Re: offsides

>  >> Why did the NFHS enact this rule (killing the play on
>   >>encroachment when  there is no contact), thus penalizing the
>   >offense in this case? >

The reason we were given at the time was a trick play.

1-10  A on their 20  QB calls signals, and someone from the defense jumps into
the neutral zone, but does not contact. QB says "hey alright, we'll take five,
" says to his center "give me the ball. " Center snaps him the ball, and the QB
holds the ball out towards the Umpire, and walks it towards him. Then the QB
takes off running. The first time someone tried it, in Minnesota, it worked for
a 80 yard TD. The second time someone tried it, they needed a steam shovel to
dig the QB out of the ground <g>.

In those bad old days, when I played and started officiating, the HL had to
decide if there had been contact or not, so he had to stand just outside the
end. Look at game films from that era-that's why you always saw the HL trying
to get out of the way. This was long before the FJ, as he was called then, was
moved to the line of scrimmage-in those days, if you had a 4 man crew, the FJ
was 10 yards downfield on scrimmage plays. 

This was also before the "false start." Offensive linemen could jump into the
zone as well, and if they got back, and were still for a full second, they were
legal. 

--Jay Scott