% |
| Leave the field quickly & immediately together | 45 votes = 96% |
| Escort the teams back to the dressing rooms | 0 votes = 0% |
| Do not leave the field until it is clear | 0 votes = 0% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When the game has ended, all officials will leave the field immediately and together as a unit, avoiding contact with players, coaches and fans.
The chains have been set for A, 1 & 10 at the A22. The clip should be placed on:
| Backside of the line at the A25 | 24 votes = 73% |
| Frontside of the line at the A25 | 2 votes = 6% |
| Backside of the line at the A30 | 4 votes = 12% |
| Frontside of the line at the A20 | 0 votes = 0% |
| Middle of the line at the A27 | 3 votes = 9% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When placing the clip after the chains have been set, the marker should be placed at the major line divider (5-yard interval) nearer the back stake, on the baskside of the line. This will allow the larger portion of the chain to be toward the line to gain and the clip will not interfere should a measurement be necessary. If the chains are set on major line dividers (example: back stake on the 10 yard line and the front stake on the 20 yard line), the clip will be placed at the middle major line divider on the backside of the line (for the example: clip would be placed on the backside of the 15 yard line).
In the situation given, the clip would be placed on the backside of the A25 yard line.
There is a fumble at the LOS. The U and L are separating players to determine possession. What should the other officials do?
| Jump in and begin "digging" for the ball | 1 votes = 2% |
| Kill the clock, dead ball officiate, keep uninvolved players away from the pile | 42 votes = 95% |
| Note the down, distance and time of fumble | 1 votes = 2% |
| Do nothing and wait for a possession signal | 0 votes = 0% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When there is a fumble, the covering official(s) will remove players until player-possession can be determined (if not immediately known). Officials not involved in player-possession determination, will continue to dead ball officiate and not allow additional players to interfere with player-possession determination. This may involve stopping the clock, if the clock was not stopped, until player-possession is determined.
If the Umpire is being continually asked to move by the Line Backers and Safeties, he should:
| 1 - Position himself head up or outside of the offensive tackles | 1 votes = 4% |
| 2 - Position himself head up on the tightend | 0 votes = 0% |
| 3 - Position himself in the defensive side zone | 1 votes = 4% |
| 4 - Position himself between the offensive guards, out of the line of sight | 1 votes = 4% |
| 5 - Adjust as necessary staying between the outside shoulders of the offensive guards | 6 votes = 23% |
| 6 - Both 4 & 5 | 17 votes = 65% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : The Umpire should never be outside of the guard's outside shoulders. He may adjust as necessary between the guard's positions to be out of the line-of-sight for defensive backs, and should be 5 to 6 yards from the line of scrimmage on the defensive side of the ball location. The Umpire should never set up in front of the Line Backers.
The Line Judge has a wideout off of the line on his side:
| The L should signal with a chuck and hold until the snap | 27 votes = 69% |
| The L should signal with a chuck and hold until acknowledged by the H | 11 votes = 28% |
| The L should not provide any signal | 1 votes = 3% |
| The L should signal with a chuck and take a step toward the backfield | 0 votes = 0% |
GTOA Mechanics Philosophy : This is purely a crew-determined philosophy. It is acceptable to either chuck until the ball is snapped or chuck until the opposite wing official acknowledges your chuck. Furthermore, the offensive team count taken and signaled with a chuck between the Referee and Umpire is the same philosophy (hold until snap, hold until acknowledged).
When the ball is close to a 1st down inside the inbounds marks, what should occur?
| U will toss the ball out to the covering wing official to spot | 16 votes = 44% |
| U will spot the ball off of the covering wing official inside the marks | 4 votes = 11% |
| Wing should come inside of the inbounds mark to hold the spot | 14 votes = 39% |
| Ball should not be spotted until determination is made by R | 2 votes = 6% |
| Any of the above | 0 votes = 0% |
GTOA Mechanics Philosophy : If the ball becomes dead inbounds near a first down, inside the inbounds marks, the covering wing official will come inside of the inbounds marks to the hold the spot of forward progress for possible measurement, if needed. The ball should not be tossed outside of the inbounds marks to a wing official as this could provide an inaccurate spot from the original location of the ball. Furthermore, if there is a need for a measurement and the ball is short of the first down, the ball would have to be moved twice - toss to the wing official outside of the inbounds mark and then brought back into the original location creating unnecessary movement of the ball location.
When the ball is dead inbounds, and the wing official is marking the spot, he should :
| Take a 45 degree angle directly to the spot from the LOS | 0 votes = 0% |
| Trail the play down the sideline and square in at the spot | 32 votes = 91% |
| Trail the play down the sideline and dropa bean bag at the spot | 0 votes = 0% |
| Mark the spot off of the Umpire's location | 1 votes = 1% |
| Mirror the opposite wing's location and assume that is the spot | 2 votes = 6% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : When marking the spot from the wing position, the official will trail the play down the sideline and square in at the spot of forward progress. The Umpire will place the ball at the inbounds spot that was determined by the nearest wing official.
When the snap is imminent, the Referee's keys are:
| Quarterback only | 5 votes = 14% |
| Backfield & opposite tackle | 25 votes = 69% |
| Backfield and both tackles | 6 votes = 17% |
| Guard & tackle on his side | 0 votes = 0% |
| Opposite tightend | 0 votes = 0% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : At the snap, the Referee's keys are the backfield and opposite tackle. The refereee is looking for illegal motion/false start from the backfield, sudden movements from the QB that could cause the defense to encroach, and movement by the opposite tackle, which would be a false start.
On a PAT for Field Goal, who is responsible for sounding the whistle and when?
| Referee, as soon as the ball is snapped | 0 votes = 0% |
| Headlines, as soon as the ball is kicked | 1 votes = 3% |
| Referee, as soon as ball crosses NZ | 2 votes = 5% |
| Back Judge, as soon as ball is determined successful/unsuccessful | 28 votes = 70% |
| Referee, as soon as ball is kicked | 9 votes = 23% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : On a PAT/Field Goal, the ball is not dead until it crosses the goal line. When the ball is kicked, the whistle shall not be blown until the ball crosses the goal line and is deemed successful/unsuccessful and the Back Judge shall sound the whistle. (Editor's note: On a blocked field goal attempt, the ball is not dead until recovered. On a blocked PAT attempt, the ball is dead when the PAT is deemed unsuccessful.)
When a deep, incomplete pass is thrown to the middle of the field, how is the ball relayed back to the inbounds spot?
| Back Judge will retrieve ball and relay to Umpire | 5 votes = 10% |
| New ball will come from wing official from the side line of the team in possesion | 35 votes = 70% |
| Back Judge will retrieve ball, relay to Umpire who will relay to Referee | 9 votes = 18% |
| Line Judge will get a new ball from the side line and relay to Umpire | 1 votes = 2% |
| Headlines will retreive the ball and relay to Umpire | 0 votes = 0% |
NFHS Mechanics Philosophy : After a deep, middle pass, the ball shall be relayed back to the inbounds spot by the wing official from the side line of the team in possession. The Back Judge shall retrieve the loose ball and return it to the sideline, should it remain in the field of play.
During pre-season scrimmages, what does your crew focus on?
| Mechanics/Positioning | 55 votes = 65% |
| Communication | 9 votes = 11% |
| Watching All-Star players | 4 votes = 5% |
| Talking with Coaches | 3 votes = 4% |
| Consistency | 13 votes = 15% |
GTOA Information: Pre-season scrimmages are very important to get your crew into regular season form. There is no right or wrong answer.
What is the most important aspect of your pre-season preparation?
| Rules Study | 18 votes = 22% |
| Crew/GTOA Meetings | 2 votes = 2% |
| Conditioning | 11 votes = 13% |
| Film Review | 1 votes = 1% |
| All of the above | 48 votes = 58% |
| No preparation needed | 3 votes = 4% |
GTOA Information: Pre-season preparation is an integral part of your overall performance and knowledge. It is important to have a structure off-season & pre-season regimen so that you are in top form during the season.