NFHS Questionairre
 

Anyone else take this?

Interesting the few questions (that I can't get back to now):

Adopting the NCAA rule regarding fouls by A behind the PS.
Requiring blindside blocks to be open handed.
Eliminating the FBZ on shotgun snaps.
Eliminating clipping in the FBZ on direct hand-to-hand snaps.

How's everyone feel on these? For my part, I'm fine they way things are. No problems in ay of those areas where I'm at.

I voted *for* PS enforcement for A fouls behind the LOS. Everything else was OK by me.

There was a question about defensive "chop blocks" that was odd. I took it to mean "cut blocks" (BBW).

What is the reason for this change? It seems to unfairly penalize the defense, for simply doing their job. Example: Defense pushes the offense backwards to where the offense holds, 10 yds behind the LOS.

Currently, defense choice offers pushing the offense back 10 yards from the spot of the foul, as a consequence for fouling.

Accepting the penalty, essentially, gives the offense an unfair advantage negating the fact the defense pushed the action back to where the foul occurred. More importantly, it encourages the offense to foul, because they'll only wind up at the same spot, as they would, had they NOT elected to foul.

I agree. Perhaps the NCAA chaps can enlighten us on why the ABO doesn't apply to fouls behind the PS, and why they made the change (I presume it was as NFHS is now).

I imagine the primary reason is that in ajmc's case, a 20 yard foul is more punitive than is desired. That's essentially a drive killer, especially if it's not on first down. Having done games under both, I'm inclined to agree. I think going previous spot for those types of fouls is a better balance between offense and defense.

And note that there are times when 3 and 1 (NCAA's terminology for ABO) does apply behind the previous spot. Illegally kicking the ball and batting are two such examples.

Works both ways. Player pulled down with a facemask gets penalized for being illegally tackled.

I'd like to see previous spot enforcement for both A and B fouls of this nature.

Unless he fumbles. ;)

Just to be clear, this was a questionnaire about potential changes. These aren't in place yet.

In all seriousness, it goes back to ajmc's point. Why should A get the benefit of yardage they lost prior to the tackle? If A is 20 yards behind the LOS, why should they get a free 20 yards before the penalty is enforced?

This is the only way I would agree that an A foul behind the LOS be enforced at the PS. Why should A get an advantage, without B getting the same?

Agree with this and Rich's point. Furthermore with fewer automatic first down penalties, there is significantly less chance of making a first down after committing a penalty that occurs 5-10 or more yards behind the LOS.

The argument that a defensive player that has pushed 10 yards into the backfield deserves credit for that progress if he then gets held is countered by the fact that there is no certainty that being 10 yards in the backfield would have resulted in a tackle being made.

If anything, enforcing these types of penalties from the PS eliminates doubt on throwing the flag for marginal/close calls. Under the current enforcement, personally, I'm going to look at a close/marginal play that could be holding and ask myself how much impact is the action in question has on the play. If the action is away from the play, I'll pass because the result is a 16-17 yard penalty in a situation where no significant advantage was gained. If the action occurs in a situation in which the defender had a chance to make a play, then I'll flag it. Please note, I'm referring to close/marginal situations. If the enforcement occurs from the PS, I'm still going to take all things into consideration except for the enforcement of the penalty. If I know the penalty is 10 yards from the PS, I'm not even considering the enforcement in making the decision to throw the flag.

Lastly, I think many times holding start at or near the LOS but don't become evident until the action is 2-3 or more yards in the backfield. It doesn't seem right to penalize the act that started at or near the LOS from a point farther back. If a hold occurs at the LOS and the offensive player drags the defender 6 yards upfield, we don't penalize it from that point. I realize these points don't make for the most solid arguments, but I fell like there are far more reasons to enforce from the PS than the spot of the foul.

I agree with your last observation. On the former points, you sound like a defense lawyer trying to explain why his client ELECTED to murder a clerk after robbing him, so he wouldn't be identified, then arguing just charging his client with the robbery would be sufficient.

It doesn't seem to make sense to make the advantage of fouling worth a lot more than the penalty for fouling may cost. Thankfully, NFHS seems to create fewer exceptions to basic principles (enforcement spots) than other levels.

They followed NFL on this change by a few yrs. NFL wanted to encourage passing, & offense generally.

Personally, I'm fine leaving things just the way they are.

Not sure how this would change depending on the enforcement. If it is marginal today, it should be marginal tomorrow and that equals no flag.

I would not be surprised if it is because too many schools are getting tired of having to explain to fans why a first and 10 became a first and 27 after a "10-yard" holding penalty.

Even after they see the spot where the yardage was stepped off from?

I'm amazed that so many have such an antiquated notion of what's right.

If you asked 10 people what it should be after a 10-yard holding foul on 1st and 10, 9 would say it should be 1st and 20.

Are you suggesting the rules of a game be changed to accommodate those (hopefully few) fans who have not bothered to understand the rules of the game they are watching? Sounds like an excellent opportunity for the fan who may be confused, to seek the necessary details to educate him/herself.

It seems reasonable to anticipate interested spectators should understand there are multiple, some of which are significant, rule differences between the game played at the Interscholastic level (involving teenagers and younger), Collegiate football (played by talented youngMEN) and seasoned professional athletes in a game involving intense physical contact.

Can't tell if sarcastic.

Probably those 9 people wouldn't be thinking about it enough to realize that a lot of action might've occurred before the foul. If they actually saw it on the field, I doubt many of them would think that a foul that occurred +/- 40 yards from the previous spot should be penalized from the previous spot, let alone a foul that occurred after a change of possession. They're just giving a glib answer to get on to more interesting questions in the poll, like who should be president or whether GMO organisms should be banned. They'd think you were just asking a screening question to determine whether the respondent was familiar with football, for some reason the poll taker wanted to group such respondents.

Why should be care what 9 out of 10 people (who may or may not have any idea what they are talking about) think the proper response is? Our role is to KNOW, and depending on which code we are working under, do what's right.