1. A player who initiates contact against a defenseless player is responsible for making legal contact. When in question, a player is defenseless. Examples of a defenseless player include:
Answer: All of the above
2. Defenseless player provisions do not apply to a passer until a legal forward pass is thrown. The passer continues to be a defenseless player until the pass ends or he moves to participate in the play.
Answer: True
3. During a sweep around the end, a pulling guard makes initial contact with a linebacker’s hands, which are below his waist. The guard then completes the block below the linebacker’s knees.
Answer: Illegal block below the waist
What is the enforcement of the penalty? The block happened beyond the line of scrimmage.
How would you report the foul to the referee assuming the run ended inbounds?
How would you explain the foul to the coach?
4. A, 1/10, A-20. The runner advances to the A-30 when he is hit and fumbles. While the fumble is in flight, a defensive player intentionally bats the ball toward his own goal line. Another defensive player catches the ball at the A-34 and is tackled immediately.
Answer: B, 1/10, A-34
What is the enforcement of the penalty? (What is the next play?)
How would you report the play to the referee?
How would you explain the foul to the coach?
5. A, 2/8, B-38. After Team A has been set for 1 second, three interior linemen move from a 2-point to a 3-point stance at the same time a tailback goes in motion. The ball is snapped while the tailback is still moving.
Answer: Live ball foul. Illegal shift
6. Targeting only involves contact to an opponent above the shoulders.
Answer: True
7. A, 1/10, B-12. An eligible receiver runs a pattern in the end zone and leaps to catch a pass. As the receiver leaps to catch the pass, his own momentum carries him back into the field of play where he is first contacted and is tackled at the B-1.
Answer: A, 1/G, B-1
8. A defensive player catches a pass in his own end zone and then fumbles the ball over the endline.
Answer: Touchback
9. The basic spot is the spot where the run ends when R commits a post-scrimmage kick foul. R fouls behind the post-scrimmage kick spot are spot fouls.
Answer: False
This is important for penalties. Know the status of the ball.
Context (part of rule or case): SECTION 1 BALL - DEAD, LIVE, LOOSE
ART. 2a. A lineman who has clearly faced his end line by moving both feet in a half -turn and is at least 1-yard behind his line when he receives the ball. I've never heard or seen this kind of play. What interior lineman could do this and does a legal shift apply? 7-2-6
Any lineman other than the center. This play has been run in a couple of games I have worked. It is a tough play not always runned correctly.
Context (part of rule or case): Handing The Ball: No player may hand the ball forward except during a scrimmage down before a change of possession, provided both players are in or behind the neutral zone.
Does this apply mostly to fumbles and kicks that are recoverable by either team? I can't imagine when this would be ok on a loose ball that is a pass in flight.
Tipped pass is a great example!
It is all loose balls including passes. The second half of the rule covers passes which have their own rulings. If such contact is not pass interference, a personal foul or illegal use of hands.
Context (part of rule or case): c. To push, pull or ward off an opponent when the ball is loose if he may legally touch or possess the ball if such contact is not pass interference, a personal foul or illegal use of hands.
Context (part of rule or case): (same as 2.3.4 but for defense)
Watch the lead blocker on sweep plays. The linebackers have a tendency to come up and block below the waist to take out the lead blocker.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 7 Blocking below the waist is making initial contact below the waist from the front or side against an opponent other than a runner. Contact with an opponent’s hand(s) below the waist that continues into the body below the waist is considered blocking below the waist. Blocking below the waist applies only when the opponent has one or both feet on the ground.
These blocks can happen anywhere on the field.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 10 A blindside block is a block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching.
Element of time to be a catch.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 1 A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds while maintaining possession of the ball or having the forward progress of the player in possession stopped while the opponent is carrying the player who is in possession and inbounds.
These rarely happen. Don't let the last player come in and put their hands on the ball. This will happen more.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 3 A simultaneous catch or recovery is a catch or recovery in which there is joint possession of a live ball by opposing players who are inbounds.
The block needs to be on the numbers. Most of these blocks are from the side. See the whole block.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 Blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent’s back, inside the shoulders and below the helmet and above the waist, and not against a player who is a runner or pretending to be a runner.
Let's not be too technical. On the field near the numbers. These conferences are allowed during injury time outs.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 Authorized Team Conference – There are two types of authorized team conferences:
a. Outside 9-Yard Mark Conference – One or more team members and one or more coaches directly in front of the team box within 9 yards of the sideline, or
Confirm with the Head Coach the next down.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 Loss of down is the loss of the right to replay a down.
How strict are we on calling encroachment on receivers who may initially position themselves in the neutral zone?
Preventive officiating and talk to the players and coaches. Coaches are always eager to prevent fouls.
Context (part of rule or case): Encroachment
What are the different implications of an invalid vs. an illegal fair catch signal? Ignore vs penalty?
Invalid - pass on the call and talk to the receiver unless there is contact. If there is contact then you would flag R for invalid fair catch signal.
Preventive officiating. Talk to the deep receiver(s) and let them know a good signal gets you protection. That will avoid any issues. If the signal is invalid or illegal hope the kickers stop and treat the play dead when caught. Then talk to the receivers about their signals on the next scrimmage kick.
Context (part of rule or case): Invalid fair catch signal
Context (part of rule or case): Illegal fair catch signal
When could there be a backward pass into the end zone of the opponent of the player that passed the ball? I understand fumble into the EZ of the opponent but for a backward pass would there be another force that put the ball in the EZ?
This can happen when the backward pass is muffed into the opponent's end zone. Muff would not be considered a new force.
Context (part of rule or case): b. When a backward pass or fumble is declared dead in the end zone of the opponent of the player who passed or fumbled, with no player possession.
Teams are now shifting in and out of scrimmage kick formations. The holder's knee must be on the ground to be in legal scrimmage kick formation. Pay attention to the numbering exception.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 A scrimmage kick formation is one in which no player is in position to receive a hand-to-hand snap from between the snapper’s legs, and at the snap, either:
a. A player is in position with a knee on the ground 7 yards or more behind the line of scrimmage, in position to be the holder and receive the long snap and with another player 3 yards or less behind that player in position to attempt a place kick, or b. A player is 10 yards or more behind the line of scrimmage and in position to receive the long snap.
Forward progress is where the ball is not where the body part that was ruled down.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 1 Forward Progress is the end of advancement of the ball towards the opponent’s goal, in a runner’s possession or the forward-most point of the ball when it is fumbled out of bounds toward the opponent’s goal and it determines the dead-ball spot.
What if the player catches the ball in the air in the EZ and is then driven out of bounds by the defender?
Incomplete pass. (7-5-5)
Context (part of rule or case): Forward progress
I know we need a second official to agree for DQ, is it the same for determining a flagrant foul?
We should have a discussion because flagrant fouls are a DQ.
Context (part of rule or case): c. Flagrant fouls
Remember to quote the HS rule not the college rule. It is different.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 Targeting is an act by any player who takes aim and initiates contact against an opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders.
Important to know for post scrimmage kick fouls.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 A kick ends when a player gains possession or when the ball becomes dead while not in player possession.
Question: I don't understand the part of a player or other person is out of bounds when any part of the person is touching anything, other than another player or game official that is on or outside the sideline or end line. I do understand Illegal participation. No player of A or K shall go out of bounds and return to the field during the down unless blocked out of bounds by an opponent.
This would apply to the runner. If the runner touches a plyer or official who is out of bounds or on the sideline. Then the runner would still be inbounds and live.
Context (part of rule or case): Section 29: Out of bounds. Player remains out of bounds until returning to the field with any body part touching the field and no body part touching out of bounds.
For rugby style kicks where the kicker runs the ball and then kicks what indicators do we use to determine when they go from being a runner to a kicker? Start of the kicking motion? or is it like the rule states when the knee, lower leg or foot makes contact with the ball?
This is judgement call Rule 9-4-5a states "contact is unavoidable because it is not reasonably certain that a kick will be made." The benefit of doubt would go to the defense.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 8 A kicker is any player who legally punts, drop kicks or place kicks. A player becomes a kicker when his knee, lower leg or foot makes contact with the ball. He continues to be the kicker until he has had reasonable opportunity to regain his balance or until after a free kick, he has advanced 5 yards beyond his free-kick line or the kick has touched the ground or any other player.
Know the defenseless players. These are safety fouls.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 16 A defenseless player is a player who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury. A player is no longer defenseless once the player's physical position and focus of concentration no longer makes the player especially vulnerable to injury. A player who initiates contact against a defenseless player is responsible for making legal contact. When in question, a player is defenseless.
10-3-1 defines a loose ball play as action during:
a. A free kick or scrimmage kick other than post-scrimmage kick.
b. A legal forward pass.
(c) and (d) from the definition in Rule 2-33-1 no longer exists in the definition in 10-3-1...
Does this mean that the action during "a backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession" is now treated and penalized as a running play and not a loose ball play?
Check out Rule 10-4-2b The basic spot is the previous spot unless 8-5-2c applies for: For a foul which occurs behind the line of scrimmage during a loose ball play, as defined in 10-3-1. See 10-5-5 for special enforcement on roughing the passer. See 10-5-1b for special enforcement on kick-
Context (part of rule or case): 2-33-1 defines a "loose ball play" as action during:
a. A free kick or scrimmage kick other than post-scrimmage kick.
b. A legal forward pass.
c. A backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession.
d. The run or runs which precedes such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble.
Play Clock Mechanics: I understand the 40 second play clock is maintained by the back judge in 5- official crew and by the Referee in 4-official crew. The play clock starts as soon as the play ends, and the ball is dead. Question: So the 40 second play clock start a new series. What's the difference between 40 second play clock and 25 second play clock?
40 second play clock starts after the down ends not on a new series. 25 second play clock starts after Team B is awarded a new series or on an official's timeout.
Context (part of rule or case): Section 35: Ready-For- Play signifies that the ball may be put in play by a snap or a free kick with 25 seconds or 40 seconds on the play clock.
I missed this question on the quiz. After team A has been set for 1 second, three interior lineman move from a 2-point to a 3-point stance at the same time a tailback goes in motion. The ball is snapped while the tailback is still moving. I got confused with the difference between Illegal shift 7-2-6 and Illegal motion.
7-2-7. Question: How critical are we officiating the player being at least 5-yards behind the line of scrimmage during the snap?
The player in motion needs to be established as a back. Not necessarily 5 yards but not on the line of scrimmage.
Redding guide has a good play clock breakdown. Pg. 216ish and in the SDCFOA mechanics manual pg. 109
We are seeing a lot of shifting. Make sure all players are set prior to the snap. Watch for third or fourth down short yardage plays for first downs. They will shift the entire line to draw the defense. They should be false starts.
Context (part of rule or case): Shift: A shift is the action of one or more offensive players who, after a huddle or after taking set positions, move to a new set position on the ground.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 1 A snap is the legal act of passing or Handing the ball backward from its position on the ground.
Know the spot of enforcements. They are important to ensure proper enforcement.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 1 The basic spot is a point of reference for penalty enforcement. See 10-4.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 2 The enforcement spot is the point from which a penalty is enforced.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 3 The dead-ball spot is the spot under the foremost point of the ball when it becomes dead by rule.
Know when the foul occurred. During the kick or during the run.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 6 The post-scrimmage kick spot is the spot where the kick ends. R retains the ball after penalty enforcement from the post-scrimmage kick spot when a post-scrimmage foul occurs. Fouls by R behind the post-scrimmage kick spot are spot fouls.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 7 The previous spot is where the ball was last snapped or free kicked.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 8 The spot of a foul is where the foul occurs. If a foul occurs out of bounds, the spot of the foul is at the intersection of the nearer hash mark and the yard line extended on which the foul occurs.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 9 The spot where a run ends is:
a. Where the ball becomes dead in the runner's possession.
b. Where the runner loses player possession if his run is followed by a loose ball, but the related run (related running play) continues until the ball becomes dead or any player gains possession; or
c. The spot of the catch or recovery when the momentum rule is in effect.
Context (part of rule or case): ART 10 The succeeding spot is where the ball would next be snapped or free kicked if a foul had not occurred. When a foul occurs during a down in which a touchdown is scored, as in Rules 8-2-2, 8-2-3, 8-2-4 and 8-2-5, the succeeding spot may, at the option of the offended team, be the subsequent kickoff.
It took me some time to grasp this concept of why team designations matter and wanted to share to 1) Confirm I am correct; and 2) Hopefully make it clear what took me some time to grasp... I believe it is important for a change of possession and other applicable rules regarding penalty enforcement, meaning if A puts the ball in play and is obviously offense, but then throws an interception to B, the B nomenclature is retained, but B is now offense and A is now the defense. My example penalty enforcement rule is from 8-5-2C; "it is a safety if a player on offense commits any foul for which the penalty is accepted and enforcement is a from a spot in his end zone"
Context (part of rule or case):
ART 1 The offense is the team which is in possession of the ball. The opponent is the defense.
ART 2 A is the team which puts the ball in play. The opponent is B.
ART 3 K is the team which legally kicks the ball during the down. The opponent is R.
ART 4 Team designations (A and B, K and R) are retained until the ball is next marked ready for play.
