High School Pass coverage?
- Thread starter UJoking
- Start date
Players on defense won't get called for Pass Interference unless the pass is in the air, but they can be called for Illegal Use of Hands (Holding) if they interfere with a receiver's pass route after the receiver has established he's not trying to block the defender. The so-called "press coverage" defense is fine for the Pros where they have that 5-yard chuck rule, but at the high school level almost anything the defender does when up that close to the receiver is going to draw a flag.
If the play is a pass play, the receiver can't block the defender at all (it would be Offensive Pass Interference if he did), so if the defender is up on the line and in his face, the only way the receiver is getting downfield is to turn left or right to go around the defender. As soon as he does that he is no longer a potential blocker and the defender can't do any "battling" with him or he's asking for an IUH flag. 9-2-3d
I said the receiver cannot block the defender, but he IS allowed to make contact with the defender in the expanded neutral zone as part of the process of getting around the defender - provided the defender started the play on the LOS. 7-5-11b Note that this is the receiver who can do this, not the defender.
If the play is a pass play, the receiver can't block the defender at all (it would be Offensive Pass Interference if he did), so if the defender is up on the line and in his face, the only way the receiver is getting downfield is to turn left or right to go around the defender. As soon as he does that he is no longer a potential blocker and the defender can't do any "battling" with him or he's asking for an IUH flag. 9-2-3d
I said the receiver cannot block the defender, but he IS allowed to make contact with the defender in the expanded neutral zone as part of the process of getting around the defender - provided the defender started the play on the LOS. 7-5-11b Note that this is the receiver who can do this, not the defender.
Most high schools
cannot play good pass defense, unless they interfer with receiver, especially against a good spread team.
cannot play good pass defense, unless they interfer with receiver, especially against a good spread team.
Re: Most high schools
fadamor. glad to someone post a rule book reference. Most of the posters are giving an opinion and have no clue as to what the rule actually says.
fadamor. glad to someone post a rule book reference. Most of the posters are giving an opinion and have no clue as to what the rule actually says.
Re: Most high schools
Now I am confused, the answer was only when the ball is in the air, with no holding. Now it is the defender cannot battle with him after he establishes he is not blocking the defender.
Let me give you guys a scenario. Split receiver with defender in his face trys to release to the outside and the defender, without holding him, drives him out of bounds and continues to block him every time he attempts to get back in bounds. Finally the ball is thrown his way, the defender is not battling or blocking while the ball is in the air. Any penalty?
Now I am confused, the answer was only when the ball is in the air, with no holding. Now it is the defender cannot battle with him after he establishes he is not blocking the defender.
Let me give you guys a scenario. Split receiver with defender in his face trys to release to the outside and the defender, without holding him, drives him out of bounds and continues to block him every time he attempts to get back in bounds. Finally the ball is thrown his way, the defender is not battling or blocking while the ball is in the air. Any penalty?
Re: Most high schools
Yes. Illegal use of hands. 10 yard penalty from the previous spot.
9-2-3d
A defensive player shall not:
Contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker.
9.2.3 SITUATION A: End A1 sprints from the line and then cuts sharply toward the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues A1 and pushes him from the side using his open hands. Contact is made on A1's upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving away from B1 when the contact occurred.
RULING: Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight. The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a potential blocker on B1. (2-3-5a; 7-5-7)
This post was edited on 11/11 10:12 AM by FBRef
Yes. Illegal use of hands. 10 yard penalty from the previous spot.
9-2-3d
A defensive player shall not:
Contact an eligible receiver who is no longer a potential blocker.
9.2.3 SITUATION A: End A1 sprints from the line and then cuts sharply toward the middle of the field. A1 makes no attempt to block defensive back B1. B1 pursues A1 and pushes him from the side using his open hands. Contact is made on A1's upper arm before the pass is thrown. A1 was moving away from B1 when the contact occurred.
RULING: Illegal use of hands by B1. A defender may legally contact an eligible receiver beyond the neutral zone before the pass is in flight. The contact may be a block or warding off the opponent who is attempting to block by pushing or pulling him. However, if the receiver is not attempting to block or has gone past or is moving away, it is illegal for the defender to use hands in the manner described. In this situation, it is clear that A1 is no longer a potential blocker on B1. (2-3-5a; 7-5-7)
This post was edited on 11/11 10:12 AM by FBRef
Re: Most high schools
Ujoking, your original post asked about battling a receiver. To answer your question, there is no time or distance rule in h.s.
However, what you describe isn't battling -- it's trying to knock a guy around the field. No, that's not legal. Battling is when two guys are engaged with each other. Pushing a receiver out of bounds or anyplace else when he's tryign to get away isn't battling, it's illegal use of hands. In these cases a defender is going to have to run with the receiver and try to make a play on the ball. Playing the man will not have a favorable outcome in most cases.
Ujoking, your original post asked about battling a receiver. To answer your question, there is no time or distance rule in h.s.
However, what you describe isn't battling -- it's trying to knock a guy around the field. No, that's not legal. Battling is when two guys are engaged with each other. Pushing a receiver out of bounds or anyplace else when he's tryign to get away isn't battling, it's illegal use of hands. In these cases a defender is going to have to run with the receiver and try to make a play on the ball. Playing the man will not have a favorable outcome in most cases.
Re: Most high schools
This post was edited on 11/11 2:30 PM by Fadamor
Per NFHS rule 9-2-3d, once the eligible receiver is obviously not trying to block the defender and is trying to run a pass route, the defender cannot CONTACT the receiver at all. This means no holding, pushing, forearm nudges, hip blocks... ANYTHING. Any subsequent contact better be incidental in the process of trying to catch the pass or it's a flag for Illegal Use of Hands (or Defensive Pass Interference if the pass was in progress).
This post was edited on 11/11 2:30 PM by Fadamor
