NFHS Football Rules Changes

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Where would the BJ go if they are not at the 40 and two officials are at the 50? And are these NF changes or IHSA changes?

Peace

I think he meant "now" at the 40. Essentially, the L would move up to be on one side of the restraining line.

So we'd have the BJ with the kickers, the LJ and the L with the receivers, and the R and U deep. I'd love to see them move both the U and R to the pylons, if this is actually an NFHS mechanics change.

[bcl1127]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I think he meant "now" at the 40. Essentially, the L would move up to be on one side of the restraining line.

So we'd have the BJ with the kickers, the LJ and the L with the receivers, and the R and U deep. I'd love to see them move both the U and R to the pylons, if this is actually an NFHS mechanics change.

Sorry I did mean now. This is the year that they are up dating the mechanics manual, so I believe that this will be the change. Personally, I like the coverage of the kicks as it is now, and shift in on-sides situations there is ample field coverage, not sure how this change will impact that. I would also like to see the U start at the pylon as the legs keep getting stronger and stronger.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I think he meant "now" at the 40. Essentially, the L would move up to be on one side of the restraining line.

So we'd have the BJ with the kickers, the LJ and the L with the receivers, and the R and U deep. I'd love to see them move both the U and R to the pylons, if this is actually an NFHS mechanics change.

We (meaning the IHSA) already had the BJ at the 40, that is why I asked.

At least that is the case in our mechanics, not necessarily what the NF does. The L moving to the 50 would be a change as only the LJ was located there already opposite the BJ. And it was our option as well to have the U on the pylon based on the ability of the kickers. The R was already there pretty much based on the actual mechanics. I would just wonder now if the IHSA would adopt the U being on the pylon at all times. I guess we will see by later this spring.

Peace

[Tom.OH]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I think he meant "now" at the 40. Essentially, the L would move up to be on one side of the restraining line.

So we'd have the BJ with the kickers, the LJ and the L with the receivers, and the R and U deep. I'd love to see them move both the U and R to the pylons, if this is actually an NFHS mechanics change.

Rich, the Ohio mechanics have the BJ on the 40, the U on the 50, R on the goal line and the L &LJ on the goal line pylons for the first free kick for each team. We then adjust for the next kick. If the first kick is long inside the 5 or deeper we will stay on the goal line. If the kick is shorter we will move to the 10. We will watch the kicker in warm ups or ask the coach if his kicker can get it to the end zone. Our football director wants the goal line protected.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Tom.OH

Rich, the Ohio mechanics have the BJ on the 40, the U on the 50, R on the goal line and the L &LJ on the goal line pylons for the first free kick for each team. We then adjust for the next kick. If the first kick is long inside the 5 or deeper we will stay on the goal line. If the kick is shorter we will move to the 10. We will watch the kicker in warm ups or ask the coach if his kicker can get it to the end zone. Our football director wants the goal line protected.

1. I doubt that Rich cares right now what Ohio does.

2. He might change his mind when he learns that the OHSAA guy who instigated the "Ohio mechanic" for free kicks is chair of the NFHS rules committee for football.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Tom.OH

Rich, the Ohio mechanics have the BJ on the 40, the U on the 50, R on the goal line and the L &LJ on the goal line pylons for the first free kick for each team. We then adjust for the next kick. If the first kick is long inside the 5 or deeper we will stay on the goal line. If the kick is shorter we will move to the 10. We will watch the kicker in warm ups or ask the coach if his kicker can get it to the end zone. Our football director wants the goal line protected.

I want 3 officials on the goal line, too. I sure hope this is the new NFHS mechanic. If you've ever watched the Sumstine Aloha Classic videos, he advocates for this, as well.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I want 3 officials on the goal line, too. I sure hope this is the new NFHS mechanic. If you've ever watched the Sumstine Aloha Classic videos, he advocates for this, as well.

That seems like a lot for 5 man mechanics and for a level where most kicks do not even get close to the goal line.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That seems like a lot for 5 man mechanics and for a level where most kicks do not even get close to the goal line.

Peace

On Friday nights? We had quite a few kickers this past year that routinely kicked touchbacks. Most varsity kickers where we worked put the ball inside the 10-15 regularly.

Regardless, it's better starting on the goal line and working up than trying to pick up your blocks as the ball zips past you and potentially having to turn your head if the ball threatens the sideline. A L at the 30 having to turn to watch the ball go out of bounds behind him is pretty useless picking up illegal blocks, etc.

Putting the L and U (or whoever) on the GL (or even the 10) means if there's a short kick, they can run forward -- and regardless, the players and action will always be in *front* of them.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

On Friday nights? We had quite a few kickers this past year that routinely kicked touchbacks. Most varsity kickers where we worked put the ball inside the 10-15 regularly.

I understand that, but I think two or one official can cover that just fine. Also this also means that the ball is recovered to about the 20-35 on some level and that puts a lot of pressure on the BJ or wing to cover blocks in the middle of the field. I think that is more of a hot spot than near the GL which most Referees can cover.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Regardless, it's better starting on the goal line and working up than trying to pick up your blocks as the ball zips past you and potentially having to turn your head if the ball threatens the sideline. A L at the 30 having to turn to watch the ball go out of bounds behind him is pretty useless picking up illegal blocks, etc.

And it would be harder for guys on the 40 and 50 to do the same with blocks. Too much happens in the 10 yard part of the field that if missed would be hard to cover if they had to now follow the ball on a short kick IMO.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Putting the L and U (or whoever) on the GL (or even the 10) means if there's a short kick, they can run forward -- and regardless, the players and action will always be in *front* of them.

I would go for them moving to the 10 than on the both on the GL. Even in 7 man they put 4 officials on the 40 and 50 to cover all those blocks. Just as an experienced BJ I would hate to have to now have to cover the ball in a way I never have to under the current state mechanics we use. I guess I was not under the impression that the NF did not have officials in the place that was suggested, but that is the way we have done it for years.

Peace

[Robert Goodman]

Why not analyze this issue in terms of what's likely to be missed, how often, and how severe the consequences? Seems to me the chance of missing a touchback that should've been called when someone reaches over the plane of the goal line for the ball so it can't be seen except by an official whose eye is in that plane whether the ball broke that plane is pretty small compared to calls that might be missed elsewhere on the field. The consequences in the touchback case might be substantial, but I don't know that they'd be greater on avg. than the consequences of other blown calls on a kickoff.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I understand that, but I think two or one official can cover that just fine. Also this also means that the ball is recovered to about the 20-35 on some level and that puts a lot of pressure on the BJ or wing to cover blocks in the middle of the field. I think that is more of a hot spot than near the GL which most Referees can cover.



And it would be harder for guys on the 40 and 50 to do the same with blocks. Too much happens in the 10 yard part of the field that if missed would be hard to cover if they had to now follow the ball on a short kick IMO.



I would go for them moving to the 10 than on the both on the GL. Even in 7 man they put 4 officials on the 40 and 50 to cover all those blocks. Just as an experienced BJ I would hate to have to now have to cover the ball in a way I never have to under the current state mechanics we use. I guess I was not under the impression that the NF did not have officials in the place that was suggested, but that is the way we have done it for years.

Peace

In AZ, BJ has the kickers, LJ has the receivers, HL and U are on a pylon, R is in the middle on the goal line. If kicks are consistenly short, the U and the HL will slide up to the 10. It seems to work out well, and from looking at film, it doesn't look like we miss a lot. Whichever sideline official is across the field form the kick starts upfield and takes the blocking in front of the runner. That alleviates some of the possible gaps in coverage.

[HLin NC]

reported

[Brad]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

reported

Thanks! I've made some changes that have cut down on the spam quite a bit — looking at some long term solutions and working on getting info together for those that have volunteered to moderate (if anyone is interested, email me at [email protected])

Don't feel that you have to post "Reported" in the thread if you don't want to ... if multiple people report it, it's not a big deal. Either way is fine.

[JaxRef13672]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

That seems like a lot for 5 man mechanics and for a level where most kicks do not even get close to the goal line.

Peace

Most kicks may not get close to the goal line in your area but they certainly do in mine. 57% of all the kickoffs in my games this past year in Jacksonvile, Fl resulted in touchbacks. With the increasing leg strength of the HS kickers, I wouild like to see the touchback rule changed to be the same as the NCAA. With so many kicks going into the end zone, think R should have the ability to return the kick out of the end zone if he chooses.

Know this will never happen though with all of the recent discussion regarding elevated injury risk associated with KO returns.

[HLin NC]

57% of all the kickoffs in my games

Who charts this stuff? Who really cares enough to check it?

In hotbeds of HS football and/or soccer, there might be the odd kicker that can boot it into the end zone but in most locales, the odds would be no where close to 60%.

The passing game has increased signicantly but NC isn't close to adding 6 or 7 man crews to officiate it.

Conjecture is fun to a point but I think I'll just wait to see the new mechanics manual and how my state/area responds.