Football Officials,
SAOA final in season meeting will be Wednesday October 25, 2023, at Boogies in Maryville with a 6:30pm kickoff.
Last SAOA training tape was shared in Hudl, focus is on penalty enforcements.
Let me begin by thanking all of you for your commitment this season. I know the players, coaches, fans, and even your fellow officials appreciate your efforts this season. Hopefully, the newsletter has helped you through this season as we experienced several mechanic and rule changes. Thank you for hanging in there with us. As always, if you have a rule or mechanic question, call, text or email me.
Official Down During a Game – How do we Handle This?
Over the many years of writing the newsletter the following topic never crossed my mind to cover during a pregame. That topic is officiating a varsity game with a four-person crew because one of your crew members goes down because of an injury during the game.
Back when I was assigning for the CS8 conference I had an official stricken by a medical emergency while on the field. Fortunately, I was present and knew of an area official who might be watching the game. He dressed and filled in with the crew for the rest of the game.
As a result of my observation this past Friday night, and knowing the playoffs are just around the corner, I suggest each crew have a brief discussion during your pregame regarding this topic, so that should you encounter a similar problem you are prepared to adjust accordingly. It is always good to know who will be moving where should you need to make adjustments. This crew had to make position adjustments in the middle of the second quarter, in what was a very competitive rivalry game. I commend the crew for the game they called short-handed. This game was not one of your 3 yards and a cloud of dust (mud in this case) type of game. There was a lot of passing and long runs which they covered very well with only four guys.
With the first two rounds of the playoff assignments out, I would suggest if you were going to be attending a playoff game, why not carry your gear with you. You never know when it may be needed.
Play #1: Ball in Play (4-2-2d (1))
A scrimmage kick play was brought to my attention where a K player was laying partially in the end zone while reaching into the field of play touching the ball that was still in the field of play at the 1-yard line. The receiving team coach went ballistic when the officiating crew placed the ball at the 1-yard line. His contentions were that since the kicking team player was in the end zone, the ball had to come out to the 20-yard line, as if the ball had broken the plane of the goal line for a touchback. Keep in mind when ruling on a play of this nature, the end zone is still considered in the field of play, thus touching the ball as in this situation the play is not ruled dead simply because of the touching. It is not like a player laying partially across the sideline (out of bounds) touching a ball still in the field of play, which makes the ball and play dead.
Play #2: Unfair Act (-9-1) A Seldom Used Rule
Opening kickoff. Kick in the air to the second line near K’s sideline. K assistant coach yells “I got it” over and over. R81 is in a position to catch the ball. He moves away after the K coach yells “I got it”. K recovers the ball.
Question: Do we have a rule infraction with this play of nothing?
Rule Options: I can see 3 potential/possible rule violations: 6-5-6 b… obstruct R’s path to the ball. The rule does not specify it has to be a physical obstruction (kick-catching interference – R may accept the results of the play, an awarded fair catch after enforcement of a 15-yard penalty from the spot of the foul …; 9-9-1 an Unfair Act …. states, A player or nonplayer or person(s) not subject to the rules shall not hinder play by an unfair act which has no specific rule coverage (15-yard unsportsmanlike foul); and 9-6 Comment #3 p.91 casebook which states, if a nonplayer hinders an opponent outside the field of play, it constitutes illegal participation. The spot of the foul is on the yard line directly inbounds (9-6-3 15-yard penalty, basic spot).
ANSWER: The consensus opinion of the rules interpreter was this is an Unfair Act (9-9-1). It is handled as an unsportsmanlike foul (S 27 p.78) which would be assigned to the assistant coach.
Play #3: Penalty Enforcement … Need to Know! (10-2-2b p.79, 10-2-4 p.80)
It is second and nine from A’s 30-yard line. A12 drops back and throws a legal forward pass from A’s 25-yard line. Prior to the pass A59 holds B67 at A’s 29-yard line. B40 intercepts the pass and proceeds downfield. During the return A88 commits a facemask foul against B40 at the spot of the interception. During the return B28 initiates a blindside block on A75 at B’s 32-yard line and B 55 blocks A68 in the back. B40 scores a touchdown on the play.
Answer: B may keep the ball by declining A’s holding penalty. After B has made its choice A can decide which penalty it wishes to enforce (10-2-2b p.79). Team A only gets to enforce one of B’s penalties as described in this play (multiple foul situations – 1 choice). More than likely, A would probably choose to enforce the penalty at B’s 32-yard line.
Rule: 10-2-2b states, “If each team fouls during a down in which there is a change of team possession and the play does not have a post-scrimmage kick foul, the team last gaining possession may retain the ball, provided; (b) the team last gaining possession declines the penalty for its opponent’s foul(s), other than a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul. In this case, the team that was not last in possession has no options until the team last in possession has made its penalty decision on the fouls prior to the change of possession. After that decision by the team last in possession, the team not last in possession may decline or accept the penalty for the foul by the team last in possession or choose which penalty to have enforced in the case that the team last in possession committed more than one foul following the change.” Rule 10-2-4 states, “when two or more live-ball fouls (other than nonplayer or unsportsmanlike) are committed during the same down by the same team (multiple fouls), only one penalty may be enforced. The designated representative of the offended team may choose which one shall be administered, or all penalties may be declined. When a team commits a nonplayer or unsportsmanlike foul during that same down, it is administered from the succeeding spot as established by the acceptance or declination of the penalty for the other foul.”
COMMENT: This situation should not be all that complicated to handle. Slow down … did the team last in possession get the ball with clean hands? If so, and there is a double foul situation just remember the team last in possession must decline its opponent’s foul(s) to keep the ball. The opponent then gets to choose what penalty (live-ball) they wish to have administered. Any unsportsmanlike foul(s) would follow from the succeeding spot leaving the team last in possession with a first and 10 situations.
Closing:
I want to thank all of those who attended our last CIFOA meeting. It was good to see such a large turnout. The mechanic and rule conversations were meaningful to the group. For everyone, but especially crews with playoff assignments, I suggest your crew attend one of the area pre-playoff meetings. Get yourself mentally prepared for the upcoming games, regardless of how many you have worked in the past.
Have a great week #9. Hopefully, you will look back on the season with good memories. Lastly, I know President Dobson has a meeting set for October 24th (prior to the week #1 playoff games). The meeting is at Top Cats Chill & Grill in Springfield @ 6:30pm.
I hope to see you there.
Rick Karhliker
IHSA Head Football Clinician