Can you change footballs?
 

I just became registered in our state for football, largely because I help coach my 11 year old's team and wanted a better understanding of crew mechanics, interps, etc. We use high school rules with some modifications (TCYFL) and have had really good crews work our games so far. I need help with a ruling: Can you change footballs for PATs? We have had conflicting rulings, one allowed the change and another prevented it. I know it is an easy answer for most of you, so I appreciate the effort. Thanks!

No you cannot. You must you the same ball for the entire series unless of course there are weather issues that the ball would need changing. In other words, no "kicking" balls in NF rules.

Peace

1-3-2 states in part ...."Each team may use any referee approved ball of its choice to free kick or START A NEW SERIES OF DOWNS......"

Since the try is an extension of the prior series, the officials would be correct in not allowing a change of balls.

However 1-3-3 does allow the referee to change balls between downs in the event of a wet field.

ART. 2 . . . Each team shall provide at least one legal game ball to the referee at the time the game officials assume authority for the contest. Only legal game balls approved by the referee may be used during the contest.

Each team may use any referee-approved ball of its choice to free kick or start a new series of downs. If a touchdown occurs following a change of possession and the scoring team did not put the ball in play, any referee-approved ball may be used for the try.

NOTE: By state association adoption, a specific ball which meets specifications may be mandated for postseason or state playoff competition.

You can not bring in a new ball just for the PAT if you had possession of the ball. The only way this can happen is if the field is wet and we have been changing the ball often due to this condition.

Exactly. We had a punter try to bring his "punting ball" on with him on Friday night. Made me wonder how many times he's gotten away with it. :eek:

Anyone else ever presented with a ball marked with a "K" and told "This is our kicking ball"? :)

Not tonight.

I was filling in on a crew several years ago. The coach showed us the "kicking ball" they wanted to use. The seasoned white hat took the ball and called the QB over tossed him the ball and told him he would be using that ball for the first series. The QB said no way, and the R looked at the coach and said "guess we will not be using that ball tonight".

I like it. :)

In a thread at Huey's now is a story of a coach whose snapper has uncommonly sweaty palms. He wanted the ball changed or at least wiped every down, but the referee wouldn't do it because in his opinion the ball was sticky rather than slippery.

I had a playoff game a few years back where the kicker brought me a ball before the game and wanted to use this ball during all kicks. The ball was about 15 years old, had no dimples left, slippery as heck, and the size of pillow. I asked him if he tought it was fair to use this ball, he said I have used it all season. I told him it was not a legal ball and I didn't think that his QB would appreciate using that ball. This kid was the returning All-State kicker...with a legal ball he kicked 6 or 7 kickoffs through the uprights.

When you kick like that, the ball doesn't have to be 15 YO to get like that.