Mechanics – CIF has pushed to have three (3) officials at every game. In some instances, there may be two officials working a game. SIDELINES MUST ALWAYS BE COVERED.
When two officials work a game, each will work from opposite sidelines. Should you choose to work from the middle of the field and a threatened sideline goes uncovered, you are doing the players a disservice and failing to use approved mechanics. When three (3) officials are working a game, only the Referee is on the field in the offensive backfield, always staying toward the SJ sideline. The Side Judge and Line Judge will always be on the sidelines.
Contact – THIS IS A NON-CONTACT SPORT. When a defender initiates significant contact when attempting a flag pull, it is a foul, even if they pull the flag. When a defender initiates contact while attempting to tip the ball away from a receiver, it is a foul, even if they tip the ball away.
Situations – (with approved rulings)
QB A23 drops back to pass. While the ball is in flight, defender B45 plays around the shoulder of wide receiver A8 and tips the ball away. After the ball is tipped away, B45’s momentum carries them into the back and shoulder of A8, (a) causing contact that makes the receiver stumble… (b) causing significant contact… (c) knocking A8 to the ground. RULING – In all instances, Illegal Contact, defense B45. The ball was tipped, therefor we would not have Defensive Pass Interference. B45 was responsible for initiating contact on A8, resulting in an Illegal Contact Foul on B45. (a) – Illegal Contact, 10 yards, previous spot. (b) – Illegal Contact, 10 yards, previous spot. (c) – Personal Foul, Illegal Personal Contact, 10 yards & 1st down (this can be a “tack on” if the ball is caught).
When coaches ask about this, the defensive player must find a way to tip the ball away without initiating contact, even after it is tipped (on the follow-through). If the defender cannot do that, the only thing they can do is play for the flag pull after the catch.
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Running to the right, ball carrier A18 is contacted by B67 as the flag is pulled. (a) – the contact is unavoidable and a mild brush of the shoulder as A18 tries to avoid the flag pull. (b) – the contact is significant and across the midsection of the body as B67 attempts to pull both flags. (c) – the contact is into the hip area of A18, causing them to stumble during the flag pull. RULING – (a) legal. (b) illegal contact or holding on the defense, depending on the calling officials. (c) Illegal contact defense.
Restricted Areas and Coaches on the field – All football games (flag and tackle) that use NFHS rulebooks have restricted areas. Coaches (and non-players) are required to stay out of the restricted area when the ball is live. Coaches are not allowed on the field of play more than a step to call in a play. Please review your field diagrams in the NFHS Rule Book to see that the TEAM BOX extends two yards off each sideline from the 20-yard line to the 20-yard line. When you arrive at a field and the restricted areas are not marked, you should require the home team to set out disc cones to mark the restricted areas and team boxes.
Situations – (with approved rulings)
During the dead ball period, between downs, the head coach (a) steps one yard onto the field to call in a play and immediately moves back to the restricted area. (b) steps 5 yards onto the field to call in a play and does not move out of the restricted area after the ball is snapped. (c) The play is from the B-10, and the defensive coordinator moves to the B-15 and 4 yards onto the field while calling in their defensive play. RULING – (a) legal; the coach may take one step onto the field to call in a play but must move to the team box before the snap of the ball. (b) & (c) The first occurrence is a flag and a sideline warning. The second is sideline interference (9.8.1k) and a 5-yard penalty, and the third is sideline interference (9.8.3) and a 10-yard penalty.