New Mechanic
 

Went to state rules meeting on Saturday. Starting this year during non varsity contest, the HL and LJ will be switching positions at halftime. Starting with the 2017 season, this will be done at Varsity levels.

Do the chains move as well? If they do, it will be difficult for the booth to see them. As a white hat, I look for different skill sets with the linesman and the judge. I expect my judge to maybe run a little better so he can assist with punts.

This is an NC AA mechanic that is starting to get some "me too" action at some state's HS level. Personally I think it is pointless. If I wanted to be a LJ, I would be one. I like working H. It's an answer in search of a question. Supposedly brings a perception of equality to the sidelines. Next we'll be having to get coaches and players a safe place and stop blowing those harsh whistles:rolleyes:

Actually, it's an NFL mechanic. The difference being the NFL switches the sides the chains are on when they do this...something that's not as easy to do in most NCAA and NFHS venues as the press box will have more difficulty seeing them on the near side.

Which is why the NCAA just switches the wings and now the practicing Fed states, which is why I said its an NCAA mechanic.

The chains stay on the visiting side. If I remember correctly, this is coming from the NFHS, and not a state decision.

Is there a "rational" explanation as to what this accomplishes? It seems ONLY based on the flimsiest suspicion, that somewhere a wing official might have, or develop, a bias against a sideline.

Maybe if "sidelines" focused on what their responsibilities ACTUALLY are, instead of trying to fabricate excuses, or attempt to create unearned advantage, there wouldn't be any need to throw ALL officials under, what seems like an imaginary bus, to try and excuse self inflicted mistakes, or create imaginary ones by opponents.

Football, at any level, is a better game when there is less whining, and everyone focuses on their own responsibilities and performance, than worrying about what everyone else is doing.

Not a Fed decision or we'd all be doing it. They may be experimenting but it is not national.

Your state can do or not do any mechanic suggested. I would not be surprised if many states do not do this for all kinds of reasons. Nothing really to worry about at this point.

Peace

Arizona is experimenting with this.
Chains start out on Home side then switch to visitor side to finish game including any overtimes. Ball boys switch also. Also changes where the Umpire lines up on kickoffs.

Our new mechanic for kickoffs is BJ on 40, on visitors sideline, U on 50, press box sideline. LJ on 15 press box sideline, HL on 15 visitors sideline, R middle of field on goal line

I don't think so. Haven't seen anything from the NFHS on this. This is a state option.

We had this for a year and then got rid of it like 2 years ago. Umpires hated it for the most part.

Peace

There are a few states experimenting with it this year. I think it's an experimental mechanic change coming from the NFHS.

Frankenstein was an experiment too. Jus' sayin'.:(

Another example of some squeaky wheel getting some extra oil it doesn't need. Pandering to whining NEVER works, all it EVER does is encourage more whining.

what is funny about this, is supposedly this came as a result of a survey with the coaches and then at coaches' meeting when they were told it was going to happen and how it was going to work, a number of the coaches complained about it.

I personally believe it causes confusion as the wing guys forget sometimes momentarily where they are working. Especially in 4-man mechanics for some of the lesser grade levels where the LJ acts similar to the BJ for punts.

This is our second year doing this mechanic and I could do without it.

Except we do not switch the chains. Essentially the LJ has the responsibilities of the HL and the HL has the responsibilities of the LJ.

Here's a thought. Make the teams switch sidelines after halftime. See how many coaches vote for that?

Why would you switch ballboys in high school football? I understand college because you have ballboys for each team on each sideline, I believe. Most of the ballboys we deal with are young kids, some are coaches kids. No way are they going to go to the other team's sideline.

Found out in our meeting yesterday that we are now apparently allowed to switch under the following circumstances:

(1) The switch will be announced when the assignment is given out
(2) Both wings will attend the chain crew pre-game
(3) The "stronger" HL will be the LJ for the first half.

Because it "seems" possible, some people seem bound and determined to milk bulls, and refuse to accept all evidence to the contrary when proves to be just a really dumb idea.

So what is a definition of "strength" of the HL? The one with more patience for lackadaisical chain crews?

We'll all be doing this (switching sidelines) soon enough. Mark my prediction and come back to it in a few years.

Personally, I'd like to see the two deeps on kickoffs at the 5 or 10 yard line. That way everyone moves FORWARD on a kick.

The current NFHS alignment has someone on the 30 and the ball typically crosses right past that person -- it's hard to officiate when you have to look to your left and to your right simultaneously.

As an R, I prefer the stronger person as the LJ. He's deciding if the LTG has been reached and his spotting the ball and his judgment on getting spots is far more important to the pace of play than the HL. With my current LJ, I wouldn't be surprised if the chains don't come out once all season.

Yep. (FIFY)

The one who really wants to do it, i.e. me, as opposed to the one who didn't, i.e. the LJ.

:cool:

Never thought I'd see an actual example of the question most mothers ask their sons, "If so & so jumped off a bridge, does that mean you have to" This is a practice, no matter who has decided to "try it" that is at best a stupid idea to try and justify some solution in search of a problem.

Swapping the H and the L is a freaking joke
 

I can attest for a fact this is NOT coming from the NFHS.
This is coming from Kentucky where someone saw it on TV and conjured up the notion that we needs it too.

This is a big waste of time and has less than little or no chance of becoming an NFHS mechanic.

If it is so damned important to some people that each coach see the Head Linesman for half a game, then,
have the teams swap sidelines at half time.:eek:

Our state has written a mechanics manual in conjunction with NASO and published by referee magazine, and both wings are on the 15 yd line, with umpire on R 50 and BJ on K 40.

KHW,

Since I am a fool, you can kiss all my state final rings (Counting 5 times BTW) ;)

Peace