Rule 9-2-2 .. The runner may not grasp a teammate. Illegal Use of Hands, 10 yard penalty.

A receiver comes off the line of scrimmage. At what point has he "established a route?" How does a db know if the guy is coming to block him or is going to fake and run a true route?

 

It's the officials job to determine that, usually determined by a football move by the receiver. It is up to the defender and the defender's coach to know the rule. As long as the ball is not in the air, pass interference is not in question. A penalty you could have is defensive holding(illegal use of hands). Feel free to PM me if you need a more in depth anwser.

I can tell you that many coaches do not know the above and actually teach their defenders to level a receiver "as long as the ball is not in the air."

 

This is sadly quite true. I had a varsity HC, whom I will not name, tell me last year when told of this rule that he didn't believe me and that I was wrong. He told his player's to continue chucking the receiver as he came off the line. So, I continued to flag the defender until they stopped. An advantage was definately being gained on each play.

I have to totally disagree with your point on the reciever can tell a difference between a route and a block.

 

For example how can a d.b. tell the difference between a crack block by a wide receiver and a slant route? They are suppose to look a like so there is not way for the ref to know that. That's the idea of a crack block that the corner will chase down inside like a slant and a team can run a toss sweep or some type of outside play to get outside where that corner vacated from.

 

Just from what I have seen in my few years I have never seen a good football let teams run crossing routes across the middle of the field without linebackers or safeties jamming them when they cross. That should be illegal but happens all the time. Many teams who give you twins to one side will jam the inside receiver to keep them from having two verticals going down field.

 

Boyle County makes a living off of jamming the tight end and not letting him run routes.

 

I assure you if you give Bell County twins they will beat the crap out of the inside receiver.

 

Many teams today vs. spread offense run a hard cover 2 and will jam the outside receiver to keep him in the flats, and this is never called.

 

I could go on and on how defenses make contact will eligable recievers in everyday defensive schemes. We need to quit babying receivers by telling defensive players "you can't hit them unless they hit you". It's football if recievers are not tough enough to get out on a route with a little bit of contact thrown their way then tough luck. This players needs to get better. Football is a phyiscal game.

 

Anyway, I can't think of the last time a flag was thrown for a defensive player hitting a wide out before the ball was in the air. I think this rule is all most like the lane violation in the NBA. Doesn't really exist anymore.

 

 

Oh, this rule is very much in existence. I have trouble believing it doesn't get called if it's done as many times as you say during their games. If so, the officials are not doing their job. It is a huge advantage and needs to be called.

Both of you may be potentially a little off base. Until the receiver is occupies the same yard line as the defender, he is ALWAYS a potential blocker by all of the published HS interps. It is not a foul to "jam" them, not by rule or intent unless the receiver has occupied the same yard line (or beyond of course). The defender doesn't have to guess what the receiver is doing, nor vice-versa (by rule).

 

This is not true.

Has there been any talk about reducing the severity of the offensive pass interference call, which I belive is loss of 15 yards and a down?:eek:

The NCAA changed this rule within the last couple of years to eliminate the loss of down on OPI. The people who write the highschool rules (NFHS Editorial Committee) often adopt the college rules changes if it seems sensible to do so. I presume that they're looking at it, and it is my opinion that it seems to be a sensible change for the highschool game as well. Sometimes it takes a couple of years for the "trickle-down" to happen.

1. Is the center eligible to receive a pass if he is the end?

 

2. During a play in which a facemask is grabbed which results in the helmet being yanked off the runner's head, is it an immediate dead ball?

 

3. Can high school teams have players' names on their jersey?

1. Is the center eligible to receive a pass if he is the end?

 

2. During a play in which a facemask is grabbed which results in the helmet being yanked off the runner's head, is it an immediate dead ball?

 

3. Can high school teams have players' names on their jersey?

1. If the center is the end man on the line and is wearing an eligible number, yes.

2. The play is dead when the runner's helmet comes off. (Only the runner, though.)

3. Yes.

 

offside