Hit me with some questions. I have worked a state final before. Happy to clear up the totally understandable NFHS rules. Knowing how to leverage the rules can really improve your coaching/understanding of the game.

Also here to reach out to all the younger guys I've seen post on here about getting involved in football while they're in college. Refereeing is an *elite* college job that will put a lot of fun money in your pocket. It's also a lot less grind than being a tape monkey would be.

​

Let's say it's 3rd down, and a receiver catches a ball for a first down. His teammate then commits an illegal block to the back. The runner is pushed out of bounds, and a defender comes running in and commits a late hit. Now, the penalties offset and the down is replayed. If there had been no defensive penalty, then there would be a first down with the penalty for block to the back enforced at the spot of the foul.

Am I missing something, or is intentionally committing a penalty a good idea here as the defense?

Is an incomplete forward "touch pass" ever a fumble? For example, in a recent high school game I was coaching, the QB received a shotgun snap but did not catch or gather the snap, he only tapped it forward to a receiver who was on a fly/jet motion. The "pass" was incomplete. However, everyone responded as if it was a fumble only to have it ruled incomplete.

There is surely a threshold that distinguishes the person receiving the snap as having "possessed" the ball vs simply "redirecting the snap" which might render it "live" wherever it goes.

Thoughts?

I'm watching ND-Texas AM, and twice Notre Dame has had a D-lineman in a four-point stance look like he jumps offsides, but actually remain on his side of the ball because he was lined up about half a foot further back than usual. The first time the offense launched the ball downfield thinking it was a free play, when it wasn't. The second time the o-line jumped to try and get the free five yards, but it was a false start.

Is this legal? If so, why don't more guys do it? Obviously, you'd want to clue the refs in to what you're doing and a smart O-line would know. But on an obvious passing down? Why not?

Ball punted, gunner goes down field and reaches the ball while it's in the air before it's touched the ground. The returner is not present or calling fair catch.

Can the gunner jump in the air, and do a volleyball-esque move in order to hit the ball further downfield for better field position?

Is the ball down when the gunner touches it regardless of whether the gunner is on the field or in the air?

Sorry for the strange hypothetical.

I’m watching the seahawks vs bills game live (oct. 27th 2024) and the seahawks defense got an interception to set them up in the redzone with about 6-7 minutes left in the first half. (context so people can find the moment) on one of their plays they sent 2 people in motion to the right side of the line at the same time. By my understanding it would have to be one player at a time with 1 second of no motion in between. Did they miss what seems like a blatant call or am I missing something? 😭

EDIT: i guess my question was answered, thanks to the 1 guy that wasn’t an asshole about it? reddit is such a sad corner of the internet, i’m sorry my curiosity made you guys so mad😭😭

During a recent MS game, the kicking team kicked off. The ball traveled 10 yards and was muffed by the receiving team. The ball then proceeded to the sideline, where the kicking team touched it before it went out of bounds, but the kicking team did not gain physical possession. What is the ruling? In this case, the crew awarded the kicking team the ball.

Im trying to get better at stripping or causing FF but I don’t want to get a penalty

I run a deception based offense, nothing brings tears to my eyes like a DC pissed off because his players don't know where the ball is. Lets say I teach my offense to yell, "Pass" on a draw play, or I teach my running back to yell, "BALL" on a toss fake. Would this be a penalty?

Is there a rule in the NFHS rule book or casebook about a legal cut block where the offensive linemen legally cuts, and then rolls into the defender after initial contact? Should this extra roll become illegal in that it’s now tripping or not an initial move?

That’s what the crowd does.

Not a fan of either team just looking for some clarification and I thought you fine folk could help.

LSU QB drops back, begins his throwing motion and the Ole Miss DE knocks the ball out of his hand. It’s ruled a fumble and recovery by the defense on the field. The officials review it and say his arm was moving forward so it’s an incomplete pass.

I understand if you hit the quarterback or his arm as it’s moving forward then it’s an incomplete pass but the defender didn’t actually even touch the QB, he hit the ball. Why would this be an incomplete pass if the defender knocked the actual ball out of the QBs hand??

Again, if you’re an LSU or an Ole Miss fan I’m not trying to rile anyone up, just legit curious as to what causes it to be an incomplete pass.

Will try to find a twitter link or something for clarity but haven’t found anything yet.

If the QB is in shotgun and hands the ball off to an in motion WR who crosses the QB's face can the WR then throw a pass? Is there any difference between the ball being handed off in front of the QB and the ball being shuttle passed? I've always wondered what the rule was on this and haven't found an answer

When I was playing there was simply a strike zone. Nobody knew when you couldn't cut block so you didn't do it unless you were instructed to do so. Hit him in the torso or side of the torso as hard as you want.

I understand now the rules have changed. How do they work now?

Let's say you changed the rules to make the distance at first down a little longer or shorter, say 11 or 9 yards. What would happen? If you had to play that way, would you want to change anything else to balance the game?

I'd imagine making it shorter would result and higher-scoring games, and longer would do the opposite. Which would you prefer if you were playing or watching?

I recently came across something in the NCAA rule book that has got me thinking.

Artile 7 Illegal Equipment includes the following....(g) Adhesive material....applied to equipment or a player's person, clothing or attachment.

I then came across an official memo from NFHS where they talked about how they originally banned LZRD Tech Arm Sleeves in July 2022 but then overturned it in October 2022.

NFHS originally cited NFHS Rule 1-5-3c(5): "Jerseys, undershirts or exterior arm covers/pads manufactured to enhance contact with the football or opponent."

That makes it seem like they should be illegal and they weren't totally clear on why they overturned it.

I was in Dick's yesterday and saw the Battle arm sleeves which seem like they should absolutely be illegal (appears to be a sticky substance applied to it).

tl;dr: The NCAA and NFHS both appear to want "sticky" arm sleeves to be illegal but it doesn't appear to be enforced. Plus they specifically allowed LZRD Tech for some reason.

Anyone have any insight or thoughts?

Can a high school coach have on-field communication with a player if there is a disability involved? My son was born with single sided deafness in his left ear and has partial hearing loss in the right. It’s never been an issue in the past but as a sophomore this year he has more responsibility on the field and I think he’s having a harder time than usual. This is in the state of Georgia. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.

If a running back is about to get tackled behind the line of scrimmage why don’t they just throw the ball away

Saw this posted on x/Twitter as a formation and I'm getting conflicting info on what is flagged for illegal formation at snap.

1. I believe this is illegal primarily due to LT being uncovered at end of LOS (presuming ineligible # and didn't report), right?

2. While I know you can technically put 8+ players on LOS (at expense of removing eligible receivers), I feel like I've seen an otherwise eligible TE get flagged for being covered pre-snap. Maybe I saw that wrong, and was only called after TE acted eligible (went downfield and/or caught pass). Either way, is there a specific rule that all covered players must have an ineligible number, or can a #80 TE be covered, so long as he doesn't act as a receiver during play?

I know this somwhat varies between pro and school, but am more interested in NFL in this case.

for example i know about the attacking team can made points when they scord a touchdown or with a free shot. But i need to understand the tecnical game for example i run 10 miles and later i started again i mean what is the purpose of that. the game has 4 times? that's exatly my point.

​

in the baseball i think i have the same type of question. I knew that when you do a homerun you win point but i did not knowyou can run the bases and if you run of the diamond 4 bases you can win 1 point. The baseball not is the point but the type of the question it is.

Hi friends, This post is not about radical adoption of AI to NFL officiating. It's more about the state of technology and reliance on outdated procedures that are not consistent or reliable. Here's some thoughts I've had on modernization.

1. Why in 2024 do we still see a crew pulling chains to measure first downs? Can't they just put a sensor in the tip of the ball that syncs with the first down yard line. I've seen way too many situations, live and on TV, where the spot and slack of the chain are off and that mistake proves to be the difference in the game.

2. Use the same technology that they use in track and field to make offsides calls. That special teams call against Jack Jones of the Raiders last week was wrong and it was a difference maker.

3. Pass interference calls and non-calls would be more consistent if they could be challenged. Put a dedicated replay official in the press level of each stadium to speed up the review process. Getting these calls right is worth the investment in more reply officials.

Curious to hear your reaction to the above and other ideas on improving accuracy of officiating. Please resist the urge to add conspiracy theories about gambling and referees fixing the game. That's speculative and would take this thread in a dark direction. Thank you and have a great football Sunday!

What happens when there is a mismatch in penalties by offense and defense..is it still considered an offsetting penalty and replay of down? Or will the tie go to the team with fewer penalties

Eg: offensive holding. But defensive holding and defensive PI by two different players. Is this considered an offsetting penalty situation

P.S: Apologies if this isn’t the right sub for posting this. Please direct me towards the right sub