Teams Entering the Field

[FLAHL]

Before the game starts, both teams are in their end zones ready to run onto the field. Both are trying to play mind games, and neither team wants to be the first to run onto the field. According to Reddings, "if both teams refuse to enter the field, the home team must do so first."  I can't find a rule to support that in the rule book. Anyone know where it is?

[Rob S]

From the NFHS case book:

1.1.6 SITUATION:

Prior to the game, both teams wait for the other team to go on the field first.

RULING: The referee shall direct the home-team coach to have his team enter first. The referee has authority to rule on any situation not specif­ically ­covered in the rules.

[FBUmp]

There are wonderful things in the Case Book. 

[FLAHL]

Thanks guys. Good point about the case book Ump.

[bbeagle]

Not football, but similar. 15 years of officiating Lacrosse - this happened for the first time last year.

End of 1st Quarter. We give the teams a 15 second warning that the quarter break is over. No movement by either team. We give another toot when the players should be on the field, another toot 5 seconds later, another toot 5 seconds later. One official goes over to each team huddle - both coaches brush off both officials and ignore them. After about a minute, all 3 of us (officials) got together at center to discuss this. Then both teams came onto the field. Game continues.

Same situation at the end of the 3rd Quarter.

Both coaches must have been in collusion to have a longer break between quarters. But, it would be useless to give out unsportsmanlikes against both teams. The first time we were confused, the second time, we were thinking of a game plan. If it would have happened more than twice, we might have done something more like saying the game was over unless both teams entered the field. Is there such a thing as a forfeit by BOTH teams?

I've never seen this type of thing in football, but never did in lacrosse either. And only that one game. I wonder what anyone else would have done?

[prab]

I don't know the Lacrosse rules.  However, if the same thing happened in an NFHS football game a possible solution might be to issue each coach an unsportsmanlike flag for the first infraction (I know that the yardage part of the penalty might not be significant, but the flags set up part 2).  A second flag for the same thing at the beginning of the 4 qtr. would result in the ejection of both coaches and could have future ramifications for them when the ejections are reported to the state governing body.

[FLAHL]

The way I interpret the Case Play, the USC goes on the home coach, not the visitor.  That's assuming that the visiting team comes on the field shortly after the home team.

[HLinNC]

Anyone read 3-6-3 and its associated penalty?

[AlUpstateNY]

There is a provision in NFHS Football rules to deal with a team(s) refusal to participate within a timely fashion, that is, and well should be, reached on only the rarest of circumstances.  NFHS 3-6-3 "A team shall play within two minutes after being ordered to do so by the referee. 

There are a variety of consequences that may apply BEFORE reaching this juncture, including DOG, USC by the Head Coach applicable in the process of determining what the root cause of the defiant delay actually is, but the proscribed consequence of violating 3-6-3 is forfeiture, the actual results of which will likely be decided in an administrative venue AFTER the fact.

This is a consequence that reasonable adults would hopefully be able to avoid, but exists for those rare exceptions.

[ECILLJ]

  I wonder what anyone else would have done?

At the 45 second mark of the officials time-out between quarters, BJ would give three short whistle blasts and the linesman would tell the coaches they have 15 seconds until the RFP whistle. After 15 seconds we blow the RFP and apply all rules as with any other play.

[bbeagle]

After 15 seconds we blow the RFP and apply all rules as with any other play.

If the teams are not 'Ready for Play', why would we blow the RFP whistle?

I was taught early on that if the offense is ready following a time-out and the defense is not on the field, that I CANNOT whistle RFP, I must try to get the defense on the field. If they refused, I could give the coach an unsportsmanlike, but still I could NOT issue a RFP with no defense. Are others taught the same, or would they blow a RFP with no defense on the field following a timeout?

[ECILLJ]

  why would we blow the RFP whistle?
 

To settle the quandary that in reality we will never see or need to deal with. But if we do, I am blowing the RFP whistle to help move things along. With that being said, I would keep U on the ball until the defense is set. If the D cannot get set within 25 seconds then they are going to receive a DOG.

[Atlanta Blue]

To settle the quandary that in reality we will never see or need to deal with. But if we do, I am blowing the RFP whistle to help move things along. With that being said, I would keep U on the ball until the defense is set. If the D cannot get set within 25 seconds then they are going to receive a DOG.

And what FED rule allows you to keep the U over the ball after blowing the RFP?

2-35:
Ready for play signifies the referee has signaled the ball may be put in play by a snap or free kick and the 25-second count is to begin.

[jg-me]

That would be 1-1-2, 1-1-3 and 2-32-1.

[Atlanta Blue]

That would be 1-1-2, 1-1-3 and 2-32-1.

Huh?

1-1-2: The game of football is played with an inflated ball by two teams on a rectangular field 360 by 160 feet. While the ball is live, an interval called a down is in progress and the team in possession attempts to advance the ball by carrying, kicking or passing it. If a foul occurs, the penalty loss, if not declined, is enforced during the interval between downs. The team in possession has a series of four downs numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 to advance the ball to the line to gain, which is usually 10 yards in advance of the spot where the series begins. Points are scored by touchdown, successful try, field goal or safety.

1-1-3: Each team shall begin the game with 11 players, but if it has no substitutes to replace injured or disqualified players, it may continue with fewer. However, when on offense, a team must have at least seven players on the line of scrimmage.

2-32-1: A player is one of the 22 team members who is designated to start either half of the game or who subsequently replaces another player. A player continues to be a player until a substitute enters the field and indicates to the player that he is replaced, or when the substitute otherwise becomes a player.


How do ANY of those allow an R to tell the U to stand over the ball and not allow a snap after an RFP?

And before you add 1-1-6 (the god rule), 1-1-6 allows the R to rule on anything not covered in the rules.  This IS covered in the rules.  In FED, once you blow the RFP, the offense is free to snap the ball.

[jg-me]

My rule refs simplify to this - football is by rule to be played by two teams. If you only have one team on the field, it is not football. Hold up the snap until B is out there or call a foul for delay on B.

[AlUpstateNY]

These type discussions happen when people try and split hairs, that are imaginary and likely NEVER TO HAPPEN.  Only an idiot would allow a play to get off, with only one team on the field, no matter what the reason the opponent remains on the sideline.

When someone is intent on being STUPID, you have to deal with THAT problem, which is likely unique to THAT situation and THAT game.  Hopefully a stern admonition will suffice, but when that fails additional action may be necessary.  For those insisting on a specific WRITTEN rule to justify every action, in the case of ; When having alerted each team a charged TO is about to end, and either/both  team(s) delays in returning to the field promptly, declaring the ball RFP is a logical, practical incentive and starting the 25 second count.

If the defense fails to respond, to repeated persuasions, and the offense appears ready to initiate play, the Referee can (and should) interrupt the count and kill the ball to prevent an undefended play from happening.  Depending on the circumstances being dealt with IN THAT GAME, The Referee has several options at his disposal, including, at his discretion:

1. Charge the offending team with DOG (NFHS 3-6-2-f) Action or inaction which prevents promptness in putting the ball in play. (f) Any other conduct which unduly prolongs the game."
2. Charge the Head Coach with USC for violating NFHS 9-8-1 ("Examples are, but not limited to) although b, c or d would likely suffice.
3. Charge the offending team for violating NFHS 3-6-3, although this would likely be a VERY last resort, considering the authorization stated in NFHS 1-1-10.
4. Decide on another action authorized by NFHS 1-1-6 "The referee has authority to rule promptly, and in the spirit of godd sportsmanship, on any situation not specifically covered by the rules.  The referee's decisions are final in all matters pertaining to the game."

As for rule reference regarding the Umpire positioning himself over the ball, after (or before) the RFP, you might consider NFHS 1-1-4 "The game is administered by game officials whose title and duties are stated in the NFHS Game Officials Manual, which indicates "Player safety is the first responsibility", which would clearly be threatened by the potential chaos created by allowing a team to initiate play BEFORE the opponent was ready to defend.

Of course these types of speculative quandrys are mostly, and usually, eliminated by the reasonable level of mutual respect and cooperation extended, consistently, by each of the adult supervisory functions associated with the game, to each other.

[ECILLJ]

And what FED rule allows you to keep the U over the ball after blowing the RFP?
 

AB, Good question and I have changed my call.

 After further review I believe Rule 3-6-2-f would be the best rule to support us if we are unable to get the teams moving on the field once one minute has expired for the officials time-out and we will automatically issue a DOG to the offending team, rather than blowing the RFP whistle.

As you have already pointed out, blowing the RFP whistle could lead to other challenges.

Our crew notifies the teams, they need to break the time-out huddle and get ready to play ball. I have never witnessed an incident when we could not get both teams moving back to the field. But, I guess its possible.


SECTION 6 BALL READY FOR PLAY AND DELAY
ART. 2 . . . Action or inaction which prevents promptness in putting the ball in
play is delay of game. This includes:
f. Any other conduct which unduly prolongs the game.
 

[Atlanta Blue]

AB, Good question and I have changed my call.

 After further review I believe Rule 3-6-2-f would be the best rule to support us if we are unable to get the teams moving on the field once one minute has expired for the officials time-out and we will automatically issue a DOG to the offending team, rather than blowing the RFP whistle.

I feel that's the proper call.  You could also go as far as a USC on the coach if you really have to prove a point.

[Ralph Damren]

I agree with AB, JG and all that feel a DOG flag is a better way to handle B or R being late. Allowing A/K to run a play with an empty field would probably ruin the game. A response to B/R's coach could be : "Coach, my only other choice would have been to allow your opponents to  get the play off."

Regarding the OP, requiring the home team to take the field first prevents the visitors from being intimidated by the frenzied masses welcoming their home town heroes. Ice hockey has a 2 minute minor penalty for this called "breach of protocol"-sounds like a good term for your 1-1-6 penalty .