[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I am entering the fray late in the game, but I would like to volunteer my 35 years of rules experience.


If one reads any NBCofUS&C (the predecessor to the NFHS and NCAA rules committees), NFHS, and NCAA rules books or casebooks (including NCAA Approved Rulings) since at least the 1971-72 school and I am willing to bet that even before that, one will see that:

1) The word “double” is used only in situations that involve fouls, and refers to situations when two or more fouls are committed by the same team during a specified time period. The word “false” is only used with the term “double fouls.”

2) The word “simultaneous” is used in situations that involve either fouls or violations. It refers to situations where there are fouls or violations committed by both teams during a specified time period. The earliest use of the word “simultaneous” that I can find is in a NBCofUS&C casebook play ,in the early 1970’s,(and at this time of the evening, even though it is half-time of the Browns-Steelers game, I do not feel like climbing up in the attic to look up the exact year and casebook play number, but believe me it is there) where: A1 commits a common foul against B1 while B2 commits a common foul against A2. The casebook used the word “simultaneous” in describing this play as a false double foul.


Therefore, the word “double” was incorrectly used in the NFHS Casebook R9.S1.A1, Situation B and the NFHS 2002-03 Rules Interpretations Situation 15. Both of these plays are examples of “simultaneous” violations. What is important is that the correct ruling in all three plays is that play is resumed using the Alternation Possession Arrow. And that was the ruling in all three plays being discussed in this thread.


I hope that this post brings some finality to this thread.