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Post by brettdj on Oct 23, 2023 5:53:56 GMT -6
The rules can be changed. But NFHS likes to keep things even. They might promote that as their philosophy... but it's not really true: Ex. 1 Offense taking a safety as time runs out with multiple holding calls- Only the offense can benefit (D choices- take result of play or take the penalty... both result in a safety and game over). Ex. 2 PAT- Only the offense may score. Ex. 3+ I am starting to see a heavy imbalance on what defense is allowed to do on passing plays vs. what offense is allowed to do. We were called multiple times for illegal contact on a receiver (prior to the pass being thrown), yet receivers (and even linemen) blocking downfield on a pass downfield was never called. This could be specific to ND because we have several "unique" rules interpretations as dictated by the state. Even the numbering requirement isn't really "even". Only offense has to change shirts to change positions. Our starting right corner was a D-tackle the first 3 weeks. He wore #22 all season... which was good for us, I guess because six other guys had two jersey numbers all year. (After having coached several years in 8 man where there are no numbering requirements AND after having seen eligible numbers in ineligible positions catch downfield passes with no penalty call this year, I honestly think officials would pay more attention to positioning at the snap if there were no numbering requirements. Too much gets assumed right now. I also know that will never happen... remember the A-11?) NFHS also does not like exceptions to the rules. They have some but really try to limit. Ex1- Would become an exception to the rule Ex2- They deem the offence earned a chance to score an extra point. The defense allowed this opportunity by giving up a touchdown. Ex3. Illegal contact is really not an NFHS rule, blocking downfield is a missed call by the officials. Numbering requirement is to help the defense know eligible receivers. I am sorry that your officials miss this call for illegal touching/OPI. |
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Post by senatorblutarsky on Oct 23, 2023 16:43:02 GMT -6
Fair point RE: #3 But... (We received this in the late spring of 2021 from NFHS): "Ineligible Downfield and Line of Scrimmage Formation Some clarification was recently provided in identifying when an ineligible Team A player is illegally downfield on a pass play. By rule, ineligible Team A players may not advance beyond the expanded neutral zone on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass that crosses the neutral zone is in flight. The neutral zone expands 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage following the snap. The position of the ineligible Team A player at the moment of the legal pass is the primary factor in determining if the player is illegally downfield. When identifying Team A players who are illegally downfield, it is important to make sure that the Team A player is clearly beyond the expanded neutral zone (2 yards) at the moment that the pass is in flight. Players can travel multiple yards in a quick period of time. These players can be legally within the expanded neutral zone when the pass is thrown but beyond as the pass moves downfield. If B touches the pass in or behind the neutral zone, this restriction is terminated." Ever since this (especially the highlighted part) came out from NFHS, the interpretation here apparently is all high school offensive linemen run sub 4.5 40 yard dashes... because I routinely see linebackers in their drop zone contending with the receiver AND the offensive guard as the ball is in flight. I saw it called this year once (from a film... not our game) out of 15-20 occurrences. The language in the 2021 FOOTBALL POINTS OF EMPHASIS discourages the call of linemen illegally downfield. At least that's my take. |
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