Alright, let’s talk about this high school football thing, you know, the one with the helmets and the running around. The young’uns are always doing something new, something I ain’t seen before. Now they’re talking about “hurdling.” Sounds fancy, like something them city folk do, jumping over fences or somethin’.
Well, in these high school games, it ain’t so fancy. It’s more like, they see another boy coming to tackle ’em, and instead of just running hard or dodging, they jump right over the other fella. Like a frog, you know? Hop! Right over.
Now, you might think, “Oh, that’s a clever move! Slippery as a greased pig!” But hold your horses. Them fellas in charge, the referees, they don’t like it one bit. They call it a “personal foul.” Sounds serious, don’t it? Like you done somethin’ real bad.
- It ain’t like stealin’ chickens, mind you.
- But it’s against the rules.
- They say it’s dangerous.
And you know what? I reckon they’re right. These boys are big, strong, and they run fast. If one of ’em jumps over another, somebody could get hurt real bad. Twisted ankles, broken bones, maybe even worse. Nobody wants to see that. Not even old biddies like me who just watch from the stands.
So, they blow the whistle, and they march that ball back 15 yards. Fifteen yards! That’s a long way in a football game. It can really mess things up for a team. It’s like giving the other side a free head start. And all ’cause some young fella wanted to show off and jump like a jackrabbit.
Now, I hear tell that in the big leagues, the pros and the college boys, they let ’em hurdle all they want. But high school, that’s different. They’re still learnin’, still growin’. Gotta keep ’em safe, you know? Teach ’em to play the game right, not like some wild animals.
It’s kinda funny, though. You see these kids practicing all sorts of fancy moves – running, passing, catching. But they ain’t practicing jumpin’ over each other. That’s because it ain’t allowed! It’s like teaching a dog to fetch and then yelling at him when he brings back the stick.
This “hurdling” rule, it’s one of them “personal fouls.” And there’s a whole bunch of other things they can’t do neither. Holding, face masking, offsides… sounds like a whole lot of gibberish to me. But the point is, they gotta play fair and square. Gotta respect the rules and respect each other.
I tell you what, sometimes I think these youngsters make things too complicated. Back in my day, we just lined up and ran. If somebody was in your way, you ran ’em over, or you ran around ’em. No fancy jumping. No fancy nothin’. But times change, I guess. And these kids, they got their own way of doin’ things.
So, if you’re watchin’ a high school football game and you see a boy jump over another boy, don’t be surprised when the whistle blows and the flag comes flyin’. That’s the referee sayin’, “Hey, no jumpin’ allowed!” It’s a 15-yard penalty, and it can cost your team the game. It’s just not worth it. Better to keep your feet on the ground and run like the wind.
And that’s all there is to it, really. Hurdling in high school football? Nope, not allowed. It’s a foul, it’s dangerous, and it’ll get your team in trouble. So, keep your feet on the ground, son, and just play the game.
Now, some folks might say, “Well, what if it ain’t on purpose? What if the boy just kinda hops a little?” I ain’t the referee, so I don’t make the call. But from what I see, if you leave your feet and go over somebody, they gonna call it a foul. It’s better to be safe than sorry, that’s what I always say. And in high school football, safety is a big deal, and them referees don’t play around.
So there you have it, the lowdown on hurdling in high school football, straight from the mouth of someone who’s seen a thing or two. Now go enjoy the game, and keep an eye out for them jumpers!
And remember, don’t try this at home… or on the football field, unless you want a 15-yard penalty and a whole lotta yelling from the coach!
Tags: High school football, Football Penalties, Rules, Safety, Hurdling, Personal Foul, Penalties, Officiating, Game Rules, Youth Sports
