In my opinion this was one of the best or the best rule implemented since I began my officiating career.
I don’t understand why some people do not want to emulate college where possible. There are certain rules which I feel belong more in high school because of skill set such as BBW, but we can learn a lot from NCAA officials, who are usually willing to provide insight on mechanics and philosophy, which can be applied to the high school level and improve the game.
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Really, "one of the best rule implementations since....." I guess if you're accustomed to working with ineffective Referees, there might be a noticeable difference in game clock timing, although one might hope ineffective and/or sloppy game clock management was the exception, rather than the rule. I always thought consistently declaring the ball RFP, by a consistent whistle, by the same person was a pretty visible and specific manner of everyone getting the same message at the same exact time.
Having the same adult, assess each pause between plays and visibly/audibly declaring the instant time restarts seemed pretty consistent relating to the actual game being played. If some Referees were somewhat too slow, or too fast it would seem a minimum of additional training or discussion could eliminate most, if not all problems. Lingering bad habits, like long winded clinics after each score, or change of possession, delay between quarters, prolonged disputes were pretty easily corrected by a crisp (consistent) whistle.
Maybe bad habits and gamesmanship were more of a problem at "higher levels" (much like trash talking and endless posturing and theatrics becoming ever more common at "higher levels") NFHS rules and execution of them have seemed to be somewhat more effective in controlling inappropriate behaviors ( that far too often create additional problems).
There shouldn't be reluctance to emulate "higher level' practices that provide mechanics and philosophy, when they fit and make sense for the NFHS level rules, objectives & realities of NFHS games, but "One size never has, nor likely EVER WILL (effectively) fit all", and for good and practical reason. Some really great ideas and mechanics work a lot better with 7 or 8 man crews than they ever will for 4, 5 or 6 man assignments. It would be wonderful to expand to 7 or 8 man crews for all NFHS contests, but where would we find all those additional game officials?
Over the last century, a whole lot of Referees somehow learned to deal with the added stress and ringing ears from repeated audible declaration of individually announcing RFP, for all to see and hear together. Maybe some of the inherent differences between teenagers and young men still dictate individual considerations.
