Potential rule changes

[Herdcyclones]

As an official, I got an email from the IHSAA, which comes from the National Federation, with a survey regarding potential rule changes. Apparently the poobahs meet, and ponder needed rule changes. Here are the ones they asked about.

Eliminating the free blocking zone when the QB is not under center.
Eliminating immediate chop blocks
Forbidding blocks below the knees at any time, even when QB is under center
Penalizing holds behind the line of scrimmage from the previous spot instead of the spot of the foul
and some other one I forgot


Then these weren't necessarily proposed rule changes, but stuff they asked if it were a problem
injuries from metal buckles on chin straps
sportsmanship on taking a knee
bunch formations on kickoffs
issues regarding rule changes on spearing and unnecessary contact
and some others that I forgot.

I really would like to see the rule change on the holding call, as mentioned above. However, it may result in more holding calls (but they will be declined). In watching games, and when I have white hatted some sub varsity, when a QB is going to get sacked, while there is a hold, I've seen guys, and me myself, have kept the flag tucked.

Say a team is facing a 3rd and 10, and the QB goes back to pass. You see a hold, and it is obvious the QB is going to get sacked 9 yards deep. Eat the flag, the team will have 4th and 19. Throw it, and if the penalty is accepted, it could be 3rd and 29. IMO it is a harsh penalty in that sitch. So you eat the flag, and play on, on 4th and 19.

That sitch doesn't happen a lot, but it does frequently enough to comment. If the rule were changed, I'll throw that flag every time. Because it is going to get declined every time. Defense, you want 3rd and 20, or 4th and 19?

 

[RoundMound1]

As an official, I got an email from the IHSAA, which comes from the National Federation, with a survey regarding potential rule changes. Apparently the poobahs meet, and ponder needed rule changes. Here are the ones they asked about.

Eliminating the free blocking zone when the QB is not under center.
Eliminating immediate chop blocks
Forbidding blocks below the knees at any time, even when QB is under center
Penalizing holds behind the line of scrimmage from the previous spot instead of the spot of the foul
and some other one I forgot


Then these weren't necessarily proposed rule changes, but stuff they asked if it were a problem
injuries from metal buckles on chin straps
sportsmanship on taking a knee
bunch formations on kickoffs
issues regarding rule changes on spearing and unnecessary contact
and some others that I forgot.

I really would like to see the rule change on the holding call, as mentioned above. However, it may result in more holding calls (but they will be declined). In watching games, and when I have white hatted some sub varsity, when a QB is going to get sacked, while there is a hold, I've seen guys, and me myself, have kept the flag tucked.

Say a team is facing a 3rd and 10, and the QB goes back to pass. You see a hold, and it is obvious the QB is going to get sacked 9 yards deep. Eat the flag, the team will have 4th and 19. Throw it, and if the penalty is accepted, it could be 3rd and 29. IMO it is a harsh penalty in that sitch. So you eat the flag, and play on, on 4th and 19.

That sitch doesn't happen a lot, but it does frequently enough to comment. If the rule were changed, I'll throw that flag every time. Because it is going to get declined every time. Defense, you want 3rd and 20, or 4th and 19?

I have a lot of respect for officials and everything you do, however, it is not your job to have opinions on the rules. If you see a hold, you call the hold because that's the rule. Doesn't matter if you think the penalty is too harsh or you think the defense will decline it anyways. You'll probably take offense to this comment...so be it.

 

[Herdcyclones]

RoundMound I don't take offense. In my original post, that doesn't happen a lot, and I didn't type out a lot of other stuff that may be happening during the play. And it is hard to get in a grand dissertation of officiating theory on a message board. But there is officiating by the book and officiating with the book. I want to officiate with the book. When I am a wing official, and I see the right tackle holding the end, but the play is a quick toss sweep to the left, and the end never got within 7 yards of the ball, I'm not throwing the flag for holding. Yup, it's a hold, and yup it's in the rule book. But I'm not calling it.

My goal in a game is that everybody is playing safely, with good sportsmanship, and no one is doing something that gives them an unfair advantage over their opponent. Obviously all of the above is subject to interpretation of what is going on at the moment.

If I were reffing a 7th grade girls basketball game (God forbid!), I sure wouldn't be calling every travelling. And that is why officials need to use their judgment on how to call a game based on the skill level of the players and the outcome of the calls and try to officiate to the spirit of the rules. My opinion of course.

 

[cidhawkeye]

A question, do you let the backside tackle that his technique would get him a holding call if he were play side? I like the officiating with the book concept and I don't want 50 penalties but the kid needs to know, he does it all game, tacit approval is given and then he does it on 4th and 2 and gets flagged because they chose to run to his side.

 

[Herdcyclones]

CID, I'm not going to say every time, and not every official. But speaking for myself, if I see something close and it is continuing, I'll say something either to a coach or player. I like to call it preventive officiating. For a player, it may depend if we end up in the same vicinity at the end of the play if I say something to him.

I generally am a wing (linesman, line judge). In that case, I'll mention it to the coach, if that is the team on my side. "Coach, I think 72 is really close to earning a holding call." "Coach, can you ask 58 to watch where he is lining up., his head is almost past the ball." The vast majority of coaches are very receptive to those comments.

For the most part, officials talk to players about stuff they want to see or not see. How to get up off the pile for example. Many white hats will holler "Ball is away" or something like that when the QB throws the ball, to prevent a defender from smearing the QB and getting a late hit/roughing call. A case could be made that that is providing the defense an advantage, to help them from getting penalized. But I think it helps in providing a safe, penalty free game.

 

[cidhawkeye]

CID, I'm not going to say every time, and not every official. But speaking for myself, if I see something close and it is continuing, I'll say something either to a coach or player. I like to call it preventive officiating. For a player, it may depend if we end up in the same vicinity at the end of the play if I say something to him.

I generally am a wing (linesman, line judge). In that case, I'll mention it to the coach, if that is the team on my side. "Coach, I think 72 is really close to earning a holding call." "Coach, can you ask 58 to watch where he is lining up., his head is almost past the ball." The vast majority of coaches are very receptive to those comments.

For the most part, officials talk to players about stuff they want to see or not see. How to get up off the pile for example. Many white hats will holler "Ball is away" or something like that when the QB throws the ball, to prevent a defender from smearing the QB and getting a late hit/roughing call. A case could be made that that is providing the defense an advantage, to help them from getting penalized. But I think it helps in providing a safe, penalty free game.

That's good officiating, thank you for what you do.

 

[stickman80]

CID, I'm not going to say every time, and not every official. But speaking for myself, if I see something close and it is continuing, I'll say something either to a coach or player. I like to call it preventive officiating. For a player, it may depend if we end up in the same vicinity at the end of the play if I say something to him.

I generally am a wing (linesman, line judge). In that case, I'll mention it to the coach, if that is the team on my side. "Coach, I think 72 is really close to earning a holding call." "Coach, can you ask 58 to watch where he is lining up., his head is almost past the ball." The vast majority of coaches are very receptive to those comments.

For the most part, officials talk to players about stuff they want to see or not see. How to get up off the pile for example. Many white hats will holler "Ball is away" or something like that when the QB throws the ball, to prevent a defender from smearing the QB and getting a late hit/roughing call. A case could be made that that is providing the defense an advantage, to help them from getting penalized. But I think it helps in providing a safe, penalty free game.

Much appreciated that you put the kids safety first and will use "learning opportunities" when possible and appropriate. Getting to be too many fans (normally parents) that are getting their nose out of joint if the officials use some common sense when these situations arise.

 

[GoHawks2009]

I have a lot of respect for officials and everything you do, however, it is not your job to have opinions on the rules. If you see a hold, you call the hold because that's the rule. Doesn't matter if you think the penalty is too harsh or you think the defense will decline it anyways. You'll probably take offense to this comment...so be it.

Exactly. The officials seemed to have a problem with this at the end of the Iowa - MSU game. Let's let the players play instead of calling holds and chop blocks that are by the definition.....holds and chop blocks.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I had a friend who is an official and he heard that they might be changing the timing of the games. Apparently there have been some issues with games taking too long (sub varsity and varsity).

He heard from one AD while at a basketball game, they are looking at going to the college rule. Stop the clock when player goes out of bounds or first down. Then start it when the ball is ready. I like this idea, as some of the games I went to this year took FOREVER and a couple of the games it was all running (players were running jet sweeps and tosses) and were running out of bounds. Then under 2 minutes in the 2nd & 4th quarter stop it on anything out of bounds.

I think this will help get the games over sooner, but I would also like to see the "sub varsity" games on Friday night play 8 minute quarters. Those games take forever.

 

[Neisen]

I have a question for you. I watched defenses last year time after time have the DL "cut block" the OL (could not stop OL so resorted to trying to cut block them) and then run blitz a LB and so hit the OL both high and low. Is this not an illegal chop block? It was never called once.

 

[GoHawks2009]

I had a friend who is an official and he heard that they might be changing the timing of the games. Apparently there have been some issues with games taking too long (sub varsity and varsity).

He heard from one AD while at a basketball game, they are looking at going to the college rule. Stop the clock when player goes out of bounds or first down. Then start it when the ball is ready. I like this idea, as some of the games I went to this year took FOREVER and a couple of the games it was all running (players were running jet sweeps and tosses) and were running out of bounds.

Well there's your problem right there. That was an easy fix. And you don't even have to change any rules.....

 

[Herdcyclones]

I have a question for you. I watched defenses last year time after time have the DL "cut block" the OL (could not stop OL so resorted to trying to cut block them) and then run blitz a LB and so hit the OL both high and low. Is this not an illegal chop block? It was never called once.

As presented, it sounds like a chop block to me. Rare, rare, rare-for a chop block to be called on a defense. I've never called one(not that I am some grizzled 40 year veteran). Rightly or wrongly, and speaking for myself only, when you officiate a certain position, you look for certain stuff. Experience in seeing stuff, helps you call it. When you don't see something frequently, you might miss it when it does happen.

If I'm a linesman, I wouldn't have any heartburn if a coach pointed it out to me. Of course, it only helps if the offended team is on my side. But if a coach respectfully said, "Hey ref, my right guard is getting chop blocked by the defense," I'll keep an eye out for it, because it is a safety issue, and not something I would be actively looking for.

Reffing is interesting in how you watch a game on the field. Depending on your spot, you might not even specifically watch the ball. Or where you are, the game just looks different. I don't normally white hat, but I did a jr high game last fall. So I'm standing there the whole game watching everybody move away from you. In the 3rd quarter, the offense tried a middle screen, and it was intercepted by a d lineman. Immediately after, I had 15 guys running right at me. It's hard to explain, but that is just the weirdest feeling. It just doesn't seem "right" after you get in the zone watching play after play going away from you.

So to your original point, how you described it would typically be watched by the umpire. I haven't umpired much, but it would not be something that would normally catch my eye. I'd like to hear from an umpire if any frequent this board.