Spotting the ball after 4th down

[jTheUmp]

Originally Posted by Rich

Ease of administration. We start every new series on a yardline with few exceptions, therefore anything touching the yardline 10 yards downfield is a first down.

The right NFHS rulebook answer is that the foremost point of the ball becomes the backmost point of the ball on a COP.

This.

I'm putting the ball on the closest yard line after a COP after a failure to reach the line-to-gain on 4th down unless a) we're inside the 10 or b) we had to measure to see if the line-to-gain was reached.

I've also been known to move the ball to the opposite side of the yard line after a failed 4th down play (if the previous spot was touching the back of the 30-yard-line going in, we're starting the next series on the back on the 30-yard-line going out).

The book (both FED and NCAA) says not to do this, but it's an accepted practice for both levels (check local listings, of course). NFL officials do this all the time too.