Officially Speaking: Who knows the score?
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: Are there any rules regarding how a team lines up to receive a kickoff? I've noticed that receiving teams always have five players up front. Am I right in assuming you have to have a certain amount of players within 10 yards of where the ball is kicked?
Sean, Brentwood
Answer: There is no longer any requirement to have a minimum number of receiving team players within 5 yards of their free kick line (the 50-yard line, unless there's a penalty enforced on the kickoff). Prior to 1996, the receiving team was required to have at least 5 players within 5 yards of their free kick line. My guess is that having 5 players up front is pretty standard and has been done that way for years. With fewer receiving team players close the their free kick line, it would be more likely that the kicking team could recover an onside kick.
Question: Can you tell me who is responsible for keeping score of the game? I once heard about a Pop Warner game that had a controversial ending. It was a high-scoring game (I believe both teams were in the 30s) and the field had no scoreboard, or at least not one that was working. One team scored late in the fourth quarter and thought it had tied the game with a two-point conversion, but the other team's coach argued that his team was still ahead by a point. This came to mind last week when I attended a high school game at a field with no scoreboard.
S.M., Concord
Answer: The Referee is responsible for keeping the official score of the game. After each score, the Referee (and all other officials) record the score on their game cards, and if there is any question as to the correct score, the Referee makes the final determination.
Question: Is a punt returner near his own end zone allowed to signal for a fair catch, and then block a member of the kicking team to prevent them from downing the ball before it goes into the end zone?
J.F., Somersworth
Answer: No. This would be a foul for an illegal block. The penalty is 15 yards and would be enforced either from the end of the kick or the spot of the foul, depending on the result of the play. The receiving team would be awarded possession following enforcement.
Check the archives for more Officially Speaking features with Steve Hall.
