National Federation New Kickoff Mechanics

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by bcl1127

I am glad I will get to stay at the 30 and keep the coverage as it was. But moving the U seems odd. Cannot wait to see some of the U's chasing after a long return down their sideline...

If you are doing it right the U should have a shorter run. The deep official should have forward progress to the K2 and the K/R official would work like a deep wing and get to the goal line on a break away. Using that mechanic the U should have gone from the R20 (or deeper as many do) to the K2 (78 yards). Now they only have to go from the 50 to the goal line (50 yards). If you did some handoff of the runner around mid-field then you weren't using a solid mechanic.

I think it makes complete sense for the L to work deep since it is most like his normal position on running plays. I always thought it was odd that as a U I normally worked in the middle but on free kicks I was now on the sideline and had to rule on forward progress.

[bcl1127]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

If you are doing it right the U should have a shorter run. The deep official should have forward progress to the K2 and the K/R official would work like a deep wing and get to the goal line on a break away. Using that mechanic the U should have gone from the R20 (or deeper as many do) to the K2 (78 yards). Now they only have to go from the 50 to the goal line (50 yards). If you did some handoff of the runner around mid-field then you weren't using a solid mechanic.

Well, our state has told us, and the official 5-man mechanics guide on our states website has the runners "handed off" to the BJ and in the old mechanic the LJ and the U and L clean up behind the play. So I am just going by what is done in our state and what I was taught from day one about kickoffs. If you don't think it is solid (personally I do and I guess our state does as well) I guess that is your opinion, but I was going by what we are taught.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by bcl1127

Well, our state has told us, and the official 5-man mechanics guide on our states website has the runners "handed off" to the BJ and in the old mechanic the LJ and the U and L clean up behind the play. So I am just going by what is done in our state and what I was taught from day one about kickoffs. If you don't think it is solid (personally I do and I guess our state does as well) I guess that is your opinion, but I was going by what we are taught.

It's not a horrible option and you should definitely do what your state/assigner tells you to do. Once I learned how this is handled in 7-man mechanics (where 2 officials remain on the sideline as well) that made a lot more sense to me. If you pass it off to the other official, he's going to have to work in front of the runner rather than behind the runner (optimal in every other situation) in order to beat the runner to the goal line.

[jTheUmp]

Last night I was at a training clinic done by the Minnesota State High School League.

The new kickoff mechanic came up in discussion, and our head rules interpreter called it "the stupidest thing he's ever read" and told us that we're going to continue to use the old mechanic in MN.

So, there you go.

[SE Minnestoa Re]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Last night I was at a training clinic done by the Minnesota State High School League.

The new kickoff mechanic came up in discussion, and our head rules interpreter called it "the stupidest thing he's ever read" and told us that we're going to continue to use the old mechanic in MN.

So, there you go.

The online meeting of the MSHSL says we are going to use the new mechanics. I have a game next Friday (Week zero) so my crew would be interested if we are using the new mechanic or not.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

Last night I was at a training clinic done by the Minnesota State High School League.

The new kickoff mechanic came up in discussion, and our head rules interpreter called it "the stupidest thing he's ever read" and told us that we're going to continue to use the old mechanic in MN.

So, there you go.

What's so stupid about it?

[hawktalk]

Fed's covert attempt to move to smaller, quicker, more agile umpires?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by hawktalk

Fed's covert attempt to move to smaller, quicker, more agile umpires?

Officials should be quick and agile anyway. And I honestly do not see why this is a big deal in the first place. The Umpire had to do something they were not doing in the old mechanic. And if they do their job they will be ahead of the play anyway.

Also there are very few plays that this will affect. I doubt any crew will have more than 1 or 2 where it is an issue during the season.

Peace

[Forksref]

My game last Friday gave me a good number of looks at this new mechanic. (9 kickoffs)

The new rule prohibits blocking by K until the ball goes 10 yds. My decades of experience tells me that this hasn’t occurred and the new mechanic is trying to protect against something that doesn’t happen. If it didn’t happen when it was legal then why expect it to happen when it is not legal now? The problem is that the L is now 50 yds away from the R who must stay at the GL. In our game Friday we had trouble getting accurate spots on returns on the chain side because the L was so far away at the kick. As R, I have to trail the play and not get even with the runner. This is not a good mechanic and Minnesota has now told its officials NOT to use the mechanic. I agree.

If there is an obvious on-side kick situation, then we have 4 guys on those 2 lines anyway.

[BigBaldGuy]

I stopped questioning a long time ago why the NFHS does things...just roll with the punches. My job is to follow their rules and mechanics.

[ODJ]

The new blocking rule is meant to protect kids during an on-side or pooch kick. Too many injuries, and disadvantage, was caused by K plowing into R to clear out during the kick. A broad rule aimed at a specific problem.

[HLin NC]

But therein lies the rub, ODJ. In my mechanic, the HL is at R's restraining line. In 14 years of varsity ball, I have never seen the "problem" that you allege. Most of the coaches I have worked with so far wonder where in the world the change came from and who felt it was necessary?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

But therein lies the rub, ODJ. In my mechanic, the HL is at R's restraining line. In 14 years of varsity ball, I have never seen the "problem" that you allege. Most of the coaches I have worked with so far wonder where in the world the change came from and who felt it was necessary?

Talk to the coach who OSK's on every free kick.

[Forksref]

Originally Posted by ODJ

The new blocking rule is meant to protect kids during an on-side or pooch kick. Too many injuries, and disadvantage, was caused by K plowing into R to clear out during the kick. A broad rule aimed at a specific problem.

I have no problem with the rule. It's the mechanic that makes no sense on 99% of kickoffs. When we see an obvious on-side kick situation we put 4 guys on the restraining lines anyway.

When you have a state association thinking the mechanic is stupid, it is time for the FED to reassess the mechanic.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Forksref

I have no problem with the rule. It's the mechanic that makes no sense on 99% of kickoffs. When we see an obvious on-side kick situation we put 4 guys on the restraining lines anyway.

When you have a state association thinking the mechanic is stupid, it is time for the FED to reassess the mechanic.

Well considering that many states already take that position with other things, then not sure why this would make the FED do anything differently?

Peace