Illegal Ball

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Tom.OH

The youth leagues I work supply the ball, solves that problem.

We used to do a few games in Illinois (reciprocity) and the punter walks up to me 2-3 years ago and asks me to check "his" ball. He told me that he always brings this ball in to punt with.

I laughed and told him they eliminated the kicking ball years ago. He kicks whatever approved ball is out there for that series. He told me that he was a senior and he's always kicked his own football. The coach was stunned and then angry I wouldn't let him use his ball (which, BTW, was over-inflated and about 5 years past its prime) although I offered to check it in as a game ball if we could remove some air from it.

The ball popped when a needle was put into it.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

We used to do a few games in Illinois (reciprocity) and the punter walks up to me 2-3 years ago and asks me to check "his" ball. He told me that he always brings this ball in to punt with.

I laughed and told him they eliminated the kicking ball years ago. He kicks whatever approved ball is out there for that series. He told me that he was a senior and he's always kicked his own football. The coach was stunned and then angry I wouldn't let him use his ball (which, BTW, was over-inflated and about 5 years past its prime) although I offered to check it in as a game ball if we could remove some air from it.

The ball popped when a needle was put into it.

Well, did the boy start sobbing after it popped?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Ref Ump Welsch

Well, did the boy start sobbing after it popped?

It looked like his puppy died. I had to walk away so I could crack up in private.

[Fan10]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I laughed and told him they eliminated the kicking ball years ago.

When did they eliminate the kicking ball? I was the manager of my HS team, and we always had 2 QB balls and 2 kicking balls. The officials were always fine with that. I can remember once before the game when they asked to see the balls. At the time, our QB balls were being used for warmups. I told them I'd have those for them in a minute, but in the meantime, here's this one. And, I handed him one of our kicking balls. He said, "This has to be a kicking ball!" I said, "Yes sir, it is." He replied while laughing and marking it as legal, "I can spot those kicking balls a mile away!" Then, another time, we were going for 2, and thinking that we were kicking a PAT, I ran in a kicking ball to the umpire. As I started off the field, the U yelled back at me, "Hey, this is a 2 point conversion. Is this the one you want?"

I've only been out of HS 9 years. You saying they eliminated the kicking ball years ago makes me feel old!

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Fan10

When did they eliminate the kicking ball? I was the manager of my HS team, and we always had 2 QB balls and 2 kicking balls. The officials were always fine with that. I can remember once before the game when they asked to see the balls. At the time, our QB balls were being used for warmups. I told them I'd have those for them in a minute, but in the meantime, here's this one. And, I handed him one of our kicking balls. He said, "This has to be a kicking ball!" I said, "Yes sir, it is." He replied while laughing and marking it as legal, "I can spot those kicking balls a mile away!" Then, another time, we were going for 2, and thinking that we were kicking a PAT, I ran in a kicking ball to the umpire. As I started off the field, the U yelled back at me, "Hey, this is a 2 point conversion. Is this the one you want?"

I've only been out of HS 9 years. You saying they eliminated the kicking ball years ago makes me feel old!

Once a ball starts a series, it stays on the field. I can't find when this rule was put in place, but I can't remember in the last 15 years using special kicking balls.

A team can bring any ball out it wants to start a series, but it stays through the series. Likewise, a team can free kick with any ball it wants, but it has to be an approved ball (approved by the referee prior to the game).

A team cannot bring a special ball out to punt or attempt a placekick (with the exception of a try after a touchdown occurs after a change of possession).

This could be a regional thing. All I know is it doesn't fly with us. Once a series starts, the only way the ball gets changed is if we initiate the change.