offside

Hey Ref wasn't guessing. B (the defense/receiving team) has the option of taking the penalty: 15 yards (or half the distance to the goal) from the previous spot and replay 4th down. or Decline the penalty and take the result of the play: safety on A. offside

The Rawlings ball only has to be used at the finals because they actually supply all the game balls for each of the KHSAA Championship Games. They are a major sponsor of the NFHS (of which the KHSAA is a member), but the state can't usually make a school district buy a specific brand of anything. Otherwise, any legal ball with the NFHS authenticating mark (regardless of brand) can be used in the regular season or playoff rounds 1-4. offside

That's pretty funny. So is the "interesting" article. Did you happen to pick up on the fact that the author of this manifesto is a freshman coach? "My 2004 freshman high school football team (Monte Vista of Danville, CA) did this. We started to do it in 2005, but were ordered to stop by the varsity head coach..." Sounds to me like this young coach got his self-esteem stepped on when the old man told him how wacky his scheme is and to focus on teaching the kids how to block and tackle. Now he's just looking for anybody willing to listen. offside

Are you saying that they've been playing with 12 players all year?

There is no such rule against it. As more HS stadiums employ a mic on the referee you'll hear much more communication from the officials. Welcome to the big time. offside

I still say that sliver of soap stuck to the shower stall in the officials locker room was put there during George Blanda's freshman year. I tried to lather up with it, but it's definitely a permanent fixture. Being between the lines at Manual Stadium invokes a special feeling. The games I've worked there are among the highlights of my officiating career. I hope it becomes a National Historic Landmark. offside

Also remember that the it's the location of the ball in reference to the goal line that determines whether a kick has ended in the end zone, not the players feet. On somewhat rare occasions, I have seen a return-man catch a kick in such a way that his feet are on the goal line, but the ball was still in the field of play. offside

Yes, game rules are dictated by the state in which the game is played. Even among NFHS states there are usually some minor differences. For instance, Ohio has a different overtime procedure than Kentucky (which is similar to NCAA). So, officials meet with the visiting team's Head Coach to go over those differences before the game. offside

Texas highschool football games are played under NCAA rules which allow kicks to be returned from the endzone. Massachusetts also observes NCAA rules. This has been a NFHS rule (Free kick in R's end zone is a touchback) since 1943. Looked it up in the NFHS Football Handbook. offside

The Henry County frosh game is confirmed for today at 6:00. The opponent is Gallatin Co. offside

In general, I agree with your assessment of the spirit of the rule; some leeway is often provided in such circumstances. But I suspect there's more to the story here.

...we don't need no stinkin' wikipedia. offside

Rule 3-6-2...Action or inaction which prevents promptness in putting the ball in play is delay of game. This includes: a. Failure to snap or free kick within 25 seconds after the ball is marked ready for play. So, in and of itself, that's a correct call. offside

Intentional Grounding: "a pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver or a pass thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time." Penalty: (NFHS) 5 yards from the spot of the pass and loss of down. offside

There are no alignment restrictions on either team on free kicks under NFHS rules. Either team (K or R) can line-up anywhere behind thier respective restraining lines. offside

Until we get instant replay, that's gonna happen. It's okay to boo. Sometimes you're right.

No. The holder must rise from his knee to hand-off or pass (forward or backward). The only actions he can take while his knee is on the ground is recover an errant snap and/or place the ball for the kick. offside

NFHS Rule 4-2-2...a placekick holder with his knee(s) on the ground and with a teammate in kicking position may: 1. Catch or recover the snap while his knee(s) is on the ground and place the ball for a kick, or if he rises to advance, hand, kick or pass. 2. Rise and catch an errant snap and immediately return his knee(s) to the ground and place the ball for a kick or again rise to advance, hand, kick or pass. Note: The ball becomes dead if the place-kick holder muffs the snap or fumbles and recovers after his knees have been off the ground, and he then touches the ground with other than hand or foot while in possession of the ball. offside

If he's disrupting play, yes. I'm also searching for a reference to a cannon crew (if it gives a ref a heart attack, I think that could be interpreted as "disrupting play"). Seriously though, when adult behavior becomes so disruptive at an interscholastic athletic event that a game official has to interrupt play, we've got a larger problem than a 15 yard penalty will cure. Have fun, cheer, boo if you must. But in all cases, be a role model and insist that everyone around you acts accordingly. We'll throw a flag if we have to, but it shouldn't have to come to that. offside

I'm not sure about the point you're trying to make. We (officials) tend to ignore a lot of ignorant behavior in the stands. It's generally not worth our time to even acknowledge an attention-seeking goober. Being loud and obnoxious is your prerogative as a ticket-holder, so long as you do not disrupt the play on the field. A band director would be held to the same standards as other goobers. Actions by the referee is going to be a last resort, but it is possible. offside

Here's the differences between NCAA and NFHS rules on non-player conduct: NCAA rules do provide for an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul against a band (more specifically, against the opponent of the team the band is attempting to disrupt): NCAA Rule 9-2-1..Persons subject to the rules, including bands, shall not create any noise that prohibits a team from hearing its signals. Further, the NCAA defines persons subject to the rules: All players, substitutes, replaced players, coaches, trainers, cheerleaders in uniform, band members in uniform, mascots in uniform, commercial mascots, public-address announcers, audio and video system operators, and other persons affiliated with the teams or institutions are subject to the rules and shall be governed by the decisions of the officials. NFHS rules are not as specific, but CAN be interpreted to cover this situation: NFHS Rule 1-1-6...The referee has authority to rule promptly, and in the spirit of good sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered in the rules. The referee's decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game. NFHS Rule 9-9-1...A player or nonplayer or person not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by an unfair act which has no specific rule coverage. Using this as a basis, I think it is reasonable to penalize a team's head coach (USC) for the actions of his school's band if the band does not cease and desist from disrupting play. I also agree with Hey-Ref that this would be an extreme measure that the referee would prefer to avoid if possible.

Here's a long-winded answer to a simple question: 1. The term "Illegal Procedure" no longer exists, although most PA announcers don't seem to have received that memo. What you are referring to is False Start, which is a dead ball foul. The defense can decline the distance penalty, but the down will be still be replayed because the snap never really occurred. (I can't envision a scenario where this is an advantage to the defense.) Essentially, False Start is any movement before the snap which simulates action at the snap. 2. Because a back or end in motion can reset for a second before the snap, Illegal Motion is a live ball foul against a back or end who is simply going forward in motion, but not simulating action at the snap. The penalty can be declined and the results of the play can be chosen at the succeeding spot and down; or the distance penalty (5 yards) can be assessed from the previous spot and the down replayed. 3. The term "Offside" also does not exist in the Highschool Rulebook (NFHS), it is a college and NFL live-ball foul against the defense in the neutral zone at the snap. In highschool, the foul is Encroachment which is a dead ball foul. Most often, it is against the defense. But the offense can be called for lining up in the neutral zone, too. offside

I think you just described a chop block on the defense! This foul is not necessarily limited to the offense. It is possible for a Defensive Lineman (or linebacker who's within 1 yard of the LOS) to legally block below the waist within the free blocking zone. A defender on the LOS on the outside shoulder of the TE is NOT going to be in the zone. Seems strange, but defensive linemen do "block" in a gap control or goal line defense. It is more common to see a flag thrown against a defensive back who takes out the legs of a lead blocker on a sweep--illegal block below the waist on the defense. offside

The following is an answer to a question buried deep in another thread. I wanted to entertain questions from a wider audience: 1. A chop block is essentially a double-team block in which at least one of the blocks is below the knees. It is always illegal, even if in the free blocking zone and even if the "double team" is not intentional. It is a severe player safety infraction which causes knee injuries. 2. Blocking below the waist and clipping are legal blocks if they occur in the free blocking zone between two players who are both on the line of scrimmage at the snap. If a defensive player is in the zone and within one yard of the LOS at the snap, he is considered on the line (ie, a blitzing linebacker). Blocking in the back is legal anywhere within the zone so long as the blocker is an offensive lineman, against a player in the zone at the snap, and the ball has not left the zone. 3. The free blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A tight end is rarely in the zone, a running back is never in the zone, a linebacker is usually in the zone. A shotgun formation does allow for an immediate legal block below the waist or in the back which occurs simultaneous with the snap. All blocks must be above the waist at all times during a scrimmage kick (punt or field goal) or free kick. 4. Don't confuse the terms cut block, which is coach-speak for (presumably) a legal block below the waist, and chop block which is always a foul. offside

1. A chop block is essentially a double-team block in which at least one of the blocks is below the knees. It is always illegal, even if in the free blocking zone and even if the "double team" is not intentional. It is a severe player safety infraction which causes knee injuries. 2. Blocking below the waist and clipping are legal blocks if they occur in the free blocking zone between two players who are both on the line of scrimmage at the snap. If a defensive player is in the zone and within one yard of the LOS at the snap, he is considered on the line (ie, a blitzing linebacker). Blocking in the back is legal anywhere within the zone so long as the blocker is an offensive lineman, against a player in the zone at the snap, and the ball has not left the zone. 3. The free blocking zone is a rectangular area extending laterally 4 yards either side of the spot of the snap and 3 yards behind each line of scrimmage. A tight end is rarely in the zone, a running back is never in the zone, a linebacker is usually in the zone. A shotgun formation does allow for an immediate legal block below the waist or in the back which occurs simultaneous with the snap. All blocks must be above the waist at all times during a scrimmage kick (punt or field goal) or free kick. 4. Don't confuse the terms cut block, which is coach-speak for a legal block below the waist, and chop block which is not legal.