Got a high school football rule question?

[footballref]

Here's one for you from our game last night. Team A throws a pass 15 yards down field which the receiver drops. Team B hits the receiver and the ref throws a flag for a personal foul. Where does the ref mark the foul off from? The line of scrimmage or spot of the foul 15 yards down field where the ball was dropped? It was marked last night from the spot of the dropped pass.

I think you know the answer to this one

 

Previous spot

Edited August 24, 2013 by footballref

[The Drunken Sailor]

I think you know the answer to this one

 

Previous spot

The official explained it to our coach last night when asked why it was marked off from the spot instead of the line as "That's how it is done in Kentucky." And all this time I thought that all states used the same NFHS rule book.

[footballref]

The official explained it to our coach last night when asked why it was marked off from the spot instead of the line as "That's how it is done in Kentucky." And all this time I thought that all states used the same NFHS rule book.

They do use the NFHS book, 48 states do.

 

That said, they could be trying out experimental rules. Some states do that. I can tell you that Kentucky is one state testing out making the kicking team being within so many yards of the ball on a kicoff, preventing the team from getting a huge running start. With the rule you have posted, this may or may not be the case. I cannot give you a for sure answer.

[Pudding]

footballref - question:

 

Suppose the offense fumbles the ball on their own 2 yard line, and the ball rolls back into their own endzone.  While there, the defense attempts to secure the ball, muffs it, and forces the ball out of bounds through the side of the endzone.  What is the result?  Safety on offense?  Touchback because defense forced the ball out?  Who's ball is it and where? 

 

Thanks!

[footballref]

footballref - question:

 

Suppose the offense fumbles the ball on their own 2 yard line, and the ball rolls back into their own endzone.  While there, the defense attempts to secure the ball, muffs it, and forces the ball out of bounds through the side of the endzone.  What is the result?  Safety on offense?  Touchback because defense forced the ball out?  Who's ball is it and where? 

 

Thanks!

All that matter here is how did the ball get into the end zone. Below is rule 2-13

 

ART. 1 . . . Force is the result of energy exerted by a player which provides

movement of the ball. The term force is used only in connection with the goal line

and in only one direction, i.e., from the field of play into the end zone. Initial force

results from a carry, fumble, kick, pass or snap. After a fumble, kick or backward

pass has been grounded, a new force may result from a bat, an illegal kick or a

muff.

ART. 2 . . . Responsibility for forcing the ball from the field of play across a

goal line is attributed to the player who carries, snaps, passes, fumbles or kicks

the ball, unless a new force is applied to either a backward pass, kick or fumble

that has been grounded.

ART. 3 . . . The muffing or batting of a pass, kick or fumble in flight is not

considered a new force.

ART. 4 . . . Force is not a factor:

a. On kicks going into R’s end zone, since these kicks are always a touchback

regardless of who supplied the force.

b. When a backward pass or fumble is declared dead in the end zone of the

opponent of the player who passed or fumbled, with no player possession.

 

In the play you mention the result should be a safety since the offense fumbled the ball into the end zone. Once the ball was fumbled, the result was going to be a TD for the defense if they recovered the ball in the end zone or a safety if the ball became dead in any other manner.

[Pudding]

Thanks footballref.  I saw this in a youth game and the zebras had no clue what to call. 

[footballref]

Thanks footballref.  I saw this in a youth game and the zebras had no clue what to call. 

Youth games are where learning is done. If I am going to mess something up I would rather is be at the sub-varsity level than on a Friday night. That said, stuff happens in all of them.

[Gerry Bertier]

Scenario 2 down and 10 offensive team runs the ball for 3 yards and an incidental face mask occurs.

 

Should it be 3rd down and 2 or 2nd down and 2?

[footballref]

Scenario 2 down and 10 offensive team runs the ball for 3 yards and an incidental face mask occurs.

 

Should it be 3rd down and 2 or 2nd down and 2?

2nd and 2.

[footballref]

bump

[slimshady]

How many players allowed on each side of the kicker during an onside kick attempt?....and are kicking players allowed to out run the ball(like a high bounce on the onside kick) and block all the receiving team players without giving them a chance to receive the ball?

[footballref]

How many players allowed on each side of the kicker during an onside kick attempt?....and are kicking players allowed to out run the ball(like a high bounce on the onside kick) and block all the receiving team players without giving them a chance to receive the ball?

There can be up to 10 on each side of the kicker. No rule preventing it as of now.

 

The kicking team cannot initiate contact until they can legally touch the ball. Basically the ball has to go 10 yards or the receiving team has to touch it first. Once the ball has gone 10 yards or the receiving team touches it, and the ball has hit the ground, it is game on.

 

Slightly different for a kick that has not hit the ground. You have to give that receiver a chance to catch the ball.