Illegal block in back

[GoMBKMonarchs]

Team on offense runs a play that goes for a 25 yard gain. A flag is thrown 15 yeards beyond the original line of scrimmage for illegal block in the back. The official marks the penalty from the original line of scrimmage, rather than the spot of the foul. When approached and asked why this was not marked as a spot foul, the official responded that the penalty gets marked in the manner that hurts the offending team the most. Is this correct per high school rules, or should this have been a spot foul marked from the point of the penalty?
This post was edited on 9/18 11:37 AM by GoMBKMonarchs

 

[White hat]

Penalty enforcement is one of the most confusing aspects of the game. The rule of thumb is to mark it off where it hurts them the most, but this is just a generality -- there are two possible enforcement spots for fouls on the offense and you usually take the one that will hurt the offense the worst, BUT you have to be right on the two spots to choose from. They are the spot of the foul and the basic spot.

If the play was a running play -- no pass ever thrown -- then the original line has no bearing at all. The bsaic spot is the end of the run. So enforcement is from the spot of the foul or the end of the run, depending on which is farther back (whichever hurts them the worst).

The original line would have been the correct spot of enforcement IF the block had happened during a loose ball play (pass, kick, fumble behind the line of scrimmage) and before the player making the run took possession of the ball.

This post was edited on 9/18 4:06 PM by White hat

 

[GoMBKMonarchs]

It was a running play

So, to clarify, it should have been from the spot of the foul or the end of the play, whichever was worse for the offense. But it should not have been from the original line of scrimmage, right?

 

[White hat]

Re: It was a running play

I was clarifying the rule without unequically saying thay a ruling was incorrect without seeing the specific play, but yes, if it was a running play then the IBB ahould have been enforced from the end of the run or the spot of the foul, not the original LOS.

 

[GoMBKMonarchs]

Thanks

This wasn't really controversial. It just generated a lot of discussion and I was truly curious as to how this is supposed to be marked off.