NFHS Rules Changes

[ajmc]

The "sideline control" revisions seem like a great, sensible and very appropriate adjustment. This has never been an issue about practical differences, there simply are no practical arguments against any of these revisions that make any sense.

This issue has always been a question about practical, sound, safety related measures opposed to some obscure notion of territorial control that has been little more than a figment of the imagination.

For the same basic reasons there are rules that govern the interaction between pedestrians and trucks, there needs to be sensible guidelines governing the interaction between persons operating immediately on, or outside, a football sideline.

[Welpe]

I wonder how long it will be before we see the following rule changes press release "We have dispensed with all NFHS rules and will now be adopting the rules of the NCAA."

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I wonder how long it will be before we see the following rule changes press release "We have dispensed with all NFHS rules and will now be adopting the rules of the NCAA."

Fed started with NCAA's rules for football. So did the NFL. NCAA inherited them too; the football rules committee spawned NCAA, not vice versa.

[Welpe]

My point was that it seems the Fed seems to be trending towards the current NCAA rules a bit more each year.

[jaybird]

Originally Posted by Welpe

My point was that it seems the Fed seems to be trending towards the current NCAA rules a bit more each year.

We can only hope! It sure would be easier on guys that call HS and college.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by jaybird

We can only hope! It sure would be easier on guys that call HS and college.

You have to consider that NFHS rules apply to children playing football at both the sandlot and Seconday School levels between the ages of 8 and 18, which represents a completely different participation group than NCAA rule which are designed to manage a participation group between the ages of 19-30.

Considering the physical nature of the game of football, the contact involved at each different level plus the accumulative effect of proficiency gained by repetitive experience it makes little sense to think the same rules would be equally effective for participants between ages 8 to 30, or even more, years old.

Difficulty in calling games, is not a major concern, although thousands of competent officials have dealt with and mastered those difficulties when choosing to work through, or to, different levels.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by jaybird

We can only hope! It sure would be easier on guys that call HS and college.

Jay, I don't give a hoot about making it easier for guys who call both. That's their choice.

[daggo66]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Jay, I don't give a hoot about making it easier for guys who call both. That's their choice.

It does make it easier in the sense that there is less crap from the idiots in the stands. They "KNOW" the NCAA rules and apply them to high school. It's worse at the youth level because the coaches are in that category as well. I can just see it know when I make the first horse collar call and they tell me it's about time since I didn't call it all of last year!

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by Welpe

My point was that it seems the Fed seems to be trending towards the current NCAA rules a bit more each year.

For a number of years there was a liaison committee between them. But that was a long time ago as far as most of you would be concerned.

[Ed Hickland]

Originally Posted by ajmc

The "sideline control" revisions seem like a great, sensible and very appropriate adjustment. This has never been an issue about practical differences, there simply are no practical arguments against any of these revisions that make any sense.

This issue has always been a question about practical, sound, safety related measures opposed to some obscure notion of territorial control that has been little more than a figment of the imagination.

For the same basic reasons there are rules that govern the interaction between pedestrians and trucks, there needs to be sensible guidelines governing the interaction between persons operating immediately on, or outside, a football sideline.

OK, it is in the rule book but how vigilantly will it be enforced. I can almost bet every other crew in my association will not enforce it out of fear they will be marked down.

[JRutledge]

The rule will be enforced here in my opinion. Considering the positions on this issue before the rules change, this just makes it easier to enforce or not worry about splitting hairs when a coach is stepping on the field by a foot or two.

Peace

[HLin NC]

Ed- our state supervisor told us and the coaches two years ago that the existent rule would be strictly enforced. If it wasn't and he saw film of it, that crew was sitting out the playoffs. The coaches griped a little but many soon discovered that by doing a better job of keeping their players back, we all had plenty of room to work.

Not many of us wings that I saw got too worked up about "3 in the box" as long as the players were pushed back. The players crowding up to watch is what really causes the problems. The coaches move up to get out of their way and so forth.

I've seen how NCAA sidelines work and there aren't too many problems. I don't know what our wording will be but being a longtime wing, as long as they aren't in the way ahead of me downfield, I'm not going to sweat it too much.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Ed Hickland

OK, it is in the rule book but how vigilantly will it be enforced. I can almost bet every other crew in my association will not enforce it out of fear they will be marked down.

They can rate me down all they like. I guarantee my crew will enforce this.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

They can rate me down all they like. I guarantee my crew will enforce this.

And in my case, it does not matter. They can rate us all they want to (BTW the more ratings help in our system) and I will still have that little patch on my left shoulder.

Peace

[Jim D.]

Like HLin NC, we've been repeatedly warned that, if we want playoff games, we have to enforce the sideline rules. We have emphasized it and the coaches have been OK with it because they hear it every week.

A few times last year though, if I started just off the sideline, I'd be standing side by side with a coach which wasn't a good idea. This way I'll at least have a chance to move.