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Lessons for Statisticians and Correspondents: Introduction
Football can be called, among many other things, a game of "organized chaos", an oxymoron summing up its appeal as well as describing its circumstances. After all the seemingly endless hours of practice which fill the long voids between games (at least from the players' perspectives); after all the scouting reports and blurry-eyed nights of film-watching; after all the strategy sessions; after every last detail has been examined and re-examined, the game still boils down to 48-minutes of 22 flying bodies attempting to execute their individual assignments. Meanwhile with their backs to the action, the cheerleaders do their best to get the crowd going. The fans squirm, scream, cheer and jeer in the midst of socializing with neighbors. Bands of junior high kids, dropped off at the field by parents who use it as a Friday night or Saturday afternoon daycare center, run around and chase each other, paying no attention to what's happening on the gridiron. Former players congregate on the sidelines to brag about their teams and how things are a lot different. When the game ends, the last of the fans glance up at the scoreboard (which is typically missing a bulb or two) so they'll remember the score. Someone's bound to ask them later what it was. And the next day fans and players alike will rush for the daily's sports page to remind them of exactly what had happened the night or afternoon before. Of course, the true Section Nine fans (with internet access) will have already gotten at least the bottom line from this site. Fans want some structured version of all that organized chaos. So who is there to chronicle the games? Coaches are generally too busy to call the newspapers, which is okay since they're usually the worst at immediately recalling who scored, remembering how long a TD run was or knowing how many yards so-and-so rushed for. Sidelines are a terrible vantage point for that kind of stuff. Besides the coaches have too many other things on their postgame agendas. Like checking on nicks, bruises, sprains and worse plus getting players back on the team bus. In the wee hours of the morning they'll settle down with the video tape to see what really happened (or failed to happen) out on the field. So let me repeat my question: "Who is there to chronicle the games?" Forget the newspapers. They're too understaffed and overwhelmed with local sporting events to get far away from their newsroom telephones. The Friday night games are killers for the underappreciated reporter because by the time the game is over and the interviews have been conducted, their deadlines are just about on top of them. There's no time for them to tally up stats and most often not even enough space to mention all of the scoring plays. So they generally have to depend on the home coach to call in the pertinent information (and hopefully give a short quote). And if the home coach is the losing coach or is ticked off at the paper for some perceived act of injustice, it could be a long wait for that call. The coach who does call is most usually dependent upon his statistician(s). Sometimes a stat-guy or stat-gal will make the call for him. In high school I was Coach Tony Daniello's "right-hand man" (as he dubbed me) for baseball and basketball. I was a whiz-kid with the scorebooks and also served as the sports editor of the school paper. I had all the stats tallied and categorized in a jiffy which made Coach Daniello a happy man. One less chore for him. My late father, a parttime newspaper columnist himself, got a laugh when my seventh grade teacher told him that I could figure out a pitcher's ERA faster than anyone, even without a slide ruler (no calculators for the masses then). I liked arithmetic because it taught me how to do percentages ... as in batting averages. For some reason Coach Daniello hated calling Newsday (I grew up in Riverhead way out on Eastern Long Island), so he'd say, "Hey, Duse, call the paper for me, will you?" He asked the right guy. Once after the Newsday reporter had thanked me for my over-abundance of info, he asked to talk to Coach so he could get a quote or two. When I stuck out the phone toward our roundball mentor, he silently waved me off and mouthed, "YOU talk ..." So I did (I was also a fledgling thespian) and gave Newsday some great quotes which appeared the next day in its story about our championship basketball team. We both got a kick out of that. I loved it all because back then I felt that sportswriting (or maybe even sportscasting) was my life's calling. Besides, my folks refused to let me play any sports in high school even though I was always playing one sandlot game or another with those same guys who got to wear the cool letter sweaters. Anyway, every Thursday I couldn't wait to get home to read the News-Review, my hometown's local weekly. The paper's parttime sports editor (and full-time banker) was Bob Burns, my idol. Burns wrote detailed accounts of every school and recreational game played in our town. His football stories gave a complete play-by-play (as did most such stories in all local papers back then) plus all the game and individual statistics. In those days, if it weren't for Bob Burns's stories, Dick Young's diatribes in the Daily News and the features in Sport Magazine, my reading would have been limited to my beloved comic books. (And I went on to become a high school English teacher - ha!). Sports fans want the details, and stats can help tell the story. One of the goals of this site is to give the Section Nine football details that can't always make it into the local papers. We did that to a limited degree in 2003. In order to totally fulfill this mission, we need a small army of folks to serve as correspondents. Team statisticians are good candidates for being site correspondents. They don't have to be great writers, just organized and ACCURATE. There are a lot of so-called "records" floating around out there, but how many of them are accurate? We'll never really know for sure. Those few of us who are legitimate and experienced statisticians would like to exchange mythology for fact. For history's sake. It's these few plus a mini-army of newcomers, both students and adults, that I'm asking to help chronicle the games. Soon I'll be presenting a series of lessons in "Charting a Football Game" and in "Keeping Accurate Statistics." The latter will be based on "The NFHS Football Statisticians' Manual." If this is your kind of thing, then be sure to partake of this new "Page" on our Section Nine Football site. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. Provide your favorite team with a valuable service and/or learn how to become a Section Nine Football correspondent. I can't express what a thrill it was for me to come home on a fall Friday night or Saturday afternoon after covering one game, to open my e-mail to get the scores and stories from our site correspondents about other games so I could put them online for fans all over the four counties that comprise Section Nine! And many fans and players have graciously expressed their appreciation. Coaches, players and fans, please let the right folks know about these lessons. Section Nine Football History is counting on their participation. Now scroll down for the first lesson ... Lesson One: Charting the Game By PHIL DUSENBURY It was September 1966 and I was standing on the home side of whats now called Oscar Gustafson Field. I was excitedly awaiting the kickoff of a Goshen High School football game that I would be covering for Gene Wrights Independent Republican, Goshens local weekly paper. Although I was in my second year of teaching high school English at Minisink Valley, I figured there was still enough time in my schedule to make a few extra bucks doing what I had enjoyed in high school and college - sportswriting. My salary back then was about $5,500 per annum so having a few extra bucks meant something. So there I was, armed with a pad and a pencil or two, when it suddenly dawned on me that I hadnt a clue as to how to go about recording the action that was about to unfold on the gridiron. If you remember my sad tale from the preceding introduction, youll recall how I got into sports reporting in the first place. Being the oldest of four kids, I had to be home right after school to watch after my active little brothers and baby sister while my mother finished her housework and got dinner ready for us all (my father wanted his meal as soon as he got home, which was soon after 5 oclock, after his long day at work which had begun at 7). Being the oldest and a child of the fifties, I did as I was told. Besides, there were no late buses nor too many high school kids who drove their own cars in those days, so the athletes either had to walk home (okay if they lived in town), hitchhike (once they walked to the edge of town) or wait for someone to come pick them up after games and practices. And my dad wasnt about to delay or interrupt his dinner to drive way up to school (we lived a couple of miles outside of the towns edge). I wanted to be involved with sports in some way so I slyly took a course in journalism and joined the school newspaper - as a sportswriter. My father had been a part time columnist for the local paper, so he could he be nothing but proud when I got a school paper staff position. Right? After all, he had written for that same paper when he had gone to high school. So to make a long story short, I convinced him to let me cover the sporting events for the paper. In the process I answered Coach Daniellos call for a scorekeeper/statistician for baseball and basketball. Of course Id also keep the wrestling book as well if there were no hoops going on. Football was my favorite sport, but since the paper was published only monthly, there was no great need for many details of those games. Just some scores and a few basic details. Besides I was in the band and we marched at all the home games, so Id pull out my little pad when I could to make a note or two. In between playing or saxophone or banging the bass drum when our regular bass drummer was playing tackle in our senior year, that is. When I went away to college at Fredonia State, I added sportscasting to my sportswriting and had a ball. But Fredonia didnt have football. We had some two-hand touch dorm teams and intramurals (so I got to play some college football with no parents in sight to stop me - ha!), but no school team to cover. I learned to like soccer (one of my roommates was an All-American), loved college basketball and enjoyed baseball. But no football. So here I stood on the Goshen sideline learning a valuable lesson: Youd better get your act together, young man, if youre going to cover this sport. After somehow faking my way through that first game, I was resolved to make my job easier at the second. So I approached this tall, older gentleman who had been walking the sideline with me the prior week. His name, I discovered, was Doc Shortock, a local dentist and my instant mentor. We started up a brief conversation and I asked him what he was doing. He said he was keeping the stats. I got a quick look at the paper on his clipboard and had an instant revelation. All of a sudden I realized that football could easily be broken down and how my favorite sportswriter (Bob Burns) could report what had happened on each play and give all the stats at the end of his game stories. How simple! Each horizontal line on Docs paper represented a play. Each vertical line a category. Just fill the correct boxes with the appropriate info and you have just about everything you need to record a football game. Now whenever I head off to a game, Im armed with my play sheets to chart it. When I get to the field, I immediately search for a sports reporters second best friend (his sheets being his first), a program with accurate rosters so as to properly identify the participants. (Note: when doing a broadcast, I have the rosters well in advance, typed out and in NUMERICAL order, plus a list of the probable starters whose numbers Ive already memorized.) There are two schools of thought in keeping football stats - the wrong way and the right way. The wrong way is the accumulated or running stats approach. Thats where the stat-person has categories with spaces for different players names. Theyll have Rushing, for example, with one box for Rushes Attempted and another for Net Yards - the more esoteric might also include Fumbles. Another category would be Passing with Passes Attempted, Passes Completed, Yards, and Interceptions. Etc. Etc. But its too easy to make mistakes here that cant be undone. For example, if you dont keep track of each plays line of scrimmage (as most of these statisticians dont), how can you be sure of the yardage gained or lost, especially if the guy on the sideline with the stick that marks the line of scrimmage takes off down the field in a hurry? And what happens if you add wrong on a given play and dont realize it on the spot? One such boo-boo and the stats are tainted. This method is supposed to be a shortcut toward providing instant stats, but it is more often than not a misguided effort. Besides, theres more to stats than just yardage gained and lost, turnovers and first downs. This wrong approach doesnt catch the games rhythm and high moments. How long was the scoring drive? How many plays? If theres a scoreclock that works, how much time did it consume? What were the third down efficiencies? In reviewing the stat sheets, can you tell what the key play(s) were in the game? With the accumulated stat sheets, how can you tell what yardage gained was hard fought for and which came in garbage time? THE RIGHT WAY The right way to keep meaningful stats while simultaneously keeping a written record of the game is to chart each play as a separate event. Each play is recorded on its own line. Since I use my play sheets while announcing games over the radio (I dont know any other play-by-play guys who attempt this nor do I necessarily recommend it), my sheets are simplified so that I can compress an entire halfs action on one page. When Im broadcasting, I want to be able to give a recap at a moments notice without flipping a lot of pages. My play sheets allow me to do this. As a sportswriter with a deadline, I want to be able to find the scoring drives and big plays quickly. My charts allow me to do that as well. Plus all the stats are there in the appropriate columns to be easily tallied. My sheets have the following column headings: Down, LOS (line of scrimmage), RUSH, PASS, PEN (penalty), KICK and RET (return yardage). My original sheets also had a broad column for COMMENTS where the starting time of a drive could be recorded or any remarks made (like blkd by 86 if, say, #86 had blocked a PAT). I know the team with possession because Id use a red pen for one team and a blue or black for the other. There are football scorebooks on the market, but theyre not much different from my play sheets and cost a whole lot more than making copies of play sheets. The commercial Football Scorebooks also contain room for tackles. Once you get into recording tackles, you need a second statistician or an assistant statistician whose only job is noting tackles and other defensive plays (sacks, hurries, tipped passes, fumble recoveries, interceptions, blocked kicks, etc.). Crediting tackles is so subjective that I dont pay much attention to those stats at the high school level (unless a coach has totaled them while reviewing the game tape). Traditionally, its usually been some poor jayvee kid who was pressed into keeping the tackle chart. And jayvees are easily intimidated by some varsity stud who ambles to the sideline and growls, Youd better give me a tackle on that last one - or else! Anyway, an experienced statistician, with a little occasional help, can keep track of defensive stats like interceptions, fumbles, blocked kicks and sacks. But stat-persons working solo should leave tackles and esoterica like hurries alone. Team statisticians, especially if they are students, will probably have to operate from the sidelines. Theyll have to learn how to maneuver around and amongst the players and coaches. Rule number one for the stat-guy or stat-gal is to record the down and line of scrimmage. If the action suddenly comes fast and furious, you can always do the math to figure net yards later - just so long as you have the lines of scrimmage recorded. Meanwhile a few coaches want to be constantly apprised of down-and-distance. Those who do usually depend upon an assistant coach who might be on the pressbox roof. But they may need that info from the stat-person who should know the answer and who should also be ready to alert one of the coaches if the officials make a boo-boo in marking off the wrong yardage or who signal the wrong down. Believe me, it happens! At times, it can get hectic on the sidelines and occasionally a coach can miss something thats very obvious to an alert statistician (although I dont know too many coaches who would EVER admit to that). While on the sideline, remember that your primary job is NOT to be a cheerleader. Locate yourself on or just ahead of the line of scrimmage, if possible. Keep very alert so as not to be run over on a sweep that goes out of bounds. Pray for no precipitation and be prepared to cover your play sheets if there is. Meanwhile your toughest moments may come on punts when you have to decide where to set up: lining up with the punter in case of a blocked kick or going downfield to see where the kick is received. I highly recommend the latter. Reporters have the option of working the sideline or going up in the pressbox (which should really be called the assistant coaches box since the press can rarely get in) or into the stands. The elevated view makes everything easier since you dont have to peer over and around players, put up with insults hurled at you from the fans hanging over the field level fence behind you or worry about rains ruining your stat sheets (if you can get into the holy confines of the pressbox). Problems often arise in ascertaining who made a fumble recovery or blocked a punt, however. And if someone comes off the field with an injury, being there on the sideline gives you a heads-up on what happened and the extent of the injury. In our next lesson well start to get into the nuts and bolts of filling out the play sheets. In doing so well also begin our journey through the sometimes very picky world of footballs statistical rules. If you like and understand the basics of high school football, know how to add and subtract and really want to get involved in a given game without having to strap on a helmet, then consider being a statistician/correspondent. Your team needs a good statistician and we need more enthusiastic and knowledgeable correspondents for this site. Now continue on to Lesson Two... Lesson Two: Determining the Line of Scrimmage Welcome to our second lesson. Before we get into the nuts and bolts of determining the Line of Scrimmage, let me give some preliminary advice to the statistician: DON'T BE A HALF STATISTICIAN! Some teams, for whatever reason, only keep the stats of their team. This is a mistake because what you end up with are offensive stats but little, if any, defensive stats! Did you ever read one of those mini-articles in the local paper about a high school game which told you only those who scored for the home team? Well, that article was phoned in by a half-statistician (or his/her coach). You know the type of story: "Wiley High whipped homestanding Deep Creek yesterday, 34-6. Bob Smith scored DC's lone TD on a 10-yard run. Deep Creek is now 0-5 (0-3 in league)." End of story. Pretty pathetic, huh? When the guy at the paper's sports desk asks the statistician or coach, "Who scored for Wiley High?" he gets a response like, "Oh, you'll have to call the other coach to get HIS information." What is this? Two games or one? Statisticians and correspondents must have information for both teams, including the names of ALL the players who scored or who made significant contributions in the game. Telling the newspaper, "Smith scored for us and #22 scored all five of their touchdowns" just doesn't hack it, either! Find out who #22 is!!! He's the headline. Besides if #22's good enough to score five TDs, a statistician who's also a fan would probably know who #22 is before the game begins (unless it's a season's opener). In addition, what good is having all of the offensive info without the defensive info? How can a team measure itself? Get the whole story, stat-person! Know who's who and what's what for both teams. Don't expect your coach to tell you the names of players on the other team. Trust me. He probably doesn't know them. Names mean very little to most coaches. So make friends with someone on the other sideline and swap names and numbers if you can't get ahold of an opponent's roster ahead of time. Now let's get to the main event for today -- determining (or spotting) the Line of Scrimmage (LOS). I'll first quote the National Federation State High School Associations' "Statisticians' Manual" for football: "If any part of the football is touching the vertical plane above any yard stripe, future action is to be computed from that yard line. However, if all of the football has been advanced beyond any yard stripe, further action is computed from the first yard line in advance of the football (or nearest the intended goal)." Most of the fields have "hash marks" - those are the individual mini-yard markings between the five-yard stripes. If you work on the sideline, it's relatively easy to see if the ball is in anyway over the hash mark or if it's beyond the hash mark. Up in the press box it's easy to determine the LOS if the ball is near mid-field, but as the ball gets closer to either goal line, the angle makes it increasingly difficult to determine the exact LOS. From the Dietz pressbox, for example, it's sometimes easier to check for the LOS by looking across the field at the location of the yard marker which is supposed to be aligned with the nose of the football. Now let's look at a hypothetical or two. Monroe-Woodbury's Ingenito carries the ball from his 18-yard line and is brought down "just short of the 25," as play-by-play guys might say. Statistically, however, if the ball is spotted with the whole ball beyond the 24, then the LOS is indeed the 25, and Neil has a seven-yard pickup. If any part of the ball had stood over or touched (well, the ball's not flat) any part of the 24-yard hash mark, then the LOS would be the 24, and Neil would be credited with a 6-yard gain in the "RUSH" column of your stat sheet which would read "5 +6" since Neil's uniform number is 5. Statistical rules are like any sports rules - there are exceptions. This LOS note has four exceptions: "Exception 1: When there is a change of possession, it is possible that the yard line for one team may not be the same as that of the other team... A fourth-down play which does not result in a first down by Team A ending between Team B's 3 and 4-yard line is at the 3-yard line for Team A at the end of the drive, but the 4-yard line for the team taking over (Team B). When the sideline stakes (or markers) are moved, the other end of the ball now becomes the forward point for future measurements." "Exception 2: In certain situations (any down but the first) where there is less than 1 yard to gain for a first down, it may be necessary to record the LOS back 1 yard to conform with the principle that there must always be, for statistical purposes, at least 1 yard remaining to be gained for a first down (or a touchdown)." So on a first and 10, Port's Stellato carries to within 6 inches of a first down. Credit Steven with 9 yards gained because he has not advanced to a first down. Third and goal from the 3. Tri-Valley's Garigliano carries to within 1 inch of the goal line. Credit Joe with 2 yards gained and make the LOS on your play chart the 1. On the next play he sneaks into the endzone. Credit him with a 1-yard carry and a TD run of 1 yard. (There's no such place, spatially nor statistically, as the "once inch line.") As you can see, the rule bends down near the goal line. Each of the following is statistically spotted at the 1-yard line: (1) Team A has the ball with the forward point of the ball on Team-B's 1-yard line. (2) Team A has the ball with the forward point of the ball placed just short of Team B's 1-yard line. (3) AND Team A has the ball with the forward point of the ball placed just short of Team B's goal line. "Exception 3: When, on a first down, the ball rests just outside a defensive team's 10-yard line, it will be necessary to designate the LOS as the 11-yard line (instead of the 10), as it would be possible for the offensive team to advance for a first down without scoring a touchdown." Now let's do a quick case study here. Let's say that Wallkill has the ball just outside the Rondout 20. The official, statistical LOS is, therefore, the 20. Maloney rushes for sufficient yardage for first down just outside the 10. We'd credit J.J. with a 10-yard gain and Wallkill with a first down. But then we'd have to chart the new LOS as the Gander 11 instead of the 10, since Wallkill could pick up another first down without scoring. Got it? "Exception 4: When the ball is between the 1-yard line and the goal line with the forward point closest to the goal line, the LOS is still considered to be the 1." (See Garigliano's hypothetical TD above.) Now let's look at a few more situations concerning spotting the ball (determining the LOS): (1) Saugerties has the ball at the Goshen 25. Second and five. Sawyer QB Fredenburg tries to complete a pass to his wideout, but tall Goshen DE Jung swats the pass to the turf as he is known for doing. Incomplete pass. The official then mistakenly puts the ball down at the 27 instead of the 25. Obviously both the linesman and the guy with the line of scrimmage stake (sideline yard marker) are asleep at the switch. What does the stat-guy or gal do? Well, if you're from Saugerties, you'd better tell Coach Cook or one of his assistants pronto, if they haven't already noticed the gaffe. But even if the error goes unnoticed (by everyone except the statistician, however), the play chart should maintain the original spot of the ball (the 25). That's the official rule. (2) After a touchback, the official should place the ball on the 20-yard line with the NOSE of the ball at the 20. The LOS is the 20. First and 10. (3) Warwick's Marion returns a punt from the Wildcats' 15 to just beyond the Warwick 20. The official places the entire ball beyond the 20. The LOS becomes the 21 and the dangerous Marion is credited with a 6-yard return. As a statistician you'll occasionally see sloppy work on the part of the line judge and/or the "chain crew" that runs the down markers and line of scrimmage stake. At the recent sectionals, one crew constantly marked first down by aligning the original marker and the LOS stake with the MIDDLE of the football instead of its front point of the football. Then when the chains were brought out for a measurement and the nose of the ball was just a couple of inches past the first down marker, the defense got screwed! At any given moment football can become a game of inches. That's because the football playing field is called a "gridiron" with all of those stripes and our beloved hash marks. The coaches are the generals who map out their strategies, select their "warriors" and align them for offensive thrusts and defensive stands. The players nobly "battle" over that turf. The officials make them play within the rules. The statistician charts the battle's history. Afterwards he quantifies it and highlights its significant moments. One last note: be sure to ask your coach before the season if he wants you to notify him or any of his staff during a game if an official badly mis-spots a ball or if the down is wrong. He'll probably quickly tell you no since he's "in a zone" during a game and has too much going on as it is. A good coach will probably already have someone on staff looking out for that kind of thing. But make the offer if you think you know your stuff. When in doubt remember that a good sideline statistician shouldn't be seen, much less heard. Until after the game when Coach wants those stats and scoring plays or needs someone to "phone it in." Our next lesson will deal with correctly determining Rushing Yardage.
Our rule book says, "All offensive running plays are termed 'rushing plays'." That's easy enough. A majority of the statistician's job is to determine rushing yardage. In the 2003 season Port Jervis was known as a "passing team" since record-setting QB Matt Semerano was at the helm. Yet 62.9% of Port's offensive plays were rushing plays. The Raiders' opponents, meanwhile, rushed 72.9% of the time; and a team like Pine Bush with its Wing-T likes to run 83% of the time. Much of football stat-taking is pretty routine since most of the plays, as you can see, are on the ground. The statistician credits the ball carrier with plus, zero or minus yardage from the LOS to the spot where (1) the ball is declared dead in the player's possession or (2) where it is recovered by one of his teammates or an opponent. Let's say it's first down for Warwick at the Wildcat 24. If Warwick's Tim Marion carries and is tackled at what the statistician determines to be the 'Cat 31, he is credited with +7 yards. Now how would this look on our play sheet horizontal line for that play? Under "Down" would be a "1". Under "LOS" would be "W24". Since Tim wears uniform number 41, the statistician would simply write "41 +7" in the "Rushing" column. On the next horizontal line, which will hold the next play, a "2" is written under "Down" and "W31" under "LOS". A critical job for the statistician is to get the new line of scrimmage written in before the next play begins!! On the next play the defense is looking for wingback Marion who again takes a handoff. This time he's dropped back at the 'Cat 29. Under "Rushing" we'd write "41 -2". Simple, right? Let's now say that the ball is at the 50-yard line. Warwick's Steve Prescod plunges into the line and fumbles the ball which is recoverd by the Cats' Alex Darcy at the NFA 45. Prescod gets credit for a five-yard gain. In the "Rushing" column write "1 +5 Rec own". That lets you know later that there was a fumble that wasn't lost while telling you who carried and for how many yards. If, however, it were LB Jesse Callahan who recovered for the Goldbacks, write "1 +5 FMB 44". Prescod STILL GETS CREDIT FOR THE YARDAGE, but now you also know that he fumbled and that #44 (Callahan) recovered for NFA. I hope you're getting the idea of how simple the play sheet can be, how it takes a play-by-play account of the action, and how it can later be easily tabulated. Now we'll stick to rules and situations. How about the option? The stat manual reads, "In a run-option play involving a pitch BEHIND the LOS to the trailing back, credit the trailing back with the rush attempt (carry) and total yardage gained or lost, measured from the LOS, regardless of where the player obtains the pitch. The player who pitches is not credited with a rush attempt or yardage." So if M-W has the ball at its 30 and QB Matt Stack, dashing to his right behind the blocking of Eugene Dutton, pitches back to Danny Lexandra who grabs the pitch at the 27 and ruhes to the 36, credit Danny with +6 yards rushing and a carry. Now here are a couple of situations and official statistical interpretations. If Matt had kept the ball and advanced to the 36 and then, IN THE STATISTICIAN'S OPINION, made an errant pitch to Ray Graziano who is downed back at the 31, then credit Matt with a rush of +1. If Cornwall had the ball at the opponent's 30-yard line and, on a pitchout, QB Kyle Auffray tossed the ball behind RB Qu-Ron Simmons who scrambled back to recover on the 37, credit Kyle, not Qu-Ron, with a rush of minus-7 yards. Also charge Cornwall with a fumble not lost. Of course Kyle doesn't make those kind of boo-boos. Now pay attention to this provision: "Any backward pass BEYOND the LOS during a rushing play causes two players to be credited with rushing yardage, but only one player is to be credited with a carry. The player advancing the ball beyond the LOS is credited with a carry and with yardage TO THE SPOT WHERE HIS BACKWARD PASS IS CAUGHT. The player receiving the backward pass does not receive credit for a carry but does receive credit for the yardage from the spot where he catches the backward pass to the spot where the ball is declared dead in the player's possession." (Note: we'll deal more with fumbles in a future lesson). Cornwall has the ball at midfield. Simmons sweeps around left end to the opponent's 30 where he's about to be tackled. So he passes backwards to teammate Bertram McDowell who's trailing the play. McDowell catches the flip back at the 32 and advances to the 25 before he is brought down. Qu-Ron is credited with 18 yards rushing (from the 50 to the 32 where his backward pass was CAUGHT) and a carry. Bertram is credited with 7-yards rushing but no carry. That, of course, is great for his rushing average! Here's one last rushing provision which, in part, ties in with the previous option-play provision. "Any backward pass (underhand or otherwise) behind the LOS results in the player receiving the backward pass being credited for all yardage gained or lost." Unless, of course, there's a possible errant pass in which case the statistician will have to use his or her judgment. From the Panther 40, Wallkill QB Joe Truscello pitches back to RB Greg Drebot who's going to sweep left. He's tackled back at the 35. Greg is credited with a carry and a 5-yard loss. If he took the backward pass, got around the corner and ran to the opponent's 40, Greg would be credited with a 20-yard gain and a carry. The next lesson will deal with passing statistics. But remember: AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER WITH THE BALL REMAINS A RUNNER UNTIL HE THROWS THE BALL. So if the LOS is the defensive team's 30 and the QB drops back to pass but is tackled back at the 40, count it as a carry and a minus-10 yard rush even though it is also recorded as a sack. (The sack yardage lost is counted in the rushing yardage!) ********** One skill that a statistician must have is the ability to add quickly, whether it be on a running play, passing play, punt or return. Most of the game is easy to follow and record (unless you've got Port Jervis, which never wastes time in the huddle, playing Wallkill with its no-huddle offense), but it can get crazy at times. Situations: (1) A player rushes from his team's 29 to the opponent's 37. Quick - how many yards did he rush? (2) An offense completes a pass play from its 34 to the defense's 35. Quick - How many yards were picked up? (3) Team-A punts from its 42 to Team-B's 24; the punt is returned to Team-B's 41. Quick - How long was the punt, and how long was the punt return? It can suddenly get hectic out there! Notice that things get a little trickier when the ball crosses the 50? Situation 1: the most important thing to do is to determine the new LOS and get it on your play sheet. Now we'll see how good your adding and subtracting skills are. Hmmm, from the 29 to the 50 is 21 yards. From the 50 to the 37 is 13 yards. 21 + 13 = 34 yards gained. OR try this: 29 + 37 (the LOS before and after the long run) = 66 and 100 - 66 = 34 yards. Either way will work. BUT IF THINGS ARE HAPPENING TOO QUICKLY FOR YOU, JUST BE SURE TO RECORD THE RUNNER'S UNIFORM NUMBER IN THE "RUSHING" COLUMN ON YOUR SHEET AND GET DOWN THE NEW LOS!!! You can always get out your calculator later! Situation 2: 50 - 34 = 16 and 50 - 35 = 15. 16 + 15 = 31 yards gained. OR 34 + 35 = 69 and 100 - 69 = those same 31 yards. Credit the receiver with 31 receiving yards and the passer with 31 yards passing. The next lesson will show how to put it on your play sheet (if you haven't already figured that out). Situation 3: We have a 34-yard punt (remember, the yards punting are measured from the LOS, not from the spot where the punter booted the ball) - 42 + 24 = 66 and 100 - 66 = 34 yards. ... As for the return - 41 - 24 = 17 yards returned! Since the last LOS (the punting team's 42) and the new LOS (the receiving team's 41) are 17 yards apart, we know we've done some thing right! The trick here is to watch carefully for where the returner's feet are when he fields the punt. If the momentum of the punt moves the returner back after he receives it, his return (and the end of the punt) is marked off from that spot. So if the return man is moving backwards to receive a punt and catches it at the 25 but his momentum takes him back to the 22, then credit the punter with a punt to the 22 and begin the return man's punt return yardage from the 22. You can see how useful it is for the statistician to go to the preseason scrimmage game to get in a little stat scrimmage of his own! Lesson Four: Determining Passing Yardage Ah, the passing game! For the statistician it's generally routine stuff - but there are moments ... The stat manual breaks the passing game down into seven provisions: "Provision 1: Yardage during a passing play is credited to both the passer (passing) and the receiver (receiving). It is figured from the LOS to the spot where the ball is declared dead in the receiver's possession." Note: If the receiver fumbles after making the reception, he is credited with the yardage involved to the point of recovery, regardless of which team recovers the fumble. That's the same as on any play terminated by a fumble. So if from the 50-yard line, Millbrook's Darren Shepley passes complete to Danny Quirk at the defense's 30 and Quirk continues on to the 20 before he is tackled, credit Shepley with a completed pass and 30 yards passing and Quirk with a reception and 30 receiving yards. Now let's say that the LOS is still the 50. Shepley drops back and lobs a center screen to Steve Kearins who catches the ball at the Millbrook 45. An alert Mike Hernandez of Chester sniffs out the play, however, and tackles Kearins in his tracks at the 45 before the star RB can get going. Credit Shepley with a completed pass and minus-5 yards passing, and credit Kearins with a reception and minus-5 receiving yards. Provision 2 gives us this summary: "Forward passing gains or losses are measured from the LOS to the point where the ball is declared dead (or a fumble is recovered) so as to include both the length of the pass and the running advance after completion. All yards gained or lost on each completed pass are credited to both passer and receiver." Provision 3 tells us that "any loss by a player apparently intending to pass but downed behind the line of scrimmage is recorded as a 'Loss by Rushing.'" Remember from our last lesson: a player is not a passer until he has thrown the ball since a player retains at all times the option of running. "Provision 4: Interception returns are measured from the point of interception to the point where the ball is declared dead (or a fumble is recovered)." Here's where the stat-guy or gal has to be alert. Since you're positioned near the line of scrimmage (if you're working from the sideline), spotting the yard line where an interception occurred can give you trouble. I learned to look for the interceptor's feet and to run to the spot where he caught the ball so I could accurately record where he made the interception before tallying his return yardage. This is one of the times when being in a pressbox or in the upper portion of the stands is a definite advantage. From the higher vantage point, one can easily follow the flight of the ball and then look down at the field markings to mentally note where the interception was made. P.S. Officials sometimes try to help us out by tossing their little white bean bags toward the point from which a return begins. But since they're on the run, sometimes their aim isn't that accurate. "Provision 5: There is no pass completed by penalty." On a defensive pass interference call, for example, the QB is NOT credited with a completion and 15 passing yards; the intended receiver is NOT credited with a reception and 15 receiving yards! Provision 6 first talks about a sack (see the Rushing lesson) and then adds: "When a pass is intercepted, the passer is credited with an incomplete pass (or pass attempt) and is charged with an intercepted pass with no yardage credited." Provision 7 deals with any backward pass that is made beyond the LOS which we partially covered back in "Rushing." Let's say Rondout Valley coach Jim Malak sends in the old hook-and-lateral pass play. The LOS is the 50. Gander QB Dan Steers fires downfield to TE Matt Dennin who catches the pass at the 35. Dennin then passes backward to WB Colin McDonough who is trailing the play. McDonough catches the toss at the 38 and advances to the defense's 20 before being tackled. Credit Steers with a completed pass and 30 yards passing. Dennin is credited with a reception and 12 receiving yards. McDonough is not credited with a reception but is credited with 18 receiving yards. ... Here the statistician must pay close attention to note WHO caught the initial pass, WHO took the backward pass and WHERE he received that backward pass. And, of course, to mark the new LOS for the next play! "Provision 8: A fake field goal attempt that results in the holder's passing the ball forward to an ineligible receiver is credited as a passing play." Now to mark your play sheet (in the "Pass" column), assuming you use a play-by-play sheet similar to mine: (1) On the Shepley-to-Quirk 30-yard completion write "3 to 12 +30". Since my columns aren't that wide, I might have to put the "+30" under the "3 to 12" but in the same box. (2) The Shepley-to-Kearins attempted screen that went for a loss is "3 to 41 -5". (3) If a Shepley pass had been intercepted by Chester's Ronayne Hamilton at the Chester 20 and returned to the Chester 30, write "3 int 7" in the "Pass" column and "7 +10" in the "Return" column which lies on the same horizontal line representing that play. (4) For Rondout's hook-and-lateral, I'd have to write small! "4 to 6 +12" and under that, but within the same box "3 +18". On my condensed playsheets, I always use a black or blue pen for one team's uniform numbers and yardage and a red pen for the other's. You can avoid the pen-switching, however, if you record one team on the left hand side of your sheet and the other team on the right hand side. You need twice as many playsheets but will generally find them easier to deal with, especially when it comes time to tally the stats. Here, on the interception, for example, you can put the "3 int 7" in the Pass column on Millbrook's side of the sheet while marking the "7 + 10" on the same horizontal line but under "Ret" (Return Yardage) on Chester's side. In the next lesson we'll go over First Downs. Lesson Five: Determining First Downs One traditional statistic is first downs awarded to an offense. Sometimes it can be a very telling statistic. Often, however, it can be very misleading. For example, if a team has a big-play, quick-strike offense, it's not so apt to pick up a lot of first downs. The same also goes for a team whose defense forces a lot of turnovers or whose special teams make a lot of long returns. With those caveats in mind, let's now see what constitutes a first down. The first provision in the stat manual states: "Any time the ball is advanced beyond the line-to-gain (forward stake) during a scrimmage play, a first down is recorded, provided (a) the forward stake is in the field of play (marking yardage between the goal lines), or (b) a live-ball penalty during the play does not move the ball back behind the forward stake. This includes a touchdown play" (unless, of course, the offense is in a goal-to-go situation). Situation #1: With second and 5 at the 50-yard line, NFA's Jihad Morris advances to the Middletown 39-yard line where he is tackled by Middletown's Joe Trama. Credit Morris with 11 yards rushing and NFA with a first down. Simple enough. Situation #2: With second and 5 at the 50-yard line, Pine Plains' Jayson Millius advances to the Tri-Valley 30-yard line where TV's Danny Knox makes the tackle. But there was a clipping call against Pine Plains at the TV 40. Consequently, Millius is credited with 10 yards rushing (to the spot of the foul) but the Bombers don't get a first down "because enforcement of the penalty brings the ball back behind the forward stake." On your play sheet you'd write "16 +10" in the "Rushing" column and "P15" (Pine Plains 15 yard penalty) in the "Penalty" column. The next LOS would then be "P45" (the Pine Plains 45) if all worked out correctly. NOTE: the officials don't always land their flags where they aim them, so in the above situation you'll have to wait for the spotting of the ball after the play (the next LOS). Then you can quickly add ahead the 15 yards to see where the official deemed that the penalty had actually occurred, and give the runner credit to that spot. If it gets confusing, you'll be okay if you marked "16" in the "Rushing" column (the rusher's number), "P15" under "Penalty" and WRITE DOWN THE NEW LOS for the next play. If necessary you can figure the rushing yardage later. ... Just go forward 15 yards from the new LOS to determine where the rusher had been officially "stopped". Since you already have the prior LOS recorded, you have all the info you need: the new LOS is the P45; therefore the rush ended at the TV 40 ... the prior LOS had been the 50 ... ergo, Millius gets credit for 10 yards. But there was NO FIRST DOWN since it's now second-and-ten. Got it? Situation #3: With second and 5 at the 50-yard line, New Paltz's Kyle Martin rushed to the O'Neill 25-yard line where DB Lucas Veale makes the tackle. However there was a clip called against the Hugies at the O'Neill 29. Martin would get credit for +21 yards rushing (to the spot of the foul) and New Paltz would get a first down since, after the penalty has been assessed, the ball is still spotted beyond the forward stake (at the Raider 44). The play had netted six yards for New Paltz which now has a first and ten. Provision 2 is one that not a lot of stat folks know. "A first down may be gained by penalty measurement during or following a scrimmage play. If a first down is gained by a penalty or by yardage gained via run or pass and ANOTHER penalty moves the ball beyond what would be the forward stake after the original first down, THEN TWO FIRST DOWNS ARE CREDITED." Situation: On a third and 2 yards to go for a first down at Minisink's 25-yard line, the Warriors' Gregg Brain runs the ball to the MV 32-yard line. The Warwick defense is also hit with a 15-yard roughness penalty on the play. Brain is awarded 7 yards rushing; MV is awarded the ball on Warrior 47-yard line and TWO first downs. Brain's carry gave MV the initial first down and the penalty the second first down. NOTE: On my play sheet in the "Down" column for the subsequent play, I write a "1" and circle it to signify an earned first down. That makes first downs easy to tally up - just look for those circles in the "Down" column. In the above situation, write two circled 1's in the "Down" column. Provision 3 is straight-forward enough: "A first down is NOT recorded when a resultant loss of team possession occurs on a scrimmage play, even though the gain provides yardage necessary for a first down." Situation: Chester has the ball at Millbrook's 40-yard line, second and 5. Ronayne Hamilton rushes up the middle but uncharacteristically fumbles the ball which is recovered by the Blazers' Steve Kearins at the Millbrook 30. Credit Ronayne with a rush of 10 yards and a fumble lost, but do not credit Chester with a first down since Millbrook has taken possession. Provision 4 amplifies Provision 2: "A first down may be gained by penalty measurement during or following a scrimmage play." Situation #1: With second and 5 from the 50-yard line Chester QB Bryan Van Demark completes a short pass to Hamilton who is downed at the Millbrook 46 where a fired-up defender is flagged for piling on. The pass completion was short of the first down, but the 15-yard penalty for the foul gives Chester a first down by penalty. NOTE: Some statisticians break down first downs into categories of "First Downs by Rushing," "First Downs by Passing" and "First Downs by Penalties." Situation #2: Now the tables are turned. With second and 5 from the 50, Millbrook's Darren Shepley completes a pass to Danny Quirk who is downed at the Chester 30-yard line where a Hambletonian defender piles on. The completed pass was beyond the line-to-gain for a first down by passing, and the subsequent 15-yard penalty for piling on results in a first down by penalty. Two circled 1's via one play. Provision 5: "On the last play of the second or fourth quarter, if, in the scorer's (statistician's) judgment, the offensive team advanced the ball to what would have been a first down, credit is given whether or not the officials so signify." In our next lesson we'll learn about Kick Returns (there are 10 provisions for that baby!). Lesson Six: The Kicking Game Part One - KOs and Punts Kickoff, punts, kick returns, field goals and PATs. That's a lot of territory to cover, so we'll break things down and move around a bit in the "Statisticians' Manual". We'll start with the easy stuff. The manual's only provision for "Kickoffs" reads like this: "No yardage is recorded for the kicker on the kickoff. This includes a place kick following a safety." Why not? Basically, the distance of a kickoff doesn't mean that much (unless the boot sails into the end zone for an automatic touchback, thus denying the receiving team the opportunity for a long return). If the kick goes deep but is a line drive, the return man has a great opportunity for a long return since the kicker has "outkicked the coverage." We always have a few excellent kick returners in our section. Coaches scout those things and consequently use some sort of a squib kick to prevent a dangerous opposing return man, usually blessed with blazing speed, from receiving the ball and getting up a full head of steam. Here, a kickoff that travels only 30 yards may be much safer than one which is boomed 50 yards. So there is no official statistic for the yardage of kickoffs. But your more stat-oriented coaches may want to keep track of numbers such as (1) kickoffs that result in touchbacks or (2) average field position following kickoffs. Especially, if he's got a kicker like Wallkill's Adolfo Rivera. We'll get into kick returns, which is an official stat, in our next lesson. Now let's look at "Scrimmage Kicks" (better known to us as "Punts"). These distances we want. Here the stat manual lists six provisions. "Provision 1: The punter is credited with punting yardage from the LOS to the spot where: a) the receiver gains possession, b) the ball goes out of bounds, c) the ball is declared dead and not in the possession of the receiving team" (i.e., when the ball is "downed" by a member of the kicking team or when a receiver "muffs" a kick and it's recovered by the kicking team), and "d) to the goal line, if the ball goes into the end zone. "Provision 2: When a punt is declared dead on or behind the goal line (a touchback), the distance of the punt is measured from the LOS to the goal line. "Provision 3: When there is a penalty assessed against the receiving team on a punt declared dead on or behind the goal line, still measure the punt from the LOS to the goal line. "Provision 4: If there is a penalty to be assessed against the kicking team for illegal interference with the receiving team's opportunity to catch a kick while in flight, measure the distance of the punt to the point of infraction or where the ball is declared dead (if the receiving team declines the penalty), whichever is the shorter distance. "Provision 5: A ball loose on an UNBLOCKED punt that does not cross the LOS can be advanced by either team. The loss on the punt is minus yardage charged against punting. If a player of the kicking team recovers the ball and advances it, credit the player with a RUSH and RUSHING yardage from the point of recovery. If a player of the receiving team advances the ball, credit the player with a PUNT RETURN and yardage from the point of recovery." Knowing this one can put you on a road to a doctorate in football statology!! "Provision 6: A loss on an unblocked punt due to an improperly centered ball that prevents the punter from carrying out the assignment is recorded as a 'Team' entry." This is a judgment call for the statistician. Saddle the punter with neither an attempted punt nor minus yardage here, but record it as a Team punt and yardage and include those stats in your final game stats. Now let's look at a couple of items related to punting that are found elsewhere in the manual. This one comes in the section on fumbles, which we'll review in total in an upcoming lesson. "If the punter fumbles with no bad snap involved and does not get the punt away, the punter is charged with a fumble and is credited with rushing yardage from the LOS to the spot where the ball is recovered or is declared dead in the player's possession." Situation: the LOS is the 50 and it's fourth and seven. Punt time. The punter, getting a little anxious as he stands at his 35, fumbles a good snap from center. He picks up the ball and runs to the 42 where he is tackled. Charge him with a fumble and minus-eight yards rushing. "If a bad snap is involved, however, and no punt is made, the rushing yardage is credited to the Team and not an individual, unless that player is able to advance BEYOND the LOS. If there was a bad snap, the Team is charged with the fumble, not the individual." So if the punter received a bad snap and the ball was declared dead after a recovery or after a kicking team member was tackled following a run, the team would be charged with a fumble and any negative yardage. If it resulted in any positive yardage on an advance, credit the individual who advanced the ball. That's enough to digest for now. It will take a few lessons to get through the kicking game. We've still got to talk about blocked punts. But first we have to do "Kick Returns" which will be our next lesson. Keep up with us! Lesson Seven: The Kicking Game Part Two - Returns Now let's begin to cover Kickoff and Punt Returns. Provision 1 was covered in "Kickoffs". Provisions 2-10 deal with "Kick Returns". "Provision 2: Returns are measured from the point where the returning player first gained or lost possession of the ball (using the back foot as a starting point) to the point where the ball is declared dead or is lost by a fumble" (where it's recovered). "Return yardage on a free kick after a safety (also) goes into the kickoff return category." Remember my earlier explanation about the momentum of the kick which may "drive" the return man back a yard or two. Take a punt's momentum into consideration when determining the point where the returner "first gained possession of the ball." "Provision 3: If a ball is muffed following a fair-catch signal, there can be no return and no fumble charged to the receiving team." A muff is when a return man touches but drops a kick. "Provision 4: On a multi-player kick return exchange when there is no attempt by the first player (or the second if more than two are involved) to advance the kick (even though there may be an advance in order to effect a handoff or lateral), credit the last player handling the ball with the return and the yardage. Compute the yardage from the point nearest the receiving team's goal line where the player gained possession." Every now and then a team might try a little razzle-dazzle on a kickoff return and try a reverse. Or if there should happen to be one of those last second desperation returns where the return team laterals about six times, we're probably going to need the game tape to see where the last guy received the ball! It's rare and really adds some spice to the statistician's life. "Provision 5: When a player advances a kick, then laterals and a loss of yardage occurs on the play (determined from the point of the original possession), credit the first returnee with the return and minus yardage. When, after a lateral, the second player contributes to an additional loss of yardage on the return, credit the second player with no return and minus yardage." Fun, huh? "Provision 6: When a player on the receiving team who is trying to gain possession muffs a kick, credit that player with a return and yardage gained or lost from the point where the ball was first touched. Charge the receiving team with a fumble. Measure the distance of the punt to the point where the muff occurred, not to the point of the ultimate recovery by either team." Remember, Provision 3 above deals with a muffed FAIR CATCH. Here there's no fair catch signal. Situation 1: Team A has the ball on its 30-yard line and punts. Team B's return man misjudges the punt at Team B's 30. The ball grazes his fingertips and rolls to the 20-yard line where a player from Team A recovers. Charge the return man with a punt return of minus 10 yards. Credit the punter with a 40-yard punt. Charge Team B with a fumble. Situation 2: Team A's ball on Team B's 45-yard line. A punts. B's return man tries to catch the ball at his 10, but the ball bounces off (or through) his hands and goes into the end zone. In that scenario it's a touchback. Credit the punter with a 35-yard punt and the return man with a punt return of minus 10 yards. Charge Team B with a fumble. "Provision 7: When the ball touches a player on the receiving team who is not trying to gain possession, charge a "Team" (rather than individual) return for yardage gained or lost from the point where the ball first touched the player. Charge the receiving team with a fumble." Situation 1: Team A punts from its 40. The punt bounces and at B's 25 strikes the leg of a receiving team player who is trying to avoid the ball. The ball then rolls to the B 20 where it is recovered by a member of Team A. Credit the punter with a 35-yard punt. Charge B with a "Team" return of minus 5 yards and a fumble lost. Situation 2: Let's start out with the same scenario as #1 but this time a member of Team B picks up the ball at the 20 and advances it to the 24. The punter still gets credit for a 35-yard punt. Charge B with a "Team" punt return of minus 5 yards and a fumble not lost. Credit the player who did return it with 4 yards under "Punt Return Yardage" but with no punt return. That's similar to the hook-and-lateral rule under "Passing." By now you should have been noticing that some things are credited to the "Team" in general rather than to an individual. And you've noticed that you can't have two "Pass Receptions" credited on one pass completion nor two "Kick Returns" on one punt. This is so your game stats all add up and balance in the end. If you get confused while trying to chart a confusing play, jot down the player(s) involved and the yard-lines where things occurred. Then get the LOS written in for the next scrimmage play. You can always figure out the yardage later for your statistically complex situation IF you've made a note of the players and yard lines. We still have three more provisions for Kick Returns which we'll cover in our next lesson. Lesson Eight: The Kicking Game Part Three - Returns Now let's wrap up this particular section of the stat manual dealing with kick returns. There are only three more provisions here. Let's first look at some possibilities with an onside kickoff. "Provision 8: When an onside kickoff that has traveled at least 10 yards strikes a player on the receiving team (who may or may not be trying to gain possession), charge a "Team" return for yardage gained or lost (if any) from the point where the ball first touched the player IF the KICKING team recovered the kick. Charge the team with a fumble lost if recovered by the kicking team. When an onside kick that has traveled at least 10 yards strikes a player on the kicking team before striking any member of the receiving team and is recovered by the kicking team, this is a point of possession only. Do not charge a fumble, fumble recovery, kick return or kick return yardage to either team. The ball is dead as soon as it is caught or recovered by the kicking team." Heads up on this next one. "Provision 9: When a foul occurs BEHIND the point where the kick return began, do not credit the returner with a return or return yardage." For example, the returner fields a punt at his team's 40-yard line and advances to the 50, but a clipping foul occurs back at the return team's 35-yard line. After enforcement of the penalty, the ball is on the 20-yard line. Do not credit the returner with a punt return or yardage. Charge the return team with a penalty of 20 yards. That's right, there can be a penalty in high school of more than 15 yards! Note that the penalty is marched off from the spot of the foul, but the penalty yardage here is debited from where the punt was received! If you knew that one, you're a real pro. "Provision 10: Only the number of punts and kickoffs that the receiving team attempts to return are included under 'Kick Returns.' Exception: Blocked kicks that travel toward the kicker's goal." Let's look at some situations that arise under this provision: Situation #1: Team A attempts to kick off from its 40-yard line but encroaches (goes offside). Team A is penalized 5 yards and has to kick again from the 35. Charge Team A with a penalty of 5 yards. Easy enough. Situation #2: Team A kicks off from its 40-yard line, and the ball travels 10 yards or more and goes out of bounds before touching any member of Team B. Team B, as we all know, retains the option of taking the ball where it went out of bounds or of taking the ball 25 yards downfield from the spot of the kickoff. In either case, there is no penalty assessed and no return recorded. Situation #3: On a kickoff, a player from the return team falls on the ball without attempting a return. Do not charge the player with a kickoff return. However, if the player fumbles or makes a clear attempt to return, then credit the player with a kick return attempt and yardage gained or lost. Situation #4: There is no credit on any kickoff recovered by the kicking team beyond the receiving team's restraining line (which is 10 yards downfield from where the ball is being kicked off). Do not charge a fumble unless the kick has been touched by a member of the receiving team. For example, the kicking team has squibbed or chipped a kickoff that travels 10 yards or more downfield, is untouched by a member of the receiving team and is recovered by a member of the kicking team. Here there is obviously no kick return nor any fumble. The kicking game makes up a minority of the action on the field but necessitates a lot of space in the stat manual. In our next lesson we'll covered "Blocked Punts and Returns." Keep studying, stat folks. This will all pay off next fall! Lesson Nine: Blocked Punts and Returns
"Provision 1: A blocked punt is recorded as a 'Team' entry (except when a properly centered ball is fumbled) and not charged against the individual kicker. Also, charge one punt for NO yards to ensure that the blocked punt is counted as a kick attempt in team totals." So when that defender comes flying in from the outside and blocks a punt that was properly centered, don't nail the poor punter with the minus-20 (or whatever) yard punt (as some of us have been doing for years). But if he fumbles a good snap and has his punt blocked, credit the punter with the punt and the yardage, probably negative, to where the ball is recovered. "Provision 2: If the ball travels toward the kicker's goal and is recovered by the blocking team, the yardage is treated as a PUNT RETURN by the player who BLOCKED the kick." If the snap was good, credit the "returner" with yardage from the LOS. If the good snap had been fumbled, any return yardage comes from where the blocked punt was recovered. Situation: Fourth and five at midfield. Team A lines up to punt. The center snap is good but fumbled by the punter. He picks up the ball but has his punt blocked by Team B's Player One. The ball is finally picked up at Team A's 33 by Team B's Player Two who runs into the end zone for a TD. When the smoke clears, the punter is credited with a punt of minus-17 yards. Player One gets credit for the block, but Player Two would get the return, 33 return yards and the TD. Had Player Two just fallen on the ball at the 33, Player One would have gotten a return of zero yards. "Provision 3: If the ball travels toward the kicker's goal and is recovered by the kicking team, the yardage is treated as a punt return by the player who BLOCKED the kick; and the blocking team is charged with a FUMBLE LOST, except on fourth down." Almost all punts are on fourth down, but if any kick attempted before fourth down is blocked the kicking team still has a chance of retaining possession. "Remember that yardage for a blocked punt cannot be a negative figure (unless a good snap is fumbled). It is listed as zero yards, and the difference shall be listed as punt return yardage for the team blocking the ball." "Provision 4: When a Team A punt is blocked behind the LOS, Team A retains the privileges it had before the blocked kick (i.e., it may kick the ball, pass the ball or advance it by rushing). If repunted, measure the yardage from the point where the player PUNTS. If passed, measure the yardage from the LOS. If advanced by rushing, measure the yardage from the point where Team A's player gains possession. EXCEPTION: If advanced or punted from the end zone, yardage is measured from the goal line." "Provision 5: When a punt is blocked and recovered by the KICKING team beyond the neutral zone, credit that team with a punt and yardage measured from the LOS. Do not credit the player who blocked (or "partially blocked") or the blocking team with a punt return." Here, the ball has simply been "downed" by the kicking team, and the receiving team will take possession, barring some sort of penalty that offsets the punt. "Provision 6: A punt that is blocked as a result of the kick's striking the punter's teammate behind the LOS is treated as a 'Team' punt. The ball may be advanced by the defense from any point of the field." Credit the punt and the punting yardage to where the ball is recovered to the 'Team.' "Provision 7: Blocked punts that pass the neutral zone are recorded as blocked punts and charged to the 'Team' if, in the statistician's opinion, the distance of the punt is materially affected." Once the "partially blocked" punt goes past the LOS, credit the 'Team' with punting yardage. "Provision 8: Scrimmage kick returns are recorded as punt returns. Any return of a field goal attempt is included under punt returns." When you get a blocked kick in a game you're charting, DON'T PANIC! If the punter fumbles the snap, determine if it is his fault or the snapper's. Try to note who blocked the punt (you may have to get that information from someone on the sideline later). Note where the blocked punt was recovered. The player who blocked the punt will get credit for a return and return yardage, if any. If someone other than the player who blocked the punt picks up the ball and runs with it, give that player the return and any yardage from the point where he picked up the ball. There's more hair-splitting that can be applied here since the rules don't make a few things crystal clear, but I choose to let this rest - for now. I've done enough interpreting for now. Just remember to jot down a couple of pertinent notes, and you can figure it all out later. If you have any stat-keeping questions or can think of any sticky situations you've come across while charting a game, please shoot me an e-mail and we'll see if we can figure things out. Meanwhile come back for LESSON TEN which will deal with PAT's. Lesson Ten: Field Goals and PATS This lesson will see the end of the kicking game rules. The rulebook section on Field Goals has four provisions and is fairly easy stuff. "Provision 1: Field goal yardage is not included in total offensive statistics. The length of a field goal is from the point from which it is kicked to the goal posts. (Add 10 yards from the yard line from which a successful or unsucessful field goal is kicked.)" Situation: The LOS is the defense's 23 and the kicker, therefore, kicks a field goal from the 30. The kick is recorded as a 40-yard field goal. The LOS doesn't figure into the computation. Situation: The kicker boots a field goal from between the defense's 35 and 36-yard lines. Record it as a 45-yard attempt. The ball would have to be touching the 36 to make it a 46-yarder (it's the same as our earlier rule to determine a LOS). "Provision 2: The kicker is not charged with a field goal attempt if the player does not actually kick (i.e., if it is due to a bad pass from center or if the player holding the ball muffs or juggles it long enough to prevent an opportunity to kick). Such an uncontested attempt is charged to 'Team' rather than to the kicker. However, if the ball is momentarily fumbled and then kicked, an attempt is charged to the kicker, regardless of the success or failure of the effort." You kick it, you buy it. Easy enough. "Provision 3: The kicker is charged with a field goal attempt that is blocked. Exception: If, in the judgment of the statistician, an error in the center snap or placement of the ball by the holder is the direct cause of a blocked attempt, the kicker shall not be charged with an attempt. Such an unsuccessful attempt is charged to the 'Team' rather than to the kicker." Note: if there is return yardage involved after a blocked field goal attempt, refer back to our last lesson on blocked punts and returns. "Provision 4: When a bad pass from center occurs, or the player holding the ball muffs or juggles it long enough to prevent the kicker from making an attempt, and a loss occurs on the play, charge the 'Team' with a rush and minus yardage. If the ball is advanced beyond the LOS, credit the ball carrier with a rush and yardage." That wasn't too painful. Now let's look at the six provisions governing the "Try", more popularly known as the PAT. "Provision 1: After a touchdown, the scoring team shall attempt a try during which the ball is snapped from a spot designated by the scoring team anywhere between the inbound lines on the defense's 3-yard line. This involves a scrimmage down that is neither numbered or timed. The attempting team may score two points by running or passing the ball across the goal line on a scrimmage play or one point for a successful kick attempt... Exception: If a touchdown is scored during the last down of the fourth period, the try shall not be attempted unless the point(s) would affect the outcome of the game or playoff qualifying." Here's a provision I've seen many "statisticians" abuse over the years. "Provision 2: If a two-point conversion is made by a pass or a run, yardage is NOT included in total offensive statistics. No passing statistics are recorded, and no rushing statistics are recorded. Similarly, a kick attempt (either successful or unsuccessful) for an extra point is not included in the total offensive statistics. "Provision 3: The kicker is not charged with an extra point attempt if the player does not actually kick (i.e., if it is due to a bad pass from center or if the player holding the ball muffs or juggles it long enough to prevent an opportunity to kick). Such an unsuccessful attempt is charged to the 'Team'. Exception: If the ball is momentarily fumbled and then kicked, an attempt is charged to the kicker, regardless of the success or failure of the effort." Just as with field goals. This one is also a repeat. "Provision 4: The kicker is charged with an extra point attempt that is blocked. Exception: If, in the judgment of the statistician, an error in the center snap or placement of the ball by the holder is the direct cause of a blocked attempt, the kicker shall not be charged with an attempt. Such an unsuccessful attempt is charged to the 'Team' rather than to the kicker. "Provision 5: A player is not charged with an attempt when, after an error in the center snap or placement of the ball, the player attempts an unsuccessful two-point try. Rather, charge a 'Team' attempt. "Provision 6: On an extra point attempt, the ball is dead as soon as it is apparent the kick has failed to score." So forget any return yardage, etc. OUR NEXT LESSON will deal with the manual section on "Fumbles." Lesson Eleven: Fumbles Turnovers drive coaches crazy. Takeaways (that's the other side of the turnover) exhilarate them. "Turnovers" are committed by the team that loses the ball; "takeaways" obviously belong to the other team which took possession. For statisticians, turnover/takeaways can catch you off guard, so be alert. I issued that warning earlier in Lesson Four when we covered interception returns. Now let's look at that other turnover/takeaway: the fumble. A fumble is officially defined as "any loss of player possession other than by legal kick, passing or handing (as in a handoff)." Provision 1 is the meat and potatoes: "On any play terminated by a fumble, the yards involved to the point of recovery are credited to the player who fumbled, regardless of which team recovers the fumble." That's usually when the novice statistician starts ad-libbing, and his stats reflect the error of his way. KNOW THIS PROVISION! The first Provision continues: "The player recovering a fumble by the opposing team is credited with a fumble recovery and return yardage from the spot of recovery to the spot where the ball is declared dead in the player's possession." In most cases he'll just fall on the ball, like the coaches teach, so there's no return yardage. But you have to be ready in case there is a return. Many high school officials help us by throwing their little beanbags to mark the point of the turnover/takeaway, but those tosses, often made on the run, aren't necessarily very accurate. The statguy/gal has to make the call. Don't worry. If you're dealing with a school record return, your coach has the power to correct you later after he looks at the film - if he cares about that stuff. Here at the Web site, WE CARE! Situation 1: From the 50-yard line, Player A takes a handoff and advances to Team B's 45-yard line where he fumbles. Player B recovers at Team B's 40-yard line. Player A is credited with 10 rushing yards. Player B is credited with a fumble recovery and no return yards. Situation 2: From the 50, Player A catches a quick slant pass from the quarterback at Team B's 45 where he is immediately hit and fumbles. Scooping up the loose ball, Player B recovers at Team B's 40 and advances to Team A's 45. Player A is credited with a reception and 10 receiving yards (the quarterback is credited with a pass completion and 10 passing yards). Player B is credited with a return and 15 return yards. "Provision 2: An offensive fumble advanced by a teammate from BEYOND the LOS is recorded in the category of the originating play, and the yardage is measured from the point of recovery of the fumble. Do not credit (the player who recovered with) a rushing or passing attempt or fumble return yardage." The parentheses are mine. Interpretation here? Let's say the LOS is the 50. Player A-1 rushes to Team B's 45 where he fumbles the ball which bounces down the field. Player A-2 picks up the bouncing ball at the 40 and advances to Team B's 30 where he is tackled. Player A-1 is credited with a rushing attempt and 10 rushing yards (to the 40); Player B also gets 10 rushing yards but no rushing attempt (since this was still a part of the originating play). Player A-1 is nailed with a fumble BUT NOT A FUMBLE LOST. Hence that final game stat of "Fumbles/Fumbles Lost". And Player A-2 does NOT get a fumble recovery since there was no turnover. "Provision 3: An offensive fumble recovered by a teammate on or BEHIND the LOS is recorded as follows: (a) if advanced beyond the LOS, charge the player who fumbled with a rush. Credit the teammate with no rush and yardage determined from the LOS; (b) if the play results in no gain or a loss, charge the player who fumbled with a rush and minus yardage, if any; (c) if the play results in a loss and the teammate contributes to an additional loss, also charge the latter with minus yardage but with no rush." Just take a moment to review that, and it's not dificult to digest. "Provision 4: Any offensive fumble either behind or beyond the LOS recovered by any offensive or defensive player may be advanced." That's a game rule thrown in to alert us statisticians. "Provision 5: An offensive fumble on any down recovered by the opponent is recovered as a lost fumble." See interpretation of Provision 2. Okay, here's one for you. "Provision 6: When, after an offensive fumble behind the LOS, a defensive player unintentionally kicks the ball in an attempt to obtain possession, charge the player who fumbled with a rush and yardage to the point where the ball was kicked. Charge the 'Team' with no rush but yardage to the point where the ball was recovered." Fumbles usually get the statistician's heart racing - at least for a second or two. This one we've touched upon in a prior lesson. "Fumbles During Kickoff Return: If a player muffs a kickoff, it is recorded as a fumble. If a player fumbles and loses possession, the player is credited with return yardage from the spot at which he gains possession to the spot where the recovery is made, regardless of which team recovers." A familiar theme. Situation 1: Player A kicks off to Team B's 20-yard line where Player B muffs the ball and recovers at Team B's 15-yard line, then returns to the 50. Player B is charged with a fumble and is credited with a return and 35 return yards. Situation 2: Player A kicks off to Team B's 20-yard line where Player B-1 muffs and Player B-2 recovers at Team B's 15-yard line. Player B-1 is charged with a fumble, and no return nor return yards are recorded. Situation 3: Player A-1 kicks off to Team B's 20-yard line where Player B catches the kick and then fumbles while advancing, with either Player B or A-2 recovering at Team B's 30-yard line. Player B is charged with a fumble and is credited with a return and 10 kickoff return yards. NOTE: the punt return rules are the same as for kickoff returns! We covered this rule in the lesson on rushing and made it a question on one of our stat quizzes, but it bears repeating since the rule is in harmony with some of what we've studied in this lesson. "Scrimmage play - Rushing: The runner is credited with plus or minus rushing yardage from the LOS to the spot where the ball is declared dead in the player's possession. If the player fumbles, he is credited with rushing yardage from the LOS to the spot where the ball is RECOVERED." A passing play from scrimmage is "treated the same as a rushing play after the receiver has caught the ball. It is considered the same as a rushing play if the player going back to pass fumbles (since the player is still a runner until he passes). Lesson Six covered what to do if the punter fumbles with no bad snap involved and he doesn't get the punt away (he becomes a runner). And if there's a bad snap and no punt is made (the 'Team' gets any negative rushing yardage and is charged with the fumble). And whether it be on a kicking, rushing or passing attempt, any fumble on a point after attempt is NOT recorded in the statistics. We're just about finished! Next time we'll deal with penalties and a few other very short items. Keep studying and learn the major stat rules. The rest you can always look up later, if you have to. Lesson Twelve: Penalties, etc. By PHIL DUSENBURY At last we'll be able to wrap up the stat rules. If you made it through the blocked scrimmage kicks and returns, you can make it through anything. Let's start with the eight provisions regarding penalties which I'll reword here and there for clarity's sake. Penalty "Provision 1: When yardage GAINED by rushing, passing or runbacks is involved with penalty yardage to be assessed, the point at which the official declares the run ends determines the legal advance. ... If the foul is by the team with the ball and occurs BEHIND the spot where the run ends, the enforcement is from the spot of the foul." I put the words "gained" and "behind" in capital letters for emphasis and clarity. Remember, in the above situations the runner, receiver/passer or returner gets credit for yardage to the point of the foul. If Runner A rushes from Team A's 25 to Team A's 35 and then the official throws a flag at the end of the play signifying a piling on penalty against Team B, the runner gets credit for a carry and 10 yards rushing. The 15-yard penalty then would get tacked on and be recorded as a penalty against Team B along with 15 penalty yards. DON'T credit Runner A with 25 rushing yards!! (For you advanced students, the penalty here, being a "dead ball foul", is scored separately from the play that had just ended; but the penalty itself is not counted as a separate play on any drive chart or play-by-play sheet you are keeping.) If Runner A rushed from Team A's 25 to midfield, and there's a clipping foul called against Team A at the Team A 40, just keep your pencil poised until the official makes his call. If Team B accepts the penalty, the official will march off a 15-yard penalty against Team A from the 40. Therefore, Runner A would get credit to the spot of the accepted foul (the 40). So he is credited with a carry and 15 rushing yards while his team gets charged with a penalty and 15 penalty yards. It nets out to zero yardage. It's all a part of one play. "Provision 2: Penalties against the DEFENSE on running plays when the run ends BEYOND the LOS are enforced from the spot where the run ends, if accepted by the offense." This just clarifies the "gained" part of Provision 1 relating to a running play with a penalty. "Provision 3: Penalties against the DEFENSE on running plays when the run ends BEHIND the LOS are enforced from the end of the run. Here the play is nullified. Do not charge the runner with a rush" (nor a loss of yardage). "Provision 4: The basic spot for a 15-yard roughing-the-passer foul on a completed forward pass is from the end of the last run beyond the neutral zone if there has been no change of possession" on that play. In other words, the penalty is marched off at the end of the completed pass play if the offense doesn't fumble the ball away. "Otherwise, it is from the previous spot" if the pass is incomplete or the ball is turned over by the offense. If the pass play counts and the penalty yardage is tacked on at the end, credited the passer and receiver with the pass/reception/yardage (to where the play ended). Again, be sure to record the additional 15 yards as penalty yardage and a penalty. Don't record it as passing/receiving yardage. Provision 5 is poorly worded, so allow me to compensate for a misplaced subordinating clause: If there's a penalty on the OFFENSE (i.e. clipping, illegal use of hands and holding) AND the play ends BEHIND the neutral zone, the penalty is enforced from the end of the run or the spot of the foul if it's behind the end of the run. Here, unless the defense declines the penalty, the play is nullified and is not recorded. Just record the penalty and its yardage. So if Runner A is tackled a yard behind the LOS while Blocker A is holding a defender two yards up field, and the penalty is accepted by the defense, the penalty would be marched off from where Player A was tackled. If the holding occurred three yards behind the LOS, the penalty would be marched off from there. BUT DON'T CREDIT THE RUNNER WITH A CARRY NOR THE YARD LOST because the play itself would have been nullified once the penalty had been accepted. Now do you see why I earlier emphasized the words "gained" and "behind"? "Provision 6: On a foul by Team A, such as offside, illegal motion, illegal shift, etc., the play is nullified and is not recorded. If Team B declines the penalty, the play is recorded but the penalty and penalty yardage are not. "Provision 7: When a kickoff goes out of bounds and is kicked again, charge the kicking team with a penalty of five yards from the previous spot. When a kickoff goes out of bounds and is taken at the awarded spot, do not charge the kicking team with a penalty, as this is an awarded spot by rule. "Provision 8: If a foul occurs on the last timed down of a period, the period is extended if the penalty is accepted by either team. "Provision 9: If the official overpenalizes or underpenalizes with yardage, record the actual yardage stepped off and not the yardage specified for the infraction. For clarification in the play-by-play, denote the improper yardage." Akin to this is the "half-the-distance-to-the-goal-line" situation. When the defense is flagged for piling on at its 10, the 15 yard penalty becomes a five-yard walkoff and is recorded as a five-yard penalty. SAFETIES have two provisions that are easy enough to handle. "Provision 1: No individual scoring credit is recorded for any player on either team when a safety is scored. The team benefiting from the score is credited. On a scrimmage play, however, the ball carrier is charged with a rush attempt and with a yardage loss from the LOS to the goal line. "Provision 2: Loss of yardage is credited only to the goal line." Here's the only provision for TACKLING if you are saddled with a tackle chart: "Credit a defensive player with an unassisted tackle if the player is responsible for stopping the forward progress of a runner. If a runner slips and falls, there is no tackle. If a runner goes out of bounds, there is no tackle. Credit an assist to a player who, in the statistician/scorer's opinion, significantly helps a teammate with a tackle." That does it for the rules and major applications. In our next and final lesson we'll look at what you should do with all those stats you've been compiling. We'll go over the categories for both team and individual stats, both basic and the more esoteric. Meanwhile find out what stats your coach wants. Some stats are more telling than others. Time to Tally the Stats You've Been Keeping
The game is over. You've been charting each play on a separate horizontal line of your play sheet with vertical columns labeled "Down", "LOS", "Run", "Pass", "Pen", "Kick", and "Ret" to distinguish one type of play from another. You've included the number of each player who has run, passed, caught a pass, gotten a turnover (takeaway), and who has returned a kick or turnover. You've starred or in some way highlighted scoring plays. You've circled each earned first down. You've written one team's plays in red and the other team's in blue or black. Great! It is also wise to keep a separate sheet of paper to record the scores by quarters (filling them in after each quarter). On that sheet you should also try to keep track of each of the game's scoring plays - in order - with the time of each score. For example: "1st q. - (W) Joe Johnson 5 run (Ed Doakes kick) 5:33." The "(W)" would be the first letter of the scoring team. If you have to get the final score and some highlights to a newspaper or radio station pronto - then at least you'll have this most important information immediately available to you: the final score, who scored and when they scored. On Friday nights, that's usually all the daily newspapers, with their fast-approaching deadlines, have space for. Of course the sportswriter you talk to on the telephone will probably ask you for the leading rusher, too. So if you're strapped for time but know that somebody had a big statistical night, then you can do a fast skim of your play sheet, look for that player's number, and do a quick tally of his feat. The paper will love you for it. If you're one of this Web site's correspondents, you'll have time to tally your stats since our "deadline" exceeds the newspapers'. Our correspondents communicate with me via e-mail by sending me a brief (or full story) of the game with highlights which include any outstanding stats. But the first thing a correspondent should do is e-mail me the final score so we can get that up as soon as possible (which means as soon as I get back from whatever game I'm covering and can boot up my computer). The correspondent can then retreat to his stat sheets and get me his brief or story later. If you use the prescribed stat sheet, then you'll be able to tabulate both team and individual: rushing (attempts - net yards), passing (attempts - completions - interceptions - net passing yardage - receptions - net receiving yardage), returns and net yardage, punts and yardage/average plus fumbles and fumbles lost. Other team stats are penalties and yardage plus first downs. Those are the basics. You can also add "sacks" and yards lost if you write "sack" in the rushing column and include the number(s) of the player(s) recording the sack as well as the number of the player who was tackled behind the LOS while initially attempting a pass. Just remember that the yards lost via sacks are to be included in the rushing yardage. So as you tabulate a team's net yardage for a game, don't doubly penalize a team by including its sack losses in the net yardage - it has already been included in the rushing yardage. Stats can sometimes be misleading, so don't make a religion out of them. For example, one usually telling stat is "Plays" (the total of a team's rushing, passing and field goal attempts). Generally, the more plays a team runs in comparison to its opponents, the better that team is. Generally, but not always. A couple of seasons back we had a team whose offense didn't spend too much time on the field, usually a sign of an inept offense and a losing team. But in this case we had a winning team which scored on long, lightning-quick plays. It was a team that didn't need long, sustained drives. It thrived on long passes and long runs (plus some long kick and turnover returns). So what stats are important? Well, first listen to your coach if you're the team statistician. He'll usually tell you what he wants. If not, then make your suggestions to him and include at least #1 and #3 below: (1) "Third-Down Efficiency" - the success a team has in converting third-down rushing or passing plays into first downs or touchdowns. You can keep it as a per centage, dividing the successful third downs by the total number of third down plays. This is a big stat for both the offense and the defense. ... I prefer to expand this category to "Third/fourth-down Efficiency" and include kicking a field goal as a successful attempt. In high school ball coaches are more apt to "go for it" on fourth down rather than to risk a punt than are college or pro coaches. (2) "Possession Time" - Now this one is hard to keep, especially when so many of our scoreboard clocks malfunction or where the "official time" is kept on the field and the scoreboard clock is deemed "unofficial." In any case, you'd need a helper with his/her own chart to keep this. "Possession time is the time a team has the ball during the game. The minutes must total 48 (four quarters of 12 minutes each). It is computed from the first play initiated by Team A from the LOS until a scoring play is made or loss of possession occurs. After a change of possession (i.e. fumble, interception or punt), consider Team A in possession until the ball next is declared dead. In order to account for 48 minutes, start the receiving team's time of possession at the time of kickoff. On all other returns (i.e., 'transition time' - punt returns, blocked punts, blocked field goal attempts, fumble returns and interceptions, including scoring plays) start ball possession at the start of the next scrimmage play." Whew! Great stat if you can keep it! Actually, it has been used in some cases to determine a winner after a tie in games which had to produce a winner for tournament purposes. Sounds like the old "riding time" in wrestling. (3) "Measuring a Scoring Drive" - This is a must, especially for correspondents. "Scoring-drive yardage is measured from the initial LOS at the start of a possession to the goal line (in the event of a touchdown) or from the initial LOS to the last LOS for field goals, not the spot from which the kick was attempted. The yardage on a successful field goal is NOT included in the scoring drive. Penalty plays (where the down remains the same but the ball changes position) are NOT included in the total number of plays in a scoring drive. However, penalty plays in which the down changes and the ball moves forward are included in the total number of plays in a scoring drive. No scoring drive should exceed the total number of yards from the initial LOS to the goal line or to the last LOS for field goals. Field goals are to be counted as a play in a drive." With your play chart, you can find the game's key plays and describe the scoring drives in addition to tallying up stats galore: "With three minutes left in the third quarter, Bob Smith's interception and 12-yard return of a Toby Myers aerial gave the Tigers a first and 10 at the Spiders' 48. The Tigers then drove those 48 yards in seven plays to break a scoreless tie. "The big gainer on the drive was a 26-yard draw play which saw fullback Bo Snedley burst to the Spider 15. Smith scored two plays later on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Joe Jackson. Bob Birdsong then booted the conversion to make it 7-0 with 10:43 left in the fourth quarter." Now that ain't a bad little description of a major part of the game - and you got all of that from your play chart plus accurate rosters of both teams! You don't have to be Shakespeare to construct a decent game story. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? Next will come a stat "final exam". It will be an open-book test so don't panic. Stay tuned! Your coach and team need a good statistician; the newspapers need someone who can give them the important details; and this Web site wants eager, reliable correspondents who know how to chart a game and who enjoy tabulating and reporting the results! The correspondent must also be willing to keep his commitment WIN or LOSE. Some folks love to report their team's results - but only if their team wins. If their team loses, they throw their stat sheets in a corner and pout. Boo-hoo. Root for your team but don't forget history! Be a fan of the game as well as a fan of a team. We need you. Stat Final Exam: Part One
HERES PART ONE OF THE TEST: 1. Team A kicks off to start the game, and the ball goes out of bounds. Team B elects to take the ball at its 35 instead of having Team A kick again. Is Team A charged with a penalty? Yes or No? 2. On the first play from scrimmage, the Team B running back carries the ball from the B 35 to what appears to be just past the B 37. When the official spots the ball, you determine that the entire football is just beyond the 37-yard hashmark. How many rushing yards do you credit the running back? Two or Three? 3. On second down Team Bs quarterback throws an incomplete pass. The official mis-spots the ball and places it a foot behind the original LOS so that the back of the ball is now over the 37. What is the official LOS now? The 37 or 38? 4. On third down Team Bs quarterback again goes back to pass. No receiver is open so he runs. At the B 45 a Team A linebacker hits the QB and jars the ball loose. It rolls forward. An A defensive back recovers the fumble at the 50. How many rushing yards does the QB get credit for? 13? 12? 8? 7? (Refer back to Question #3 for the LOS.) 5. Team A takes over at midfield. Its QB pitches back to the RB who is four yards behind the LOS when he receives the toss. The RB then runs to the B 42 where he is downed. How many rushing yards are credited to the RB? 8? 12? 6. On second down at the B 42, the Team A QB fakes a dive to the fullback, then fires a pass to the flanker who makes the catch and races to the B 10 where he is tackled. But there was a flag for a clip against Team A at the 26. Team B does the obvious and takes the 15-yard penalty, giving A the ball back at the B 41. How many passing/receiving yards are credited to Team A? None? 1? 16? 32? 7. So now its second and one for Team A at Bs 41. A tries a sweep, but Bs tough defensive end hits As RB who fumbles back at the 43. A big defensive tackle, trying to pick up the ball and run, unintentionally kicks the ball at the 43. As split end rushes back and recovers the kicked ball back at the 48. The unlearned statistician wannabe is ready to quit. How many rushing yards lost are debited to the RB who had fumbled the ball? 2? 7? 8. Now its third and eight for Team A at Bs 48. On a draw play, the QB is tackled just inches short of the B 40-yard line. The officials measure to see if its a first down, but A is less than a foot short. The ball is clearly spotted beyond the B 41-yard hash mark. The public address announcer (who never took stat lessons) says, Its fourth and inches. Statistically, you know that theres no such thing. Two questions. How many rushing yards do you credit the QB on the draw play? 7? 8? What should the announcer say? Fourth and _____ 9. Team As coach has never been a gambler, so, much to the dismay of As fans, he orders a punt. Team As punter is 14 yards behind the LOS when he gets off a punt that is caught by Team Bs return man at the B 10. How many yards was the punt? (Refer back to Question #8 for the LOS.) 30? 44? 31? 45? 10. The B return man heads for the sideline and is ridden out of bounds at the 16 where an overly enthusiastic Team A player is nailed for a late hit. The officials march off a 15-yard penalty against Team A. How many return yards are credited to Bs return man? 6? 21? REMEMBER TO E-MAIL YOUR ANSWERS TO PHIL. JUST TYPE IN THE QUESTION NUMBERS AND THE CORRECT ANSWER(S) ... P.S.: THIS IS AN OPEN BOOK TEST. IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A PRACTICAL LEARNING EXERCISE. Stat Final Exam: Part Two
AFTER A ROUGH PART ONE, here are some short-answer questions. 11. Select the two correct answers: A field goal try is measured from (the LOS, the spot of the kick) to the (goal line, goal post). 12. Team A rushes from the Team A 27-yard line to the Team A 46-yard line. How many yards was the run? 13. The LOS is Team A's 39. Team A completes a long pass play that ends at Team B's 24. How many yards was the play? 14. Team B's safety intercepts a Team A pass at Team B's 24 and returns it to Team B's 41. How many yards was his return? 15. Can a first down be awarded on the last play of the second or fourth quarter? 16. Two answers: Second and 5 at the 50-yard line. Player A1 rushes to Team B's 30-yard line, but there was a clip called on Player A2 at Team B's 32-yard line. How many yards rushing is Player A1 credited with? Is Team A credited with a first down? 17. The quarterback drops back to pass but is sacked for a 7-yard loss. Is that sack yardage recorded as a "Loss by Rushing" or a "Loss by Passing"? 18. It's fourth and eight for Team A at Team B's 40. Team A elects to punt. Team A has a strong punter with the wind at his back. His punt lands in B's endzone and then bounces out of the back of the endzone. How many yards was the punt? 19. Team A successfully executes a two-point conversion on a pass play. Are the pass attempt, reception and yardage included in Team B's passing stats? 20. True or False: No individual scoring credit is recorded for any player when a safety is scored. BONUS POINTS: Briefly explain the difference between a fumble and a muff (there is a difference even though a muff is recorded as a fumble in the stats).
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Section Nine Football |
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