Can somebody post the rule, or a brief explanation of the rule for high school?

Different than NFL. Being outside of the pocket is not a factor like it is in the NFL.

Different than NFL. Being outside of the pocket is not a factor like it is in the NFL.

 

Yep. :thumb: I learned that as a coach after getting on to an official :lol2:

Is there a link where I can read the wording?

Is there a link where I can read the wording?

 

Lots of pdfs of differences and state-specific rules on google. I have hard time with the links for them.

 

Basically a pass must be directed to a eligible receiver - it can never be thrown away. Penalty - 5 yards from pass (end of run) and loss of down.

Same problem I ran into BGC. The links I found were not great and I wanted one I could pass along. Here is what I am going to respond with...

 

In HS the QB can never throw the ball away to avoid a sack. It doesn't matter if the QB is outside the tackles or not. If the QB is in danger of being sacked and he throws the ball away to a spot where there is no receiver in the immediate area then it is intentional grounding by rule. Penalty is 5 yds and loss of down. The subjective part is judging the "general area" but some officials have told me they consider about 10 yds in any direction of the thrown ball to fit that description.

 

That sound about right to you rules guys?

Sounds right to me. The way I understand it, every pass must be thrown with the intention of a competition. But, I would say "general area" is subjective and not literally defined in the rule.

Yeah, 'general area' can be real general. Especially on a pass out of bounds.

 

Was he throwing it away? Or was it an well-over-thrown pass? I think officials give that play a lot of lee-way. And some quarterbacks know it.

 

The corollary to this rule is the pass interference rule. Interference is interference regardless of the 'catchability'.

 

Both of these rules seem to attempt to take the subjective calling away from official. Was he out of the pocket or outside the tackles or not? Doesn't matter. Was it catchable or not? Doesn't matter.

An official sent me the following:

 

 

The rule book reads:

 

An illegal forward pass is a foul. Illegal forward passes include:

 

D. A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver.

E. A pass intentionally thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time.

 

Now, determining intentional grounding isn't east. First, you must use common sense to determine whether or not the QB is purposely trying to get rid of the ball to avoid a loss, sack, or simply put - that no one is open, ditch it. Typically, you see this call when QB's scramble toward the sideline and are just trying to get rid of it for any of the above reasons, or to refrain from being hit. In regards to eligible receivers, wing officials should provide the help to the referee if no one was in the area at the time of the incompletion. However, you can sell whether or not you've just had grounding if the QB has defenders who are on his body at the time of the throw, if he's hit simultaneous to the pass, or it's obvious someone has run and incorrect route.

 

The penalty for IG is five yards from the spot of the actual foul - where he's thrown the ball. This penalty also carries a loss of down. Lastly, if the QB is called for this foul in the endzone, the penalty is a safety.

Thanks everyone, this helps me out. Just another reason I love BGP

The corollary to this rule is the pass interference rule. Interference is interference regardless of the 'catchability'.

 

Bingo. At least a few times a season I hear a fan argue against a pass interference call because the ball was uncatchable. If it is somebody I know I will usually let them know that in HS it doesn't matter if it is catchable or not, interference is interference. This may be the rule most often misunderstood.

An official sent me the following:

 

 

The rule book reads:

 

An illegal forward pass is a foul. Illegal forward passes include:

 

D. A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver.

E. A pass intentionally thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time.

 

Now, determining intentional grounding isn't east. First, you must use common sense to determine whether or not the QB is purposely trying to get rid of the ball to avoid a loss, sack, or simply put - that no one is open, ditch it. Typically, you see this call when QB's scramble toward the sideline and are just trying to get rid of it for any of the above reasons, or to refrain from being hit. In regards to eligible receivers, wing officials should provide the help to the referee if no one was in the area at the time of the incompletion. However, you can sell whether or not you've just had grounding if the QB has defenders who are on his body at the time of the throw, if he's hit simultaneous to the pass, or it's obvious someone has run and incorrect route.

 

The penalty for IG is five yards from the spot of the actual foul - where he's thrown the ball. This penalty also carries a loss of down. Lastly, if the QB is called for this foul in the endzone, the penalty is a safety.

 

Is there no exception listed to the rule? If not it would seem every clock play "intentionally thrown to conserve time" should be called intentional grounding.

Is there no exception listed to the rule? If not it would seem every clock play "intentionally thrown to conserve time" should be called intentional grounding.

 

Somewhere there is rule to allow 'spiking' to stop the clock. But it has to be done on the snap if I recall.

Any rule that prevents a player from making an intelligent football play is a bad rule imo. This rule falls in that category. Needs to be changed.

Somewhere there is rule to allow 'spiking' to stop the clock. But it has to be done on the snap if I recall.

This is correct, you may immediately throw the ball toward the line of scrimmage to stop the clock.