offside

Getting your rules study in?

Casebook 9-4-5..."The defensive player will not be penalized if he has made an honest endeavor to block the kick and has either succeeded, or nearly succeeded that he touched the ball and in so doing finds himself in a position where he cannot avoid contacting the kicker/holder as a result of his effort." But if in doubt, it's roughing the kicker.

Either the rules changed, or the officiating has gotten better.

If the pass was incomplete, the clock starts on the snap. Beyond that, it depends on the result of the play. See 3-4-3.

The foul occurred either behind the neutral zone (2-16-2h3), or simultaneous with the snap (2-16-2i). Probably. Maybe?

I apologize to duke42, I provided this wrong answer for him. This answer is specific to NCAA football. I looked in the wrong rulebook. :idunno:

That is correct. 10-2-1...It is a double foul if both teams commit fouls, other than unsportsmanlike or nonplayer, during the same live-ball period in which: a. There is no change of team possession...the penalties cancel and the down is replayed.

2-32-8...A kicker is any player who legally punts, drop kicks or place kicks. A player becomes a kicker when his knee, lower leg or foot makes contact with the ball. He continues to be the kicker until he has had reasonable opportunity to regain his balance or until after a free kick, he has advanced 5 yards beyond his free-kick line or the kick has touched the ground or any other player. Kickers can be legally blocked if they're in the play. But "targeting a defenseless player" is still illegal.

Rule 2-32-6...A disqualified player is a player barred from further participation in a game. Rule 1-1-6...The referee's decisions are final...

Because it is legal for the offense to refrain from retaliation.

Rule 10-2-5...Penalties for dead-ball fouls are administered separately and in order of their occurrence.

Rule 3-1-4...Games interrupted because of events beyond the control of the responsible administrative authority shall be continued from the point of interruption, unless the teams agree to terminate the game with the existing score, or as otherwise provided for by state association adoption. It's usually resumed the next day.

That's a good question for Kissenger... NFHS rules changes are usually safety oriented. The "nonscoring kick is dead when it breaks the plane of R's goal line" rule change was implemented in 1996.

Bad calls happen, and sometimes fans don't agree with really good calls by the officials. But accusations of malfeasance always stink from the odor of poor sportsmanship.

Nope: "tapered knickers...one piece stockings".

At least 15 years since I've been officiating...but I can't find it in the History of Rules from the NFHS Handbook. While researching, I discovered that pants became required equipment in 1982. Good to know.

I think it was a good no-call. I agree that the offensive lineman grabbed the defender after he got beat, but it was not as egregious as described. Moreover, it happened behind the point of attack and it did not materially affect the play.

QB sneak: no worries. Hook & Ladder: yell your butt off.

Agree with your first three... ...but run the clock after 35 point differential in the second half.

It's not something an official has to look for. If an official runs into a coach within six feet of the sideline, a flag is thrown. The whole point is to have enough room to work safely (while watching the action on the field). "Advantage" is not a factor.

I agree with you, coach. Please see post 36.

College coaches get the heck out of the way at the snap. Typically, college head coaches do not signal in the plays themselves, so it's usually an assistant coach who is scared to get a penalty called on him and is motivated to get back in a hurry. We're still waiting for the language of the new NFHS rule, but here's the sideline interference foul for NCAA: Under NCAA rules, if an official runs into a coach between the sideline and the team box while the ball is live, it is a 5 yard penalty for sideline interference on the first two occasions, and a 15 yard penalty for third and subsequent infractions. There are no warnings. Typically, I'll ask the OC or DC, or whoever is in charge of signalling his team, to stand on the offensive side of the LOS (basically, on the "upfield" side). I don't care how long he stands there, as long as he gets out of my way before I step in THAT direction. If he crowds me, I rarely have to say much more than "make your call and please step back coach". I suspect if your staff communicates well with your sideline official, you won't have any problems.

Well, up until this rule change the "coaches area" was between the sideline and the "team box". The team box is situated six feet (2 yards) outside the sideline and between the 25 yard lines. The team box was required to be marked, and by inference, I guess the "coaches area" was marked. Now, the team box will still be required, but the six feet (two yards) between the sideline and the team box will be off-limits to everybody but officials while the ball is live. Make sense?

There's no doubt that the letter of the rule will be virtually unenforceable in some places. So, I'll have to work my magic with the coach on my sideline. If he's able to do what he can to keep his "non-essential" players out of his own way, I'll probably not be too critical of him being one or one & a half yards back instead of the full two yards as required. It's in both of our best interests to make it work. I'll stay out of his way, if he'll stay out of mine. Of course, if he's a jerk about it, I can be too. I should add that I'm not inclined to compromise at a "spacious" venue. Again, this is a mutually beneficial rule.

It's the same rule as college football. Coaches simply make their call and move back at the snap. Logically, pre-snap adjustments happen before the snap. Don't panic. Media are already outside the restraining lines (2 yards off the sideline) and outside the team boxes. I think the Guru was simply applauding the new rule as a good thing from his perspective.