High School PI
 

4th and 16. PI called on the D.

I thought that was an automatic first down. They walked off 15 and replayed 4th down.

Am I confusing a pro rule?

Nope, you're right. DPI is an auto-first down.

Are you sure they didn't call a PF instead, though?

Broadcasters said the DB went through the receiver and that's why PI was called.

Therein lies your problem. :)

You have to be very cautious in listening to broadcasters about much of anything when it come to rules. And if you did not see this on TV and heard this on radio then be really cautious. I am not saying they were totally wrong, but most officials know that DPI is an automatic first down and if they did not give a first down for a penalty, then it likely was something else. And without a microphone on the Referee I do not trust broadcasters to get things right in many situations unless it is your typical holding call and even those they get wrong.

Peace

Agreed . However, the flag was thrown by the official who was behind the play and thrown at the area where the contact took place. Seemed strange.

Thanks for your replies.

Broadcasters may not be our favorite people, but I would expect in this case even if it wasn't DPI, it would have been likely based on the factors you mentioned. Did you see the R's signal?

Most people including broadcasters think that any penalty in excess of 10 and even 5 yds is an automatic first down. I can't blame them too much since when I watch NCAA or NFL that there are many more automatics there.

What I CAN blame them for is pretending to know anything about the rule book.:)

No, I wasn't there. I've asked a few people and they all said the call was DPI.

Regardless, thanks for all of the replies . Maybe they just kicked it.

Maybe the crew kicked it, or maybe the people reporting did. It might also have been a holding call, which does not carry an auto 1st down in HS rules.

In that case, they kicked the yardage enforcement.

If the report of the penalty is accurate, then that's true. But it's also possible that the foul was holding, the reporter thought it was DPI, and assumed that the penalty was enforced 15 yards.

Somebody who can't tell a holding foul from DPI might just as easily mistake a 10 yard enforcement for 15.

This is all speculation, of course, but as long as we're all guessing what happened I like to throw in a guess that includes the crew being completely correct. ;)

Happened just the other night when we had a five yard face mask in our game. The PA guy announced an automatic first down which we all know isn't the case. The yardage gained from the penalty resulted in a first down. PA guys should stick to stuff they know. Would make our lives a little easier.

Or give your white hat a mic and let him explain it.

I had a game on steaming video where we had 4 penalties on one play.

First one happen at the snap for an illegal formation. The second happen after the ball was punted and returned, there was a holding call (on receiving team). Then after the play was over we had two dead ball penalties, one a PF the other a USC against the receiving team. The broadcasters went on a rant about the illegal formation and said that "Nothing can happen after that penalty is called." Now this sequence was a total screw up on many levels as I the WH had to give this penalty sequence 3 times and took 7 minutes. Coach was told some wrong information by a crew member and we eventually got it right after 7 minutes, but the broadcasters of the game made it sound like no other penalty could take place but the first one. Eventually they understood what we did at the end, but when the public hears certain things they take it as law. Just another example why I am sometimes skeptical when announcers say things.

Peace