NFHS Football Rules Changes

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

The majority of the illegal blocks I see on kickoffs are on the first threat to the returner -- not up the field further. Most of those illegal blocks are inside the 20, in my experience, unless a kick is broken through the first line of defense.

But what kind of illegal are they? When you have team K running full speed past a set of blockers close to their own restraining line, the incentive to reach outside and grab someone otherwise whooshing by must be great. Those players on team R are often among the slowest on the roster, and it's hard for them to get their bodies in the path of the coverage.

[bcl1127]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But what kind of illegal are they? When you have team K running full speed past a set of blockers close to their own restraining line, the incentive to reach outside and grab someone otherwise whooshing by must be great. Those players on team R are often among the slowest on the roster, and it's hard for them to get their bodies in the path of the coverage.

BIB is very very common.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by bcl1127

BIB is very very common.

But we're looking at what RichMSN picks up most often. How do we know that he's not seeing most BiB, and missing the holds in the situation described above?

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

But what kind of illegal are they?

Mostly either BiB or BBW.

Those players on team R are often among the slowest on the roster, and it's hard for them to get their bodies in the path of the coverage.

I wonder how much high-level football you really see. R's players (at least around here) are usually among the best athletes on the team. Holding by R before the runback starts is very rare.

[bcl1127]

Originally Posted by CT1

I wonder how much high-level football you really see. R's players (at least around here) are usually among the best athletes on the team. Holding by R before the runback starts is very rare.

Agreed here...I was thinking the same thing when I read the OP

[Rich]

Originally Posted by CT1

Mostly either BiB or BBW.


I wonder how much high-level football you really see. R's players (at least around here) are usually among the best athletes on the team. Holding by R before the runback starts is very rare.

Holding is common close to the LOS on punts, typically by R players slowing up gunners. Just doesn't happen on kickoffs, IME.

Most illegal activity on kickoffs, in my experience, are close to the point of attack - either IBB or IBBW. I'd say that with the current mechanics system I personally flag at least half of those fouls. Clearly, if there's a long return, that foul can be downfield, however many of these fouls happen right around the time R catches the ball.

My point is that I think the the AZ mechanic puts the officials where I think they can see the most without sacrificing sideline / pylon coverage.

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by CT1

I wonder how much high-level football you really see. R's players (at least around here) are usually among the best athletes on the team.

I meant the ones lined up close to the neutral zone.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I meant the ones lined up close to the neutral zone.

And those are the ones I would be most concerned about. Yes contact might take place after the return, but I have yet to see an official if positioned properly that cannot tell if the ball was across the GL. Unlike college the ball is dead when it crosses the GL. To rule on that is an easy call to make. The players in that first wave often do other things that need attention that is why I would not like that change at all from having been in both positions on the field. If they changed, oh well. I am sure my crew would discuss the coverage and what is more important to observe. We did that already and covered the game just fine.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

And those are the ones I would be most concerned about. Yes contact might take place after the return, but I have yet to see an official if positioned properly that cannot tell if the ball was across the GL. Unlike college the ball is dead when it crosses the GL. To rule on that is an easy call to make. The players in that first wave often do other things that need attention that is why I would not like that change at all from having been in both positions on the field. If they changed, oh well. I am sure my crew would discuss the coverage and what is more important to observe. We did that already and covered the game just fine.

Peace

Except I don't really care about the coverage on the GL -- it's the fact that an L or U *must* turn his head if the ball threatens the sideline behind him or the pylon that bothers me -- it essentially takes an official completely out of the play and takes him away from watching players even near to him.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Except I don't really care about the coverage on the GL -- it's the fact that an L or U *must* turn his head if the ball threatens the sideline behind him or the pylon that bothers me -- it essentially takes an official completely out of the play and takes him away from watching players even near to him.

I guess it depends on how you are taught and what the focus of the crew is. We often had the U at the GL when needed based on the kicker's ability. So it is not totally uncommon early to have two officials on the GL which I feel is more than enough in a 5 Man mechanic. Then the L is further down field as the BJ is on his side and he is around the 30 or deeper.

And maybe I am missing something, but you suggested that the BJ and the LJ would take the ball closer to the neutral zone on shorter kicks and get down field. If that is wrong please let me know, but I would think that would be a mistake as they usually see the first wave and all the wedge breaking that takes place often. I just know that this area is where cheap shots and head hunting takes place. I just do not want to take forward progress until the ball gets to us or follow the ball when blocks a players with a brick are going to be our main concern in that part of the field. If this was college I would agree with that mechanic a little more.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I guess it depends on how you are taught and what the focus of the crew is. We often had the U at the GL when needed based on the kicker's ability. So it is not totally uncommon early to have two officials on the GL which I feel is more than enough in a 5 Man mechanic. Then the L is further down field as the BJ is on his side and he is around the 30 or deeper.

And maybe I am missing something, but you suggested that the BJ and the LJ would take the ball closer to the neutral zone on shorter kicks and get down field. If that is wrong please let me know, but I would think that would be a mistake as they usually see the first wave and all the wedge breaking that takes place often. I just know that this area is where cheap shots and head hunting takes place. I just do not want to take forward progress until the ball gets to us or follow the ball when blocks a players with a brick are going to be our main concern in that part of the field. If this was college I would agree with that mechanic a little more.

Peace

No, I would have the L/U/R (whichever makes sense) take progress -- it means that the L/U/R will have to be mobile enough to trail the runner.

I think this comes full circle to the OP, though. With the new rules in place on running starts and blocking, I'd be happy putting 3 officials at the 40/50 and moving the R out to one of the pylons with the U on the other.

Let's face it, with 5 officials we're never going to have ideal KO coverage.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Robert Goodman

I meant the ones lined up close to the neutral zone.

I can't think of the last time I enforced a holding call against an R player near the NZ on a kickoff return. It just doesn't happen around here. The fouls we typically see on KOs happen just before or just after the return man receives the ball.