Third Football Memo September 18, 2014 Dear Coaches and Officials Coaches and Officials: To this point in the season we have had 13 players ejected and 1 coach. Coaches, please continue to visit with your players pertaining to GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP and the fact that extra-curricular activities are an extension of the classroom. Coaches and Officials are role models for our youth, lead by example. Coaches and Officials: In looking at some HUDL clips Todd has been receiving, we are seeing teams running out of shot-gun/pistol formation and linemen who are on the line of scrimmage and in the free blocking zone at the snap are wanting to block below the waist and not doing so immediately at the snap and therefore are committing an illegal block below the waist. Reminder, the illegal block in the above example must be immediate with the snap in order to be legal. The offensive lineman can t delay by standing up from his stance and then go back down and block below the waist/lower leg area nor can he step back a step or two and then cut that defensive line man below the waist. In shot gun/pistol formation, the ball has already left the free blocking zone, therefore any delayed block below the waist would be ruled illegal. Seeing this illegal block mainly falls on referees and umpires to observe, but could also be seen by wing officials when looking through the tight end to the tackle at the snap in order to read possible pass/run play by the way the tackle is blocking. After the free blocking zone has desegregated or if a blockers contact is outside the free blocking zone: If a blocker s initial contact is at the waist or above and the opponent puts his hand(s) on the blocker and forces the blocker down, so the block ends up below the waist the block is still considered a legal block. If a blocker s initial block is below the waist on an opponent, even though the opponent puts his hand(s) on that blocker, the block is considered an illegal block below the waist.
Free Blocking Zone: The 11 player free blocking zone is a rectangle measuring 6 yards X 8 yards (8 player free blocking zone is 6 yards X 6 yards). Low blocks and blocks from the rear are permitted within the zone provided certain conditions are met. These conditions always include: The contact takes place in the zone and before the ball leaves the zone. A player is in the zone when any part of his body is in the zone at the snap. A defensive player is on his line of scrimmage when he is within one yard of the neutral zone at the snap. A.D. s & Officials: 00:25 Second clocks are not to be operated by backjudges or for that matter any game official on the field during the game. Schools that have 00:25 second clocks need to have someone other than game officials operate these clocks. Wing officials: We see a number of wing officials working to far out on the field and having to scramble when a sweep comes their way. When the ball is going to be snapped on the hash mark closest to you, you should be in the restricted area out-of-bounds. Head linesman, makes sure your chain crew has the chain 2 yards off the sideline and HL & LJ, make sure when the ball is about to be snapped the coaches are out of the restricted area and that allows you to move freely in the restricted area and officiate plays that come to your sideline. If the ball is going to be snapped on the opposite hash, you can move on the field up to about 10 yards, but no closer to the middle of the field. This all depends on wide-outs and if you have wideouts, stay off the field and work from the sidelines. Remember, each offensive player who participated in the previous down and each substitute for the offensive team must have been, momentarily, between the 9 yard marks, (7 yard marks in 8 player game) before the snap following every scrimmage down. Play Situation: Team A (offense) is in a hurry-up offense, End A89 runs a long pass pattern and does not return to his team s huddle. He remains outside the nine yard (7 yard-8 player game) marks and goes to a position near the sideline after the ready for play signal. RULING: Foul on 89 for an illegal formation; If accepted, this would be a live ball illegal formation foul, five yard penalty from the previous spot.
Wings make sure you use the foot on the backside of the ball for wide-outs to assist in lining up, but don t talk to them. You don t know if they are supposed to be on the line of scrimmage or off the line of scrimmage. You are just assisting them with your foot (use foot closest to the back side of the ball) pertaining to where the backside of the ball is. Wings, once the wide-out is lined up, make sure you square up so you are ready to officiate when the ball is snapped. Wing officials, make sure we slide and square up on short yardage plays and on long runs don t go at angles, work North/South, square up and come on the field with the forward progress spot. Do not go through players when marking forward progress, get as close as possible to the play without going over or around players. Have the umpire or referee get the ball to you if it s close for measurement. If it s close measure, don t leave any doubt. If the first down distance is that great have the offensive captain or opposing captain look and agree at what you are seeing. We all understand some fields are marked better than others. Officials: Make sure we are counting players every down and communicating by using a closed fist if we have 11 or 8 in the eight player game. Officials: Make sure we are using proper NF mechanics and signals. It s an important communication tool for all involved! Starting the Clock: Once the clock is stopped and the next play is not a free kick, it starts on the snap if any of the following caused or occurred subsequent to the clock being stopped. A period ends A charged timeout or TV/radio timeout is granted A score or touchback occurs A legal or illegal forward pass is incomplete The ball goes out of bounds Team B is awarded a new series Either team is awarded a new series after a legal kick An official s timeout is taken to award either team a new series after a legal kick. A team attempts to consume time illegally The penalty for a delay of game foul is accepted
In all other cases, the clock starts with the ready-for-play signal. **Play Situation: B20 intercepts A 7 s forward pass and fumbles on the return. Team A recovers and downs the ball. Ruling: Even though Team A is awarded a first down on the break in the continuity of downs, the clock starts on the ready. The fact possession changed has no effect. **Play Situation: Team K punt is blocked. K23 recovers the ball behind the neutral zone and carries it beyond the line-to-gain for a first down. Ruling: First down for Team K. The clock starts with the snap. **Play Situation: R27 muffs Team K s punt beyond the neutral zone. K 23 recovers the ball. Ruling: Team K s ball, first and 10. The clock starts with the snap because a new series is awarded to team K after a legal kick. ** Play Situation: Fourth and 10 on Team K s 20 yard line. A 27 punts as his team is flagged for an illegal formation. The ball is declared dead inbounds. The penalty is accepted. Ruling: Team K s ball, fourth and 15 at their 15 yard line. The clock starts on the ready. Although there was a legal kick, neither team was awarded a new series. Stopping the Clock: Once started, the clock is stopped when: A live ball goes out of bounds A forward pass (legal or illegal) is incomplete A score or touchback occurs The down ends following a foul A foul is committed while the ball is dead There is an inadvertent whistle Either team is granted a charged timeout There is a media timeout Time expires for the period (play continues if the ball is live) An official s timeout is taken
Any official may stop the clock for any of the above reasons. If not already stopped for one of the above reasons, the clock stops for the following official s timeouts: A measurement for a possible first down When either team is awarded a new series of downs Following a change of team possession For a player who appears to be injured For a player in need of equipment repair For a coach-referee conference When there is no visible game clock and the captains and coaches are notified there are four minutes remaining in the half To dry or change the ball For unusual heat or humidity For any unusual delay in getting the ball ready for play A team will be charged with a timeout without specifically requesting one, when any of the following occurs: A coach-referee conference does not result in the ruling being changed. The clock is stopped for the repair of player equipment which requires the assistance of a team attendant or delays the ready for play signal for more than 25 seconds. In this situation, if the team has used all its permissible timeouts, the player must leave the game for one down. A delay-of-game penalty is not assessed. The referee shall take a timeout if a player appears to be injured. That includes any apparent injury such as exhibiting the signs of a concussion and or bleeding. Open wounds or excessive blood on the uniform. The player must be removed from the game if signs or symptoms of a concussion are apparent and he/she may not return to this contest until cleared by an appropriate health care professional (including a clearance note and a signature signed by the health care provider stating this player is cleared to return). Referee should keep this paper work. An injured or bleeding player must sit out at least one down, unless the halftime or an overtime intermission occurs. The player may not remain in the game or reenter the game if his team takes a timeout. In other words a coach can t buy his way back in the game with a timeout.
If a player s helmet comes completely off during the down and is not directly attributable to a foul by an opponent, the player must be replaced for at least one down, unless the halftime or an intermission occurs. A charged timeout should be 45 seconds, inform the coach on the field between the hash marks or on the sideline in front of the team box that the ball will be marked ready for play in 15 seconds and then the referee should mark the ball ready for play within five seconds after that 15 seconds expires. During an injury timeout an authorized conference can be held only in front of the team box within 9 yards of the sideline. Players as well as non players may use phones and headsets during sideline conferences. When a penalty is to be administered, the offended team s captain must exercise his option before a charged timeout is granted. Timing Adjustments: By mutual consent of the opposing schools (head coach/administrator) the referee may shorten any period, the halftime intermission, or end a game in the fourth quarter. The IHSAA prefers shortening the fourth quarter upon coach s agreement with a running clock rather than just end a contest. Our 35 point rule assists with contests that may get out of hand. The halftime intermission can be no less than 10 minutes and no more than 20 minutes. Timing errors on the game clock may be corrected if discovered prior to the second live ball following the error, unless the period has ended. Officials: If a scoreboard would malfunction during a contest, the back-judge must keep the time on the field. With about 4 minutes before the end of the half the referee shall notify the field captains and coaches of the time remaining. Have the home team relay the remaining time to the both in order to inform spectators. Iowa does use the 35 point rule which goes into effect after the first quarter of the 8 player game, and to start the second half in the 11 player game. One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it. Roger Barr