[Bob M.]

REPLY: Mike...I hope you don't mind, but I'll post what I did over on the Federation Board. If it does nothing else, it might stimulate the kind of discussion you're looking for.

From the NFHS Football Discussion Board:
Officials have heard many times that we should only call holding when it occurs at the point of attack, i.e. when it occurs at a place and time that may have an impact on the play. But that’s usually where the discussion ends. In my opinion, that exactly where the discussion should begin.

More needs to be said about what actually constitutes holding, what types of actions should be flagged. What are the "keys" you look for when you have a player suspect for holding? Let’s take a look at the wording of the Federation’s rule prohibiting “holding.” (NF 9-2-1c: “An offensive player (except the runner) shall not…(c.) Use his hands, arms or legs to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold in an effort to restrain an opponent.”) I’ve always believed that the operative word in the rule is “restrain.” Unless the act restricts an opponent from moving toward the ball carrier (point of attack), I’d be inclined to let it go.

An NFL friend of mine told me what they look for when a player is suspect for holding at the point of attack: Look for the blockee to make an “unathletic move.” That is look for him to make a move that looks nothing like what an athlete might do if he acting in an unrestricted way. Examples: look for his shoulders to spin away from his direction of movement; look for his arm to be pulled away from the side of his body restricting his move toward the ball carrier. And the big one…look for the blockee to “lose his legs.” This last one deserves a better description. When an athlete moves, he typically has his body over his legs, which provide balance. If a player is restricted by an opponent in a manner such that either his legs are pulled out from under his upper body, or his upper body is held so that his unrestricted legs move out from under him, then he has “lost his legs.” In such cases, when these things take place at or close to the point of attack, you almost definitely have a hold.

This philosophy is practiced by many college officials as well. I personally see no reason why it can’t be used as your decision criteria in high school ball. Suppose two opponents are facing off at the LOS. The offensive player grabs a handful of jersey inside. The two continue to face off as the runner passes by them. The NFL calls this a “dance” and will most likely not flag it. Why? Because the defender is not really being restricted. In fact, he might even be considered a "willing participant" in the face-off. But, if the defender in this scenario tries to make a move toward the runner and a real restriction to his movement is obvious, you’ll undoubtedly see a flag.

Let’s have some more discussion about this.