line judge

NFL100: For half of NFL history, the official time was not on the scoreboard

by Mark Schultz - October 18, 2019October 18, 2019 0

Today, there are clocks all over our TV screens on Sunday. The TV graphics are hard wired into the stadium clock. The stadium clock is the official time. The side judge times the game on a watch, but that time on the watch only serves as a backup in case

Officials used to use a gunshot to signal the end to a quarter or half

by Mark Schultz - December 21, 2018August 13, 2019 0

It seems strange today, but NFL officials used to fire a starter's pistol to end each quarter. It's a mechanic that dated back to the start of pro football up until the NFL discontinued the practice starting in 1994. When the NFL was in its infancy and up through the 1960s,

NFL trying out two new kicking game mechanics this preseason

by Mark Schultz - August 18, 2018August 19, 2018 0

The NFL is using two new kicking mechanics this season on field goal and extra point attempts and on free kicks (kickoffs).Â Football ZebrasÂ contacted the NFL officiating office to see if these changes are a preseason experiment or will be permanent; however the NFL did not respond to our request at

When officials’ jobs are on the (goal) line

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - October 2, 2015October 13, 2020 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

Float like a butterfly…dodge like a ref

Mechanics

by Mark Schultz - November 16, 2013November 16, 2013 1

How NFL officials stay out of the way to preserve life and limb We've all seen it. Â For the fans it is a funny sight but for anyone who has been knocked down by a football player always cringes when a football official gets knocked down. Â The officials do not wear