Rules that need reviewed

[slingitnow]

1) Let the kickoff returner return the kickoffs that go into the end-zone. I hate the fact the ball comes out to the 20 yard line once the kickoff crosses the goal like... or move the kicker back 5 yards.

2) If you attempt a FG and miss it yet the ball goes into the end zone it comes out to the 20 yard line. Why not back to the original line of scrimmage on a miss FG?

Comments and any rules you dislike?

 

[cidhawkeye]

1) Let the kickoff returner return the kickoffs that go into the end-zone. I hate the fact the ball comes out to the 20 yard line once the kickoff crosses the goal like... or move the kicker back 5 yards.

2) If you attempt a FG and miss it yet the ball goes into the end zone it comes out to the 20 yard line. Why not back to the original line of scrimmage on a miss FG?

Comments and any rules you dislike?

I agree with #1, let them run it out

It might be either the 20 or the line of scrimmage whichever is further out.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

With all the concussion issues, good luck on #1. There have been some scary moments this year in CFB, NFL, and even HSFB with collisions on Special Teams. I would not be shocked if that rule stays in place forever. Dangerous collisions are happening (kid in Chicago died on a punt play).

I would not be shocked if in 5 years all punts and kicks are wiped out of the game. I realize people will be against it and I am as well. But it just seems like too many issues/injuries/deaths are happening in football.

 

[slingitnow]

so can someone explain the rule for missed FG's? where is the ball spotted, I swear when we miss from 45 yards it's placed on the 20 yard line. If that's the case there is no penalty for missing and as long as you get it to the end zone when in doubt try it.

 

[La_Fleur]

It's considered a touchback no matter where the kick is from

 

[cidhawkeye]

It's considered a touchback no matter where the kick is from

What stops me from going Brett Bielama and attempting a 'field goal' when I am on my own 10 and having the ball spotted at the other 20, in effect a 70 yard punt.

 

[KidSilverhair]

If the kick doesn't get to the end zone, I believe it's returnable just like any other live-ball kick. So that would be one reason not to try a field goal from your 10.

 

[La_Fleur]

Sorry I should've been more clear, it has to reach the end zone for it to be deemed a touchback. KidSilver is right it's live if it doesn't reach the end zone and I believe it goes back to the original line of scrimmage if it is not returned and doesn't reach the end zone

 

[cidhawkeye]

Sounds reasonable.

 

[IASOONER]

Scrimmage Kicks include punts and field goal attempts. They are treated the same when it comes to how they are officiated other than if it is kicked off of a tee/drop kick and pass thru the uprights the kicking team receives 3 points.

On rare occasions I have read where someone has a strong legged fg kicker and instead of punting the would attempt a fg no matter where they were on the field.

If on a scrimmage kick the ball does not break the plane of the goal line 1) it can be returned 2) it will be next put in play at the spot the kick ends or goes out of bounds.

 

[screwloose]

Addressing rules, here's one most don't know about, the fair catch kick. Typically, this only happens near the end of the first half or the end of the game. This play comes after a punt. If the punt results in a fair catch, the team receiving can elect to take a free kick from the spot it was caught(I'm assuming it's moved inside the hash marks). The ball can be placed on a tee up to two inches in height and the defensive team has to be at least ten yards behind the spot of the ball placement and is not allowed to block the attempt. Essentially, the kicker gets a kickoff-style attempt, since they're allowed a running approach. If the ball goes through the uprights, it's a three point play like any other field goal. In the NFL, the ball cannot be placed on a tee, it has to be held on the ground by a holder or drop kicked. The rule is NOT allowed in the NCAA.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

Addressing rules, here's one most don't know about, the fair catch kick. Typically, this only happens near the end of the first half or the end of the game. This play comes after a punt. If the punt results in a fair catch, the team receiving can elect to take a free kick from the spot it was caught(I'm assuming it's moved inside the hash marks). The ball can be placed on a tee up to two inches in height and the defensive team has to be at least ten yards behind the spot of the ball placement and is not allowed to block the attempt. Essentially, the kicker gets a kickoff-style attempt, since they're allowed a running approach. If the ball goes through the uprights, it's a three point play like any other field goal. In the NFL, the ball cannot be placed on a tee, it has to be held on the ground by a holder or drop kicked. The rule is NOT allowed in the NCAA.

Our assistant coach in High school always told us to fair catch the punt if it was the last play of the half or game. I think he really wanted to attempt this rule, but alas we never really got the opportunity. One game we fair caught the ball at our opponents 37yd line (they we're punting out of their end zone). But there was a strong wind into our face and our kicker would not of been able to get it there we think. So we just ran a play.

 

[CBCrusader1994]

Able to run back blocked extra points or picks/fumbles on 2 pt plays would be big boy football too. But the Boone boy's like their dumb rules , give them so much power.

 

[denverhawkfan]

Addressing rules, here's one most don't know about, the fair catch kick. Typically, this only happens near the end of the first half or the end of the game. This play comes after a punt. If the punt results in a fair catch, the team receiving can elect to take a free kick from the spot it was caught(I'm assuming it's moved inside the hash marks). The ball can be placed on a tee up to two inches in height and the defensive team has to be at least ten yards behind the spot of the ball placement and is not allowed to block the attempt. Essentially, the kicker gets a kickoff-style attempt, since they're allowed a running approach. If the ball goes through the uprights, it's a three point play like any other field goal. In the NFL, the ball cannot be placed on a tee, it has to be held on the ground by a holder or drop kicked. The rule is NOT allowed in the NCAA.

I think Janesville did this in a game within the last couple years I know. It may have been last year even. Honestly can't remember if they were successful or not though, sorry.

 

[KidSilverhair]

In the NFL some years back (like the late 1960s or early 70s, maybe) a team ended up winning the game with a three-point free kick after a fair catch. I seem to remember it might have been the Bears. I read that story in a book about odd football happenings long, long ago, so I don't recall all the details offhand, but I do know it happened.

 

[KidSilverhair]

Intentional grounding.

First, you're only allowed to spike the ball to stop the clock from under center. You can't do it from the shotgun. I don't see the big deal, I would have no problem allowing that from the shotgun formation.

Secondly, the penalty for intentional grounding is 5 yards (from the spot, the place where the passer released the ball) plus loss of down. I would propose simply making an intentional grounding call equivalent to taking the sack, which is why you'd throw the ball away in the first place. Mark the ball at the spot where it was thrown, lose the down - just the same as if the passer had been tackled before throwing it away. The extra 5 yards seems overly punitive.

As to that, in the Regina-West Branch quarterfinal, WB was trying to move the ball in the last two minutes after falling behind 35-28. On a 2nd and 10, the WB quarterback threw the ball out of bounds from 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage and was flagged for grounding. The officials marked off 15 yards from the spot and took away the down, making it 3rd and 32 from the 10. It should have been 3rd and 22 from the 20, and under my proposal would have been 3rd and 17 from the 25. Any 3rd and long against Regina is a tall order, but the officials really mishandled this one.

Unless the penalty yardage has been changed since 2013, which was the most recent rule book I could find. I don't think they've changed it from a 5-yard penalty to a 15-yarder in the past year or so, but it's possible I am wrong there. But I think the crew just screwed up.

(I take the above description from the KGYM radio broadcast and tweets from the CR Gazette reporter. If the officials ended up assessing the 5-yard penalty to make it 3rd and 22, then they did it correctly, and Brent Balbinot and Susan Harman described it inaccurately. I would then apologize for my comments on the refs.)

 

[La_Fleur]

The other thing that is unique about high school intentional grounding is that even when you break outside the tackle box you cannot just throw it out of bounds like in college or the NFL. There must always be a receiver near the throw. The QB can be in no man's land if he scrambles towards a sideline and there is no receiver in the area.

 

[paxregis]

Able to run back blocked extra points or picks/fumbles on 2 pt plays would be big boy football too. But the Boone boy's like their dumb rules , give them so much power.

Iowa doesn't have their own set of football rules. All states follow the NFHS rule book, with the only variation being mercy rules (at what point spread does continuous clock/game termination occurs). This is one thing you can't pin on the IAHSAA.

 

[bcmoore87]

* would enjoy seeing all players eligible to catch a forward pass, reversing 1951 rule change.
* would enjoy eliminating requirement for 7 players on line of scrimmage, reversing 1910 rule change; I'm not clear why this rule was instituted (would be interested in opinions/research)

other ideas:

I watched the World Rugby finals a few weeks ago. It occurred to me that American football has a consistent break in the action for officials resetting the ball. I would enjoy seeing a 1900-1910 era game, just to see the evolution of rules (my impression is that officials placing the ball did not dominate at that time):

* a dropped pass was a turnover, to the best of my knowledge (like Ultimate frisbee)
* with far less substitutions, less specialization, more physically fit players.

 

[KidSilverhair]

From what I remember (not from being there myself, but from what I've read - I'm not quite that old), I think the requirement to have 7 on the line of scrimmage was to eliminate the flying wedge. Teams would line up a "wedge" of blockers in front of the ballcarrier, and they all got a running start from the backfield and basically knocked defenders aside like bowling pins. Lots of players were injured and killed thanks to maneuvers like that, and Teddy Roosevelt actually forced several rule changes to make the game less deadly. It was either that or ban football as a scholastic/university sport entirely.

That's what I seem to recall, anyway. Requiring 7 on the line eliminated the running start of the flying wedge, and was a safety-related change.

 

[bcmoore87]

KidSilverhair - that adds value - thanks for posting

 

[screwloose]

Don't let Kid fool you, Brent...he was there to make the radio call when Washington crossed the Delaware.

 

[KidSilverhair]

"He dodges the ice floe ... he's got a wall of rowers in front! He. Could. Go. All. The. Way!"

 

[bcmoore87]

(Big smile)

 

[PNation]

I think Iowa City West got three points from Nate Kaeding back in the day with the fair catch rule.

Two rules I would like to see enforced more more consistently is the a player has to be within the numbers at some point after the ready for play rule is blown, and the 12 men in the huddle.

The inside the numbers rule is a something that some crews are very concerned about and some don't even to know that rule. The 12 men in the huddle some crews call it if the huddle is broken with 12 in the huddle (which is the correct way to call it), some call it if there are 12 in a huddle which isn't correct a team should be given a chance to get that 12th person out of there, I've even seen it called where there are 11 in a huddle, and a QB standing outside of the huddle. Then there are no huddle situations which are messed up big time.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I think Iowa City West got three points from Nate Kaeding back in the day with the fair catch rule.

Two rules I would like to see enforced more more consistently is the a player has to be within the numbers at some point after the ready for play rule is blown, and the 12 men in the huddle.

The inside the numbers rule is a something that some crews are very concerned about and some don't even to know that rule. The 12 men in the huddle some crews call it if the huddle is broken with 12 in the huddle (which is the correct way to call it), some call it if there are 12 in a huddle which isn't correct a team should be given a chance to get that 12th person out of there, I've even seen it called where there are 11 in a huddle, and a QB standing outside of the huddle. Then there are no huddle situations which are messed up big time.

I agree there are times where a player come into a huddle and before the other player has a change to leave, the ref has blown his whistle and thrown the flag. There are times where we don't even huddle and they are saying we had 12 players on the field that is a penalty.

The teams that no-huddle hate the "inside the numbers" rule. I know that I have seen several coaches this year complain about our no-huddle hurry up offense. We have been caught 1 or 2 times not having our WR inside the numbers when the whistle was blown. But there have also been crews who miss it.

one thing that I would like to see is the "timing" be changed to a college rule. Even if a player goes out of bounds, the clock starts on the ready for play. Too many teams are throwing the ball and running these jet sweeps and kids are going out of bounds stopping the clock. Im not kidding we had one game this year where there was either an OB run or incomplete pass and the drive went 80yds in like 73 seconds. It was crazy, the timing needs to be changed.

 

[RoundMound1]

The one "procedure" that absolutely needs to be changed is the way the clock works following a False Start penalty. As is stands now, if the clock is running and the Offense is called for a false start, the clock starts up again following the penalty. In theory, a team with the lead in the 4th quarter can continuously false start to keep the clock running for 8 minutes and never have to run a play. And because the defense has no choice to decline it they are helpless. Now, this is an exaggerated example, but I have seen a few games in recent years where the defensive team was down late in the game expecting to get the ball back on a 4th down punt, but instead a false start penalty has given the offense another timed down and extended their possession for another play and allowing them to run the clock out.

 

[screwloose]

The one "procedure" that absolutely needs to be changed is the way the clock works following a False Start penalty. As is stands now, if the clock is running and the Offense is called for a false start, the clock starts up again following the penalty. In theory, a team with the lead in the 4th quarter can continuously false start to keep the clock running for 8 minutes and never have to run a play. And because the defense has no choice to decline it they are helpless. Now, this is an exaggerated example, but I have seen a few games in recent years where the defensive team was down late in the game expecting to get the ball back on a 4th down punt, but instead a false start penalty has given the offense another timed down and extended their possession for another play and allowing them to run the clock out.

I remember somebody doing this against Penn State years ago on a fourth down. Joe Paterno damn near had a coronary on the sideline. The opposition started around the lower 30's and false started four times, with a lead, all the way back to around the 50.

If you get your opponent without timeouts and you're ahead with any kind of a lead, you can melt the clock as far as you want. The other team is defenseless.