Bobref

Can we please stop with the nonsensical old saw that the officials “could call holding on every play.?” IT’S NOT TRUE!!! What you can say is that there is a technical violation of blocking rules on every play ... often several. But as has been pointed out on the GID in many different contexts, the black and white of the rulebook is only the starting point when deciding whether to call a foul. I’ve seen many different formulations of the criteria for calling holding, but they all basically come down to a few important rules: There must be a violation of the rules. You have to see all the contact, from engagement to disengagement. If the blocker is simply overpowering the defender, it’s not holding. Should be near the point of attack. Has to have an impact on the play. The defender must make the attempt to get off the block. Should fit into one of several classifications of holding: BEAR HUG WRAP/GRAB & TURN SHOULDER DIP SHIRT STRETCH PULLOVER GRAB OF LEG PULL AND SHOOT If it doesn’t fit into one of these classifications, you should think long and hard before throwing the flag. So, the next time you hear on TV that the officials could call holding on every play, just smile knowingly and say to yourself “I know better.”

I watched the clip for the first time. Clearly targeting and, in my judgment, an ejection as well. ... And #64 in white should be on the bus, too.

That's known as "enabling."

If, in fact, you have knowledge of this happening, I urge you to report it to the IHSAA. Rfaulkens@IHSAA.org. They are very interested in this kind of unethical behavior, and if it actually happened there are significant sanctions to be imposed. Officials who would do this give us a bad name. It should not be tolerated.

The player who assaulted the official has now been charged with a felony. https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/dunbar-football-player-charged-after-incident-with-official/

Most of the time on these plays, you don't even need forcible contact to get the job done. Simply "shielding" the defender from the runner is sufficient. I know that goes against the grain of the way we were all taught. But the times, they are a changing.' Need to change with them.

Sure. We played with the Iroquois, Algonquin, Chippewas, all the tribes. 😆

Hey, I’m almost 68 yrs. old and still wear my Notre Dame Lacrosse letter jacket. After what I went through to get that, I’m going to be buried in it. 😀😉

At this point, it’s moot. We have the Mercy Rule ... and that’s all we have.

Here’s the e-mail containing the link to be used to report Mercy Rule games: “Please distribute to your Crew Chiefs/White Hats. Complete for any game where the Mercy Rule is used. http://sgiz.mobi/s3/ea796daa4521 Robert E. Faulkens Assistant Commissioner Indiana High School Athletic Association”

You don’t need to quote the rule to me. I know what it says. I also know what the IHSAA has said on the subject. Hey, don’t kill the messenger. The IHSAA is the official source of rules interpretations in Indiana. Here is the text of the e-mail response I got from Robert Faulkens when I sought an interpretation of the overlap between 3-1-2 and 3-1-3 after what happened in the Delta game: “NO! Our State adoption supersedes Rule 3-1-3. The Coaches have been informed. The officials have been informed. That should not have happened at Delta.” The question I asked was whether coaches could agree to a running clock, or to shorten a period before the Mercy Rule goes into effect in the 2nd half. Whether communication has been optimal or not, this is the rule in Indiana. If your issue is communication, take it up with your crew chief, your association’s football chair, or the IHSAA. But this is the rule.

Actually, they can’t under the current rule. The IHSAA has been very clear: adoption of the Mercy Rule trumps Rule 3-1-3, meaning it is the only alteration of the timing rules permitted.

Since it is obvious the offended team would want the clock to run, I wouldn’t even give them the option of starting the game clock on the snap, if the option existed.

Interesting. When is a ball both ready and not ready for play? If you get a coach that knows the rules, what are you going to cite to him as rules support for handling it that way?

That is correct. The only way to prevent that is to not throw the flag in the first place.

We have no rules where time is run off the clock. If the runner was down inbounds, why did the game clock start on the snap? The only reason would be if someone called a timeout after the play. The clock would be stopped to administer the penalty, and then would start on the Referee’s ready for play signal.

Unlike NCAA, the NF rules do not provide for automatic ejection for a targeting foul. Ejection can be warranted if the foul is deemed “flagrant,” i.e., places the opponent at risk for serious injury. One of the examples of a foul that can be considered flagrant is helmet to helmet contact against a defenseless player. But it’s never automatic. It always comes down to the official’s judgment.

I congratulate you if you find illegal use of the hands tougher to officiate than DPI.

This is not an illegal block. It's illegal use of the hands. 15 yds,. vs. 10 yds.

If the back was inside the tight end position, no one has him as a key. You might get luck as a wing official Hard for the B to see this, as his initial key is a wide player. If the play takes long enough to develop, B may be in a position to see this, or a wing who has dropped to LB depth. Otherwise, you just have to hope to get lucky. 5 man mechanics.

I’ve been told that, starting next year, only EventLink will be used for scheduling and assigning. ... of course, that’s what we were told when Arbiter came on the scene. The key, as always, is getting all the schools to use the same system.

This precise play happened in a tournament game several years ago. The enforcement was correct. Whether the line to gain is made is determined by the action that occurs prior to the ball becoming dead on 4th down. Since the line to gain was not made at the conclusion of 4th down, the ball goes over. The penalty is enforced, the chains are set, and it’s 1st down. One technical note: the penalty is actually enforced from the succeeding spot, i.e., where the ball became dead following 4th down.

????? 🤢🤮

They wish! 😜

He’s just reciting facts on this issue. Not like his contraction mantra.