Defensive hholdig in High School football.

[chapmaja]

I think the NFHS rules have one serious flaw. Penalties that should result in an automatic first down and do in other codes that don't in NFHS.

As an example, a high school championship game had a 3rd and 16 play last weekend which I was watching. Blatant person foul facemask penalty by the defender. He knew if he didn't make the tackle it would be a first down run because there was nobody close to the runner. Grabbed the facemask and pulls down the runner behind the LOS. 15 yards and replay the down. That type penalty and defensive PI should be an automatic first down.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I think the NFHS rules have one serious flaw. Penalties that should result in an automatic first down and do in other codes that don't in NFHS.



As an example, a high school championship game had a 3rd and 16 play last weekend which I was watching. Blatant person foul facemask penalty by the defender. He knew if he didn't make the tackle it would be a first down run because there was nobody close to the runner. Grabbed the facemask and pulls down the runner behind the LOS. 15 yards and replay the down. That type penalty and defensive PI should be an automatic first down.

And fans of the NFHS rule will say an AFD bails out an offense that managed to end up with a 3rd and 16.


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[CT1]

NFHS rules are primarily for the safety of the players and, just as importantly, to maintain a competitive balance between offense and defense.

NCAA and NFL rules (such as the one you support) tend to favor the offense, which draws eyeballs to the TV broadcasts that provide much of their revenue.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by chapmaja

I think the NFHS rules have one serious flaw. Penalties that should result in an automatic first down and do in other codes that don't in NFHS.

As an example, a high school championship game had a 3rd and 16 play last weekend which I was watching. Blatant person foul facemask penalty by the defender. He knew if he didn't make the tackle it would be a first down run because there was nobody close to the runner. Grabbed the facemask and pulls down the runner behind the LOS. 15 yards and replay the down. That type penalty and defensive PI should be an automatic first down.

What do you mean by "that type penalty"? You mean a foul in a situation where you judge that the foul was necessary to prevent the line-to-gain from being reached?

[voiceoflg]

Broadcaster here. I thought the automatic first down in NFHS was to simplify it. Only the roughing calls are AFD. Full disclosure, it was a coach that told me it was for simplification.

[rriffle822]

I think it has less to do with simplification on the NFHS part as much as the AFD in the NFL has to do with wanting to generate offense. The were far less AFD in the NFL in the past and it has gradually increase to the ridiculous level we have now. The NFHS has not followed suit to help insure a better balance between the offense and defense.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by rriffle822

I think it has less to do with simplification on the NFHS part as much as the AFD in the NFL has to do with wanting to generate offense. The were far less AFD in the NFL in the past and it has gradually increase to the ridiculous level we have now.

But the value of an AFD depends greatly on the down & distance to go. If the NFL wanted to do that, why wouldn't they use a more consistent method like increasing the distance of the penalty on the defense?