Personal fouls

[PHJIrish]

I'd like to see an automatic first down, like colleges and the NFL, when a personal foul is assessed in a half the distance situation.  A DPI was waved against Covington Catholic, this Friday night, and the Irish still faced a 4th down situation instead of it being a first down.  This occurred inside the 10 yard line and was in the final seconds of the game.  I've long time thought this rule needs to be changed.  Thoughts?

[Yuccaguy]

2 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

I'd like to see an automatic first down, like colleges and the NFL, when a personal foul is assessed in a half the distance situation.  A DPI was waved against Covington Catholic, this Friday night, and the Irish still faced a 4th down situation instead of it being a first down.  This occurred inside the 10 yard line and was in the final seconds of the game.  I've long time thought this rule needs to be changed.  Thoughts?

It was an "appeasement" for the absolutely aggesgreous OPI foul that not only was 15 yards, but a loss of down. I don't see this changing anytime soon.  You get the 4 ROUGHING fouls vs. the defense that will allow an automatic 1st down, only.

[PHJIrish]

31 minutes ago, Yuccaguy said:

It was an "appeasement" for the absolutely aggesgreous OPI foul that not only was 15 yards, but a loss of down. I don't see this changing anytime soon.  You get the 4 ROUGHING fouls vs. the defense that will allow an automatic 1st down, only.

I think any penalty that doesn't get the maximum yardage should be an automatic first down.  I guess I'm in the minority for that one.  Thanks for the response,  I hope you're having a good season!

[Yuccaguy]

23 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

I think any penalty that doesn't get the maximum yardage should be an automatic first down.  I guess I'm in the minority for that one.  Thanks for the response,  I hope you're having a good season!

Trying @PHJIrish..  We missed a BIG call this past week late in our game;  It has NO excuse at all for this crew.  No impact on the game, but something that I am completely upset about.  A late PF cannot be missed in front of 3 officials!  Then compounded by upsetting an Assistant Coach with a response that (IMO) was correct as directed to him.  

There is nothing that I can say (tried) to mitigate the situation following the game.  But his particular position with the school was not known to the crew.  My response to him (and the HC) was that though "I may have the same initials of the 'perfect' man, I am NOT him!".  He took that as an offense.

I am NOT perfect, nor is anyone on Earth at this time.  We are all subject to making mistakes.  All I ask is that when a mistake is made, please judge the impact of that 'mistake' on the entirety of the contest.  59-21 with a running clock, this may not be the time to unleash a tongue lashing about your religious beliefs and thoughts as an Assistant Coach. 

As an official that is yearly asked about rules changes, I try as best to offer my opinions about needed changes.  Strangely enough, we had 2 ROUGHING calls that led direct to 'automatic' 1st downs in that game against the home team.  That hadn't happened in quite some time.  

I am a humble man.  I hope that those who know who I am can see that.  And I wish, all involved in IHSAA sports know that.  

Great year so far.  Looking for another 6 games following the regular season for the crew.  

[PHJIrish]

50 minutes ago, Yuccaguy said:

Trying @PHJIrish..  We missed a BIG call this past week late in our game;  It has NO excuse at all for this crew.  No impact on the game, but something that I am completely upset about.  A late PF cannot be missed in front of 3 officials!  Then compounded by upsetting an Assistant Coach with a response that (IMO) was correct as directed to him.  

There is nothing that I can say (tried) to mitigate the situation following the game.  But his particular position with the school was not known to the crew.  My response to him (and the HC) was that though "I may have the same initials of the 'perfect' man, I am NOT him!".  He took that as an offense.

I am NOT perfect, nor is anyone on Earth at this time.  We are all subject to making mistakes.  All I ask is that when a mistake is made, please judge the impact of that 'mistake' on the entirety of the contest.  59-21 with a running clock, this may not be the time to unleash a tongue lashing about your religious beliefs and thoughts as an Assistant Coach. 

As an official that is yearly asked about rules changes, I try as best to offer my opinions about needed changes.  Strangely enough, we had 2 ROUGHING calls that led direct to 'automatic' 1st downs in that game against the home team.  That hadn't happened in quite some time.  

I am a humble man.  I hope that those who know who I am can see that.  And I wish, all involved in IHSAA sports know that.  

Great year so far.  Looking for another 6 games following the regular season for the crew.  

I appreciate your honesty and hard work!

[Yuccaguy]

25 minutes ago, PHJIrish said:

I appreciate your honesty and hard work!

always!!!!

[Bobref]

5 hours ago, PHJIrish said:

I'd like to see an automatic first down, like colleges and the NFL, when a personal foul is assessed in a half the distance situation.  A DPI was waved against Covington Catholic, this Friday night, and the Irish still faced a 4th down situation instead of it being a first down.  This occurred inside the 10 yard line and was in the final seconds of the game.  I've long time thought this rule needs to be changed.  Thoughts?

DPI is not a personal foul. But I take your point. There’s no doubt that DBs are coached to foul in those circumstances.

[PHJIrish]

I meant to say all penalties that were half the distance, not just PF's.  Sometimes my brain and my fingers don't work in combination.  I appreciate the information on this from everyone.

[JustRules]

On 10/13/2025 at 6:41 PM, PHJIrish said:

I meant to say all penalties that were half the distance, not just PF's.  Sometimes my brain and my fingers don't work in combination.  I appreciate the information on this from everyone.

Do you really think 3rd and 3 from the 5 should be an automatic first down if the defense encroaches? That is not a rule at any level. Granting an automatic first down on DPI, PF, and UNS makes sense and is consistent with what people are used to seeing. NFL and NCAA has automatic first down for defensive holding, but I don't think that's necessary.

[PHJIrish]

18 hours ago, JustRules said:

Do you really think 3rd and 3 from the 5 should be an automatic first down if the defense encroaches? That is not a rule at any level. Granting an automatic first down on DPI, PF, and UNS makes sense and is consistent with what people are used to seeing. NFL and NCAA has automatic first down for defensive holding, but I don't think that's necessary.

Again, I probably didn't state that quite like it should have been.  I meant 10 or 15 yard penalties, but 3rd and 3 from the five, the half the distance penalty means you still get two downs to score from close in.