Five man Passing Keys Based on the 200607 NFHS Officials Manual by Grant Christianson Greater Kansas

1
Five man Passing KeysBased on the 2006-07 NFHS
Officials Manualby Grant ChristiansonGreater
Kansas City Officials Association
2
What is a key?

• A key is where ones initial attention is focused
• Help determine coverage at the snap only
• Avoids who do I have
• They do not necessarily determine coverage for
  the entire play

3
Definitions

• Strength of Formation determined by number of
  eligible receivers outside tackle.
• End Receiver on the outside of the formation on
  the line of scrimmage.
• Tight End End man no more than 4 yards from
  nearest lineman.
• Back Player in backfield at snap.
• Trips Three or more receivers outside tackle.

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How are Keys Determined?

• Based on the Strength of Formation
• Determined by the number of eligible receivers
  outside the tackles at time of snap
• Strong side has the greater number of eligible
  receivers
• weak side has the least
• If no strong side, strength is automatically to
  the line judges side
• Back judge has first key
• Line judge and Linesman have the second key
• Do not key off same player as official ahead of
  you in the priority. Normally, one wing official
  keys off receiver on the side where the strength
  is NOT declared. The other wing official will be
  keying off strong side inside receiver.

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RB
R
RB
RB
QB
G
T
TE
G
T
TE
L
LJ
C
U
BJ

• Balanced formation, no strong side because one
  eligible receiver on either side of center
• BJ 20 yards deep and shades to LJ side and keys
  on TE
• L has end
• LJ has first back out of backfield

6
R
RB
RB
B
QB
G
T
E
G
T
TE
L
LJ
C
U
BJ

• Strength to Linesmans side
• Initial Keys
• BJ 20 yards deep and shade to strong side has B
• L hasTE
• LJ has E
• Secondary Keys L and LJ have first RB out of
  back field towards their side

7
R
RB
RB
B
QB
G
T
TE
G
T
TE
LJ
C
L
U
BJ

• Strength to Line judges side- two eligible
  receivers compared to one on L side
• Keys
• BJ has TE
• L has TE on that side of field
• LJ has B

8
R
RB
RB
B
QB
G
T
TE
G
T
TE
LJ
C
L
U
BJ

• Strength to Linemans side- two eligible
  receivers compared to one on LJ side
• Keys
• BJ has TE
• L back that shows strength
• L would also have first back out of backfield to
  his side
• LJ has TE on that side of field

9
R
RB
B
B
QB
G
T
TE
G
T
TE
LJ
C
L
U
BJ

• Trips to Line judges side
• Keys
• BJ has two outside eligible receivers on strong
  side, TE and B on LJs side
• LJ has action on or by inside B
• L has TE on that side of field
• L also has first back out of backfield to his side

10
R
RB
QB
B
B
G
T
G
T
LJ
C
L
E
E
U
BJ

• Double wing or four receiver set
• No declared strength so BJ shades to LJ side
• Keys
• BJ has outside receiver on LJs side
• LJ has primary coverage on B (flanker)
• LJ also looks through to tackle and help if set
  back becomes involved in play
• L has E and B (two eligible receivers) on that
  side of field

11
RB
R
RB
B
QB
G
T
G
T
LJ
C
L
TE
TE
U
BJ

• Motion Changes Strength and Keys
• Initial Strength to L side
• Initial Keys
• BJ has TE on Ls side (strong side)
• L has B on that side of field
• LJ has TE on his side of field
• When slot B goes in motion, strength changes and
  keys for BJ, L, and LJ change
• New Keys
• BJ slides to strong side when motion back is
  clearly outside of tackle before ball is snapped
  and has B
• L has TE on his side of field, also responsible
  for legality of motion by motion B
• LJ stays with original key

12
R
RB
RB
QB
B
G
T
G
T
LJ
C
L
TE
TE
U
BJ

• Motion Creates Trips to L side
• Initial strength to L side
• Initial Keys
• BJ has B on L side
• L has TE on that side of field
• LJ responsible on action on or by TE and also
  first back out of backfield on his side
• Motion by back doesnt change strength but
  creates trips so keys for BJ and L change
• New Keys follow normal trips keys
• BJ switches key from strong side B and takes two
  outside receivers on strong side, in this case B
  and motion back
• L stays with TE on his side
• LJ still responsible on action on or by TE and
  also back out of backfield on his side

13
R
RB
RB
QB
B
G
T
G
T
LJ
C
L
TE
TE
U
BJ

• Motion Creates Strength Change
• Initial strength to L side
• Initial Keys
• BJ has B on L side
• L has TE on that side of field
• LJ responsible on action on or by TE and also
  first back out of backfield on his side
• Motion by back changes strength to even
  strength. Strength declared to LJ side. Keys for
  BJ and LJ change
• New Keys follow normal LJ strong side keys
• BJ slides to strong side and switches key to B on
  strong side
• L takes TE to his side of field, also responsible
  for motion by RB before snap
• LJ takes motion man after snap

14
R
RB
B
B
QB
G
T
G
T
LJ
C
L
TE
E
U
BJ

• Trips to LJ side, Motion Changes Keys
• Initial Keys
• BJ has two outside receivers to strong side
• L TE to his side
• LJ responsible for inside B
• Motion by inside back does not change strength
  but changes keys for BJ , L, and LJ.
• New Keys follow normal LJ strong side keys
• BJ takes E
• L takes both TE and B to his side of field
• LJ responsible for motion by RB before snap, once
  ball is snapped has remaining B on his side of
  field

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Summary

• Keys are based on the number of eligible
  receivers outside of the tackle at the time of
  the snap
• BJ has first key, then LJ and L follow
• Do not key off same receiver as person ahead of
  you
• BJ always goes to strong side of field
• If no strong side, strength declared to LJs side
• Keys are intended for initial action on eligible
  receivers, keys will change as play continues
• BJ will always have widest eligible receiver on
  strong side of field
• Keys are intended for initial action on receiver
• Once receivers get 5-7 or more yards downfield,
  switch to zone coverage