Officially Speaking: Kicking mad
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: My question boils down to when change of possession occurs during a punt. If it's fourth and five and a teamkick but a personal foul occurs during the kick, does this result in a first down? Does it make a difference if the ball is downed by the kicking team and not touched by the receiving team?
E.B., Salem
Answer: You've asked two very good questions: when does a change of possession occur, and how are penalties that occur during scrimmage kicks (punts) enforced. A change of possession occurs when the receiving team catches or recovers the kick. Penalty enforcement for fouls during scrimmage kicks can be very confusing because enforcement depends on who commits the foul, where the foul occurs and when the foul occurs.
Let's first deal with enforcement of penalties for fouls by the kicking team. If the kicking team fouls during a punt and before possession changes, the basic spot for penalty enforcement is the previous spot (i.e., the spot of the snap). The enforcement spot differs if the foul occurs behind the previous spot (in the backfield), but generally it's the previous spot. Therefore, if the kicking team committed a foul during the kick and the penalty was accepted, the penalty would be enforced from the previous spot and the down would be replayed. If the kicking team fouls
following a change of possession, the enforcement spot is where the receiver's run ends, and the receiving team keeps the ball and is given a new series (1st and 10) following enforcement.
Enforcement of penalties for fouls by the receiving team are more tricky. The basic spot of enforcement for fouls by the receiving team before the kick ends is the spot where the kick ends (i.e., where the receiving team catches or recovers the kick) provided that: 1) the foul occurred more than 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, 2) the kick crosses the line of scrimmage, and 3) the kicking team would not be awarded a new series absent the foul. If these three conditions are met, the penalty is generally enforced from the end of the kick and the receiving team is awarded a new series after enforcement. This is known as post-scrimmage-kick enforcement, and the philosophy behind the rule is that the kicking team is giving up the ball by punting it, so they should not get a first down for a foul by the receiving team. If any of these three conditions are not met, then the basic spot for enforcement is the previous spot, and the down is replayed. For example, if the receiving team holds more than 2 yards downfield during a punt, the receiving team would be penalized ten yards from where the kick ended and would be given a new series. However, if the hold occurred at the line of scrimmage, that penalty would be enforced from the previous spot, and the down would be replayed (or the kicking team would be awarded a first down if the penalty enforcement brought the ball beyond the line to gain). Fouls by the receiving team after they gain possession are generally enforced from where the receiver's run ends, as in the case of fouls by the kicking team following a change of possession.
Let's first deal with enforcement of penalties for fouls by the kicking team. If the kicking team fouls during a punt and before possession changes, the basic spot for penalty enforcement is the previous spot (i.e., the spot of the snap). The enforcement spot differs if the foul occurs behind the previous spot (in the backfield), but generally it's the previous spot. Therefore, if the kicking team committed a foul during the kick and the penalty was accepted, the penalty would be enforced from the previous spot and the down would be replayed. If the kicking team fouls
following a change of possession, the enforcement spot is where the receiver's run ends, and the receiving team keeps the ball and is given a new series (1st and 10) following enforcement.
Enforcement of penalties for fouls by the receiving team are more tricky. The basic spot of enforcement for fouls by the receiving team before the kick ends is the spot where the kick ends (i.e., where the receiving team catches or recovers the kick) provided that: 1) the foul occurred more than 2 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, 2) the kick crosses the line of scrimmage, and 3) the kicking team would not be awarded a new series absent the foul. If these three conditions are met, the penalty is generally enforced from the end of the kick and the receiving team is awarded a new series after enforcement. This is known as post-scrimmage-kick enforcement, and the philosophy behind the rule is that the kicking team is giving up the ball by punting it, so they should not get a first down for a foul by the receiving team. If any of these three conditions are not met, then the basic spot for enforcement is the previous spot, and the down is replayed. For example, if the receiving team holds more than 2 yards downfield during a punt, the receiving team would be penalized ten yards from where the kick ended and would be given a new series. However, if the hold occurred at the line of scrimmage, that penalty would be enforced from the previous spot, and the down would be replayed (or the kicking team would be awarded a first down if the penalty enforcement brought the ball beyond the line to gain). Fouls by the receiving team after they gain possession are generally enforced from where the receiver's run ends, as in the case of fouls by the kicking team following a change of possession.
Question: Mr. Hall, I read about the ending of the Plymouth/Souhegan game last weekend and although I had heard of the free-kick rule I'm not clear on a couple of things. According to the paper, Plymouth had a free play after calling for a fair catch. Does this mean Plymouth could have run a play from scrimmage with the defense no closer than 10 yards away? I'm also assuming the team gets just one play following the fair catch, otherwise teams would probably do this throughout the game. Can you provide any more details?
Chris, Milford
Chris, Milford
Answer: The rule allowing a team a free kick following a fair catch is a somewhat obscure rule and is rarely used, so it's going to be confusing for people unfamiliar with the rule. In all of my years of officiating, this is only the second time I have heard of it happening in New Hampshire, and it has never happened in a game that I have worked. When I read that Plymouth used it to win last week's game, I wasn't surprised because I've been asked about that rule over the years on more than one occasion by Coach Lenahan, who is one of the premier football coaches in the state.
The rule is relatively straightforward: If a team makes a fair catch of a punt or a kickoff, they have the option of snapping the ball or free kicking the ball. If they choose to free kick, it's nothing more than a kickoff that can score 3 points if the ball passes through the uprights. The receiving team must line up no closer than 10 yards from the spot of the kick, and the kicking team can kick the ball anywhere between the hash marks. The ball may be kicked from a tee (a regular kickoff tee or a "block" tee used for field goals and extra points) or from the ground while being held by a holder. If the kick doesn't pass through the uprights, it can be returned by the receiving team or it's a touchback if the ball breaks the plane of the goal line. Therefore, you will likely only see this attempted at the end of a half or at the end of a game, because the kicking team is giving up the ball if the kick is unsuccessful. The right to free kick the ball is given only if a team signals for and makes a fair catch of a punt or kickoff (the ball must be caught in flight -- it's not a fair catch if it strikes the ground), or if the team is awarded a fair catch. A team is awarded a fair catch if there is kick-catching interference and the receiving team chooses an awarded fair catch for penalty enforcement (rather than penalizing the kicking team 15 yards from
the previous spot and replaying the down). A team cannot run a "free play" from scrimmage following a fair catch.
There's one other aspect of the rule that many people are not aware of. If a team elects to snap the ball following a fair catch, and on the ensuing down there is an accepted penalty and the down is replayed (or an automatic
first down is awarded), then the team retains the right to snap or free kick the ball on the ensuing down. For example, assume that a team made a fair catch at the 50-yard line with 10 seconds left in the game and elected
to run a play from scrimmage because it was too long a distance to attempt a free kick. Let's now assume that there was defensive pass interference on the play that the team ran from scrimmage. Following enforcement of the
penalty for defensive pass interference, it would be first and 10 on the 35-yard line. The team could then elect to free kick from the 35-yard line because they retain their right to free kick or snap if there's an accepted penalty on the play following the fair catch.
Question: Roger, I'd like to turn the tables on Steve and ask him to describe on or more of the strangest plays (or rulings) he's seen since becoming a New Hampshire official. He must have seen some strange stuff. Can you pass along this request?
B.N., Nashua
The rule is relatively straightforward: If a team makes a fair catch of a punt or a kickoff, they have the option of snapping the ball or free kicking the ball. If they choose to free kick, it's nothing more than a kickoff that can score 3 points if the ball passes through the uprights. The receiving team must line up no closer than 10 yards from the spot of the kick, and the kicking team can kick the ball anywhere between the hash marks. The ball may be kicked from a tee (a regular kickoff tee or a "block" tee used for field goals and extra points) or from the ground while being held by a holder. If the kick doesn't pass through the uprights, it can be returned by the receiving team or it's a touchback if the ball breaks the plane of the goal line. Therefore, you will likely only see this attempted at the end of a half or at the end of a game, because the kicking team is giving up the ball if the kick is unsuccessful. The right to free kick the ball is given only if a team signals for and makes a fair catch of a punt or kickoff (the ball must be caught in flight -- it's not a fair catch if it strikes the ground), or if the team is awarded a fair catch. A team is awarded a fair catch if there is kick-catching interference and the receiving team chooses an awarded fair catch for penalty enforcement (rather than penalizing the kicking team 15 yards from
the previous spot and replaying the down). A team cannot run a "free play" from scrimmage following a fair catch.
There's one other aspect of the rule that many people are not aware of. If a team elects to snap the ball following a fair catch, and on the ensuing down there is an accepted penalty and the down is replayed (or an automatic
first down is awarded), then the team retains the right to snap or free kick the ball on the ensuing down. For example, assume that a team made a fair catch at the 50-yard line with 10 seconds left in the game and elected
to run a play from scrimmage because it was too long a distance to attempt a free kick. Let's now assume that there was defensive pass interference on the play that the team ran from scrimmage. Following enforcement of the
penalty for defensive pass interference, it would be first and 10 on the 35-yard line. The team could then elect to free kick from the 35-yard line because they retain their right to free kick or snap if there's an accepted penalty on the play following the fair catch.
Question: Roger, I'd like to turn the tables on Steve and ask him to describe on or more of the strangest plays (or rulings) he's seen since becoming a New Hampshire official. He must have seen some strange stuff. Can you pass along this request?
B.N., Nashua
Answer: I have seen some unusual plays over the years, but what's unusual to me might not be that unusual to someone else. One strange play that I saw several years ago was illegal forward handing during a try for point.
The QB ran beyond the line of scrimmage, then handed the ball forward to a teammate who scored. The penalty for illegal forward handing is 5 yards plus a loss of down. However, if there's a loss of down penalty during a
try, the try is no good and there is no replay of the down.
Another strange play that I saw involved an illegal forward pass. The team was trailing by 4 points with little time remaining in the game. There was a completed pass and the receiver sprinted toward the goal line as time expired during the down. The defenders converged on the receiver and, thinking he was going to be tackled at around the 2-yard line, he flipped the ball forward to a teammate in the end zone for a touchdown. The defensive team chose to accept the penalty for an illegal forward pass, but because there was an accepted penalty during the last timed down, the offense got an untimed down from the 7-yard line following enforcement. They didn't score on the untimed down and lost the game. The untimed down rule has since been changed in that there is no untimed down if the penalty is accepted for a foul that carries a loss of down penalty.
Another unusual play happened this year, although I had seen a similar play years ago. The punter was punting the ball from his own 3-yard line and the kick was blocked and rebounded into the end zone near the end line. The punter and two defenders raced toward the ball, and the punter kicked the ball out of his own end zone. I dropped my flag for an illegal kick and signaled safety. The result of this play is a safety regardless of whether the penalty is accepted or declined, because the offense forced the ball into their own end zone (by their punt) and the ball then went out of bounds in the end zone. If the penalty was accepted, enforcement would be
from the end zone, resulting in a safety. Consequently, there was no need to ask the defense about their penalty enforcement options.
In addition to unusual plays, I've seen some very funny things happen during games. The first occurred several years ago when I was working the wing on Timberlane's sideline. Mike Pariseau, a consummate gentleman and
excellent coach, was being badgered by one of his players to call a certain play. For several downs, the player kept saying, "Coach, call a 35 counter blast," or something to that effect. After ignoring three or four such comments, Coach Pariseau turned to the player and said, "Smith, we'll get along a lot better if you stick to playing and you let me stick to coaching."
A couple of years ago, I was working a "mud" game in Hanover (on their old field). There was a sweep to Hanover's sideline, and the wing man, a somewhat corpulent man, was having a difficult time getting out of the way. In fact, he had turned his back to the play and was attempting to get some traction in the ankle-deep mud, running directly toward Hanover's sideline. The running back cut inside of him and I figured the wing man was out of
trouble. However, a defender dove at the running back and slid head first into the back of the wing man's legs, causing the wing man's legs to kick straight out. He landed flat on his back in the mud with a resounding
thud-splash. My initial concern was for the wing man's well-being, but the mistake I made was making eye contact with Mike Ivanoski, Hanover's head coach. As soon as I did, we both lost it and I laughed for the next three
series.
By far the most bizarre thing I've ever seen on a football field occurred earlier this year. I was working the Nashua North-Nashua South game at Stellos Stadium in front of at least a couple thousand people. Following a change of possession, I was lined up on about the 10-yard line waiting for the offense to snap the ball when I heard some yelling behind me.I was wondering what the commotion was when someone ran right past me to my right, stark naked! The umpire threw a flag at him as he ran up the hash. He sprinted the entire length of the field, scaled the fence on the other end of the field, and disappeared into the woods. I wasn't sure if the penalty was for backfield in motion, failure to wear required equipment, or a planned loose-ball infraction.
The QB ran beyond the line of scrimmage, then handed the ball forward to a teammate who scored. The penalty for illegal forward handing is 5 yards plus a loss of down. However, if there's a loss of down penalty during a
try, the try is no good and there is no replay of the down.
Another strange play that I saw involved an illegal forward pass. The team was trailing by 4 points with little time remaining in the game. There was a completed pass and the receiver sprinted toward the goal line as time expired during the down. The defenders converged on the receiver and, thinking he was going to be tackled at around the 2-yard line, he flipped the ball forward to a teammate in the end zone for a touchdown. The defensive team chose to accept the penalty for an illegal forward pass, but because there was an accepted penalty during the last timed down, the offense got an untimed down from the 7-yard line following enforcement. They didn't score on the untimed down and lost the game. The untimed down rule has since been changed in that there is no untimed down if the penalty is accepted for a foul that carries a loss of down penalty.
Another unusual play happened this year, although I had seen a similar play years ago. The punter was punting the ball from his own 3-yard line and the kick was blocked and rebounded into the end zone near the end line. The punter and two defenders raced toward the ball, and the punter kicked the ball out of his own end zone. I dropped my flag for an illegal kick and signaled safety. The result of this play is a safety regardless of whether the penalty is accepted or declined, because the offense forced the ball into their own end zone (by their punt) and the ball then went out of bounds in the end zone. If the penalty was accepted, enforcement would be
from the end zone, resulting in a safety. Consequently, there was no need to ask the defense about their penalty enforcement options.
In addition to unusual plays, I've seen some very funny things happen during games. The first occurred several years ago when I was working the wing on Timberlane's sideline. Mike Pariseau, a consummate gentleman and
excellent coach, was being badgered by one of his players to call a certain play. For several downs, the player kept saying, "Coach, call a 35 counter blast," or something to that effect. After ignoring three or four such comments, Coach Pariseau turned to the player and said, "Smith, we'll get along a lot better if you stick to playing and you let me stick to coaching."
A couple of years ago, I was working a "mud" game in Hanover (on their old field). There was a sweep to Hanover's sideline, and the wing man, a somewhat corpulent man, was having a difficult time getting out of the way. In fact, he had turned his back to the play and was attempting to get some traction in the ankle-deep mud, running directly toward Hanover's sideline. The running back cut inside of him and I figured the wing man was out of
trouble. However, a defender dove at the running back and slid head first into the back of the wing man's legs, causing the wing man's legs to kick straight out. He landed flat on his back in the mud with a resounding
thud-splash. My initial concern was for the wing man's well-being, but the mistake I made was making eye contact with Mike Ivanoski, Hanover's head coach. As soon as I did, we both lost it and I laughed for the next three
series.
By far the most bizarre thing I've ever seen on a football field occurred earlier this year. I was working the Nashua North-Nashua South game at Stellos Stadium in front of at least a couple thousand people. Following a change of possession, I was lined up on about the 10-yard line waiting for the offense to snap the ball when I heard some yelling behind me.I was wondering what the commotion was when someone ran right past me to my right, stark naked! The umpire threw a flag at him as he ran up the hash. He sprinted the entire length of the field, scaled the fence on the other end of the field, and disappeared into the woods. I wasn't sure if the penalty was for backfield in motion, failure to wear required equipment, or a planned loose-ball infraction.
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