Opinion on Point Not Covered

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by bluezebra

2..Local rules are made by fools. They rarely, if ever, think of contingencies.

I agree 100%, and normally only come across problems like this in softball. But my favorites in this particular league are prohibitions against certain actions without defining those actions or those players ("Linebackers can't blitz." sounds easy --- but without defining both terms specifically, it's caused us a number of problems)

Originally Posted by RoyGardner

For both cases you need to have an "exception" that would take into account the fact that a team could intentionally commit a foul as time was running out to effectively prevent another play. It appears that is what happened here.

Intentional or not, you should not be allowing a penalty committed by the opponent of the trailing team to prevent them from having the time to get off another play.

I agree with this as well. 1 - the rule needs to be more completely written, and 2 - I agree with the 2nd paragraph.

Seems to be 1 vote for running another play, 1 vote against.

[Texas Aggie]

The penalty didn't prevent them from getting off another play. Under these rules, running clock means just that: running clock. If they wanted another play in (A), they could have declined the penalty. In (B), the team is at the mercy of the clock, just like they are at the mercy of the size of the field. While I agree the rules may be flawed, if this is what they are, the game is over.

The rule change simply needs to be "the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter shall be timed as under NCAA rules," possibly adding "only if the score is within 10 or 16 points."

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

The penalty didn't prevent them from getting off another play. Under these rules, running clock means just that: running clock. If they wanted another play in (A), they could have declined the penalty.

Just curious - how would declining the penalty have afforded them another play? It would easily have run out while R was determining whether offense wanted to take the penalty or not, and the subsequent signalling and spotting of the ball.

[Suudy]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I agree 100%, and normally only come across problems like this in softball. But my favorites in this particular league are prohibitions against certain actions without defining those actions or those players ("Linebackers can't blitz." sounds easy --- but without defining both terms specifically, it's caused us a number of problems)

We deal with this in 7th and 8th grade ball a lot. "No blitzing" means something different to different coaches.

There's also a 150lb limit on running with the ball (if someone 150lb or heavier possesses the ball, we are to blow it dead). Typically this is done by putting a stripe on helmets of the heavy kids. And too often we deal with coaches complaining that a player is too heavy and isn't marked. How are we to know? Sure coach, I'll just pull out my handy portable scale and weigh the kid.

Local rules stink, and make our lives a headache.