Change of Ball

[BetweenTheLines]

Do most of you white hats allow a new ball in for the try or not?

[FLAHL]

Nope.  Kick the same ball you just used to score.

[AlUpstateNY]

Nope.  Kick the same ball you just used to score.

Agree

[NVFOA_Ump]

In a varsity game we always pre-check all game balls and would eliminate any ball(s) that are obviously different (a "special" kicking ball) before the game even starts.  Changing out the ball is based on having the "new" ball available with timing that does not delay having the ball there to be placed without delay.

[Magician]

In a varsity game we always pre-check all game balls and would eliminate any ball(s) that are obviously different (a "special" kicking ball) before the game even starts.  Changing out the ball is based on having the "new" ball available with timing that does not delay having the ball there to be placed without delay.

If the ball is just different why reject it if it's legal? I tell the ball boys that ball could always end up on the field in any play so they better be willing to play anything with it. But if it's a ball the kicker prefers to make sure it's the one behind the upright on tries or kickoffs or if we get an incomplete pass prior to a punt or FG try they are welcome to send it in if we ask for a ball. But we definitely aren't accommodating special requests to use any particular ball on any play.

[bama_stripes]

Since our games are almost always played in “unusual heat or humidity” conditions, we allow any legal ball on any play.  Some teams swap every play, some every other play.  They all swap on kick plays.

[ncwingman]

In a varsity game we always pre-check all game balls and would eliminate any ball(s) that are obviously different (a "special" kicking ball) before the game even starts.  Changing out the ball is based on having the "new" ball available with timing that does not delay having the ball there to be placed without delay.

If it's a legal ball, it's a legal ball. "Obviously different" doesn't make it illegal on its face, nor does heavily scuffed and used make it illegal if it's properly inflated.

Where I am, there's always a ball switch for the free kick and if there is a "kicking ball" that's the one we use. Generally, a try down uses the previous ball and the ball boy leaves the "kicking ball" under the goal post -- the BJ retrieves the kicking ball for the free kick while the ball boy shags the one used for the try.

[GA Umpire]

Since our games are almost always played in “unusual heat or humidity” conditions, we allow any legal ball on any play.  Some teams swap every play, some every other play.  They all swap on kick plays.

      (six man crew)

[AlUpstateNY]

If it's a legal ball, it's a legal ball. "Obviously different" doesn't make it illegal on its face, nor does heavily scuffed and used make it illegal if it's properly inflated.

Where I am, there's always a ball switch for the free kick and if there is a "kicking ball" that's the one we use. Generally, a try down uses the previous ball and the ball boy leaves the "kicking ball" under the goal post -- the BJ retrieves the kicking ball for the free kick while the ball boy shags the one used for the try.

As it's often said, "When in Rome....." but if a team tries to insert a "kicking ball" on ANY free kick, that's the ONE (the official who checks the ball PRIOR to handing it to the kicker) considers most carefully.  If HE doesn't like it, it's rejected, and another ball is provided by the kicking team (for SIMILAR inspection and approval), and there's NO SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION.

[VALJ]

Unless the TD is scored on a turnover, we have the try with the ball the scored with.

[prab]

Unless the TD is scored on a turnover, we have the try with the ball the scored with.

Ditto!

[TampaSteve]

Ditto!

Ditto, X2

[CalhounLJ]

Since our games are almost always played in “unusual heat or humidity” conditions, we allow any legal ball on any play.  Some teams swap every play, some every other play.  They all swap on kick plays.

Same here. TBH, this is not something we pay a tremendous amount of attention to. As long as it's a legal game ball, and the game is not delayed by swapping, we really don't care if they change balls or not. That being said, for the sake of brevity, we generally kick with the scoring ball.