It's becoming more and more evident that the small rural schools are having trouble fielding football teams. Currently most are attempting to play 8-man football, but for many schools that is becoming troublesome as they are attempting to do so with only 9 - 15 players. That's almost impossible, for many reasons. Back in the 1990s the same rural schools found themselves in a similar situation in terms of 11-man football. But, rather than giving up, a few school heads "thought outside the box" and convinced most schools to give the 8-man game a try. It worked for over 20 years! But, now is the time to save football again.
In looking at the numbers game, I would suggest we follow the lead of Texas, and other Plains states, and move to 6-man football. Even NC public schools played 6-man black in the 40s and 50s before the small K-12 county and town schools were replaced by the move to separate elementary, middle, and high schools.
Blasphemy! I know. And, that's what folks said when schools moved to the 8-man league. But, if something doesn't happen very quickly, I'm afraid we're going to see the quick, not slow, death of football in rural NC. And, I'm talking both independent and public schools. We can't control what the NCHSAA does, but we can save football in the NCISAA small schools!
Just my opinion.
Some info on 6-man football
Approved Texas 6-Man Football Exceptions
NCAA Rule Texas Six-Man Exception
1-1 & 2 Each team has six players. Unless necessary to use the eleven-man field, the six-man field is 80 yards by 40 yards, with the 40 yard line being the center of the field. The two inbounds lines (hash marks) are 40 feet from the sidelines. There will also be marks that are measured 13 feet from the side lines. Goal posts are 25 feet apart and the crossbar is 9 feet above the ground. Six-man hash marks are 2 feet outside the goal posts
1-1-3 When one team is 45 or more points ahead at the end of the first half or if a team achieves a 45 point lead during the second half, the game is ended immediately.
3-2 Length of quarters is 10 minutes: between quarters: 2 minutes; between halves: 15 minutes.
4-1-3 During a try, the ball becomes dead when Team B gains possession or it is obvious that a kick is unsuccessful.
5-1 Offense must advance 15 yards instead of 10 yards in four downs.
6-1 Unless relocated by penalty, the kicking team's restraining line on a kickoff is the 30 yard line on a six-man field and the 20 yard line for a free kick after a safety. The receiving teams restraining line is 15 yards from the point of kickoff. There is no requirement to have a minimum number of players on either side of the kicker.
6-1 The ball must travel 15 yards on a kick off (or place kick/punt after a safety) or be touched by the receiving team before members of the kicking team are eligible to touch it.
6-2 A free kick out of bound between the goal lines untouched inbounds by a player of Team B is a foul (A.R. 6-2-1-I-IV). PENALTY-Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot or the receiving team may put the ball in play 20 yards beyond Team A's restraining line at the inbounds spot or receiving team's ball 5 yards from spot where ball went out of bounds. (S19).
7-1 Unless the ball is kicked or forward passed, it may not be advanced beyond the neutral zone until AFTER AN EXCHANGE has been make between the receiver of the snap and another person. EXCEPTION: Any player of Team A may advance a loose ball after it has been touched by a Team B player. PENALTY: 5 yards plus loss of down (illegal procedure) from the previous spot. An exchange is completed when possession of the football is gained by receiver of the snap, given up voluntarily or involuntarily by the receiver of the snap and possession is regained by another Team A player.
7-1 If the snap is muffed and a Team A player catches or recovers the ball beyond the neutral zone, he may not advance it. PENALTY: Loss of down (illegal procedure) from previous spot, 5 yards from the previous spot is also assessed if the Team A player advances the ball. If a Team A player catches or recovers the muffed snap behind the neutral zone, he may legally advance it only after an exchange.
7-1-3 At least 3 Team A players shall be on their line of scrimmage at the snap.
7-1-6 The ball may be handed in any direction to any player during a scrimmage down behind the neutral zone. A lineman may receive a forward hand-off at any time and is not required to be 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage and does not have to face his goal prior to receiving the hand-off. EXCEPTION: The ball may not be handed forward to the snapper through his legs. PENALTY: 5 yards from the previous spot and loss of down.
7-3 The ball is dead when a passer catches his own pass (untouched by Team B), and it is ruled as an incomplete forward pass.
7-3 All players are eligible to catch a forward pass, except that a pass is ruled incomplete when caught by the passer (see preceding rule). If a forward pass is thrown to the snapper, it must travel at least one yard in flight.
8-1 Field goals count 4 points; successful try, 2 points if successful through place or drop kick and 1 point if successful by pass or run. The defense may not score on a try.
9-1-2 When a team is in an offensive or scrimmage kick formation, a defensive player may not initiate contact with the snapper until one second has elapsed after the snap.
In looking at the numbers game, I would suggest we follow the lead of Texas, and other Plains states, and move to 6-man football. Even NC public schools played 6-man black in the 40s and 50s before the small K-12 county and town schools were replaced by the move to separate elementary, middle, and high schools.
Blasphemy! I know. And, that's what folks said when schools moved to the 8-man league. But, if something doesn't happen very quickly, I'm afraid we're going to see the quick, not slow, death of football in rural NC. And, I'm talking both independent and public schools. We can't control what the NCHSAA does, but we can save football in the NCISAA small schools!
Just my opinion.
Some info on 6-man football
Approved Texas 6-Man Football Exceptions
NCAA Rule Texas Six-Man Exception
1-1 & 2 Each team has six players. Unless necessary to use the eleven-man field, the six-man field is 80 yards by 40 yards, with the 40 yard line being the center of the field. The two inbounds lines (hash marks) are 40 feet from the sidelines. There will also be marks that are measured 13 feet from the side lines. Goal posts are 25 feet apart and the crossbar is 9 feet above the ground. Six-man hash marks are 2 feet outside the goal posts
1-1-3 When one team is 45 or more points ahead at the end of the first half or if a team achieves a 45 point lead during the second half, the game is ended immediately.
3-2 Length of quarters is 10 minutes: between quarters: 2 minutes; between halves: 15 minutes.
4-1-3 During a try, the ball becomes dead when Team B gains possession or it is obvious that a kick is unsuccessful.
5-1 Offense must advance 15 yards instead of 10 yards in four downs.
6-1 Unless relocated by penalty, the kicking team's restraining line on a kickoff is the 30 yard line on a six-man field and the 20 yard line for a free kick after a safety. The receiving teams restraining line is 15 yards from the point of kickoff. There is no requirement to have a minimum number of players on either side of the kicker.
6-1 The ball must travel 15 yards on a kick off (or place kick/punt after a safety) or be touched by the receiving team before members of the kicking team are eligible to touch it.
6-2 A free kick out of bound between the goal lines untouched inbounds by a player of Team B is a foul (A.R. 6-2-1-I-IV). PENALTY-Live-ball foul. Five yards from the previous spot or the receiving team may put the ball in play 20 yards beyond Team A's restraining line at the inbounds spot or receiving team's ball 5 yards from spot where ball went out of bounds. (S19).
7-1 Unless the ball is kicked or forward passed, it may not be advanced beyond the neutral zone until AFTER AN EXCHANGE has been make between the receiver of the snap and another person. EXCEPTION: Any player of Team A may advance a loose ball after it has been touched by a Team B player. PENALTY: 5 yards plus loss of down (illegal procedure) from the previous spot. An exchange is completed when possession of the football is gained by receiver of the snap, given up voluntarily or involuntarily by the receiver of the snap and possession is regained by another Team A player.
7-1 If the snap is muffed and a Team A player catches or recovers the ball beyond the neutral zone, he may not advance it. PENALTY: Loss of down (illegal procedure) from previous spot, 5 yards from the previous spot is also assessed if the Team A player advances the ball. If a Team A player catches or recovers the muffed snap behind the neutral zone, he may legally advance it only after an exchange.
7-1-3 At least 3 Team A players shall be on their line of scrimmage at the snap.
7-1-6 The ball may be handed in any direction to any player during a scrimmage down behind the neutral zone. A lineman may receive a forward hand-off at any time and is not required to be 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage and does not have to face his goal prior to receiving the hand-off. EXCEPTION: The ball may not be handed forward to the snapper through his legs. PENALTY: 5 yards from the previous spot and loss of down.
7-3 The ball is dead when a passer catches his own pass (untouched by Team B), and it is ruled as an incomplete forward pass.
7-3 All players are eligible to catch a forward pass, except that a pass is ruled incomplete when caught by the passer (see preceding rule). If a forward pass is thrown to the snapper, it must travel at least one yard in flight.
8-1 Field goals count 4 points; successful try, 2 points if successful through place or drop kick and 1 point if successful by pass or run. The defense may not score on a try.
9-1-2 When a team is in an offensive or scrimmage kick formation, a defensive player may not initiate contact with the snapper until one second has elapsed after the snap.
