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91

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by riffraft on June 25, 2026, 09:52:44 PM »

Were there changes on Free kicks too?

I think U under the upright on a FG is a good idea, but I would set a yardage limit.  I've done this in youth football and you can still officiate the snapper just fine.  This was almost exclusively on tries.
I think at a certain point, maybe the 15, the U should stay in the normal spot and the LJ should go back.

The odds are we are going to have a fire drill with a bad snap than the snapper is going to get roughed. Having the LJ under the upright leaves a big hole. I have no problem as a U looking at the snapper and judge an upright, particularly on tries.  How many 40 yard FGs are even attempted?

92

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by ncwingman on June 25, 2026, 09:22:43 PM »

Were there changes on Free kicks too?

I think U under the upright on a FG is a good idea, but I would set a yardage limit.  I've done this in youth football and you can still officiate the snapper just fine.  This was almost exclusively on tries.
I think at a certain point, maybe the 15, the U should stay in the normal spot and the LJ should go back.

Yes, for free kicks, U is now at the 50 (instead of LJ) and the wings are on the goal line with the R. After the kick, both the U and BJ come on the field to the hash marks.

If a returner takes the kick back up the U's side of the field...

93

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by Snapper on June 25, 2026, 05:20:02 PM »

Both of these things have been the case in Michigan for awhile now.  The U under a post.  And HL stands for Head Line Judge nowadays.

Michigan also has their officials flip sidelines at the half.  (Although God forbid that they do that exactly how the NCAA does it.)

I didn't care for any of these changes when they came about.  But I can't see where they've made any real, substantial differences either way.

And that's often the case.  It's fun to bitch about rules and mechanics changes.  I've done it a lot through the years.  But ultimately, not that many changes make a fundamental change to the game.  Football is still one of the best sports ever invented, still played by huge numbers of kids, and watched by even huger numbers of fans.  And we get to be a part of it and contribute back to it.

So I reserve the right to still bitch about how some things are done.  But its mostly done in good fun.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go yell at some kids to get off my dang lawn. 

94

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by bossman72 on June 25, 2026, 02:48:01 PM »

Has anyone noticed that they have changed "Head Linesman" to Head Line Judge"?

No note, no reference to the change anywhere but it's all over the manual.

I always thought that Head Linesman was a misnomer.  "Head" Linesman would imply that there is more than one linesman to be the "head" one of.  I think they did that so they could put letters on their shirts.  L and LJ is confusing as opposed to H and L.

To be fair, Head Line Judge is a lot better than Down Judge.

95

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by bossman72 on June 25, 2026, 02:44:59 PM »

Were there changes on Free kicks too?

I think U under the upright on a FG is a good idea, but I would set a yardage limit.  I've done this in youth football and you can still officiate the snapper just fine.  This was almost exclusively on tries.
I think at a certain point, maybe the 15, the U should stay in the normal spot and the LJ should go back.

96

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by Etref on June 25, 2026, 02:15:59 PM »

Most umpires couldn’t make it 40 yards in time to see the kick!

97

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by ncwingman on June 25, 2026, 01:26:07 PM »

Yeah, it's in the new officials handbook. BJ and U under the posts, LJ and HL stay on the line. Technically, it doesn't say the U is still responsible for the middle of the line like that, but it doesn't specifically say who is... and there's no way the R is entirely responsible for everything. It might say it somewhere I haven't seen yet. The organization of the book leaves a bit to be desired.

I can understand the rationale for wanting to keep both wings on the line - having the LJ run back to the goal line on a broken try down is usually futile. However, I think this is just creating a new problem instead.

98

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by ElvisLives on June 25, 2026, 01:14:12 PM »

This is literally the worst thing to ever happen.

Moving the umpire to under the uprights during a field goal, and he's still responsible for roughing the snapper from 40 yards away, is just minor in comparison.

Crew of 5? If so, wow! And why?

99

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by ncwingman on June 25, 2026, 12:17:59 PM »

This is literally the worst thing to ever happen.

Moving the umpire to under the uprights during a field goal, and he's still responsible for roughing the snapper from 40 yards away, is just minor in comparison.

100

National Federation Discussion / Re: Subtle Change in Manual

« Last post by Ralph Damren on June 25, 2026, 12:07:59 PM »

In woman's basketball, I believe they still reference 'man-to-man defense'  . It doesn't bother me, but I'm sure those to the left will someday change it