Onside kick rule question

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by SC Official

NFHS: K may not touch a free kick in flight unless blocked into the kick, even if no receiver is in position to catch the kick (KCI). Once the ball has touched the ground and gone 10 yards, K may recover it.

Under the NFHS code, the governing rules are "Catch" (NF: 2-4) and "Recovery" (NF: 2-36) which apply to kicks.

The practice of immediately driving the ball into the ground (hopefully) creating the "big bounce" over the receiving team's front line, is designed to eliminate many of the benefits afforded to "catching" the kick.

The practice can cause confusion with deep officials, who may not see the initial contact with the ground, underscoring the importance of ASSIGNING the responsibility of OBSERVING the path of the ball to one of the "Up" (depending on configuration) officials, who may have the necessity of communicating with "deep" officials regarding flags thrown, that may need to be reconsidered because of the immediate ball grounding.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by ajmc

The practice can cause confusion with deep officials, who may not see the initial contact with the ground, underscoring the importance of ASSIGNING the responsibility of OBSERVING the path of the ball to one of the "Up" (depending on configuration) officials, who may have the necessity of communicating with "deep" officials regarding flags thrown, that may need to be reconsidered because of the immediate ball grounding.

This is another reason Rogers gave for treating the immediate high bouncer and an airborne kick the same. It's not always easy to tell the difference since it happens so quickly.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

This is another reason Rogers gave for treating the immediate high bouncer and an airborne kick the same. It's not always easy to tell the difference since it happens so quickly.

Which is EXACTLY whay it is important that a specific "Up" official should be DESIGNATED to observe EACH/EVERY kick.

When there may be confusion on the deeper end resulting in an inaccurate assessment, that "Up" official is responsible to add the proper information to the discussion and final assessment.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by ajmc

Which is EXACTLY whay it is important that a specific "Up" official should be DESIGNATED to observe EACH/EVERY kick.

When there may be confusion on the deeper end resulting in an inaccurate assessment, that "Up" official is responsible to add the proper information to the discussion and final assessment.

But even the experienced D1 "up" official can't always tell if the ball went straight up or straight into the ground. It happens so fast. This took away the need to worry about that.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

But even the experienced D1 "up" official can't always tell if the ball went straight up or straight into the ground. It happens so fast. This took away the need to worry about that.

The skill required to properly execute a free kick immediately into the ground, so that it subsequently bounces over the R restraining line players (which under NFHS Rules satisfies both requirements for making recovery and possession of the kick by either team legal), is a relatively NEW SKILL that is progressing and spreading, quickly.

To eliminate the confusion you seem concerned about, either of the "up" officials (usually the HL) is ASSIGNED the RESPONSIBILITY of DETERMINING whether EACH kick is first DRIVEN into the ground, or not and is subsequently shared with any "down field" officials who may have observed perceived violations, that would properly be DISCOUNTED due to the initial GROUNDING of the kick.

This Mechanics adjustment, thus far, seems to have effectively eliminated enforcement confusions in NFHS contests.

[bisonlj]

Originally Posted by ajmc

The skill required to properly execute a free kick immediately into the ground, so that it subsequently bounces over the R restraining line players (which under NFHS Rules satisfies both requirements for making recovery and possession of the kick by either team legal), is a relatively NEW SKILL that is progressing and spreading, quickly.

To eliminate the confusion you seem concerned about, either of the "up" officials (usually the HL) is ASSIGNED the RESPONSIBILITY of DETERMINING whether EACH kick is first DRIVEN into the ground, or not and is subsequently shared with any "down field" officials who may have observed perceived violations, that would properly be DISCOUNTED due to the initial GROUNDING of the kick.

This Mechanics adjustment, thus far, seems to have effectively eliminated enforcement confusions in NFHS contests.

I guess this means you are smarter than Rogers Redding. His words not mine.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

I guess this means you are smarter than Rogers Redding. His words not mine.

Yep.

There was a very good reason why this was changed.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by bisonlj

I guess this means you are smarter than Rogers Redding. His words not mine.

Not at all, Mr. Reddings words referenced, and were apprently intended for NCAA level rules, which generally apply to a higher skill set, presenting different challenges, than those experienced at the NFHS level.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by ajmc

The skill required to properly execute a free kick immediately into the ground, so that it subsequently bounces over the R restraining line players (which under NFHS Rules satisfies both requirements for making recovery and possession of the kick by either team legal), is a relatively NEW SKILL that is progressing and spreading, quickly.

To eliminate the confusion you seem concerned about, either of the "up" officials (usually the HL) is ASSIGNED the RESPONSIBILITY of DETERMINING whether EACH kick is first DRIVEN into the ground, or not and is subsequently shared with any "down field" officials who may have observed perceived violations, that would properly be DISCOUNTED due to the initial GROUNDING of the kick.

This Mechanics adjustment, thus far, seems to have effectively eliminated enforcement confusions in NFHS contests.

The UNNECESSARY and seemingly RANDOM bolding of words makes it rATHer diffiCULT To read your posts.

[ajmc]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

The UNNECESSARY and seemingly RANDOM bolding of words makes it rATHer diffiCULT To read your posts.

Apologies for confusing you, Mike. Actually the bolding of certain words is not "intended" to be random, rather to call attention to specifics related to the subject. Perhaps if you considered those highlighted words, as significantto the process discussed, comprehension of the intent would be clearer.