Changing Jerseys

Question:  Do the rules allow a player to change jerseys, and therefore his number during the game?

Answer:  Yes.  NFHS rules do not address this; therefore it’s legal.  Problems arise when a player is disqualified and attempts to re-enter the game wearing a different number. That’s a foul for illegal participation.  Rule 9-6-4f.

Signals

Just as officials should avoid making calls on the run, Referees should come to a complete stop before giving their penalty signals.  Walk to an area clear of players, come to a complete stop and give the signal. Look straight ahead. Find a spot halfway up in the stands and focus your eyes on that spot.  Also, come to a complete stop after signaling, then hustle to your next task.

Play Cards:

Play cards WORN ON THE BELT are illegal equipment per Rule 1-5-3 as they have been ruled unsafe.  Please note Rule Book page 84, #6 under Wearing Illegal Equipment/Adornments.  Play cards worn on the arm are legal.

Basic Spot:

Play:  3rd and 10 from the A-30 yard line.  The errant snap is muffed backwards by both A & B as no player is able to gain control of the ball.  The ball is rolling around at the A-15 yard line when a B player intentionally kicks the ball into A’s end zone where A recovers the ball and is downed. How is the penalty enforced?

Ruling:  Look at Rule 10-4-5d. The basic spot is the succeeding spot when the final result of the play is a touchback. The succeeding spot following a touchback is the 20-yard line. The phrase "final result of the play" applies when the ball becomes dead in the end zone after Team A regains possession in their end zone following a new force by their opponent. B's kicking of the ball adds a new force. So, the basic spot is the 20 yard line; B fouls behind the basic spot are enforced from the basic spot; A's ball, 1st and 10 from the A-35.

Extra Down:

If a team is given a fifth down and the mistake is discovered before the ball becomes live for the down after the fifth down, the extra down is canceled and officials go back to what should have been the fourth down play.  If not discovered in time, no change can be made.

1. Roll Call
2. Old Business
1. Minutes from 10/12/09 meeting approved without correction
2. “It’s the Rule” weekly article in The World commended by Lillebo
3. New Business
1. Leon Hill Award- Trophy for a year and $300 scholarship
2. Nominations/Elections

                                                               i.      Treasurer-Rocky Buckles elected by acclamation

                                                             ii.      2  year member-at-large: Russ Hartlye

                                                            iii.      President- Ralph Beesley

                                                           iv.      Vice President-Gary Grassham

1. Commissioner Comments
1. Time change for Powers game to 2PM to give crew time to go to next assignment at Coquille
2. Game Situations
1. Storm-coach conference ended after one minute-charged to team and play resumed; whistle control and multiple fumbles and muffs on a play; defensive holding-player grabbed and threw an offensive player but not attempting to get to runner
2. Rescorla- aiding the runner situation defined and discussed; unusual situation of one team possessing the ball for most of third quarter because of three successful onside kicks after scores
3. Reiber-suggested we publish a chart showing the difference between high school and college/pro rules and present at next Coaches Clinic

Meeting adjourned at 7:05

Resetting the Clock:

If the clock needs to be reset, tell the clock operator what the time should be. Do not specify a certain number of seconds to add or remove.  By being precise in your clock correction, you avoid the appearance of guessing when you state a certain number of seconds.

Equipment Repair:

When a player is in need of equipment repair, an official’s timeout is taken and the game clock is stopped or remains stopped.  If the repair can be made within 25 seconds without the assistance of a team attendant, it remains an official’s timeout.  Rule 3-5-7f.

Backwards Pass:  Intentionally Thrown Out-of-Bounds:

You cannot have intentional grounding on a backwards pass.  It is legal for a player to intentionally throw a backwards pass out-of-bounds to stop the clock to conserve time.  The ball belongs to the passing team at the OB spot unless it was fourth down and results in a change of possession.

Play:  Team A’s ball, 3^rd down and 7 from Team B’s 20-yard line.  10 seconds left in the 4^th quarter and Team A is out of time outs. QB A12 takes the snap, drops back to pass and while under a heavy rush, intentionally throws a backwards pass which goes out-of-bounds at Team B’s 24 yard line.

Ruling:  Legal play. Team A’s ball, 4^th and 11 from B’s 24 yard line. The game clock will start on the snap.  Rules 2-31-5 and 7-4-1.

Intentional Grounding…..There’s More:

In response to last week’s play involving intentional grounding in the end zone, the following question was asked: 

Question:  What happens if there is intentional grounding in the end zone and the pass is intercepted by B? 

    1. Roll Call

    2. Old Business

1. Association Shirts

                                                               i.      $26

                                                             ii.      Order form-can be deducted from paycheck

1. New Business
1. In honor of Chet-Association to wear black arm bands
2. Gathering at Walt’s PourHouse Saturday night 6-9 to honor Chet and say good-bye to Pott’s; wear stripes
3. Clark Sanders had to cancel visit

                                                               i.      Clark conveyed to Larry:

1.      College officials who work(ed) high school games are good influence at Rules Clinics

2.      Asked for a couple officials to be Rules Trainers

1. To be passed on to Clark

                                                               i.      Wear long black pants with stripe for bad weather? Association in favor

                                                             ii.      No overtime at sub-varsity level-Association opposes sub-varsity overtime

                                                            iii.      Association in favor of coin toss 15 minutes before contest-

                                                           iv.      Association not in favor of blackballing of officials by schools

                                                             v.      If approved by OSAA, blackballing should not be more than a year and reason should be give

                                                           vi.      Association in favor of official who ball is thrown towards should give punch

1. Brad-

                                                               i.      apology about his reaction to calls he was not comfortable with during game

                                                             ii.      questions

1.      What do we know about knee pads, jerseys, breast-plate holding? MHS claims they are not bothered by any other Associations about it.

2.      Larry Reiber: We will not change our policy, and continue working with players to get jerseys tucked in; Bennett suggests we write letter to OSAA/Brad Garrett about schools who do not as a group follow rules;  Stephens to draft letter and submit to Reiber, Bennett, Storm, Lillebo and Grassham for review.

3.      Ineligibles downfield on screen pass when ball muffed and lands beyond neutral zone- If its close, should we be more relaxed about calling it? Consensus is call it by the rule.

Meeting adjourned at 8:08

Next meeting is 10/26/09, business will include nomination of President (to replace Potts), Vice-President, Member-At-Large, and Treasurer.

 Kick Off Formation:

Please note, the kicking team DOES NOT have to have a certain number of players on each side of the kicker.

Roughing the Snapper:

Rule 9-4-6 affords the snapper additional protection during a field goal attempt or a scrimmage kick.  A defensive player shall not charge directly into the snapper.  This protection ends when the snapper is able to protect himself, blocks, or otherwise moves to participate in the play.  “Protect himself” means the snapper has had time to look up and regain his balance.  Snapper protection exists whether or not there is a kick.

Play:  K34 is lined up directly behind snapper K78 but his hands are not under the snapper.  K17 is positioned 9-yards behind the LOS and is directly behind K34 and K78.  If K17 receives  the snap, is K78 afforded snapper protection?

Penalty Enforcement-Kick Out-of-Bounds:

This actually happened…..in Oregon…..

Play:  DPI by B34 on touchdown scoring play, followed by UNS flag on B34 for remarks about the call.  Personal foul by B43 on Team A’s successful try, followed by UNS on Team B’s coach.  Team A chose to enforce all 4 penalties on the subsequent kickoff, and they were walked off as 15, 15, 15, and 7-1/2 yards (half the distance to the goal.)  Team A then tried an onside kick and the ball went out-of-bounds.  What options does Team B now have?

Ruling:  If because of multiple penalties, the ball is kicked from a spot such that placing the ball 25 yards beyond the previous spot would put the ball in Team R's end zone, that option doesn't exist. The only options are re-kick with a 5-yard penalty or take the ball at the OB spot. Case Book play 6.1.8 Situation H.

Downfield Blocking:

I reeived an inquiry from a Commissioner who was asked by a Coach about the defense blocking an eligible pass receiver coming towards him beyond the LOS.  The Coach was told that a defensive player cannot block the receiver once the receiver leaves the LOS or goes beyond a 5-yard zone.

First of all, there is no “chuck” rule in high school football. Second, remember that the defensive player does not know if that offensive player coming towards him is a blocker or a receiver, so the defense IS ALLOWED to legally ward off that offensive player until he reaches the yard line that the defensive player is on or cuts away from him.  As we all know, pass interference restrictions start at the snap for the offense and start when the ball is in the air for the defense.  Please review Rules 7-5-8, 7-5-9, 9-2-3d and Case Book play 9.2.3 Situation A.

Scrimmage Kick Formations:

Play:  Team A lines up in a scrimmage kick formation for a try. The holder is in a squatting position without a knee on the ground with the kicker in proper position. The kicker goes in motion away from the holder, the ball is snapped, and the holder rises up and continues with the play. Is this a legal scrimmage kick formation?

1. Roll Call
2. Old Business
1. Minutes approved from 9/14/09
2. Clarifications about overtime

                                                              i.      Down ends on change of possession

                                                            ii.      Penalties can be carried over from series to series

1. Association Shirts-Bob has approved design and shirt design/fabric; will work out pricing and prepare for order
2. Change to Service Agreement:

                                                              i.      Section 5. THE ASSOCIATION AGREES TO:

1.      Add: If schools do not attend this rules clinic offered by the Association, the Association is not obligated to officiate non-participating schools’ preseason scrimmages.

2.      Moved, seconded and approved unanimously to forward to AD’s for their approval.

1. New Business
1. From complaint-lesson to be learned: Don’t grab players’ face mask when you are talking to them
2. Commissioner comments
1. Dues to be withheld from next check ($40)
3. Review/Quiz
1. Difference between muff/fumble: possession before a fumble which can be advance; muff is touching of kick by receiving team, but no possession
2. Replaced player leaving field end zone/other sideline: both are illegal substitution; if possible administer as a dead ball penalty
3. Before RFP, seven conditions for being able designate where ball spotted

                                                              i.      On a try

                                                            ii.      After fair catch

                                                          iii.      Start of game

                                                          iv.      Touchback

                                                            v.      Safety

                                                          vi.      Awarded fair catch

                                                        vii.      Starting each series during OT

1. Can a captain request a measurement: if reasonable before ready for play
2. Lineman’s hand on ground, rises up to shift before snap? False start (p.56 Rule book)
3. Receiver who gives fair catch signal allowed to block? No-personal foul for illegal contact
4. Team commits live ball foul followed by dead ball-both enforced
5. Running into the kicker? Displaces kicker, but not roughing, then running into kicker;
6. Inadvertent whistle after field goal blocked. What are options? Replay the down;
7. When are free kicks used? Awarded fair catch, fair catch, replay of down after a down after fair catch, after score; start a half
1.  Training
1. Game Situations

                                                              i.      Blocking when hooking breastplate of opponent’s shoulder pad-illegal block; Larry sent email to all AD’s about the rule

                                                            ii.      Blocking away from the play, be careful that if you get them to stop defensive player not allowed to get back in play.

                                                          iii.      Penalty on an extra point by offense declined unless enforced on the succeeding spot (dead ball or personal foul)

                                                          iv.      Intentional grounding from shot gun spike

1. Stupid question

                                                              i.      Ball going in, near endzone; expanded neutral zone does not extend into end zone; Can you have ineligibles downfield in the end zone?

Next meeting October 12^th at 6:30 PM

OAOA Football Committee Tele-Conference Meeting

Sunday, September 20, 2009

7:00 PM – 8:35 PM

Present

Dick Trent, North Coast

John Campbell, Rogue Valley

Scott Coe, Klamath Falls

Neil Cooper, NE Oregon Football

Jack Folliard, OAOA Board

John Graham, OAOA Board

Kevin Hatfield, Portland

Paul Bish, Mid-Columbia

Roy Palmer, Douglas County

Mark Peterson, Blue Mountain

Clark Sanders, OAOA Board, Football SRI

Mike Whitty, Vice-Chair, Lane County

Ken Woods, Chair, Salem

Absent

Brad Garrett

Central Oregon

Mid-Western

Malheur County

Lower Columbia

1. FEES FOR JAMBOREES:  After a brief discussion, it was understood that the OSAA Fee Review Committee is making recommendations on charging one game fee per jamboree.  The OAOA Football Committee supports that language.

1. MANDATE 4-MAN CREWS FOR SUB-VARSITY:  The Committee agreed that for player safety, and for the safety of the officials, that 4-man crews are necessary on all levels of sub-varsity games and asked a committee of Kevin Hatfield, Mike Whitty and Jeff Rink to prepare a draft proposal and send it back to the Committee for comments.  Once a final draft is established, then the Committee would send the recommendation to the OAOA Board for their consideration.

1. MANDATE 5-MAN CREWS FOR ALL VARSITY:  This would be incorporated in #2 above.

1. DISCUSS FEES FOR 2011-12:  This discussion will be set aside for now and will be discussed at a later date.

1. DEFINE A FULL SCHEDULE:  It was decided to not do anything about this for now as the OSAA Fee Review Committee is making recommendations on this topic.

1. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, NUMBER OF HOURS:  After some discussion, it was felt that each association can establish their own requirements for the number of hours of training as long at it meets or exceeds the 10 hours or 6 meetings required by OSAA.

7.       STANDARDIZE SUB-VARSITY OT GAMES:  After some discussion, only two leagues in Oregon mandate OT for their sub-varsity games.  The Committee asked that Chair Ken Woods discuss this with Brad Garrett and report back to the Committee.  NOTE:  I spoke with Brad on 9/21 and he will poll the high school athletic directors and report back to us at our December Committee meeting.

1. OTHER:  PUNCHING BACKWARDS PASSES:  After some discussion, it was agreed that the “off” (the ball going away from) official punch backwards if the pass is backwards.  Each association will report back to Clark Sanders with their findings.

1. OTHER:  BLACK COLD WEATHER PANTS:  It was agreed to ask each association and report back to Clark Sanders with their findings.

1. OTHER:  2-QUARTER JV GAMES PRIOR TO VARSITY GAMES:  Let each association work with their schools on the billing.  Some associations bill for a complete game and some only bill for two quarters.

1. OTHER:  STANDARIZE COIN FLIP TIME:  Since there is a discrepancy between the NFHS Officials Manual (3 minutes) and OSAA playoff policy (15 minutes), to be consistent with the policy used during OSAA playoff contests, the Committee recommends having the coin toss at 15 minutes prior to the opening kickoff.

1. OTHER:  KNEE PADS:  There was continued discussion on illegal knee pads.  It was encouraged to keep enforcing the Federation and the OSAA rule.

Ken Woods, Chair

OAOA Football Committee