Post Scrimmage Kick Rule Change for NFHS

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2003 Post-Scrimmage Kick
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History of PSK Rule Change

• On rules committee agenda 10 times since 1991
• Original proposals were copies of NCAA rule,
  creating multiple exceptions in NFHS code
• Modified proposal discussed in 2001, with
  experimentation approved based on rule that would
  create very few exceptions or changes in existing
  code.

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Background of Post Scrimmage Kick Rule

• Basic premise was constant desire for equitable
  penalty enforcement code
• Team A/K has chosen to end its possession by
  kicking
• Team K has kicked the ball
• Seldom Occurs, but more fair application when it
  does

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Background of Post Scrimmage Kick Rule

• More than 11 years in passage
• Necessarily different than collegiate rule in
  order to minimize and eliminate all exceptions to
  NFHS penalty code
• May require further refinement in future, but for
  now, leaves unchanged most other related
  provisions

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Basic Rule Change

• Defines a PSK Spot (additional Basic Spot defined
  in rule 10-4-3 and definition included in 2-40-6)
• PSK spot is where kick ends by rule when all
  conditions for PSK are met (2-40-6).
• Altered in a minor way, other related definitions
  related to spots

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Basic Rules Change

• Must use the window to properly apply the rule.
• The window is created and opened (maintained)
  when
• K has kicked the ball and the ball has crossed
  the expanded neutral zone
• R has yet to possess the ball and the kick has
  not ended by rule
• A PSK foul occurs when R fouls in the window
  and with the window open, and
• When R has the ball at the end of the down

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Basic Rules Change

• When a PSK foul occurs, the basic spot is the end
  of the kick (correctly marked by bean bag)
• Penalties behind basic spot are enforced using
  all-but-one principle.
• All other revisions and provisions are consistent
  with all-but-one as in place at this time.
• PSK Never Applies on Try (by rule)

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Rules Study Tips

• PSK Never Applies on Made FG (R does not have
  ball)
• PSK MAY apply on missed FG (must be aware of NFHS
  rule on missed FG compared to collegiate rule)
• PSK MAY apply on a scrimmage kick (punt)
• PSK MAY apply in Overtime (determined by state
  overtime procedure), but does not apply if using
  NFHS 10 yard procedure

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Officiating Tips

• BJ (LJ on 4 person Crew) may need to carry two
  bean bags. One for PSK spot, one in case of
  fumble.
• Rule 2 Definitions will help sort out most any
  PSK foul that happens to occur. In addition, case
  books plays on substitution/participation fouls
  MUST be reviewed as spot of foul is critical.
• Keep in mind, high school punters are happy with
  more than 3 seconds hang time. PSK fouls dont
  happen that often! And is even less likely in non
  varsity games.

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Officiating Tips (in order)

• Did R End up with the ball?
• Did the window open (ball cross the ENZ)
• Did the window close (kick end by rule)
• Did foul occur with window open, past ENZ, and
  before window closed?
• If all answers are YES, PSK enforcement applies.

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PSK Mechanics Notes

• Movement of LJ may need to be addressed. It may
  not be as easy for the LJ to break on the snap as
  many states now do in 5 person, but rather,
  he/she may have to release when the ball crosses
  ENZ. Primary coverage as to the ball crossing
  ENZ has to be L.
• Covering official must bean bag PSK spot.
• Initial experiment data 8-10 punts in typical
  NFHS game, 1 PSK foul per about 8-10 games

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Dispelled Myths about PSK

• This change creates an exception to the rule
• This is not an exception. This is a new basic
  spot, which creates another more equitable
  enforcement. Enforcement procedures are
  consistent with all-but-one.
• This somehow changes the things that can happen
  on a punt
• This is not the case. The punt can still be
  muffed or fumbled, the covering team can still
  end up with the ball. You cannot have PSK without
  R ending up with the ball!

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More Dispelled Myths about PSK

• This allows the receiving team to get the ball
  without clean hands
• This is the biggest myth. Rather than allowing
  them to get it without clean hands, it simply
  re-defines the point in time you make that
  judgment. If they do not foul until after the
  ball crosses the ENZ, they had clean hands before
  the change.

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More Dispelled Myths about PSK

• This is not able to be officiated by high school
  level officials
• This has not been the case. It is very easy to
  understand. It was much more difficult to write
  than officiate. The high school officials in the
  experiment states had few if any problems. Most
  of the problems were caused by
• College officials misapplying high school
  definitions, or
• Trying to apply PSK principles to a K team foul

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More Dispelled Myths about PSK

• The high school end zone rule or inadvertent
  whistles makes PSK not work
• The definitions in place at the NFHS level do not
  cause problems with PSK enforcement as once
  thought. The rule change is simple and short, and
  using other existing definitions, all situations
  can be enforced.

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Conclusion

• In theory, many have concluded that this
  complicated rule change is going to be a problem.
  In fact, the opposite is true. It happens
  infrequently, can be enforced using a quick
  checklist, and once spots are determined,
  enforcement is the same.
• Though further refinements are likely (the
  college rule was amended six times during its
  first ten years), the principle is a much more
  fair application.