The College football contest on Saturday was another example of how disappointing the game can be at the Community College level. Long time readers may recall my ranting about just how poor game administration can be at some facilities. Combine this with behavior by the players and you have ingredients for a crappy game. Saturday's game was crappy.
A total of ninety-three points were scored (38-55), there were a total of thirty (30) fouls, ten(10) of which were Personal Fouls, two (2) Unsportsmanlike Conduct, and a player Disqualification (Ejection). So, nearly 50% of the fouls were by players acting STUPID and not playing football.
In the second quarter, the Referee approached each sideline and asked the coaches to control their teams. In the third quarter, we actually stopped the game and brought the coaches to the middle of the field and directed them to control their teams. Pretty sad to have to do this with 'adults' who are not playing the game for money.
I was the official who ejected a player for throwing a punch.
All during the game the 25-second clock was malfunctioning. We finally just kept the play clock on the field. Before the game started we had to wait twenty minutes before we could get into our locker room. This delayed our pre-game preparation. Then after the warm-up period before the game begins the teams usually go back to the locker rooms. Neither locker was open and the two teams were mingling in the same area outside the stadium. We had stand between the teams to prevent any possible altercations.
What made this a bit uneasy is our jurisdiction pretty much only applies to the field. So, now were our outside the stadium. I'm not really sure what the protocol should be here, but we thought it best to do preventative officiating.
There was a very interesting play
This is play very interesting and we still do not know what the right answer is. During the game we did not flag this is action as a foul. While having beers after the game I think we convinced ourselves we wanted this to be a foul, but could not find anything in the rule book to state this was a foul. Here is the situation.
The visitors have lined-up for Field Goal on fourth down. They line-up with these huge splits between the center and the next lineman... like, five yard splits. The have a kicker, holder, and two personal protectors -- odd. And then the other three players spread out wide. If you are paying attention you will notice there are only ten players on the field.
The Referee and I both indicate there are only ten on the field. This is odd, but no big deal. The snap goes off and its going to be a fake Field Goal... ok, haven't seen one of these in a long time. And all of a sudden, the holder throws the ball thirty yards downfield to some receiver who came out no where. The Referee and I look at one another and chase down the Linesman. When we asked if this player had substituted properly. He said he was a player who was part of the previous play. But the team ran a group of people off the field for the field goal attempt. Something looked funny.
Rule 9-2-2-b says "not simulated replacements or substitutions may be used to confuse opponents. No tactic associated with substitutes or the substitution process may be used to confuse opponents.
In the back of the college rule book there is a section called Interpretations. The Interpretations are play examples that help explain the rules. One of the Interpretation related to this play reads as follows; "A1 leaves the field of play during a down. Team A (the offense) huddles with 10 players. Substitute A12 enters, and A2 simulates leaving the field but sets near the sideline for a "hide out" pass." This is considered a simulated replacement to confuse the opponent and is a 15 yard penalty for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
I think we blew it on this play. The team gained about 25 yards and made the first down. They scored the next play. Since the score was 38-55 is didn't change the outcome, but I think we let them get away with it.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Monday, September 20, 2010
It's Simply a Plane
On a non-football note, I begin a new job this week and expect to have more time to blog. My previous job was 100 miles from home and it required me to burn the candle at both ends. One must do what one must do these days, but at least I can find more of a work-life-balance now.
High School
Friday night I was fortunate to work the 'big' high school game of the week. The game ended with a final score of 19-20 and came down to a last minute hail Mary pass. This kid must have thrown the ball seventy yards. Amazing. The visitors scored 42 and 47 yard field goals which is pretty darn good for high school. But, unfortunately for the visitors, this same young man missed the extra point that would have tied the game.
We used six-man mechanics during the game instead of our usual five-man mechanics. This didn't really impact our game performance, but on big games like this one, it does make the game easier to manage. Unless your an Umpire (me) working as a Side Judge.
The Side Judge is a deep official working on the sideline, about 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, on the defensive side of the ball. My primary responsibility are the pass receivers on my side side of the field. Typically, when you see a pass interference flag it is the Side Judge (or the counter part on the opposite side of the field – the Field Judge) making the call.
The other major responsibility occurs during scrimmage kicks (punts). Most of the time the SJ focuses on the blockers and the FJ focuses on the kick receiver. During this game I found myself 'ball watching' and may have missed a block in the back. I saw the tail end of the collision, but I did not see the whole act. I did see the block on TV that night I think it was one of those blocks that looks 'bad', but technically is not a block in the back. These happen all the time. I just really can't be sure and wish I could have the game film to see if I missed it.
Onside Kick
I did make a big call during an onside kick. Boy, the crowd went crazy on this one. The visitors has just scored to make the score 19-20 and there was only about 4 minutes remaining. They lined up, kicked the ball, and were offside (encroachment is the foul in high school). I was a little late on my whistle and unfortunately, the visitors had recovered the ball, so on such a big play I should have shut this down ASAP. But I could not see the ball when it was kicked, so they were clearly offside, but from a game administration point of view, I should have sold the flag harder.
I heard later that the opposing coach was upset because we had not called ticky-tack fouls all night, and on the biggest play of the game I threw a flag. But here is the criteria. On a standard free kick (kickoff) the player is not considered to have encroached on the neutral zone (the 10 yard gap between teams) unless, before the ball is kicked, he has one foot on the ground after crossing the restraining line. In other words, we cut them some slack and don't make the restraining line a 'plane'.
However, during an onside kick there is no slack. Onside kicks are huge game changing plays and the restraining line becomes a plane similar to the goal line. And the visitors broke the plane. I may have cost them the game, but the rules are the rules.
On Saturday I was asked to work two college game. This came to a total of seven hours of game time. Not fun. But some interesting thing occurred during the contest. More on that during the next post.
Monday, September 6, 2010
High School Concussion Rule
I worked my first high school game of the season this weekend and it was a classic contest. The home team was down by seven with six seconds remaining on the clock. It was 4th down and no time outs remained. The line of scrimmage was the 17 yard line and while the QB was under pressure, tosses the ball to his teammate at the five who tips the ball once, twice, three times, falling into the end zone... empty handed.
The game became ugly in the 3rd quarter when we had to eject two players for fighting. The visiting team complained about everything and had the 'poor me' attitude going full force. Some teams are just cry babies. Otherwise, a good contest to shake off the rust.
A few new high school rules of interest. The most important, yet controversial, is the concussion rule. 3-5-10 reads, "any player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional." In California, where I officiate, the ruling is even more severe. If a player is removed due to exhibiting signs of concussion the player cannot return to the game, period, no matter what appropriate medical person is present.
What makes this controversial is this decision it put into the hands of the officials. I now have to be the sole judge on this issue. If I believe the player has sustained a concussion, I don't ask the medical about their opinion. Even if medical says the player does not have a concussion I must make a ruling. If anyone says anything that would lead a reasonable person to think the player is exhibiting symptoms consistent with concussion the player is to be removed. Period.
Now think of this scenario. The opposing QB runs to the sideline and gets creamed. All the opposing coach has to say is the 'C' word and I have a problem on my hand. You know this will happen.
More on this as the season goes on but I'm very uncomfortable making this kind of decision.
My first college game of the season is this Saturday. No huge changes here other than the new Wedge foul.
The game became ugly in the 3rd quarter when we had to eject two players for fighting. The visiting team complained about everything and had the 'poor me' attitude going full force. Some teams are just cry babies. Otherwise, a good contest to shake off the rust.
A few new high school rules of interest. The most important, yet controversial, is the concussion rule. 3-5-10 reads, "any player who exhibits signs, symptoms, or behaviors consistent with a concussion (such as loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion, or balance problems) shall be immediately removed from the game and shall not return to play until cleared by an appropriate health-care professional." In California, where I officiate, the ruling is even more severe. If a player is removed due to exhibiting signs of concussion the player cannot return to the game, period, no matter what appropriate medical person is present.
What makes this controversial is this decision it put into the hands of the officials. I now have to be the sole judge on this issue. If I believe the player has sustained a concussion, I don't ask the medical about their opinion. Even if medical says the player does not have a concussion I must make a ruling. If anyone says anything that would lead a reasonable person to think the player is exhibiting symptoms consistent with concussion the player is to be removed. Period.
Now think of this scenario. The opposing QB runs to the sideline and gets creamed. All the opposing coach has to say is the 'C' word and I have a problem on my hand. You know this will happen.
More on this as the season goes on but I'm very uncomfortable making this kind of decision.
My first college game of the season is this Saturday. No huge changes here other than the new Wedge foul.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Pigskinref is back
Well, I'm back. A lot has happened since the last post in November.
During the end of the High School season I had the privilege to work all three rounds of the playoffs, including the conference championship game. This was something I'd dreamed about doing for a long time. Nothing like working football in December.
I've found work since the last posting. I'm working 100 miles away and only go home on the weekends. I decided not work the Semi-pro league this season. It's a love-hate thing with me anyway.
I will continue to work College ball this season, but High School is up in the air. I won't be able to work with my old crew; no way I can make it down our area in time for games. I can work with our group in San Jose and have been attending meetings with them. It won't be the same, but it will be nice to see new teams.
I did not attend the Reno clinic this year... just could not swing the costs after being out of work for 10 months.
I have some interesting news about the college season and there are new high school rules that will be interesting to discuss.
Until next post.
Pigskinref
During the end of the High School season I had the privilege to work all three rounds of the playoffs, including the conference championship game. This was something I'd dreamed about doing for a long time. Nothing like working football in December.
I've found work since the last posting. I'm working 100 miles away and only go home on the weekends. I decided not work the Semi-pro league this season. It's a love-hate thing with me anyway.
I will continue to work College ball this season, but High School is up in the air. I won't be able to work with my old crew; no way I can make it down our area in time for games. I can work with our group in San Jose and have been attending meetings with them. It won't be the same, but it will be nice to see new teams.
I did not attend the Reno clinic this year... just could not swing the costs after being out of work for 10 months.
I have some interesting news about the college season and there are new high school rules that will be interesting to discuss.
Until next post.
Pigskinref
Saturday, November 28, 2009
No Contest
You may have noticed I have not posted anything for several weeks. I'm still in the process of looking for work, and as some of you know, looking for work can be a full time job. I have continued to work football games and have several interesting items to talk about.
No Contest:
For the first time in twelve seasons I was part of a game that was postponed due to unfit field conditions. But it took us two hours before we pulled the plug.
Let's start at the beginning. Rule 11-1 states: The officials' jurisdiction begins 60 minutes before the scheduled kickoff and ends when the referee declares the score final. The referee declares the score final by raising the ball over his head after the game clock hits 00:00. In fact, the referee does this at the end of each quarter declaring the quarter has officially ended.
Back to the officials' jurisdiction -- each Saturday, we literally walk on to the field 60 minutes before the game starts and assume authority over the game. We can penalize players or teams even though game play has not actually started.
Each of us have specific tasks to perform during this period of time. One of these tasks is to check the football field and ensure it is fit for play. Since most playing surfaces are now turf fields we no longer have the same concerns we did with grass fields. The issue during this night's contests was not related to the field itself, but rather the lights. Two of the six banks of light would not stay lit. Most of the home sideline and the entire south endzone was dark. Now what?
As a crew we agreed this situation the game should be postponed until this could be resolved. The sun was already setting, so we needed a plan 'B'. We met with site administration and came-up with the idea of getting portable lights brought in. At this time is was 6:15PM and kick-off was in another 45 minutes.
At 6:57 (when we do the coin toss) we still did not have a solution for the lights. We decided to do the coin-toss and drag this out as long as possible. The visitors won and deferred. We then brought the coaches together to discuss the situation. They both wanted the game to be played, but agreed the lights needed to be working. We added 30 minutes to game clock and waited. Game administration shut the gate and did not allow anyone else into the stadium. The fans were pretty pissed at us, questioning what the big deal was. So it's a little dark, how could this be dangerous?
Less light on the field is not a hazard, per se, but it does, according to rule 1-2-9-b bring into account where the referee may require any improvement in the field necessary for proper and safe game administration. Coaches already complain we can't see fouls, how can I possibly do my job effectively when it is dark?
But honestly, the real issue was liability. All it would take is some kid to get hurt during the game and some lawyer would find out the field conditions were not fit for play. "Mr Official, can you please explain to the jury how you planned on protecting my client from injury when you cannot see properly?" Let's not go there.
Our primary job as officials is to ensure the safety of the players, so there' was no way we are going to let a game occur on an 'improper' field.
The 30 minuted burned off and we still did not have a solution, so we added another 30 minutes. The fans in the crowd were not happy. We even made attempts to contact the commissioner so we could get a plan 'C'. We could not reach him.
After 60 minutes game administration still did not have a final solution, but they did reach someone who felt they could help. We added another 30 minutes. It's now somewhere around 8:15PM. Fans are unhappy, people are still standing outside the gate getting angry, and now game administration has a big problem. Money.
Does he refund everyone's money? Teams use the gate fees to pay for the game. Who is paying for the cops, and medical, our game fees if he has to refund the gate? The 'home' rents this facility since they do not have their own field. The visiting coach said they spent $1,000 just for the buses. If the game has to be rescheduled, when would it be played? We even talked about playing the game on Sunday, but all the fields in the area already had Soccer or pee-wee football games scheduled.
Canceling a game is not a trivial thing. This was a conference game and there were potential bowl game considerations. We did not take this lightly.
Player safety is paramount, so when game administration told us lights could be here by 11:00PM we all agreed this game was not going to be played. Neither coach wanted his players in the field at 2:00AM and there was no guarantee the lights would even work well. And then I think we get into city rules about noise, etc.
The game was never replayed. If you look at the team records the game is not even listed. It doesn't say canceled, postponed... nothing. I suppose this means it is a 'no contest'.
No Contest:
For the first time in twelve seasons I was part of a game that was postponed due to unfit field conditions. But it took us two hours before we pulled the plug.
Let's start at the beginning. Rule 11-1 states: The officials' jurisdiction begins 60 minutes before the scheduled kickoff and ends when the referee declares the score final. The referee declares the score final by raising the ball over his head after the game clock hits 00:00. In fact, the referee does this at the end of each quarter declaring the quarter has officially ended.
Back to the officials' jurisdiction -- each Saturday, we literally walk on to the field 60 minutes before the game starts and assume authority over the game. We can penalize players or teams even though game play has not actually started.
Each of us have specific tasks to perform during this period of time. One of these tasks is to check the football field and ensure it is fit for play. Since most playing surfaces are now turf fields we no longer have the same concerns we did with grass fields. The issue during this night's contests was not related to the field itself, but rather the lights. Two of the six banks of light would not stay lit. Most of the home sideline and the entire south endzone was dark. Now what?
As a crew we agreed this situation the game should be postponed until this could be resolved. The sun was already setting, so we needed a plan 'B'. We met with site administration and came-up with the idea of getting portable lights brought in. At this time is was 6:15PM and kick-off was in another 45 minutes.
At 6:57 (when we do the coin toss) we still did not have a solution for the lights. We decided to do the coin-toss and drag this out as long as possible. The visitors won and deferred. We then brought the coaches together to discuss the situation. They both wanted the game to be played, but agreed the lights needed to be working. We added 30 minutes to game clock and waited. Game administration shut the gate and did not allow anyone else into the stadium. The fans were pretty pissed at us, questioning what the big deal was. So it's a little dark, how could this be dangerous?
Less light on the field is not a hazard, per se, but it does, according to rule 1-2-9-b bring into account where the referee may require any improvement in the field necessary for proper and safe game administration. Coaches already complain we can't see fouls, how can I possibly do my job effectively when it is dark?
But honestly, the real issue was liability. All it would take is some kid to get hurt during the game and some lawyer would find out the field conditions were not fit for play. "Mr Official, can you please explain to the jury how you planned on protecting my client from injury when you cannot see properly?" Let's not go there.
Our primary job as officials is to ensure the safety of the players, so there' was no way we are going to let a game occur on an 'improper' field.
The 30 minuted burned off and we still did not have a solution, so we added another 30 minutes. The fans in the crowd were not happy. We even made attempts to contact the commissioner so we could get a plan 'C'. We could not reach him.
After 60 minutes game administration still did not have a final solution, but they did reach someone who felt they could help. We added another 30 minutes. It's now somewhere around 8:15PM. Fans are unhappy, people are still standing outside the gate getting angry, and now game administration has a big problem. Money.
Does he refund everyone's money? Teams use the gate fees to pay for the game. Who is paying for the cops, and medical, our game fees if he has to refund the gate? The 'home' rents this facility since they do not have their own field. The visiting coach said they spent $1,000 just for the buses. If the game has to be rescheduled, when would it be played? We even talked about playing the game on Sunday, but all the fields in the area already had Soccer or pee-wee football games scheduled.
Canceling a game is not a trivial thing. This was a conference game and there were potential bowl game considerations. We did not take this lightly.
Player safety is paramount, so when game administration told us lights could be here by 11:00PM we all agreed this game was not going to be played. Neither coach wanted his players in the field at 2:00AM and there was no guarantee the lights would even work well. And then I think we get into city rules about noise, etc.
The game was never replayed. If you look at the team records the game is not even listed. It doesn't say canceled, postponed... nothing. I suppose this means it is a 'no contest'.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
That Aint't Right
One of the great things about officiating football is you really do not know what is going to happen next. Sure, you expect a pass on 3rd and long, or if a team has to score with 2:00 remaining the odds are they will run certain types of plays. This is not what I am talking about.
From an officiating perspective, football is a game where much of the contest is structured. If you have a pre-snap routine, know your keys (what you focus as the play begins) and use proper mechanics, much of the game is routine. I even use a process where I break down a play as it happens, "knowing" I will not see holding within the first 'one-one thousand' of the play. I'm more likely to see a chop block, for example. By 'two-one thousand' now holding will begin to develop and now I just need to know where the point of attack is.
Screw-ups happen when the structure is broken and the unexpected, unexpectedly happens. I learned this weekend my structure needs more refining.
High School
This structure problem was not a major... I just did the wrong thing. During a Try (extra point) the holder, with his knee still on the ground, tosses the ball to the kicker during a fake Try. As I recall, they failed. What do I do? Toss my flag. What should I have done? Let's find out.
First let's look at rule 4-2-2-a; the ball becomes dead and the down is ended: a) when a runner... allows any part of his person other than hand or foot to touch the ground.
But wait, you say, the 'holder' is not the 'runner' silly man. If are a regular reader you should know better than to ask this kind of a question; because, in 2-32-13 is says a runner is a player who possess a live ball...
So, the holder is a runner with a part of his person other than his hand or foot touching the ground... shouldn't the ball be dead?
Well, no. Under 4-2-2-a there are some exceptions. 1) The ball remains alive if, at the snap, a place-kick holder with his knee(s) on the ground and a teammate is kicking position catches or recovers the snap while his knee(s) are on the ground and places the ball for a kick or if he rises to advance, hand, kick or pass; OR
Pretty wordy way to say the holder can have his knee on the ground and put the ball down for a kick. It also says he can rise and advance, pass, or hand the ball off. (The kick would mean he could drop kick... let's not go there.)
Did you notice the big read OR? Exception #2: the ball remains live if, at the snap, the place-kick holder with his knee(s) on the ground and with a teammate in kicking position RISES and catches or recovers an errant snap and immediately returns to his knees to the ground and places the ball for a kick or if he rises to advance, hand, kick or pass. It also says if while doing all this the holder muffs or fumbles the ball, the ball is dead.
None of this happened. The holder had his knee on the ground, there was a player in kicking position, the snap was good, no muff or fumble. But the holder passes the ball with his knee still on the ground... there is NO EXCEPTION for this scenario. It falls into under the basic 4-2-2 rule-- the ball becomes dead and the down is ended: a) when a runner... allows any part of his person other than hand or foot to touch the ground.
A little confusing? Even one of my fellow officials said, "He can pass the ball backwards, but not forward." I know what he was thinking -- a backward pass is a fumble. But this would fall into condition of making the dead when the holder fumbles.
So the holder can stand-up (and become a runner) and pass the ball, but he cannot pass the ball while his knee is still on the ground (while still being the holder). Holders can ether hold the ball for the kicker, or they can become runners.
So, I did not anticipate, expect or even consider this type of play occurring. I expected routine... this was a JV game. But when this play did occur all I thought was - "that ain't right" and tossed a flag.
I also screwed up the signals. I indicated the defense declined this phantom foul when I should have waived off the flag. Again, not the end of the world.
But the next blunder, outlined in the next post, is even more interesting.
To review older post, read about other mistakes, and learn the game from an official perspective, go to pigskinref.blogspot.com.
From an officiating perspective, football is a game where much of the contest is structured. If you have a pre-snap routine, know your keys (what you focus as the play begins) and use proper mechanics, much of the game is routine. I even use a process where I break down a play as it happens, "knowing" I will not see holding within the first 'one-one thousand' of the play. I'm more likely to see a chop block, for example. By 'two-one thousand' now holding will begin to develop and now I just need to know where the point of attack is.
Screw-ups happen when the structure is broken and the unexpected, unexpectedly happens. I learned this weekend my structure needs more refining.
High School
This structure problem was not a major... I just did the wrong thing. During a Try (extra point) the holder, with his knee still on the ground, tosses the ball to the kicker during a fake Try. As I recall, they failed. What do I do? Toss my flag. What should I have done? Let's find out.
First let's look at rule 4-2-2-a; the ball becomes dead and the down is ended: a) when a runner... allows any part of his person other than hand or foot to touch the ground.
But wait, you say, the 'holder' is not the 'runner' silly man. If are a regular reader you should know better than to ask this kind of a question; because, in 2-32-13 is says a runner is a player who possess a live ball...
So, the holder is a runner with a part of his person other than his hand or foot touching the ground... shouldn't the ball be dead?
Well, no. Under 4-2-2-a there are some exceptions. 1) The ball remains alive if, at the snap, a place-kick holder with his knee(s) on the ground and a teammate is kicking position catches or recovers the snap while his knee(s) are on the ground and places the ball for a kick or if he rises to advance, hand, kick or pass; OR
Pretty wordy way to say the holder can have his knee on the ground and put the ball down for a kick. It also says he can rise and advance, pass, or hand the ball off. (The kick would mean he could drop kick... let's not go there.)
Did you notice the big read OR? Exception #2: the ball remains live if, at the snap, the place-kick holder with his knee(s) on the ground and with a teammate in kicking position RISES and catches or recovers an errant snap and immediately returns to his knees to the ground and places the ball for a kick or if he rises to advance, hand, kick or pass. It also says if while doing all this the holder muffs or fumbles the ball, the ball is dead.
None of this happened. The holder had his knee on the ground, there was a player in kicking position, the snap was good, no muff or fumble. But the holder passes the ball with his knee still on the ground... there is NO EXCEPTION for this scenario. It falls into under the basic 4-2-2 rule-- the ball becomes dead and the down is ended: a) when a runner... allows any part of his person other than hand or foot to touch the ground.
A little confusing? Even one of my fellow officials said, "He can pass the ball backwards, but not forward." I know what he was thinking -- a backward pass is a fumble. But this would fall into condition of making the dead when the holder fumbles.
So the holder can stand-up (and become a runner) and pass the ball, but he cannot pass the ball while his knee is still on the ground (while still being the holder). Holders can ether hold the ball for the kicker, or they can become runners.
So, I did not anticipate, expect or even consider this type of play occurring. I expected routine... this was a JV game. But when this play did occur all I thought was - "that ain't right" and tossed a flag.
I also screwed up the signals. I indicated the defense declined this phantom foul when I should have waived off the flag. Again, not the end of the world.
But the next blunder, outlined in the next post, is even more interesting.
To review older post, read about other mistakes, and learn the game from an official perspective, go to pigskinref.blogspot.com.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Please, just don't talk to me anymore
High School Game
You know that theory that says if you say something out loud then it won't happen? Like "break a leg". I'm telling you that theory is a load of crap.
So, here's the story... during halftime of the JV game a parent walks up to me and asks, "can I ask you about a play I saw in a game earlier in the season. I don't understand what happened." Sure, no problem.
His explanation goes like this; a short scrimmage kick (i.e., a punt) crosses the expanded neutral zone (more on this is a minute), hits a player on the defense, bounces back over to the kickers side, where they gain possession of the ball, advance, and is tackled short of the line to gain (i.e., they did not make a first down).
"They gave the offense a first down. Was that right?", he asks. I confidently said, "yes, because the defense touch the ball. If they had not touched the ball then the refs were wrong." He believed me. I kinda, more-or-less, believed myself. I thanked the guy for bringing this up, because now it won't happen.
Of course, it did.
Ok, class, now stay with me on this one. (Rule 5-1-3-f) When a scrimmage down ends with the ball in the field of play or out of bounds between the goal lines, a new series is awarded to: F) The team in possession at the end of the down, if the defense is the first to touch a scrimmage kick while it is beyond the expanded neutral zone...
The F) means there are 7 conditions where a new series is awarded; A through G.
Expanded neutral zone? For reference, the normal, none expanded neutral zone is the line of scrimmage. The neutral zone for a scrimmage down is as wide as the length if the football (rule 2-28-1). The NZ may be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage... (rule 2-28-2)
OK, so when MAY it get expanded? You are not going to find some nice paragraph that explains this. Basically, the Expanded NZ exists to eliminate needless flags. For example, rule 7-5-12 says, "ineligible offensive players may not advance beyond the expanded NZ on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone in flight...
The point is if a ineligible offensive lineman is within two yards of the original line-of-scrimmage, this is not a foul for ineligibly receiver down field. The same holds true for the punt I described above - ball needs to cross the ENZ.
Does this make sense? If the defense touch the ball beyond the ENZ, (and this can mean some poor kid gets hit on top of the head when he is not looking), whichever team gains possession of the ball will have a new series.
Now don't get cocky and think you understand this yet. Rule 6-2-6 says, the touching of a low scrimmage kick by any player is ignored if the touching is in or behind the expanded neutral zone. IGNORE this touching.
Hold on... there's more. Rule 6-2-3 says, any offensive player may catch or recover a scrimmage kick while it is in or behind the neutral zone and advance...
But....
Let's go back to (Rule 5-1-3-f) When a scrimmage down ends with the ball in the field of play or out of bounds between the goal lines, a new series is awarded to: C) the defense, if at the end of the forth down, the ball belongs to the offense behind the line to gain.
See why this expanded neutral zone thing is important? A mere six feet (two yards) makes the difference if the defense touches the ball and the offense gains possession.
So, please, someone talk to me about lotto numbers because I need this to really, really happen!
You know that theory that says if you say something out loud then it won't happen? Like "break a leg". I'm telling you that theory is a load of crap.
So, here's the story... during halftime of the JV game a parent walks up to me and asks, "can I ask you about a play I saw in a game earlier in the season. I don't understand what happened." Sure, no problem.
His explanation goes like this; a short scrimmage kick (i.e., a punt) crosses the expanded neutral zone (more on this is a minute), hits a player on the defense, bounces back over to the kickers side, where they gain possession of the ball, advance, and is tackled short of the line to gain (i.e., they did not make a first down).
"They gave the offense a first down. Was that right?", he asks. I confidently said, "yes, because the defense touch the ball. If they had not touched the ball then the refs were wrong." He believed me. I kinda, more-or-less, believed myself. I thanked the guy for bringing this up, because now it won't happen.
Of course, it did.
Ok, class, now stay with me on this one. (Rule 5-1-3-f) When a scrimmage down ends with the ball in the field of play or out of bounds between the goal lines, a new series is awarded to: F) The team in possession at the end of the down, if the defense is the first to touch a scrimmage kick while it is beyond the expanded neutral zone...
The F) means there are 7 conditions where a new series is awarded; A through G.
Expanded neutral zone? For reference, the normal, none expanded neutral zone is the line of scrimmage. The neutral zone for a scrimmage down is as wide as the length if the football (rule 2-28-1). The NZ may be expanded following the snap up to a maximum of 2 yards behind the defensive line of scrimmage... (rule 2-28-2)
OK, so when MAY it get expanded? You are not going to find some nice paragraph that explains this. Basically, the Expanded NZ exists to eliminate needless flags. For example, rule 7-5-12 says, "ineligible offensive players may not advance beyond the expanded NZ on a legal forward pass play before a legal forward pass crosses the neutral zone in flight...
The point is if a ineligible offensive lineman is within two yards of the original line-of-scrimmage, this is not a foul for ineligibly receiver down field. The same holds true for the punt I described above - ball needs to cross the ENZ.
Does this make sense? If the defense touch the ball beyond the ENZ, (and this can mean some poor kid gets hit on top of the head when he is not looking), whichever team gains possession of the ball will have a new series.
Now don't get cocky and think you understand this yet. Rule 6-2-6 says, the touching of a low scrimmage kick by any player is ignored if the touching is in or behind the expanded neutral zone. IGNORE this touching.
Hold on... there's more. Rule 6-2-3 says, any offensive player may catch or recover a scrimmage kick while it is in or behind the neutral zone and advance...
But....
Let's go back to (Rule 5-1-3-f) When a scrimmage down ends with the ball in the field of play or out of bounds between the goal lines, a new series is awarded to: C) the defense, if at the end of the forth down, the ball belongs to the offense behind the line to gain.
See why this expanded neutral zone thing is important? A mere six feet (two yards) makes the difference if the defense touches the ball and the offense gains possession.
So, please, someone talk to me about lotto numbers because I need this to really, really happen!
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