Referee - Defensive Penalty Q

[gebronco]

Referees - while working the chains at a sophomore game there was a defensive penalty and the announcer noted automatic first down - one of the refs on the field said that was incorrect. While chatting with him at halftime he noted the only automatic first down for a defensive penalty (in HS) is roughing the passer. Can you confirm if that is accurate, and if so is that new in Illinois? I think many fans (myself included) watch college and pro games and make the poor assumption that the rules carry over.

Part 2 - offense has the ball 2nd and goal at the 8 yard line. A pass is incomplete but defensive pass interference is called. Presuming not an automatic first down, is the next play 2nd and goal from the 4 yard line? Or 3rd and goal from the 4 yard line?

 

[Zebra2]

Referees - while working the chains at a sophomore game there was a defensive penalty and the announcer noted automatic first down - one of the refs on the field said that was incorrect. While chatting with him at halftime he noted the only automatic first down for a defensive penalty (in HS) is roughing the passer. Can you confirm if that is accurate, and if so is that new in Illinois? I think many fans (myself included) watch college and pro games and make the poor assumption that the rules carry over.

Part 2 - offense has the ball 2nd and goal at the 8 yard line. A pass is incomplete but defensive pass interference is called. Presuming not an automatic first down, is the next play 2nd and goal from the 4 yard line? Or 3rd and goal from the 4 yard line?

Part 1- at the high school level (all states except Texas and Massachusetts), the only defensive penalties that include an automatic first down are those that begin with "Roughing the..." and include the passer, kicker, holder and snapper. You are correct that this is different than college and pro rules where several other defensive penalties include the automatic first down (e.g., other personal fouls, defensive pass interference, defensive holding, etc.). The only aspect of this that is relatively new is the elimination of the automatic first down on DPI, and that happened two years ago. P.S. Announcers almost always make the mistake you heard.

Part 2- the acceptance of a penalty for a live ball foul on the defense also includes the right to replay the down, so in your scenario it would be 2nd and goal from the 4 yard line if the penalty is accepted.

Hope that helps.

Z

 

[gebronco]

Very helpful, thanks! I will try to spread the word when in the stands on Part I, to allow the fans to have one less thing to complain about (since most of us are in the same camp as the announcers).

 

[godfthr53]

Zebra - explain to me the thinking behind this rule. Defensive PI is called and the receiver still catches the ball and scores TD. One would think in order to keep the TD you would need to decline the penalty. However this penalty is accessed on the kickoff. Why is that. Makes absolutely no sense to me and I've seen it about 2-3 times.

 

[ref2]

In high school any accepted penalty on a scoring play the penalty is enforced on either the try or the following kickoff.

 

[godfthr53]

In high school any accepted penalty on a scoring play the penalty is enforced on either the try or the following kickoff.

Do you get a choice of which to enforce it on.

 

[ref2]

yes sir