Officially Speaking: No touching allowed
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Question: Many years ago I was at an Exeter/Dover game and Exeter's kickoffs were all kicked high and short near the sideline. It could have created a jump-ball situation. Just wondering if the kicking team and the receiving team each have an equal right to the football in cases like this, or is it a penalty if a player on the kicking team makes contact with a member of the receiving team while both players are going for the ball?
R.G., Hampton
Answer: If a kickoff has not touched the ground, a member of the kicking team may not touch either the ball or a member of the receiving team (unless the receiving team player blocks a kicking team player). The receiving team must be given an unmolested opportunity to catch the kick. In fact, they can even signal for and make a fair catch. Once the kickoff touches the ground and travels 10 yards, however, it's a free ball that can be recovered by the kicking team.
Question: Is an assistant coach allowed to call a time out?
Geoff, Rochester
Answer: No. Only the head coach can call a time out. In the unlikely event that the head coach has been ejected (a very rare occurence), an assistant coach may be designated as acting head coach, and that coach can call a time out.
Question: Last season there was a play in a Portsmouth game where the quarterback dropped back to pass, but was pressured and had to scramble. I'm guessing he was a good 25 yards behind the line of scrimmage and appeared to be breaking away from the defenders. He may not have been able to prevent a loss by running the ball, but he certainly would have had enough time to attempt a pass. Just as he turned up field a defensive player pulled him down by the facemask. The penalty was marked off from the spot of the foul and resulted in a loss of (again, I'm estimating) about 10 yards. This seemed to penalize Portsmouth more than the other team. Was this the correct call?
R.F., Greenland
Answer: Yes, the enforcement was correct. What you describe above is a running play. Penalties by the defense on running plays are enforced from the end of the run, and the down is replayed. While this can sometimes result in what appears to be an unusual or "unfair" enforcement, the defense not only gets penalized the yardage, but the down also gets replayed. Think of it this way: If the tackle had been legal, there would be an event bigger loss without a replay of the down. Therefore, the defense is definitely getting penalized for the foul.
Question: I've never seen this play occur, but let's say the two Nashua schools are tied at the end of regulation. On the first play of overtime (ball placed at the 10) the South quarterback throws a pass that is intercepted by a North player and returned to the end zone. Is this a touchdown and a North victory? Also, I know it would be strange, but what if a safety occurs in OT?
D.B., Nashua
Answer: The defense cannot score in overtime (or on a try for point). As soon as the defense intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble in overtime, the ball becomes dead. The only way a safety could be scored in overtime is a safety by the offense. If the offense fumbled the ball and the defense then forced the ball into their own end zone in an attempt to recover the ball, then recovered in the end zone, it would be a safety for the offense (two points).
Question: If a player (or coach) requests a measurement, do the refs have to call in the chain gang?
A.F.; Nashua
Answer: No, the request doesn't have to be honored if it is obvious that the line to gain has not been reached. However, if there is any doubt, the referee will likely call for an official's time out for a measurement.
Check the archives for more Officially Speaking features with Steve Hall.
