offside

No, the clock continues to run--even if they were to come back and tie the game.

That is completely false. That is true. That is completely false.

The interesting part about this comment is that the term "QB" is used while questioning a rule that covers kicking situations. It is perfectly legal for a team to exploit this rule to its advantage. But it seems a bit greedy to complain when it's not perfectly clear to the officials that the team is following the rules exception exactly as it's written.

A chop block is always illegal. But there is sometimes confusion as to the definition of what a chop block really is: it's a double team block, where there is a delay in the two players contacting the opponent, in which one of the blocks is above the waist and the other block is below the waist. Maybe the confusion is with what coaches call a "cut block", which is simply a legal block below the waist (which is not a double team) that occurs within the free blocking zone. And, if it happens immediately after the snap in the shotgun formation, it is legal. It's kind of complicated, but the point is that a chop block is an illegal double-team "stand-em-up and cut-em-down" block, and a "cut block" is legal block below the waist by a single blocker between the tackles. Again, a "cut block" by a single O-lineman which occurs without delay at the snap, even in the shotgun formation, is legal. In both cases, any delay is the key. Maybe that's the difference between the calls you saw.

If I had a dollar for every time I said that to a coach...

Punters don't seem to have any problem lining up more than 7 yard deep...

no.

Rule 1-2-3b...Yard lines shall be marked with a continuous line every 5 yards beginning and ending 4 inches from each sideline. Game administration may place on the field of play, 4 inches from each sideline, yard line extensions that should be 24 inches in length and 4 inches in width. Rule 1-2-3e...Inbounds lines, "a series of hash marks", should be 24 inches in length and 4 inches in width and shall be located 53 feet, 4 inches from and parallel with each sideline dividing the field of play longitudinally in thirds. The inbounds lines shall be marked so that each 5-yard line bisects the hash mark. Game administration may place on the field of play, at the inbounds lines, yard-line extensions that should be 24 inches in length and 4 inches in width.

Try this one: http://www.mhsa.org/Football/2007NFHSFootballFieldMarkings.pdf

I don't really want to retype Chapter 1 of the Rules book here, so can you narrow it down a little? Which markings are you really interested in? What makes you ask the question?

Answering these questions is by far my favorite rules-study tool. And frankly, the more people in the bleachers that I can explain the rules differences of highschool football to, the easier my job on the field becomes. This forum is about the only way to accomplish that. So, if you see something at a game that seems confusing, please ask. Myself, Hey-ref and other officials are usually lurking about. Thank you GC2010 for the kind words.

...are you a referee, too?

No tackle box in NFHS. Intentional Grounding is defined as "A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver, or a pass intentionally thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time." Penalty: 5 yards and loss of down. It's a judgment call as to what defines "an area not occupied". In some cases, a receiver within 15 yards might qualify; in other cases, maybe not.

"Not now Cato, I'm busy!"

Yes.

Yes, it is illegal use of the hands by the defense.

I would guess that a defensive player grabbed an offensive lineman and pulled him so that another defensive player could shoot the gap in an effort to block the kick. Again, just a guess, I was not there.

Massachusetts

One more thing about free kicks: In NFHS, if a kicking team member catches a kick which has not first touched the ground or a receiving team member, it is Kick Catch Interference. In NCAA, it is legal for a kicking team member to catch a kick which has not first touched the ground provided it has broken the plane of, and remains beyond, the receiving team's restraining line.

Incidental face mask (the 5 yard variety) is still a foul in NFHS rules. However, it is no longer a foul in NCAA (only personal foul facemask, the 15 yarders, exist in college football).

1.) Any K player may recover a free kick if it has both touched the ground and goes beyond the plane of R's free-kick line. The two requirements may occur in any order. Both NFHS and NCAA are the same. 2.) R has the following choices for a free kick out of bounds: a. Accept a 5 yard penalty from the previous spot and have K rekick. b. Put the ball in play at the inbounds spot 25 yards beyond the previous spot. (That's where you usually get the 35 yard line from). c. Decline the penalty and put the ball in play at the inbounds spot. NCAA rules are slightly different: B has the following choices for a free kick out of bounds: a. Accept a 5 yard penalty from the previous spot and have K rekick. b. Put the ball in play at the inbounds spot 30 yards beyond the previous spot. c. Accept a 5 yard penalty from spot where the subsequent dead ball belongs to team B.

He confirmed that it is LEGAL at the rules clinic I attended.

Reminds me of a line from a movie ("Porky's", I think): "If you can't be an athlete, be an athletic supporter."

Your statement is mostly correct; however, SirMixAlot's statement is not. So, here's another attempt to clarify: Players who are ineligible by position, regardless of what number they are wearing, are NOT ELIGIBLE to catch a forward pass either beyond or behind the line of scrimmage. Period. Ineligibles may be beyond the line of scrimmage if the pass does not cross the line of scrimmage. Otherwise, it is a foul for Ineligible Downfield (or Illegal Touching if they attempt to catch the pass beyond the line of scrimmage). Ineligibles may catch or recover a backward pass. Ineligibles may receive a handoff behind the line of scrimmage, provided he has "clearly faced his goal line by moving both feet in a half-turn and is at least 1 yard behind his line when he receives the ball." Does that help?

That's a perfect explanation. :thumb: