Defensive calls Illegal...?
 

Is there a rule against a defensive player yelling out "go" and if so what rule is in th NFHS Rulebook...?

Thanks!

Yes. 9-5-1d

ART. 1 . . . No player shall act in an unsportsmanlike manner once the officials ssume authority for the contest. Examples are, but not limited to:

d. Using disconcerting acts or words prior to the snap in an attempt to interfere with A’s signals or movements.

Luke provided the rule reference. Enforcement will depend on what happens. If the defense gets the offense to jump, I'm not going to penalize a false start for this, but obviously somebody has to get a flag. USC.

If the "disconcerting acts" have no impact, I'll warn the player and tell the coach. If he does it again, flag it.

Correct. And in college it would be classified as a delay of game if I remember correctly.

I don't have the rulebook or casebook with me at the moment, but I believe the casebook (or maybe it's the rulebook) requires the QB to be in his cadence at the time the defense attempts to verbally disconcert the offense.

Around here, we get a lot of teams who yell "shift" and two down-DLmen will make a quick movement/shift. I've flagged the USC only to have coaches say something like, "You mean we can't shift??!?!"

What do you think? What if the defense yells "shift" and actually DOES shift?

Below is the referenced case play RadioBlue.


9.5.1 SITUATION B: B1 calls defensive signals loudly: (a) before A takes its set position; or (b) during the time A1 is giving his cadence count; or (c) while A1 is using audibles. RULING: Legal in (a). In (b) and (c), if in the official’s judgment the action by B1 was for the purpose of disconcerting or hindering A, it is an unsportsmanlike-conduct foul. In this case, the official should sound his whistle before the snap. (9-5-1d)




While looking for that case play I came across this...

7.1.7 SITUATION C: On third and 10 from A's 40-yard line, all team A players are set. While quarterback A1 is calling signals, defensive back B1, starting from a position eight yards behind his line of scrimmage, runs toward the neutral zone. B1 stops directly in front of tackle A4 but does not enter the neutral zone. In response to B1's charge, A4 (a) does not move, or (b) flinches. RULING: No foul in (a). In (b), A4 is guilty of a dead-ball foul for false start. If in the official's judgment the action by B1 was for the purpose of disconcerting or hindering A, it is an unsportsmanlike conduct foul. In this case, the official should sound the whistle before the snap. (7-1-7; 9-5-1d)

Anyone ever call USC on a defensive player that rushed the line and didn't enter the neutral zone?

Most officials would argue to their death that it is not illegal for B to do that.

They don't care what the casebook says.

Wow. That'd be a hard sell. It's hard-enough to sell USC for the defense using verbal disconcerting acts.

The offense gets the advantage here; the defense must avoid interfering with the offensive signals. If they yell "shift" or "hut" or anything else, and you feel it's interfering with A, then make them stop. It doesn't matter if they are calling legitimate signals or not or just making noise.

Once I told them to stop barking like dogs :confused:

You need to get out more often. Most???? :rolleyes:

Peace

Yeah, that seemed like quite an indictment....

Sorry BJ but for you to have some standing to make that statement, you would have had to seen MOST officials. And you haven't. In fact, I'd doubt you've never seen anyone on this forum work a game.

Let me qualify then. Most I have seen in my 25 years in Ohio.