Can someone please clear something up for me?

Per the NFHS rules, is offsides automatically a dead ball? Or does the defender have the chance to get back “onside” prior to the ball being snapped as you would see in college or the NFL. 

Last season, I had an official tell me that offsides in HS is always dead per a rule change at point. I was reluctant to believe them, but more often than not in the last two seasons I have seen a flag thrown and a penalty instituted the moment a defender enters the neutral zone—regardless of whether they touch someone AND prior to the ball being snapped.*** 
 

However, this season, I have seen crews operate differently. Some have operated as I’ve previously described, and some have operated in the College/NFL way. Someone smarter than me please let me know what’s going on. 
 

 

 

***This is also assuming the defender doesn’t cause an offensive player to jump. 

In high school, whenever a defender enters the neutral zone it’s a dead ball and offsides is called. 

8 hours ago, LRCW said:

In high school, whenever a defender enters the neutral zone it’s a dead ball and offsides is called. 

This is called entirely too infrequently, then. I have seen multiple occasions this season where the play has not been blown dead.

 

p.s. Thank you for being smarter than me