Holding away from point of attack

[TXMike]

This thread was about holds AWAY from the point of attack and that is what I addressed. Just as in NCAA, holds at the point of attack, clearly visible or not, are flagged.

[Forksref]

It took me a while to not go by the book and call everything I saw. I think that is the tendency when you start officiating.

In the hold away from the point of attack, it doesn't mean you ignore it. I classify that as a "talk to" foul, where I will make sure that the offender is told that his hold was seen and that he could be responsible for a long gain being called back.

[JRutledge]

Any hold away from the point of attack should be a talk to. Give it time and that player is going to hold again when they are involved in the point of attack. But if I have a defensive player that claims they are being held, I consider the play or where they are located. If a player is being held but the team lost significant yardage, I tell them "The hold must not have worked very well." Or I tell them to make sure they work hard so we can see it. A lot of times at the HS level players think they are getting held and they give up on the play.

Peace