two greats in miniature football ( passings sticks and the divider)

[mantaraydre]

coaches,

After another losing experience at the brawl i've come to find out even more that passing sticks and the divider are two great additions to our game.


And it has nothing to do with how well you can pass, period !


tHE STICKS, After being intercepted twice n the tourney, i grew even a more love for the sticks. Watching my opponens men out run my men for the ball displayed real football. The sticks gives the defense every chance to go and get a pick as i saw first hand !!!!!!!!!!!


The divider, it is the element of suprise once lifted. it is also a fun style to play. It's also a relaxing strategic style. (chess match going). There are many ways to play around the country and im happy many experienced this style for the first time.

for those who don't play with the sticks, you are surely missing a "DEON SANDERS" moment for one of your db's


mantaraydre

[The Rookie]

I play with home made sticks and would like to know some kind of rules to go by , can you help me.

For example :
What governs who can go after a interception?
Are all unengaged defense players moveable?

What if there is a offense linemen running in the path of the WR, can you move him( the Off.linemen)?
Thanks if you can help
Thanks if you can't help also

[RooMorgans]

Hi Boston,

Part of the answer, as they said in Smokey in the Bandit, depends on what part of America you're standing in.

In the NHFL, the interceptor is called out by the defensive coach before the board's turned on, so he's the only one that can make the pick. In other leagues/tourneys around the nation, any unengaged defender can make the pick (if a defender touches it while engaged - it's incomplete, usually).

Unengaged defenders anywhere on the field can be pivoted, but leagues play it differently in terms of pivoting before and/or after the ball attempt.

OLs in the way and such, in all leagues I've played in, CANNOT be turned. You just have to hope he gets his fat butt outta the way.

Hope this helps.

Roo

[The Rookie]

That is very informative.
I have only allowed defenders that were in a zone coveraage to be able to intercep the ball.
I do like the idea of eny one unengaged as a rule.
Thanks for your repley very much needed

[Coach Rip]

BuzzBall Pass Simulation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KPxgODRKD8

[The Rookie]

Coach Rip
I have seen your utube on how to use the sticks , but there are no true rules so I had to make up my own.
Is there a set of universal rules ?
Boston

[Coach Rip]

PASS SIMULATION METHOD
Once the offensive coach wishes to attempt a pass, the board is then turned off.
The offensive coach then points to and states the player's number to which the pass will be attempted.
The referee will then measure the distance (center of helmet to center of helmet) from the quarterback to the intended receiver.

If the distance is 20 yards or less a RED passing stick be used to spot the ball on the field.
If the distance is 21 to 40 yards a WHITE passing stick will be used.
If the distance is over 40 yards an BLUE passing stick will be used.

Once the distance has been determined the offensive coach may pivot the intended receiver only.
The offensive coach now places the appropriate passing stick on the field with one end making base contact with the intended receiver's front portion of the base and between the front corners. The passing stick may be angled in any desired direction from that point so long as the passing stick remains in contact with intended receiver's base as previously described and does not cause the eventual placed ball to make contact with any player. If for some reason the sticks can not be placed flat on the field a tourney official will handle the entire stick and ball placement procedures.

The referee or offensive coach will next place the PS ball on the field so it contacts the opposite end of the passing stick, the closest point of the ball is centered on the end of the stick, and closest point of the ball is facing the quarterback to simulate a spiral pass from his direction.
The defensive coach may now pivot any unengaged players to either make an interception attempt or to make a tackle on the receiver after the catch.

From this point on no players may be pivoted to resolve the play unless the pass is intercepted (see Interception). The referee or offensive coach takes control of the switch and turns the board on until the pass is determined to be caught or incomplete. *NOTE: See Pass Interference Section Below.

Eligible Receiver: Pass Simulation - Initially and at the first stop of the board on a PS attempt, an eligible receiver is any offensive player other than interior lineman and the quarterback that is at least somewhat downfield from the on-field QB, is inbounds, did not run out of bounds during that play, and is unengaged by any of the opponent's player(s).

Catch: After the ball has been placed and the board tuned back on, any player who makes (any) base contact with the ball before the play is over has caught the ball. This means engaged players, unengaged players, legal receivers, and illegal receivers all count except the quarterback.

Completion: Pass Simulation - ANY BASE CONTACT with the ball constitutes a catch for all players. Situations where it is not a clear completion will be treated the same as an unclear passes with the TTQB (incomplete) and treated the same as an unclear tackle with respect to base contact (not a tackle). Additionally, and just as a TTQB pass, the first player to make base contact with the ball has made the catch.

Once a pass is completed to an intended receiver the referee will make the call and remove the placed ball. The ball can be advanced after the catch if that receiver is still unengaged. In such a case the referee will turn the board back on to resolve the play.

A pass is complete if an unintended receiver makes contact with the ball as described above before any other player but the ball can not be advanced and is down at that spot. If this player previously stepped out of bounds or is an offensive lineman it is a penalty for an illegal receiver.

Simultaneous touching of the ball between offensive and defensive players is awarded to the offense as a completion but the ball can not be advanced even if no base contact between those 2 players is made (ball sometimes keeps bases from making contact on simultaneous contact).

Simultaneous touching of the ball between offensive players will result in having the catch awarded to one of the involved offensive players chosen by the offensive coach, with priority in favor of the intended receiver over all others.

Simultaneous touching of the ball between defensive players will be awarded to one of the involved defensive players chosen by the defensive coach.

Simultaneous contact between players from the same team can be advanced so long as the player awarded the catch is an eligible ball carrier (not an OL player or QB).

Incompletion: Pass Simulation - A pass is incomplete once and if any offensive or defensive player's base (any portion) passes the entire placed ball within a radius of a base length around the placed ball. At that point the play is over and it is the next down. The play is still alive until that occurs, no other player has caught the ball, OR 5 seconds has passed since the board was turned back on to resolve the play. After 4 seconds the ball is considered to have hit the ground and is an incomplete pass. If for some reason the quarterback catches the ball it is an incomplete pass.

Interception: Pass Simulation - A pass is intercepted if any player on defense makes contact with the ball as described above before any other player on offense. After an interception the intercepting coach may now pivot the ball carrier only if still unengaged after the catch, followed by the opposing coach pivoting any unengaged players to attempt a tackle. The switch control is given to the referee or coach who threw the interception and the board is turned on to resolve the play.

Pass Interference: Pass Simulation - No unengaged player from either team may be pivoted to obstruct an unengaged opponent player's path to the ball without risking a penalty. Obstructing an unengaged opponent player's path to the ball constitutes pass interference if contact is made during play resolution unless it happens within the base length radius (incidental/free contact area) around the placed ball.
Running into the back of an opponent player's base does not constitute interference under any circumstances.
On offense, only the intended receiver can cause offensive pass interference.
On defense, any unengaged defensive player (not including eventual engagement with intended receiver) can cause pass interference, even if that player was engaged when the ball was placed. Any base contact within a base length or less is considered to be incidental contact and is not a penalty.

[The Rookie]

That hit the spot
I no longer have a question
Thanks very much on the rules