Rule 8: Scoring Plays, Touchbacks, Force & Momentum

Rule 8 brings some of the most interesting—and sometimes confusing—situations in the NFHS Football Rules Book. In this episode of Whistle Talk, Mike D the Referee is joined by Daniel Chamberlain and Coach Chip Seagle for a deep dive into scoring plays, touchbacks, safeties, force and momentum.

The crew breaks down the rules and then puts their knowledge to the test with challenging case plays from the NFHS Case Book.

🏈 Scoring Plays

• Touchdowns, field goals and tries

• Fouls during scoring plays

• Penalty options following touchdowns and field goals

• What happens when a fumble ends up in the opponent's end zone

🏈 Touchbacks

• When a kick becomes a touchback

• Touchbacks following punts and free kicks

• What happens when the ball becomes dead in the end zone

• The NFHS touchback signal

🏈 Force

• What "force" means in NFHS football

• Initial force vs. new force

• Muffs, bats and illegal kicks

• Why force is not a factor on certain plays

• The three questions officials need to answer when determining force:

  1. Whose goal line did the ball cross?

  2. Who forced the ball across the goal line?

  3. Who has possession?

🏈 Safeties & Momentum

• When a play results in a safety

• The momentum exception

• The difference between a touchback and a safety

• How the spot of a catch or recovery can affect the result

Mike, Daniel and Coach Chip work through several Rule 8 case plays involving:

• Fumbles into the end zone

• Illegal kicking

• Muffed punts

• Interceptions

• Backward passes

• Force

• Momentum

• Touchbacks

• Safeties

Some of these plays look simple—until you start applying the actual rule.

And don't forget to check out RefShop.us for officiating equipment, uniforms, whistles, communication equipment and study materials. Use promo code TALK26 for 10% off your order.Connect With Our Guests

Daniel Chamberlain
X/Twitter: @CoachChamboOK
Website: ChamberlainFootballConsulting.com

Coach Chip Seagle
X/Twitter: @ChipSeagle
YouTube: Coach Chip's YouTube Channel
Email: [email protected]

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