NFHS: false start?

[buckrog64]

This is one of those: "That's not how they called that last week," type of fouls. One crew says false start, the next says he reset, no foul. I let it go unless it draws the defense offside. This is also a time when you might have an illegal shift if one person is in motion and a back twitches.

[JRutledge]

I also feel that we need to give more leeway to the backs and receivers because they can legally move to get to another position. Those players get my benefit of the doubt especially when there is no movement by the defense. I am not going to be so quick to call a false start in these situations.

Peace

[MJT]

I'm a white hat and you know when he is going in motion or missed the snap count. When it is obvious he has missed the snap count, I have a flag and rarely have had a coach disagree. If he says "he can reset" I say, "coach, if he misses the snap count, it is a FS" and he usually says nothing else. In college, we have been told specifically to call it a FS, and I know they do the same in the NFL.

[Forksref]

I've already flagged it this season. I can tell the difference between missing the count and a shift. And I think this is the WH's call, not a wing.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Forksref

I've already flagged it this season. I can tell the difference between missing the count and a shift. And I think this is the WH's call, not a wing.

I completely disagree with that last statement. Of course a wing can call this; they might have the best look or knowledge of the movement. If they move sideways the wing probably knows this better than the Referee.

Peace

[HLin NC]

As a wingman for 14 years I've learned to leave the backs to R unless they actually go in motion. I've had my @$$ crawled once too often for flagging that missed snap count by the up back

I know it meets the definition of FS but if the "boss" wants it, he can have it.

[Winkley]

My assignor mentioned to me that he's noticed that the college officials in our high school unit tend to apply false start standards to backs and receivers, rather than just to linemen. The purely high school officials tend to be the ones that interpret the rule to apply only to the linemen. Is this what you see as well?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

As a wingman for 14 years I've learned to leave the backs to R unless they actually go in motion. I've had my @$$ crawled once too often for flagging that missed snap count by the up back

I know it meets the definition of FS but if the "boss" wants it, he can have it.

Well that makes sense. But I have never been given that directive and personally I think that is a bad logic. The wings can see this as well as the Referee and even better than the Referee. What do you do if the Referee clearly misses this? Do you let them live and die with that call?

Peace

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I completely disagree with that last statement. Of course a wing can call this; they might have the best look or knowledge of the movement. If they move sideways the wing probably knows this better than the Referee.

Peace

I tell my wings to concentrate on the 12+ guys on the line. I'll take care of the 3 or 4 backs.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Forksref

I tell my wings to concentrate on the 12+ guys on the line. I'll take care of the 3 or 4 backs.

You can tell them whatever you like. Football officiating is a community effort. Do you tell a wing not to call holding and only watch the ball carrier too? And how is a wing not going to concentrate on players that are possibly their keys? So many things are wrong with that statement.

Peace

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by MJT

I'm a white hat and you know when he is going in motion or missed the snap count. When it is obvious he has missed the snap count, I have a flag and rarely have had a coach disagree.

Think of it this way: If the player thought the snap was to have been on an earlier count, that player is doing what the player is supposed to do at the snap. So how could it not simulate action at the snap?

Robert

[Bob M.]

REPLY: I realize that some may disagree with this, but the "he-can-reset" argument is really old-world thinking. If he jumps as if to start the play, it's a false start--period. Motion requires a smooth, non-abrupt movement. As MJT said, you know when a player is going in motion. Here's my guideline: If the player's movement makes me jump to begin watching for post-snap action, it's a false start and deserves a flag.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Bob M.

REPLY: I realize that some may disagree with this, but the "he-can-reset" argument is really old-world thinking. If he jumps as if to start the play, it's a false start--period. Motion requires a smooth, non-abrupt movement. As MJT said, you know when a player is going in motion. Here's my guideline: If the player's movement makes me jump to begin watching for post-snap action, it's a false start and deserves a flag.

Yup, that's exactly how I see it.

And I don't care if I (the WH) or a wing gets it.

[Jim D]

I would let the back reset in most cases. If a back makes a sudden step towards the line and then goes in motion, most officials will let that go. If a back makes a sudden step toward the line and resets, the same group of officials will tend to flag it. Since the first step is the same, I'd treat them the same.