THE
CANADIAN RULE BOOK
|
| a) 6 Officials | b) 5 Officials | c) 4 Officials | d) 3 Officials |
| 1. Referee | 1. Referee | 1. Referee | 1. Referee |
| 2. Umpire | 2. Umpire | 2. Umpire | 2. Umpire |
| 3. Back Umpire | 3. Back Umpire | ||
| 4. Back Judge | |||
| 5. Head Linesman | 5. Head Linesman | 5. Head Linesman | 5. Head Linesman |
| 6. Line Judge | 6. Line Judge | 6. Line Judge |
NOTE
1: The number of officials per game may be from 1 to 6 as specified by the
governing authority.
| (1) Downsman |
| (2) Linesman (2 or 3) |
| (3) Time Keeper |
| (4) Scorer |
The number of officials per game shall
be in accordance with the governing football association or league.
Responsibilities, positioning, and mechanics are covered in the CFOA/Football
Canada Officials Training Manual.
All field officials are equally
responsible for the orderly conduct of the game, and the enforcement of the
rules. No agreement shall be made
that would prevent the calling of any foul by any official against either team.
Each field official shall be equipped
with a whistle and a red coloured marker (flag).
The sounding of a whistle when the ball
is in play shall cause the ball to be ruled dead, and shall stop the game.
The whistle should not be sounded in the event of injury until the ball
is dead.
The throwing of the marker (flag) shall
indicate an infraction, but play shall continue until the sounding of a whistle.
Article 5
Signal to Play
The
Referee shall sound his whistle to indicate that the ball is ready for play, and
shall signal that time is in
by a downward sweep of his arm from the overhead position.
The
nearest official should mark the out-of-bounds spot when the ball goes out of
bounds.
All
officials should be familiar with the approved signals.
When
a foul is called, the official shall report it to the Referee immediately if the
ball is dead, or if
the ball is
alive, as soon as it is dead. The
Referee shall give a preliminary signal to indicate the nature of
the foul.
When
a foul has been reported to the Referee, he will indicate the number of the
player who
committed the
foul.
Give the penalty signal, assess the penalty, and signal that the ball is again
ready for play.
When
the ball has been whistled dead, the appropriate official shall mark the spot of
forward
progress of
the
ball, which will be the point of the subsequent play.
The
referee shall take primary charge of the game, and shall guide and direct the
work of the other
officials.
He
shall apply the rules, and assess the penalties, and rule upon disputes or
situations not covered by the rules.
His decision on any situation in the game is final.
He
may overrule any other official.
He
may have removed any of the sideline officials, if he considers it necessary,
and immediately require the
replacement of any official so removed.
He
shall test the game balls 30 minutes before the game, and his decision shall be
final as to the
suitability of
the balls.
The
Referee shall report any irregularities in field markings, or ground rules, to
the captains before the game, and review these with the other officials before the game.
The
Referee shall explain to the captains of either team any ruling made or penalty
assessed.
When
a foul is called, he shall explain to the non-offending captain the application
of the penalty, or any option
to which the captain is entitled if he refuses the penalty.
The
Referee shall keep count of the downs, subject to a check with the Head
Linesman.
The
Referee shall be the sole means of communication between the officials and the
team
captains or coaches.
The
Referee shall be notified by the Head Linesman or Line Judge, when 3 minutes of
play remains in each half.
He shall notify the captains, and the nearest official shall notify the
coaches of each team.
The
Referee shall indicate that playing time has ended in each period, by sounding
his whistle and
signaling
to the Timer.
The Referee shall have the captains of
each team warned when 3 minutes remains in the half time interval.
The
Referee shall take primary charge of Team A, and shall position himself behind
Team A. He shall determine
if the ball is put into play legally, cover the action of the passer and the
kicker and their opponents.
The Referee shall be responsible for making the out-of-bounds spot when a ball
goes out of bounds in flight.
The Referee shall rule on lateral passes behind the line of scrimmage, and the
position of onside players in an "onside kick" situation.
The
Umpire shall have primary jurisdiction over the actions of players of both teams
on the line of scrimmage,
and shall position himself behind the linemen of Team B.
The
Umpire shall:
(a) Supervise the linebackers and their use of hands on eligible pass
receivers of Team A.
(b) Cover short forward passes and short kicks over the centre of the line.
(c)
Check that Team A ineligible receivers on the line of scrimmage do not
proceed downfield before a forward pass is
thrown.
(d)
Assist in coverage of crack-back blocking in the restricted area.
The Back Umpire shall have primary
jurisdiction over the actions of players of both teams behind the Team B line,
and shall position himself behind the deepest Team B player.
The Back Umpire shall:
(a)
Cover long passes in the centre of the field and kicks downfield.
(b)
Rule field goal attempts from outside the 10 yard line successful or not.
The duties of the Back Judge shall be
identical with those of the Back Umpire.
The Head Linesman shall be responsible
for the general supervision of the line of scrimmage, the neutral zone, and the
actions of the end and flankers on his side of the field.
He shall take up a position on the line of scrimmage at a suitable
distance in from the sideline on the same side of the field as the distance
chain and downsbox.
The Head Linesman shall be primarily
responsible to cover crack-back blocking by players positioned on his side of
the field when the ball is snapped.
The Head Linesman shall, when
appropriate:
(a) Cover passes down his side of the field.
(b) Cover kicks down his side of the field.
The Head Linesman shall:
(a) Systematically check his sideline for substitutes, and ensure legality of
substitution procedures.
(b) Notify the Referee when 3 minutes remain in each half, after being so
notified by the timekeeper.
(c) Notify the Referee when 1 minute remains in each period, after being so
notified by the timekeeper.
The Head Linesman shall:
(a)
Supervise the linesmen and the downsman in the placement of the distance
chain and downsbox, under the direction of the Referee.
(b)
Keep an accurate count of the downs to assist the Referee.
(c)
Be responsible for changing the position of the distance chain at the end
of the 1st and 3rd periods to the identical spot at the
opposite end of the field, corresponding to the point at which play ended in
that period.
(d)
When a measure is required by the Referee, mark on the chain the spot
corresponding to the far side of the cross stripe which is farthest from the
ball within the span of the distance chain, and have the linesmen bring the
distance chain to the Referee.
(e)
Check distance applied on penalties.
The duties of the Line Judge shall be
identical to those of the Head Linesman covered in Section
7, Articles 1 to 3 inclusive, only.
They shall act under the direction of
the Head Linesman. The downsbox and
distance chain shall be positioned out of bounds.
The downsman shall place the downsbox at
the point where the ball is to be scrimmaged, and indicate the number of each
down on the downsbox.
The two linesmen shall place the
distance chain as directed by the Head Linesman.
If a third linesman is used, he shall
hold a single marker rod on the sideline opposite the 10 yard objective line,
but his marker will not be used to determine whether a first down has been
gained. Under the direction of the
Referee, he may record the penalties.
Prior to the game, the scorer shall be
provided with a complete list of the eligible competing players, including names
and correct numbers. He shall keep
the score as given by one of the field officials, and present the scoresheet to
the Referee after the game for signature.
The timekeeper, or timekeepers, shall
keep time according to Rule 1 Section 5,
following the recognized signals by the officials.
If 2 timekeepers are appointed, they shall use one timing device placed
between them and operated solely by one of them. In the event of disagreement, the Referee shall be called
immediately to settle any dispute or make any necessary adjustment.
The timekeeper shall notify the Head
Linesman or the Line Judge when 3 minutes remain in the 2nd and 4th
periods. And when 1 minute remains in each period, or in each half in overtime.
Just prior to and during the last minute
of play in each period, the timekeeper shall take a position on the sideline so
that he is clearly visible to the officials.
At the commencement of the last minute of play, he will raise the flag,
and continue to keep it raised until the timekeepers watch registers full
time for the period. The flag
should then immediately be lowered, so that it is no longer visible to the
officials.
If the ball becomes dead on any play, and the flag is still raised, the ball will again be put into play. If the flag has been lowered since the last time the ball was put into play. The period will be over, and so declared by the Referee, subject to fouls committed during the last play.