Mastering the Dead-Ball Period
By Lawrence A. Tomei, Ed.D. – September 2025
Michael Blanchard, Huntington Beach, Calif., confirms the next down with his line-of-scrimmage partners while players are moving back toward their respective huddles. The checklist of responsibilities between the end of one play and the beginning of the next is long, but attention to the details will go a long way toward successful management of the game.
Think about it. Live action between the snap and the end-of-play whistle accounts for very little of the total time we are in charge of an assignment.
So much more happens between the end-of-play whistle and the next snap. For example, timeouts, conferences, ball rotation, penalty administration, down communication, measurements, injuries, change of quarters, scores and subsequent kickoffs all occur. Crew positions play a significant role in the responsibilities of each person during this deadball period. Properly accomplishing these tasks leads to crew success.
Here are some things to consider and responsibilities to discuss during pregame crew preparations. We will look at them by position.
Referee. Begin dead-ball periods by reinforcing the whistle when needed to prevent unsportsmanlike incidents. Assist with determining spots if the line to gain is in question after opponents in your area have separated. Scan the field for penalty flags and lead the enforcement process when needed. Help with ball rotation if needed to ensure the next play commences in a timely fashion. Check that the play clock and game clock are running or stopped —depending on how the previous play ended — and communicate the next down to crewmates. Ensure other officials are ready for the next play, monitor player substitutions, count the offense with the umpire and visibly signal so your wings are aware. Unless adjusted by state or local association mechanics, move to your position 12 to 14 yards off the ball on the quarterback or punter’s dominant side in high school or right side in college. Prepare for a legal snap and quick actions (e.g., bad snaps, grounding and forward passes outside the free-blocking zone).
Umpire. Keep a wide focus and monitor actions in the middle of the field. Be vocal and present when necessary to prevent dead-ball situations between opponents from escalating. Scan the progress spot in relation to the line to gain and look for the presence of any penalty flags. Prepare for ball retrieval or rotation according to the end of the previous play and spot the ball with at least 25 seconds remaining on the play clock for the offense. Confirm down, distance and position within the hashmarks. Communicate with line-of-scrimmage partners regarding short-yardage situations and goalline responsibilities. Move to your position behind the defense, unless adjusted by state association, consortium or conference policy. Prepare for the snap by counting and ensuring legal numbering by the offense and presnap communication by both teams.
Line of scrimmage. Mirror your partner across the field with progress spots when needed. Stop the game clock for first downs and out of bounds, based on the rule code you are working. Determine the progress spot in relation to the line to gain before sending the ball into the umpire and moving the sticks.
Based on where the previous play ends and the size of your crew, spot the ball used for the previous play and rotate in another or rotate in the same ball, assuming the line to gain is not in question. Report and assist with penalty administration and cover penalty flags for crewmates when you are the non-calling official and don’t need to be involved in the enforcement conversation. Check that the play clock and game clock are running or stopped, depending on the end of the previous play. Confirm down and distance with the chain crew and crewmates. Communicate to the referee whether the line of scrimmage is within five yards of the line to gain if the spot is near the middle of the line-to-gain chain.
Confirm goalline responsibility and change of keys when the situation dictates. Signal the widest player on or off the line of scrimmage and identify keys for passing plays.
Remain alert for requests for timeouts and check the sidelines to make sure players and coaches are in the team box. Ensure legal substitutions and prepare for presnap fouls.
Deep officials. Follow the play to the sidelines, separate players and restore order. Be alert to plays ending across the sidelines and make sure to be a physical and vocal presence when players are in the team bench area. Communicate downfield outof-bounds yardage to the line of scrimmage officials. Reconcile the status of the play clock with your timing device and cover penalty flags for crewmates when you are the non-calling official and don’t need to be involved in the enforcement conversation. Be involved in ball rotation and instruct ballhandlers on retrieval based on the result of the previous play. Move to your position behind the defense and on the goalline or endline, as appropriate.
Monitor subs from the sideline and count defensive players. Help sideline officials by communicating with the team bench areas.
Dead-ball officiating allows the crew an opportunity to practice their interpersonal skills: communicating among the crew, communicating with the sidelines and communicating with players on the field. Considering all that happens between the end-of-play whistle and the next snap, perhaps we should spend more of our pregame preparation talking about dead-ball responsibilities during any wellofficiated football game.
Lawrence Tomei, Ed.D., McDonald, Pa., is the vice provost for academic affairs at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh and is past president of the West Penn Football Officials Association.
Acknowledgements: Deron Tatala, Michael Widrich, William Shank.
