Football Officiating > National Federation Discussion

Taking a Knee

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animalspooker:
Question:  I see a lot of crews, when a team is taking a knee toward the end of the half/game, tell the defense not to fire off.  Strictly a protection thing, and I understand why it is done, but with the BS you see pulled in the NFL (maybe NCAA), I'm surprised there isn't a lot of griping about it.  Do you guys see this and is this what we are supposed to be doing?  I have noticed that if O says they're taking a knee, the ref will tell the defense not to fire off and that he will be blowing it dead regardless of the O's action...hereby eliminating any threat of a fake knee taking.

Fatso:
We tell the QB to go straight down, don't back up and start dancing.  I've never seen a QB fake the knee and try to gain yardage but I guess it's possible.  We would kill it if he did that, and probably flag him for UNS.

animalspooker:
But do you tell the defense not to fire off?

dammitbobby:

--- Quote from: Fatso on November 10, 2025, 04:00:38 PM ---We tell the QB to go straight down, don't back up and start dancing.  I've never seen a QB fake the knee and try to gain yardage but I guess it's possible.  We would kill it if he did that, and probably flag him for UNS.

--- End quote ---

Is there an NFHS rule regarding this?

NVFOA_Ump:

--- Quote from: dammitbobby on November 10, 2025, 04:38:39 PM ---Is there an NFHS rule regarding this?

--- End quote ---
No specific rule but this is a sportsmanship call.  If team A announces that they are taking a knee, then they are taking a knee and my whistle will sound right after the snap, no exceptions.

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