Ball Mechanics

[boboman316]

Any body have any information on 7 man ball mechanics?

[MJT]

What is it you want to know?

[boboman316]

Such as when to bring a new ball in, who will bring it in depending on where the play ends or an incomplete pass happens. How often do you rotate new balls and such.

[waltjp]

Ball rotation depends on a number of factors. First of all check to see what your local customs are. Here in NJ it's not customary to change balls on every play as it is in other areas.

Another factor is the competency of your ball boys. It is not the job of the officials to search the sidelines for new balls. If a team wants/expects a new ball to be put in the game they had better make sure it's ready and available.

Weather - if it's wet we'll change balls on each play. Make sure the ball boy has an assistant - one to hold the balls and one to dry the balls.

Long incomplete passes. Good time to change balls if it helps to keep the game moving. Again, the ball boy must be ready for a new ball or you may end up spending more time searching for him on the sideline than it would take to retrieve the original ball.

[ajmc]

Perhaps a subtle, but important distinction to maintain is, it is always the field officials who decide when and how to replace a game ball, NOT either team.

[ODJ]

Are we talking NF or NCAA?

NCAA, each time a ball is dead in the side zone a new one is snatched by the wing not spotting the ball. Get it to the umpire. In final minute, umpire will come get the ball himself to mark it. (Don't really understand that bit since it can waste more time than the regular way.)
With the new 40/25, the BJ can spot for long gains.

Get the manual at Referee.com

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Don't have my books with me, but I seem to recall something in the NFHS book about changing the ball at the beginning of each series, i.e., only on first down. Can anyone confirm this? And if so, is there an exception for a kicking situation?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ODJ

Are we talking NF or NCAA?

NF only goes to 5 Man mechanics. So he could only be talking about NCAA or a state sanctioned mechanics. And he never did specify about what a state he was in.

Peace

[ajmc]

Relating to NFHS. A team is allowed to change a ball at the start of a series. After that, the decision when to change a ball is entirely up to the field officials. NO there is no exception for a kicking situation.

Often, the officials will request a "fresh" ball when the field is wet (rain, muddy or even dew) whenever a ball hits the ground, or every down if the conditions dictate but a team is NOT ALLOWED or AUTHORIZED to change the ball, within a series, for ANY reason.

Of course they can ask, but the decision is made entirely by the field officials, usually the Referee. The manner and frequency of when, and under what conditions, a ball may be changed mid-series is something the crew should discuss before the game and all be on the same page.