Blocks/Hits away from the play

[refbuz]

I think that you gotta call hits like these away from the play (20-30 yards), even if they are "legal" hits. The fact that they are so far away and on a player that is not part of the play is what makes it an unnecessary roughness foul. You could be asking for a world of hurt, as the offended team might look for retaliation if you don't. If I am close enough, I will use some preventative officiating and letting them know that I am there in order to avoid having to throw that foul.

Are you always enforcing as a Dead Ball foul though? If you know for certain that the ball wasn't in the end zone at the time of the foul, you could take the points off the board and enforce from the flag. If you don't know, then you'd enforce as a dead ball.

They'll learn not to do that real quick if it costs their team a TD.

[psujaye]

Originally Posted by refbuz

I think that you gotta call hits like these away from the play (20-30 yards), even if they are "legal" hits. The fact that they are so far away and on a player that is not part of the play is what makes it an unnecessary roughness foul. You could be asking for a world of hurt, as the offended team might look for retaliation if you don't. If I am close enough, I will use some preventative officiating and letting them know that I am there in order to avoid having to throw that foul.

Are you always enforcing as a Dead Ball foul though? If you know for certain that the ball wasn't in the end zone at the time of the foul, you could take the points off the board and enforce from the flag. If you don't know, then you'd enforce as a dead ball.

They'll learn not to do that real quick if it costs their team a TD.

If it is close to the whistle/after the play, i've been enforcing it as a dead ball foul. If its obvious to everyone it is during the play, then as a live ball foul. I'm trying to make it a habit of talking to the players to prevent anything once the ball/play is down field.
I just want to make sure i'm handling it correctly.

[refbuz]

I don't see anything wrong with the way you're handling it.

Talking to the players works wonders.

[TXMike]

I'd want to be absolutely sure the blockee is clearly not participating in the play or trying to do so before flagging an otherwise legal hit away from the play. Some of these kids will run after the play and might be getting downfield to be there in the event of a loss of possession. I see no problem with them being blocked. The kid that has clearly given up is NOT someone who should be subject to a free shot.

[waltjp]

These are not hard to distinguish. You'll see the blocker sizing up his victim and then taking a charge at him.

[Cal]

this used to be a fairly common occurance before nf included the rule in the book. since we started enforcing the rule, almost all of these occurances have dissappeared.

[grantsrc]

I say make every effort to make this a live ball foul, not a dead ball foul. Penalize them for the cheap shot and the stupidity of the hit by taking the points off the board. Send the message that these hits are unnecessary. This is not a football related move and all it does is create an atmosphere of hostility. Call it early, call it often, and it will go away.

As for the talking to, in Pop Warner this should be flagged, not a talking to. There's no need for it.