Illegal Ball

[chemman1900]

I know there is a rule in the NHSF rule book describing the correct type of ball including color. I believe that somewhere there is "rule" indicating that officials are to inspect the balls before the game. However, what happens if an illegal ball is used in play and discovered later in the game. Are there any penalties? This has happened twice this season in the youth league in which I coach which uses NHSF rules. Both times the referee provided no consequences against the offending team and just made them use the correct ball. In both cases, the ball was too small. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Jim D.]

Whenever a new ball is brought into play, the umpire should give it a quick inspection. If it's not legal or approved or has lost air, he simply tosses it back out and asks for another ball. There is no way that a team should be able to run a play with an illegal or non-conforming ball if the officiating crew does their job properly. Teams sometimes try to sneak in a bad ball - we just don't let them.

[bigjohn]

No I bet no one has ever gotten away with sneaking in a ball that wasn't checked by the officials before the game.

[Welpe]

And butt blocking never called...NEVER!

[bigjohn]

never, you ever seen it called?
Me either!

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

never, you ever seen it called?
Me either!

I flagged an 8th grader for spearing a couple weeks ago...

[Tom.OH]

Originally Posted by chemman1900

I know there is a rule in the NHSF rule book describing the correct type of ball including color. I believe that somewhere there is "rule" indicating that officials are to inspect the balls before the game. However, what happens if an illegal ball is used in play and discovered later in the game. Are there any penalties? This has happened twice this season in the youth league in which I coach which uses NHSF rules. Both times the referee provided no consequences against the offending team and just made them use the correct ball. In both cases, the ball was too small. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

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

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I flagged an 8th grader for spearing a couple weeks ago...

We had 2 penalties for spearing on Friday night, one on the runner. Coach couldn't believe it, naturally.

[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.

[Jim D.]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

No I bet no one has ever gotten away with sneaking in a ball that wasn't checked by the officials before the game.

I'm sure they have, but it's pretty easy to tell if they're legal. We had a team try and send in a ball that that was so soft you could almost bend it in half, and we rejected it. The coach swore it was approved before the game so I just told him sometimes balls lose air. The point is, it may be a switch but it would be hard to get something in that is going to give a team an unfair advantage.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

We had 2 penalties for spearing on Friday night, one on the runner. Coach couldn't believe it, naturally.

Had he ever seen that call? Ever?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Had he ever seen that call? Ever?

I don't know. Kid had a world of talent, but had no clue how to play except head first. Too bad, really.

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!