I would like everyone to weigh in on the automatic first down rule. In high school there is only an automatic first down on ANY roughing penalty and a Forward Pass Interference. A 15 yard personal foul is not an automatic first down as well as unsportsmanlike, holding, etc. Personally I do not think there should be any automatic first down. If there is a penalty, just asses the yardage and continue with the down. thoughts?

Defensive pass interference is not automatic first down.

I would like everyone to weigh in on the automatic first down rule. In high school there is only an automatic first down on ANY roughing penalty and a Forward Pass Interference. A 15 yard personal foul is not an automatic first down as well as unsportsmanlike, holding, etc. Personally I do not think there should be any automatic first down. If there is a penalty, just asses the yardage and continue with the down. thoughts?

 

I don't think it's an automatic first down on pass interference right now either.

I don't think it's an automatic first down on pass interference right now either.

 

yes...only roughing fouls result in Automatic First Downs

Defensive Pass interference is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Roughing the Passer is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Roughing the Kicker or the Holder is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Charge directly into the Center in kick formation 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

 

Football Penalty Summary - NF - Football.Refs.Org

yes...only roughing fouls result in Automatic First Downs

 

I saw this on football.refs.org

 

Fouls by B in which Team A will be given an automatic 1st down:

Roughing the kicker or holder

Roughing the passer

Roughing the snapper

Forward Pass Interference

I hate automatic first downs. I think high school rules are the best of all levels of football. The pro game and somewhat in the college game have rules that overly favor the passing game. 40 and 50 yard penalties (pro rules) and automatic first downs if the defense breathes on a receiver are ridiculous. It's too easy for the offense to bail themselves out of a jam with cheap penalties. If I want to see games with scores in the 50's I'll watch arena football.

 

Also there is too much dependence on the QB at the higher levels of football. I miss the 80s when I was a kid and it was more important to have a good running game. When the QB goes down in the pros or college a team is usually done for. That is not always the case in high school.

Again DPI is NOT an automatic first down, the post by Jumperdad that was removed was an article from 1999

I hate automatic first downs. I think high school rules are the best of all levels of football. The pro game and somewhat in the college game have rules that overly favor the passing game. 40 and 50 yard penalties (pro rules) and automatic first downs if the defense breathes on a receiver are ridiculous. It's too easy for the offense to bail themselves out of a jam with cheap penalties. If I want to see games with scores in the 50's I'll watch arena football.

 

Also there is too much dependence on the QB at the higher levels of football. I miss the 80s when I was a kid and it was more important to have a good running game. When the QB goes down in the pros or college a team is usually done for. That is not always the case in high school.

 

I don't disagree but I also don't like giving the defense such an advantage towards the end of the game to just tackle a WR before the ball gets there to stop a TD 50 yards down field and they only give up 15 yards of possession.

Defensive Pass interference is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Roughing the Passer is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Roughing the Kicker or the Holder is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Charge directly into the Center in kick formation 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

 

Football Penalty Summary - NF - Football.Refs.Org

 

DPI is not an automatic 1st down.

Defensive Pass interference is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Roughing the Passer is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Roughing the Kicker or the Holder is 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

Charge directly into the Center in kick formation 15 yards and an Automatic 1st Down

 

Football Penalty Summary - NF - Football.Refs.Org

 

Incorrect. The automatic first down for DPI was removed for 2013 (as well as the loss of down for OPI). Here is the slide deck for all the rule changes in 2013.

 

https://www.sdcfoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013-NFHS-Football-Rules-PowerPoint.pdf

DPI is not an automatic 1st down.

 

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Incorrect. The automatic first down for DPI was removed for 2013 (as well as the loss of down for OPI). Here is the slide deck for all the rule changes in 2013.

 

https://www.sdcfoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013-NFHS-Football-Rules-PowerPoint.pdf

 

Thanks, I looked for an update and didn't see it.

I saw this on football.refs.org

 

Fouls by B in which Team A will be given an automatic 1st down:

Roughing the kicker or holder

Roughing the passer

Roughing the snapper

Forward Pass Interference

 

What you saw is out of date. The rule changed for the 2013 season. Most of the time the 15 yard penalty will result in a first down. But it is not automatic. NFHS also removed the loss of down for OPI the same year.

Some of these penalties put the game in the hands of the officials.

 

No one wants that!