Rule question

[gman4tide]

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On my son's peewee team this w/end, we're gonna throw in some spread packages. If I have a twin set wide and throw to the z (flanker) receiver behind the los, is he fair game while the ball is in the air? Just asking to know the rule before I go ballistic on the ref. Remember, these are mainly 6 year olds, so they do some tackling before they're supposed to.

[bamajake]

Assuming your peewee league uses high school rules (and that is never a safe assumption to make because different youth leagues use different rules), if the pass is behind the line, the receiver is fair game. In high school, pass interference restrictions only apply beyond the neutral zone and only if the pass goes beyond the neutral zone. If the pass is touched by the defensive player in or behind the neutral zone, pass interference restrictions also do not apply.

As to your other comment, I would hope that you wouldn't go ballistic on an official in a game with a bunch of 6 year olds even if he does screw up the call. When kids that age see adults going ballistic, they are taught that it is acceptable to yell and scream at officials if they don't like the call. That is one of the reasons that we have so many problems at the high school level now. I don't know where your league is or who calls the games. If it is like most youth leagues you get either high school kids or young officials just starting out. In many cases, it will run them away from officiating. As things now stand, there is a severe shortage of people willing to put up with the crap for the meager pay and long hours involved in officiating. In spite of what some people want to think, the vast majority of officials are not out to screw anyone and all officials are humans and make mistakes. Screaming and yelling won't get a call changed and it won't help you get the next call. Basically, nothing good can come out of yelling and screaming at officials.

Well, I guess I'll climb down off of my soapbox now. Good luck with your team. If you have any other questions, ask away.

[gman4tide]

Sorry it came off like that, didn't mean for it to sound that way. I don't yell at officials. I would go ballistic inside, and have a conversation with the ref. It makes my chest hurt after the game though. As for the call, that's what I thought.
We use high school officials. Most are very good, know that they are calling a 5/6 game. Use their head, don't nit-pick and try and help the kids learn. OTOH, we have a couple older guys who think they're calling a Titans game.
Ours is a rec league in Morgan county.
Thanks for the reply bamajake.