http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=ayleein&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aayleeinPost%3acd393e96-6f3b-49b0-964d-4f69965035fcThe only cure is more rules
Posted 8/15/2008 2:41 PM CDT
The NCAA decided a couple weeks ago to alter its rulebook, once again. I don't know why they can't just stick with one set of rules for more than one season at a time; there are more new rules that fail than new students that fail every year, it seems.
For a long explanation of each rule change, which nobody can be blamed for not understanding in their entirety, this Cal Golden Bears blog has the best summary I could find.
Here's the mostly-paraphrased long story short (er, as short as possible):
No recording or attempting to steal an opposing team's signalsFair enough.
A dead ball is ready for play when:
a. With the 40-second play clock running, an official places the ball at an inbounds mark or between the inbounds marks and steps away to his position.
b. With the play clock set at 25 seconds, the referee sounds his whistle and either signals to start the game clock or signals that the ball is ready for play.40-Second Clock.
1. When an official signals that the ball is dead, the play clock shall begin a 40-second count.
2. If the 40-second count is interrupted for reasons beyond the control of the officials or the play-clock operator (e.g., clock malfunction), the referee shall stop the game clock and signal (both palms open in an over-the-head pumping motion) that the play clock should be re-set at 40 seconds and started immediately.
3. In the event that the 40-second clock is running and the ball is not ready to be snapped after 20 seconds into the count, the referee shall declare a timeout and signal that the play clock be set at 25 seconds. When play is to be resumed, the referee will give the ready-for-play signal and the play clock shall begin the 25-second count. The game clock will start on the snap unless it had been running when the referee declared a timeout; in that case, it will start on the referee’s signal (Rule 3-2-5-b).
25-Second Clock. If the officials signal the game clock to be stopped for any of the following reasons, the referee shall signal (one open palm in an over-the-head pumping motion) that the clock should be set at 25 seconds:1. Penalty administration.
2. Charged team timeout.
3. Media timeout.
4. Injury timeout.
5. Measurement.
6. Change of possession.
7. After a kick down.
8. Score.
9. Start of each period.
10. Start of a team’s series in an extra period.
11. Instant replay review.
12. Other administrative stoppage.
When play is to be resumed, the referee will give the ready-for-play signal and the play clock will begin the 25-second count.
That's too long to try to paraphrase. Make what sense of it you can.
A chop block is when two players combine to block high-low (or low-high) on any non-ball-carrier anywhere on the field, even if there is a delay between the hits.Last year's clock rules were eliminated. Included was the rule that, following a TV timeout, the play clock would start at 15.After a ball-carrier goes out of bounds, the game clock will start on the referee's signal, rather than on the snap (except in the last two minutes of a half).Really, whenever anything that stops the clock happens (measurements, first downs), the ball is considered live on the referee's signal. As the Cal blog says, though, if it's important enough in the last two minutes of a half, why isn't it important in the other 56 minutes of the game?
After a kick-off goes out of bounds, the receiving team may choose to put the ball in play 30 yards from where the kicking team kicked off. From the 30-yard line, that means teams will start at the 40, unless there was penalty yardage affecting the original spot.No horse-collar tackles are allowed, except on a runner still inside the tackle box or a quarterback in the pocket.Don't know why it doesn't apply to guys in the backfield. I guess because they're less likely to moving very fast if they're still in the backfield between the tackles, it's not as serious an injury-risk.
Five-yard facemask penalty eliminated. Incidental contact will not be a foul, and any contact deemed penalty-worthy is the full 15-yard personal foul variety.If it isn't dangerous, it shouldn't really be a foul. I don't disagree with this rule, but there is plenty of room for interpretation in that actual text of the rule.
No contact can be initiated with the crown of a player's helmet. When in doubt, it is a foul. Flagrant offenders will be disqualified.Not a fan of this, at all. How do hard hitters like Dwayne Slay cause fumbles? They put their helmet on the ball, that's how. And what area of the helmet is the crown? If a guy goes in with the portion of his helmet just above the visor, is that the crown? Does he have to be facing the ground to hit with the crown? Isn't the part of a helmet that hits first partly determined by the ball-carrier's position?
The part that I don't like about this is that if there's any question, it's a foul. This penalty will cause confusion among coaches, players and referees this season. Bank on it.
No more sideline warnings. "Sideline Interference fouls" will be administered as a dead-ball foul, five yards from the previous spot. For the third infraction and more, it will be an Unsportsmanlike Conduct foul, 15 yards.Good.
Field goals may be reviewed for above/under the crossbar calls, and inside/outside the upright calls when the ball is below the top of the uprights.Good. There's no reason for this to not be allowed.
Replay officials may correct egregious errorsNo other plays or officiating decisions are reviewable. However, the replay official may correct egregious errors. This excludes fouls that are not specifically reviewable.
If a coach's challenge is successful, he will get a second.This will allow coaches to challenge a bad call early without worrying about needing one later in the game.
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