Victory Formation

The 2024 NFHS Rules Book does not explicitly direct Victory Formation protocol. As with other officiating philosophies, opinions regarding the Victory Formation philosophy range widely.

On one end of the spectrum: Regardless of the score, don’t let players make contact at the snap when a team declares they will take a knee.

On the other end of the spectrum: There are 48 regulation minutes in each varsity football game. If you insist the players can’t hit after the snap, then why not just end the game at that moment?

Here is verbiage from the Fourth Edition of the Colorado Mechanics Manual: “A gracious way to end a game is for the winning team to “kneel down” or “take a knee.” The officials should be aware that various coaches have differing concepts as to how this play is to be executed and how the defense should react. The officials must use preventative officiating while ensuring they don’t interfere with play. The focus is on safety and preventing ill will and fighting that may result. Players must be prepared for normal contact without crossing the line to unnecessary roughness. When the game situation dictates this formation, the Referee should ascertain the quarterback will take a knee either from the coach or quarterback and shall announce it to the defense and all officials.”

Here is verbiage from the 2024 Colorado Football Bulletin: “Although the officials will pinch-in to closely to monitor the kneel down, they will not instruct your players on what to do nor will they physically interfere with the play. However, if the referee is given knowledge the offense will take a knee, the referee will announce this decision, and as soon as the ball is snapped, if the quarterback does any football move other than taking a knee, the referee will whistle the play dead, and the clock will continue to run. Please emphasize good sportsmanship once the game has been decided. Officials will flag and possibly disqualify players for unnecessary and excessive contact.”

If the game is close (meaning Team B could recover an errant snap and have time to score), the crew will stand in their normal positions with the referee and umpire a little closer than normal. I will instruct the quarterback to “kneel immediately after the snap” and instruct the offensive players to “protect yourselves.” I will not prohibit the defense from surging forward at the snap. I will flag a hit on the quarterback if the quarterback possesses the snap and immediately kneels. The crew should be prepared to respond to an errant or muffed snap.

If the game is out of reach for Team B (for me, if Team B is behind by two scores), I will remind the defense we want to see good sportsmanship. The five officials will stand close to the formation with all 22 players in view. I will flag any unnecessary and excessive contact.

Each state association should develop and publish Victory Formation guidelines. This will (hopefully) reduce consternation from coaches (or officials) with differing opinions.

Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.

4/2 from the K-30. During the scrimmage kick, K50 is flagged for holding. R30 catches the kick on the R-40 and is downed at midfield. After the play is over, R30 shoves K50 to the ground.