From Randy:
After much reading and interpretating, I want to send this email to clarrify the new counts for NFHS games, and to provide for some consistency in the way that the WMLOA will be using these counts / mechanics.
The way that the rules is currently written, and with the clarifications from the NFHS that I sent out last week, it has become glaringly obvious that the counts are much less similar to the NCAA counts that we had originally believed.
As the rule reads: Once the ball has been successfully advanced into the goal area, a team is provided the opportunity to run its offense in its offensive half of the field. If the offensive team carries, intentionally passes, or intentionally propels the ball to its defensive half of the field and the offensive team was last in possession, the official will signal and verbally announce “get it in/keep it in” if the offensive team gains possession. The offensive team has 10 seconds to return the ball to the goal area, at which point it must “keep it in.” Once the goal area is gained, the officials will signal and verbally say “keep it in.”
The NFHS has stated that the emphasis lies in the phrase “intentionally”. To clarify that the WMLOA has interpreted this to mean ONLY if the offensive player (Team A) who has already successfully touched the ball into the offensive box - intentionally passes the ball / throws the ball to a player on his own team who is in its defensive half, with the pass being intended to that player; OR if the offensive player intentionally carries the ball accross the midfield line into his defensive half.
The INTENT must be very clear and obvious for you to give the get it in, keep it in.
To give a few examples:
Example 1: Team A is on offense, touches the ball into the box. Team A then turns and throws the ball to a long pole defensemen in the defensive half, the pass was intended to go to the defensive player, as no other players were anywhere around either person. Then once the defensive player on Team A catches the pass. Officials will say Get It In, immediately start a 10 second count, and then say say Keep it In once the ball enters back into the offensive box.
Example 2: Team A is on offense, touches the ball into the box. Team A then turns and rolls the ball on the ground (or throws a bounce pass) to a long pole defensemen in the defensive half, the pass was intended to go to the defensive player, as no other players were anywhere around either person. Then once the defensive player on Team A catches the pass. Officials will say Get It In, immediatelly start a 10 second count, and then say say Keep it In once the ball enters back into the offensive box.
Example 3: Team A is on offense, touches the ball into the box. Team A then turns and runs with the ball (completely untouched) into the defensive half, no other players were anywhere around the offensive player. Officials will say Get It In, immediatelly start a 10 second count, and then say say Keep it In once the ball enters back into the offensive box.
Keys to look at: Where is the player stainding when the ball is thrown to him. Is the player in the offensive half or defensive half.
Here are a few examples of where we are not going to use the Get It In, Keep It In:
Example 1: Team A touches the ball into the box. Offensive player then turns and throw the ball to his team mate (standing in the offensive half) who is at the top of the box. The pass is a missed or flubbed pass and it crosses the midfield into the defensive half. Defensemen for Team A gains possession and throws the ball back to his player of Team A. Here we do not have Get It in, Keep It In. The intent of the pass was to go to a player in the offensive half.
Example 2: Team A touches the ball into the box. Offensive player then turns and rolls the ball / throws a bounce pass to his team mate (standing in the offensive half) who is at the top of the box. The roll or bounce pass is a missed or flubbed pass and it crosses the midfield into the defensive half. Defensemen for Team A gains possession and throws the ball back to his player of Team A. Here we do not have Get It in, Keep It In. The intent of the roll / bounce pass was to go to a player in the offensive half.
Example 3: Team A touches the ball into the box. Offensive player then runs outside of the box. As he is running, Team B legally checks him and he crosses over the midfield into the defensive half. Here we do not have Get It in, Keep It In. The intent of the player NOT to cross into the defensive half, and even though he was legally checked into the defensive half, that was not the intent of the player in possession of the ball.
Example 4: Team A touches the ball into the box. The ball then becomes loose outside of the box. The ball is then kicked by an offensive player on Team A and it crosses the midfield into the defensive half. Defensemen for Team A gains possession and throws the ball back to his player of Team A. Here we are NOT going to call this a Get It in, Keep It In.
The only exception to Example 4, is if You can CLEARLY tell that the player was INTENTIONALLY kicking the ball into the defensive half. It must be clear as day that this was his intent. Do not make this call if you are unsure, or if you cannot tell that he kicked it backwards on purpose.
This is going to take some time to figure out. Make sure that you are thourough with the coaches at the beginning of the game to explain the new rules and how we are going to administer them. The key to look is where the players are standing on the field. If you are unsure of the intent of the player - do not give the Get it in, Keep it in. For this season we will error on the side of the offensive player.
Any questions, please feel free to email me or Mike Ferrini.
As the season progresses, please send us situations that come up with this new rule. Thanks.
Randy Milou