The craziness of youth ball - FG Attempt, no - TD!

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Ok. Here are two reasons why the play should have been disallowed. The first is stronger, in my opinion.

(1) 7-2-5. When the center put the ball down to talk to the kicker, it was at rest with no player attempting to gain possession - dead ball.
(2) 7-1-7. When the back handed the ball forward to the snapper, he has advanced (see 2-8-1) a planned loose ball and he is obviously in the vicinity of the snapper.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by The Roamin' Umpire

Ok. Here are two reasons why the play should have been disallowed. The first is stronger, in my opinion.

(1) 7-2-5. When the center put the ball down to talk to the kicker, it was at rest with no player attempting to gain possession - dead ball.
(2) 7-1-7. When the back handed the ball forward to the snapper, he has advanced (see 2-8-1) a planned loose ball and he is obviously in the vicinity of the snapper.

I can see invoking the first one, although I'm not sure the intent of the rules was for that rule to apply to this sitch... that rule is so we have a reason to kill the play on those punts where the entire kicking team is standing around the ball - but I get where you're coming from there. Not sure how many of us would have called that though, on the field, confronted with this situation live.

2 is just wrong. You can't call this a planned loose ball - it was VERY clear that there was nothing planned about this.

[The Roamin' Umpire]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

2 is just wrong. You can't call this a planned loose ball - it was VERY clear that there was nothing planned about this.

*blink* Seriously? From your description, I took away the impression that this was a set play. If not, then extra marks for cleverness to the kicker, who I guess realized what had happened and told the snapper what to do about. But... really unplanned? It seems improbable that they could manage to avoid any rule infractions on this play by accident.

[JRod37]

Comment about kicker being a future referee: spot on!

The key to your OP is 6TH GRADERS. Everyone gave up on the play. The ball came to rest. Blow it dead because the ball came to rest. B's ball. A complains. So what? On what grounds does A's coach have a leg to stand on? Snap happened. Snap was botched. Ball came to rest. If A's coach is going to lose sleep over something like this then I want to be his cardiologist. I'll be rich!

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JRod37

Comment about kicker being a future referee: spot on!

The key to your OP is 6TH GRADERS. Everyone gave up on the play. The ball came to rest. Blow it dead because the ball came to rest. B's ball. A complains. So what? On what grounds does A's coach have a leg to stand on? Snap happened. Snap was botched. Ball came to rest. If A's coach is going to lose sleep over something like this then I want to be his cardiologist. I'll be rich!

I really do see your point and could justify this and sell this if I had to. But honestly, in replaying the play in my mind, A had not "given up" on the play. The ball was only set on the ground when kicker yelled at the center... at least that one player had not given up on the play as he issued instructions to the center.

One thing I've definitely learned over the years though - you find yourself reaching deeper into the book at peewee than at varsity - peewee is where all the TWP's happen.

[Canned Heat]

I don't know if I'm more perplexed that the play went as it did, or the fact that there's youth football using NCAA Rules....never heard of that.

Is this common place anywhere else?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

I don't know if I'm more perplexed that the play went as it did, or the fact that there's youth football using NCAA Rules....never heard of that.

Is this common place anywhere else?

It would be commonplace in Texas since they use NCAA rules for HS football there.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by The Roamin' Umpire

*blink* Seriously? From your description, I took away the impression that this was a set play. If not, then extra marks for cleverness to the kicker, who I guess realized what had happened and told the snapper what to do about. But... really unplanned? It seems improbable that they could manage to avoid any rule infractions on this play by accident.

If this was planned, the entire team needs to sign up for drama when they get older. There is NO CHANCE this was a set play. If it was, I highly doubt kicker would have had to say anything, center would have simply acted like he was snapping and then on his own timing, ran for the score. Snapper was ready to snap the ball - it was kicker who realized what was going on.