Officials,
We’re just going to jump into this week.
Play #1:
It is A’s ball second and eight at B’s 45-yard line. Team A comes to the line of scrimmage with the intention of throwing a bubble screen pass, but the ball is snapped over the head of quarterback A7. Meanwhile, A86 moves downfield to B’s 40-yard line where he illegally blocks linebacker B55 below the waist. The Head Linesman throws a flag at the B’s 40-yard line and then glances back into the backfield where he notices quarterback A7 still scrambling to recover the errant snap. A7 finally scoops up the ball and begins to advance up the field where he is eventually brought down at B’s 5-yard line. Team B obviously accepts the foul for the block below the waist. After enforcement of the penalty, what is the down and distance for Team A and where will A next snap the ball.
Ruling:
A’s ball 2/23 @ A 40-YL, Rule 2-33-1c; Case Book 10.4.2 Situation C.
If there seems to be some confusion regarding the basic spot of enforcement for this play, there is a good reason. The NFHS rules committee introduced an editorial change to Rule 10-3-1 which now describes a loose-ball play as action during a free kick or scrimmage kick and a legal forward pass. This editorial change omitted the elements of a backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession and the run or runs which preceded such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass or fumble. The reasoning behind this editorial change was explained as unnecessary verbiage as it was considered redundant to the recent rule changes to Rule 10-4-2. Another editorial change was made to Rule 10-4-2b which now includes additional highlighted verbiage stating, “The basic spot is the previous spot unless 8-5-2c applies for: (b.) A foul which occurs behind the line of scrimmage during a loose-ball play, as defined in 10-3-1. See 10-5-5 for special enforcement on roughing the passer. See 10-5-1b for special enforcement on kick-catching interference.”
The editorial changes have now limited previous spot enforcement in this Article to loose-ball plays which are specific to a free kick, or a non-PSK foul occurring during a scrimmage kick, or a legal forward pass. What about a foul which occurs ‘beyond the line of scrimmage’ during a loose ball play which is not part of a free kick, scrimmage kick or legal forward pass, as defined in Rule 2-33-1c,d? We are left to believe the basic spot for these fouls are not the previous spot unless the foul is otherwise defined with ‘special enforcement’ somewhere in Rule 10-5 such as “roughing the passer” or “kick-catching interference”? The addition of the highlighted verbiage in Rule 10-4-2b has significantly influenced the rule with regard for fouls occurring beyond the line of scrimmage during loose-ball plays and leaving officials scrambling to find rule support for basic spot enforcement.
In the play described above, both the end of the run and the foul were beyond the LOS. The spot of the foul was behind the end of the run. If the illegal block in the back had occurred after A7 had scooped up the errant snap, we would enforce from the spot of the foul in this running play scenario (10-4-4f). However, the foul for the illegal block in the back occurred prior to A7 gaining possession of the errant snap meaning the foul occurred during a loose-ball play as defined in Rule 2-33-1c. The conundrum we’ve encountered here is the editorial changes by the NFHS rules committee have put this type of play (loose-ball play with a foul beyond the LOS which is neither related to a scrimmage kick or legal pass) on an island with no apparent reference for basic spot enforcement. Therefore, because there were no 2024 rule changes related to penalty enforcement (only some short-sighted editorial changes), the only logical, common sense’ approach to resolving this dilemma is to implement the 2023 version of Rules 10-3-1 and 10-4-2b which provide the rule support for previous spot enforcement in these play scenarios. An editorial change should not alter the application of a rule; changes of that magnitude are reserved for a deliberated rule change.
Play #2:
It is A’s ball fourth and 10 from B’s 45-yard line when A’s coach yells out punt team. Five players from A’s sideline enter the field with five A players leaving the field. All 11 players from A’s team are stopped momentarily between the numbers when one of the team A players breaks for the sideline just as if he had been replaced ahead of the rest of team A’s players who are now taking up their positions for the next snap. The player going off the field stops a couple of feet short of his sideline, is motionless, and then breaks downfield with the snap catching a touchdown pass as none of the team B players covered the player who had stopped short of the sideline. Is this action/play legal? If not, how would you handle this situation?
Ruling:
This is an illegal act. Rule 7-2-1 states, “After the ready-for-play, each player of A who participated in the previous down and each substitute for A must have been, momentarily, between the 9-yard marks before the snap. Team A has met this requirement.” However, Rule 9-6-4 d states,” It is illegal participation: (d) To use a player, replaced player, substitute, coach, athletic trainer or other attendant in a substitution or pretend substitution to deceive opponents at or immediately before the snap or free kick.” This is a 15-yard, live-ball, previous spot foul. Do not overthink this play as an Unsportsmanlike action. The rule book clearly outlines the illegal actions of team A as a potential substitute. Yes, there is a UNS penalty for actions during a try when calling out for the kicking tee. Similar but different!
Play #3:
The intentions of this play are to illustrate our need to not take the simplest or routine play(s) for granted. The play mentioned below can happen several times during a game and most of us just go through the motions accepting we can handle this play without thinking about what could happen.
Here is the play: Week 8 Newsletter Play
Team A scores and lines up to kick the extra point. Team A’s snap is a good snap, but the holder fumbles the ball. Never leaving his position with one knee on the ground he gathers up the muffed ball and sets it on the kicking tee block. Realizing the defensive team is charging hard towards him and they will probably block the kick he rises and begins to run around the right end of the offense. While running the Referee blows his whistle stopping the play. Was this situation handled properly? If not, how do you proceed?
Answer: The answers to this situation are found in rule 4-2-2 Exceptions 1 & 2 and NOTE. Rule 4-2-2 states, “The ball becomes dead and the down is ended: Exceptions 1: The ball remains live if, at the snap, a place-kick holder with his knee(s) on the ground and with a teammate in kicking position catches or recovers the snap while his knee(s) is on the ground and places the ball for a kick, or if he rises to advance. #2: The ball remains live if, at the snap, a place-kick holder muffs the snap or fumbles and recovers after his knees have been off the ground and he then touches the ground with other than hand or foot while in possession of the ball. Note: The ball becomes dead if the place-kick holder muffs the snap or fumbles and recovers after his knees have been off the ground, and he then touches the ground with other than hand or foot while in possession of the ball. In the play that is attached below we can see there is a good snap, however the holder fumbles the ball, recovers without raising his knees from the ground, then places the ball on the kicking tee, and then rises to run or pass the ball. This action is legal. If a crew member blows his whistle killing this play, we have an Inadvertent Whistle situation and we will need to replay the down.
Case Book Plays 4.2.2 Situations A, B & C provide good review cases. This play may not have been one of my more intriguing plays, but it illustrates our need not to take any of the routine plays for granted. The old saying “we don’t know what we don’t know until it is too late” applies here.” My suggestion is you add an in-depth kicking game review to your pregame. As we know if something is to go south it is usually during the kicking game!
Closing:
We are near the finish line regarding this season. Now is the time we should be at our best. Do not take these final two weeks for granted and prepare as if it is the biggest game of your season.
As always, have a great game this week and have fun. The season will soon be over.