mechanics Archives | Football Zebras

Active offseason for NFL officiating

News

by Mark Schultz - February 14, 2017February 14, 2017 2

Embed from Getty Images We hope you were able to survive the first weekend without football. While there won't be any games until August, there will be a lot of activity as Dean Blandino, senior vice president of officiating, prepares the zebras for 2017. The Dark Period The officials are now in the

Making the impossible call

by Mark Schultz - February 9, 2017April 12, 2017 2

Embed from Getty Images Nothing compares to the speed of a NFL game. While I've never been on the field for one, I worked on the chain gang at a Division I NCAA game one level down from the pros. The speed at that level was dizzying. I can only imagine

Concentration is key to avoiding wrong-way flags and other errors

by Mark Schultz - December 14, 2016April 12, 2017 7

Detroit Lions fans were aghast and pundits hooted at Jeff Triplette's crew during Week 14 as umpire Shawn Smith called an illegal hands to the face foul. The foul was there, but Smith called it on the wrong team. The Bears were guilty of the infraction, but Smith called it

Calm signals: the sign of under-control officiating

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 2

Embed from Getty Images You've seen it. A touchdown bomb. A diving catch. A toe-tapper on the sideline. A fumble and defensive recovery. These are big moments in a football game. These moments are usually surprising and exciting. But the next time you see such a play, watch the official. They are

Back to basics: The foundation of good officiating

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - December 5, 2015December 5, 2015 7

View image | gettyimages.com The individual and collective psyche of NFL officials may be shaken after several rough games in the 2015 season. There are a few techniques that officials can use to help break out of real or perceived slump. One of the best techniques is getting back to the

Surprise: The enemy of officiating

by Mark Schultz - October 11, 2015October 11, 2015 3

Officials try to prepare for everythingFormer baseball umpire Jim Evans used to run an umpire's school. One of his biggest lessons to his students was "an umpire's biggest enemy is surprise." That mantra can be adopted for all officials in all sports.As tongues were wagging at the end of the

When officials’ jobs are on the (goal) line

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - October 2, 2015October 12, 2016 4

Officials, especially the line judge and head linesman, always work to get the forward progress spot. In order to do so, they are taught to trail the play by a few yards and then square up once the ball is dead. But, when a big progress spot is important, the