Got my yearly Fed rules change questionnaire that goes out to officials. Here are some of the things they asked: (not word for word--just the point) Again these are simply a survey for potential rules changes in HS football.
No distance penalty for improperly equipped, just removal for a play
Clarifying defenseless player doesn't apply until pass is thrown
Changing the free kick infraction signal
Adding option for fouls by kicking team during kick to have distance added at the end of the down
Changing play clock from 25 from put in play, to 40 seconds from end of down
moving kickoffs from 40 to 45
making it illegal to trip ball carrier
Jersey number has to contrast jersey
Making it legal to throw ball to avoid a sack, as long as outside of tackle box and ball goes past LOS
Getting rid of kickoffs.
My 2 cents on some of these:
I like the no distance penalty for improperly equipped. Just make a player sit for a play.
As someone who does JH and JV games with 3 or 4 man crews with no back judge, I don't like the 40 second thing. Maybe OK for varsity with a back judge and ball boys and all that. Otherwise, it can be problematic in retrieving a ball with little to no help. Also, when I white hat in a game that isn't close, or when a lot of subs are being entered, I like using my discretion when to start the play clock, to avoid delay of games, or limit snaps, when nobody is trying to game the situation and coaches are simply trying to do the right thing for their players. I want to help coaches get players in with out having to get DOG calls.
I think moving the kickoffs up to the 45 will create more problems. The point is to create more touchbacks. I think it will also increase onside kicks, which are very dangerous too.
I like the rule the "avoid the sack" throw rule. Safer for QB, and more importantly, matches the rule at higher levels of football.
As for getting rid of kickoffs, I'm maybe ok with that, but you need to give the kicking team a chance to get the ball. It wasn't in this survey, but I saw a proposal that instead of kickoffs, the offense would simply get the ball on their own 35. Or the "kicking team" in lieu of onside kicks, could choose to take the ball on their own 35, but when they take the ball, it will be 4th and 15. So obviously hard to convert, and if they do fail to convert, the defense would take over on the "kicking team's" side of the field. This plan avoids onside kicks, but gives the trailing team low odds, but at least a chance, to get back in the game. I would actually kinda like to see that tried.
Just thought of another downside of getting rid of kickoffs. That is a play where coaches let some non-starter types get some action. So total number of players participating in a game would probably go down.
No distance penalty for improperly equipped, just removal for a play
Clarifying defenseless player doesn't apply until pass is thrown
Changing the free kick infraction signal
Adding option for fouls by kicking team during kick to have distance added at the end of the down
Changing play clock from 25 from put in play, to 40 seconds from end of down
moving kickoffs from 40 to 45
making it illegal to trip ball carrier
Jersey number has to contrast jersey
Making it legal to throw ball to avoid a sack, as long as outside of tackle box and ball goes past LOS
Getting rid of kickoffs.
My 2 cents on some of these:
I like the no distance penalty for improperly equipped. Just make a player sit for a play.
As someone who does JH and JV games with 3 or 4 man crews with no back judge, I don't like the 40 second thing. Maybe OK for varsity with a back judge and ball boys and all that. Otherwise, it can be problematic in retrieving a ball with little to no help. Also, when I white hat in a game that isn't close, or when a lot of subs are being entered, I like using my discretion when to start the play clock, to avoid delay of games, or limit snaps, when nobody is trying to game the situation and coaches are simply trying to do the right thing for their players. I want to help coaches get players in with out having to get DOG calls.
I think moving the kickoffs up to the 45 will create more problems. The point is to create more touchbacks. I think it will also increase onside kicks, which are very dangerous too.
I like the rule the "avoid the sack" throw rule. Safer for QB, and more importantly, matches the rule at higher levels of football.
As for getting rid of kickoffs, I'm maybe ok with that, but you need to give the kicking team a chance to get the ball. It wasn't in this survey, but I saw a proposal that instead of kickoffs, the offense would simply get the ball on their own 35. Or the "kicking team" in lieu of onside kicks, could choose to take the ball on their own 35, but when they take the ball, it will be 4th and 15. So obviously hard to convert, and if they do fail to convert, the defense would take over on the "kicking team's" side of the field. This plan avoids onside kicks, but gives the trailing team low odds, but at least a chance, to get back in the game. I would actually kinda like to see that tried.
Just thought of another downside of getting rid of kickoffs. That is a play where coaches let some non-starter types get some action. So total number of players participating in a game would probably go down.
