South Dakota High School Activities Association

Transcription

1 South Dakota High School Activities Association September 24, 2015 Author: Buck Timmins Teachable Moments COACHES, each week take at least 5 minutes out of your practice to talk to your players about Good Sportsmanship and Playing Within the Rules. Remind players about being a Good Citizen. All of these things go hand-in-hand in being a well respected student athlete. The time and effort you put in building good character of young people is more likely to help them overcome difficulties in life and be responsible citizens than anything else you may cover. Make players aware of your philosophy and your expectations pertaining to how they represent your program, school and community; hopefully the dividends will outweigh the unwanted. OFFICIALS, you are responsible for your actions on and off the field. You are held to a higher standard. It is important that all officials enforce the rules, manage games and build relationships through consistent and appropriate behavior. Each game deserves your maximum effort. No matter what level of play you officiate, no matter what the score may be or the time remaining in the game, you must have a dedicated purpose. Mandatory Player Equipment The NFHS Football Rules Committee has emphasized that player equipment must be worn for the protection of the athletes. Tooth and mouth protectors shall be of any readily visible color, and may not be completely white or completely clear. The rules committte is encouraging a renewed focus by both coaches and game offiicals to make sure that pants are worn properly to completely cover the knee. Coaches and officials must remember that high school players are apt to mimic what they see collegiate or professional players doing on television. Coaches need to make sure that equipment handed out to players is properly fitted and continues to properly fit throughout the season. The head coach shoulders this responsibility because the coach is required to verify that all of the team's players are legally equipped. Officials have the responsibility to prohibit the players from participating until they become legally equipped. Coaches and officials must work together to make the game as safe as possible for the athletes participating by requiring compliance with equipment rules. Coin Toss If the coin toss or simulated coin toss is conducted three minutes prior to the scheduled starting time on the field of play, no more than four team captains per team, in uniform, are allowed on the field of play. Any selected non uniform players (injured

2 captain, seniors NOT IN UNIFORM) or special selected coin toss individual may be involved in the coin toss. All other team personnel in game uniform must be either in their respective sidelines or in the end zone. This applies to the coin toss to start the game and any overtime procedure. Rule The SDHSAA, however, allows the coin toss to be held before the three minute mark. If the coin toss is held before the three minute mark the coin toss should be held off the field so teams can continue with their warm-up exercises/drills. Forward/Backward Passes A pass is forward if it is thrown with its initial direction toward the opponent s end line. It is also a forward pass if a defensive player contacts the passer or the ball after the passer has started his arm forward. Only one forward pass may be thrown during a down. A forward pass has crossed the neutral zone when the entire ball is beyond the neutral zone. It makes no difference how a pass is thrown it can be overhand, underhand, between the legs, with two hands, whatever: As long as the player starts his arm forward and the ball leaves the passers hand, it is a forward pass. A forward pass is illegal if it is thrown when the passer is beyond the neutral zone; it is thrown by either team after a change of team possession during a down; it is the second forward pass by Team A during the down. A backward pass is one which does not meet the requirements of a forward pass. If the initial direction is not forward, it is backward. A grounded backward pass is a live ball. Except when the ball is handed directly to the quarterback, a snap is a backward pass. Officiating the Backward Pass On passing plays, the Referee observes blocking by the backs as the quarterback drops back. The Referee should move to maintain the 12- to 14- yard distance between himself and the quarterback (e.g. if the quarterback drops back seven yards, the Referee retreats seven yards at a 45 degree angle from the quarterback maintaining spacing between himself and the quarterback. The wider view allows the Referee to determine if the pass is forward or backward yet to continue to focus attention on the passer. The Referee will use an extended arm towards the offensive team s backfield to indicate a backward pass. Wing officials: when you read pass, do not be too quick to release downfield be patient. Read your keys. Be prepared to determine whether a quick pass thrown toward you is forward or backward and to assist the umpire if he needs help in ruling whether or not a pass crosses the line of scrimmage. When in question, it is a forward pass. If you determine the quick pass is a backward pass you need to punch your arm toward the offensive backfield to alert the other officials the pass is backwards. As a crew during your pre-game discussions, talk about how the crew is going to rule whether a pass is forward or backwards. Only rule an incomplete pass if the pass is thrown in your area of coverage and the ball has bounced at least two times on the field. Five Referees? Believe It! Football officials need to review the article Five Referees? Believe It! on Pages 15 & 16 of the Football Preseason Guide The referee of the defense. The referee of first downs. The referee of the line-to-gain equipment. The referee of the ball. The referee of the referees.

3 Review the specific information in the article as a crew as you travel to your next game. The greatest single thing you can do to help improve your officiating is gain a better understanding of the game itself. An important element of football officiating is developing trust in yourself and your crewmates. Communicate with your crewmates by developing an understanding of your crewmate s keys and position movements. Using Tobacco or Smokeless Tobacco Rule 9-5-1g states that it is an unsportsmanlike foul if coaches and players use tobacco or smokeless tobacco. The penalty for possessing or using tobacco is cause for immediate ejection. Officials need to be aware of how they are perceived, both on and off the field. Being professional includes portraying the image of a professional. Officials are role models who appreciate being respected. Using smokeless tobacco does nothing to the coaches or student athlete s perception of officials. Officials are not to use tobacco on a school campus (locker room or game field) as the campus is a tobacco-free environment. Tick/Marks (9 Yard Marks) Any Team A player who participated in the previous down and any substitute of Team A must have been between the tick marks sometime after the ball is marked ready for play and before the snap. Football fields must have markings called tick marks located 9 yards from the sideline (seven yard if playing on 80-yard field). These tick marks may coincide with the top of numbers or fields which are marked with field numbers. The rule for players to be inside the tick marks only applies to Team A, which is the offensive team. The rule DOES NOT apply to Team B the defensive team; Team K for a team kicking off; or Team R the receiving team. A team in scrimmage kick formation (punt, PAT or FG) is considered to be Team A so they must conform to the tick mark rule. Team A becomes Team K when it legally kicks the football Numbering Exception On first, second, or third down, when Team A sets or shifts into a scrimmage-kick formation, the snapper may be a player numbered 1 to 49 or 80 to 99. If Team A has the snapper in the game under this exception, Team A shall have at least four players wearing numbers on its line of scrimmage. The snapper in the game under this exception must be between the ends and is an ineligible forward pass receiver during that down unless the pass is touched by Team B (7-5-6b). On fourth down or during a kick try, when Team A sets or shifts into a scrimmagekick formation, any Team A player numbered 1 to 49 or 80 to 99 may take the position of any Team A player numbered 50 to 79. A player in the game under this exception must assume an initial position on the line of scrimmage between the ends and he remains an ineligible forward-pass receiver during that down unless the pass is touched by Team B. If a place kick is used for a try, it is a scrimmage kick and the numbering exception may be used. Helmet Comes Off During Down Rule d, a player whose helmet comes completely off during the down without being attributable to a foul will be treated as an official s timeout and handled the same as an injured or bleeding player. The player must sit out one down unless the halftime or an

4 overtime intermission occurs. Players who leave the game under those circumstances may not buy their way back into the game with a charged team time-out. If, however, a foul directly leads to the helmet coming off, the fouled player may remain in the game. If the player whose helmet comes completely off is in possession of the ball, the ball becomes dead immediately per Rule 4-2-2K. But if it is another player, the ball remains live SITUATION K: In attempting to tackle A1, B1 s helmet comes completely off. A1 does not go down and he runs for a touchdown. RULING: The score stands. Play is not stopped and the ball does not become dead if the helmet comes off any player other than the player in possession of the ball. (4-2-2k) Illegal Participation/Illegal Substitution 12 Players On The Field If either the offensive or defensive team has 12 players on the field, there are times when the infraction is a dead-ball foul (illegal substitution, five yards) and other times when it a live-ball foul (illegal participation, 15 yards). The difference is a matter of recognition by the football official. By rule a replaced player must begin to leave the field within three seconds. Thus, if the official s count reveals more than 11 players prior to the snap, it is immediately a deadball foul because it is obvious a replaced player(s) did not leave as required. If the official counts 12 or more Team A or Team B players on the field and he is sure his count is accurate: Before the snap, it is a dead-ball, illegal substitution foul (five yards). The official should prevent the play to avoid a foul for illegal participation (15 yards). After the snap, play continues. That is a live-ball, illegal-participation foul (15 yards) unless the 12 th player tried to get off the field before the snap but didn t get off the field until right after the snap, in which case it is a live-ball foul for illegal substitution (five yards) Pen. PLAY: Team A breaks their huddle and moves to the line. As the quarterback is barking signals, the referee counts 11 Team A players on the field. Suddenly, A42 enters the field and no Team A player departs. RULING: Team A must be given an opportunity for the replaced player to attempt to depart. Three seconds is allowed. If after that time, no Team A player attempts to depart and the ball has not been snapped, throw the flag and blow the whistle for the dead-ball foul (illegal substitution, five yards). If the snap occurs before the limit is reached, throw the flag (illegal participation, 15 yards), but allow the play to continue. Each team is responsible for substituting legally and having replaced players leave immediately (9-6-4c). Momentum Exception The momentum exception allows Team B or Team R players to make positive plays close to their goal line without fear of giving up a safety. The momentum exception applies to all types of loose balls. Also, backward passes, fumbles, and muffs need only be recovered not necessarily caught for the rule to apply. It is not a safety when a defensive player intercepts an opponent s forward pass; intercepts or recovers an opponent s fumble or backward pass between his 5-yard line and the goal line, and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where the ball is

5 declared dead in his team s possession or it goes out of bounds in the end zone. In that case, the ball belongs to Team B at the spot where the pass or fumble was intercepted or recovered (8-5-2a Exception) It is important for officials to recognize a momentum situation and to beanbag the spot where possession is achieved. For the exception to apply, original momentum must be the cause of the ball entering the end zone. If the covering official judges the player voluntarily carried the ball across the goal line, the regular rules apply and the play may result in a safety. What happens after the ball enters the end zone is inconsequential, providing the ball never leaves the end zone and Team B or Team R has possession in the end zone. If the player runs around in the end zone but the ball remains in the end zone the exception still applies. Play: Scrimmage kick from R's 40-yard line going in. The ball lands at R's 10-yard line and is bouncing towards R's goal line. K34 sprinting downfield, catches the ball on one of the bounces at the 3-yard line with both feet on the ground and attempts to stop but slides (with both feet on the ground and the ball in his arms) from the 3-yard line into the end zone. Does momentum apply or does R get the ball 1st and 10 on the 20 after a touchback? Ruling: Momentum is not a factor since a K player secured possession of the ball. Rule a Exception. Once the kick is possessed by a Team K player, the ball becomes dead. Rule 4-2-2f. R s ball, 1st and 10 from their 3-yard line. Case Book Situation F. Simultaneous Catch A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is joint possession of a live ball by opposing team players inbounds (2-4-3). A catch is gaining custody of the ball in flight. The ball is usually loose from a pass, kick or fumble. A recovery occurs when a participant firmly grasps the ball after it contacts the ground. That could be after a fumble, muff or kick. Simultaneous catch rules are the same for forward and backward passes. If either pass type is caught at the same time by opposite team players, the ball is declared dead and is awarded to the team that threw the pass. The rules for a simultaneous catch also apply to joint recovery of a fumble. When that happens, the team that fumbled retains possession. In order for there to be a simultaneous catch, opposing players must have simultaneous joint possession, and both must be in contact with the ground inbounds. The players contact with the ground does not have to be exactly simultaneous. Kicking Ball There is NO such thing as a kicking ball in high school football. Only the NFL has specific balls for kicking. Officials need to approve the game balls prior to the game and check for the National Federation Authenticating Mark. Schools normally have three game balls approved, but there is nothing in the rules that suggest all three balls must be the same brand or model. As long as the crew has approved the game balls, use a normal rotation to bring balls into the game. For example, when the play ends in a side zone, a long incomplete forward pass or weather conditions warrant. NEVER allow a different or specific game ball to be brought in for kicking situations. Use the game ball in play or the game ball that would normally be rotated into the game. Officials can grant a request to change from rubber to leather or vice versa only for a free kick or to start a series. If weather conditions warrant a switch, the officials can make a switch from one leather ball to another or from one rubber ball to another within a series.

6 Officials Quiz 2015 Question 1: First and 20 at Team A s 20-yard line. A1 s legal forward pass is intercepted by B2 at Team A s 45-yard line. B2 is tackled inbounds at Team A s 10-yard line. While A1 s pass was in the air, B3 was flagged for defensive pass interference at Team A s 40- yard line. If Team A accepts the penalty for defensive pass interference, what is the next down and distance? Question 2: A37 is lined up as a slot in the gap between the right tackle and A89, the widest man on the line of scrimmage. While in a three-point stance, A37 notices he is in noman s-land, neither on the line nor in the backfield. He moves back to get into the backfield and re-sets. Is this a legal play? Question 3: Second and 30 from Team A s 30 yard line. A1 s forward pass is grabbed near the sideline at Team A s 40 yard line by airborne eligible A2, who jumps straight into the air. B5 then shoves A2 so he lands out of bounds. In the covering official s opinion, if B5 had not contact A2 he would have landed inbounds. Do you have a completed catch? Question 4: On a try from Team R s 3-yard line, Team R has 12 players on the field at the snap. The kick fails. After the ball is dead, K2 commits a personal foul. How are the penalties enforced? Question 5: Before the snap and with the game clock running, B67 jumps into the neutral zone before the ball is snapped. Offensive lineman A72 reacts to B67, and lifts up out of his stance? How are the penalties enforced? Question 6: Fourth and 10 for Team K from team R s 30-yardline. An untouched punt is bouncing inside R s two yard line. What is the ruling if K1 recovers the ball (a) with one foot on the goal line and the other in the field of play, (b) standing on the goal line with both feet, or (c) lying down with his left side on the goal line. In none of those situations does the ball break the plane of the goal line and it s over team R s one yard line when the ball is recovered. Would the ruling change if the kick were a field goal? Question 7: During the first quarter, Team A has the ball second and nine at its own 21- yard line. Runner A1 advances to Team B s 28-yard line and fumbles. The ball bounces high into the air. B2 leaps, grabs the ball while he is airborne and returns to the ground touching the sideline at Team A s 30 yard line. Which team will put the next in play and at what yard line? Question 8: Scrimmage kick from R's 40-yard line going in. The ball lands at R's 10-yard line and is bouncing towards R's goal line. K34 sprinting downfield, catches the ball on one of the bounces at the 3-yard line with both feet on the ground and attempts to stop but slides (with both feet on the ground and the ball in his arms) from the 3-yard line into the end zone. Does momentum apply or does R get the ball 1st and 10 on the 20 after a touchback? Question 9: Near the end of the third quarter, A7 runs up the middle and is brought to the ground by B32 s facemask foul inbounds. The played ended with :04 seconds left in the quarter. After the penalty for Team B s facemask foul is enforced, the referee starts the game clock with time expiring. Is this the correct procedure by the referee? Question 10: First and 10 from team A s 30 yard line. A1 takes the snap and throws a backward pass to A7, who is at team A s 28 yard line. The ball bounces off A7 and hits the ground at team A s 32 yard line. Since the ball hit the ground beyond the line of scrimmage, is that an incomplete forward pass?

7 Football Officials Or Coaches Concerns If you have any play situations during your games that officials statewide should know about to help them become better officials, please send plays to be included in weekly bulletins. If you have questions about rule interpretation, please forward your concerns to or call me at (home) (cell). If you have any questions or comments about any information you will receive this football season--please forward your concern to me. If you have any ideas for newsletter topics that would benefit all the SDHSAA officials, please let me know your topic(s). Quiz Answers Ruling 1: It will be Team A s ball, first and five at its own 35-yard line. The clock starts on the ready. Defensive pass interference does NOT include an automatic first down. Ruling 2: This is a legal play. A37 is not an interior lineman and is thus not restricted. Ruling 3: Incomplete pass because A2 landed out of bounds. Ruling 4: Both penalties are enforced in the order they occurred. The try is replayed from Team B s 16 1/2 yard line. Ruling 5: Dead ball foul for encroachment by B67, clock starts on the ready-for-play. Foul by A72 would not be enforced as his actions happened after the encroachment. Ruling 6: Regardless of the type of kick, the position of the ball, not a player s feet, determines the status of the ball. Under NFHS rules, in (a), (b) and (c), Team R would start a new series, first and 10 at its own one yard line. The ruling would not change if a field goal attempt were involved. Ruling 7: It will be first and ten for Team A from its 30-yard line. The ball is spotted at inbounds spot on the yard line where the ball crossed the sideline plane. To complete a catch or recovery, an airborne player must first touch the ground with any part of his body inbound. Ruling 8: Momentum is not a factor since a K player secured possession of the ball. Rule 8-5-2a Exception. Once the kick is possessed by a Team K player, the ball becomes dead. Rule 4-2-2f. R s ball, 1st and 10 from their 3-yard line. Case Book Situation F. Ruling 9: The quarter is not extended with an untimed down as time did not expire during the down. Teams would change ends of the field and Team A next snaps the ball to start the 4 th quarter. The clock would start on the ready-for-play signal. Ruling 10: That is a backward pass that turned into a muff. The ball remains live. The initial direction of A1 s pass was backward; the ball retains that status until it is either caught or recovered. Either team A or team B could recover and advance the ball (NFHS 2-27, , , 7-4-2;