FOOTBALL RULES REVIEW T. Clingan

Transcription

1 1. 3 minute warm-up mandatory and must always be added to clock. If a team arrives on field after 3 min has expired it s an unsportsmanlike penalty on head coach. 2. Period extended if one of following occurred during down which time expires (NOT after ball is dead): a. Accepted foul by either team b. Double foul c. Inadvertent whistle 3. Period NOT extended during down which time expires for: a. Loss-of-down foul illegal: handling, forward pass, touching and intentional grounding i. Case B: Clock running with 10 seconds remaining in 4 th qtr. A1 intentionally grounds a forward pass illegally to stop clock. Penalty is accepted. Referee starts clock following enforcement and time expires before A can snap. - If B accepts penalty game is over and no untimed down as foul specified a loss of down and the clock did not expire during the down in which A1 committed the foul. b. Foul by B during successful try/field goal and A accepts penalty with enforcement at succeeding spot. i. Happens last play of 2 nd qtr. on scoring play (try or TD), enforcement could be on 2 nd half kickoff. ii. Happens on last play of 4th qtr. on TD scoring play that ties game, only option is enforcement on try since there is no subsequent kickoff iii. Happens on last play of 4th qtr. on FIELD GOAL that ties game, PENALTY ENFORCED 1 ST PLAY OF OVERTIME since that s the succeeding spot c. Unsportsmanlike fouls, non- player fouls. d. Fouls that result in a safety (Case A). 4. Errors a. Can correct timing errors if discovery is prior to second live ball following error. b. Can correct number of next down prior to the ball becoming live after a new series is awarded. c. Misapplication of rule must be done before next live ball. 5. Delay of game foul if coach out of time outs and wants to talk about a penalty. 6. Substitutions a. Dead ball doesn t leave in 3 seconds; leaves on wrong side of field; enters and then withdraws. b. Live ball doesn t get off field in time; wrong side of neutral zone; enters during the down (but doesn t participate). c. Substitute can t enter and withdraw in the same dead ball interval. 7. Clock starts on snap after any fair catch (even if R accepts a foul by K and K replays the down). 8. Inadvertent whistle a. Loose ball play - down replayed for pass, snap in flight or legal kick. b. Lost possession by fumble, backward pass, illegal forward pass or illegal kick where possession was lost or replay down. c. Running play - results of play at dead ball spot or replay of down. d. Foul prior to whistle takes precedence (case B). 9. Illegal snap or snap infraction causes ball to remain dead. 10. Touchdown by A and B fouls A can accept result and choose enforcement of foul on try or subsequent kick off. 11. Helmet comes off: a. Runner kill play b. Non-runner that continues to play illegal participation (15 yds) c. Anyone who contacts any helmetless player personal foul d. Player who lost helmet must go out for one play 12. Failure to wear required equipment: a. Before play stop clock and replace player at least one down b. Before play and snap is eminent stop clock and replace player at least for one down (new 2018). c. During down when down over, stop clock and replace player. 1

2 13. Wearing illegal equipment during down i.e., towel with sticky substance, earrings, ring, tinted eye shield 15 yd unsportsmanlike on coach (case G) 14. Restricted Zone (sideline) 2 yd belt becomes restricted when ball is snapped a. 1 st time - sideline warning; 2 nd time 5 yds; 3 rd time 15 yds and unsportsmanlike foul on Head Coach b. Contact in restricted zone while ball live: 1 st time 15 yds; 2 nd time - 15 yds and unsportsmanlike foul 15. Illegal participation a. 12 or more players in formation at snap spot it before ball is snapped for illegal substitution. b. No player of A or K can go out of bounds (voluntarily or by accident) and return or delay his return unless blocked out of bounds spot of foul where he returns. 16. Injured player can t be bought back in with a time out must stay out one down unless halftime or an overtime intermission occurs. 17. Momentum rule applies when B catches or recovers a kick, pass, fumble or backward pass between 5 yd line and goal line. a. If B intercepts pass at 4 yd and then fumbles at 1 yd line and recovers in B s EZ safety (case E). b. If a foul by A in EZ, enforcement spot is where ball was possessed or recovered (read case E). c. If penalty for foul by either team accepted, end of run where ball was caught (possessed). Passing 1. Passer must have both feet in or behind NZ even if one is in the air. Ball is beyond NZ if it s the entire ball. 2. Pass interference only applies on passes (untouched by R in or behind NZ) that cross the NZ. 3. Pass touched behind NZ no player illegally downfield, no illegal touching, no illegal blocking, etc. 4. Pass interference starts: a. A at snap b. B when 1 st pass leaves passer s hands Note: noncontact face guarding is now legal 5. Roughing passer: a. Any personal foul on passer is roughing. b. Illegal pass thrown from beyond line can t have roughing passer but could be a personal foul (case A) c. Completed pass 15 yds end of catch and auto 1 st down. d. If A fumbles completed pass and recovered by B, basic spot is previous spot. e. Incomplete pass 15 yds previous spot and auto 1 st down. 6. Catching the ball: a. To make a catch, player must return to the ground inbounds or have forward progress stopped inbounds prior to being carried out of bounds b. Catch while airborne player must be carried out (Case C) c. Simultaneous catch both players must have joint possession and land inbounds 7. Ineligible A players may not touch any pass until the pass is touched by a B player A can t catch a muffed pass by teammate (Case H) 8. A lineman is not illegally downfield if at snap immediately contacts B lineman and doesn t go beyond expanded NZ (can be expanded 2 yds) 9. R intercepts A s pass in R s EZ, can run around in EZ and be tackled and not a safety. R can also run it out (not a touchback) Blocking and Illegal Personal Contact 1. Blocking below the waist legal in zone both players must be on LOS and in free blocking zone (FBZ) - must be a continuous block.* 2. Clipping NOT allowed in FBZ (2016 change) 3. Block in back only legal in FBZ - by offensive lineman on LOS and in zone against any defensive player in zone * *Ball must be in FBZ 2 Only one forward pass can be thrown during down.

3 4. To call any block illegal, MUST see the initial contact by the player (defender may have turned or leaped). 5. Legal block by A if initial contact is with opponent s body, hands or arms at the waist or above and in continuation the contact is below the waist. 6. Butt blocking initiating contact with front of the helmet against opponent who is not the runner. Can be A or B. 7. Face tackling initiating contact with front of the helmet against the runner. Only by defense. 8. Spearing initiating contact with the top of the helmet. Can be by A or B. 9. Blindside block block against an opponent other than the runner, who does not see the blocker approaching (because of physical positioning and focus of concentration) with forceful contact (outside free-blocking zone) unless initiated with open hands. Foul for excessive and unnecessary contact. 10. A linemen can t grab other A linemen s shirt, shoulder, arm, leg, etc. to block on try or kick interlocked blocking. (Interlocked feet other than center and guard at the snap is illegal formation). (9.2.1.I) 11. Chop block (one high and another low) 15 yd penalty. 12. Horse-collar foul grabs inside back or side collar of shoulder pads or jersey and player pulled backward or sideward to the ground 13. Contacting a defenseless player - 15 yds personal foul. Some examples of a defenseless players: a. Passer - only after legal forward pass is thrown. Ends when pass ends or participates in play. b. Receiver attempting to catch a pass who has not had time to clearly become a runner. c. Intended receiver of a pass in the action during & immediately following an interception or potential interception. d. Runner already in grasp of a tackler and forward progress has been stopped. e. Kickoff or punt returner attempting to catch or one who has completed a catch and has not had time to protect himself or has not clearly become a runner. f. Player on ground including a runner who has obviously given himself up and is sliding feet first. g. Player obviously out of the play or not in the immediate vicinity of the runner. h. Player who receives blindside block with forceful contact not initiated with open hands. 14. Targeting even players involved directly in play may not be targeted for contact above shoulders. (case9.4.3.v) Scrimmage Kicks and Try 1. Scrimmage kick formations holder 7 yds deep and kicker 3 yds beyond or player 10 yds deep for long snap. - Ball does NOT have to be kicked (fake) or that deep back receives snap. a. 1 st, 2 nd or 3 rd down - snapper may have a number not between 50 and 79 remains ineligible b. 4 th down no numbering restrictions on line 2. K recovers a scrimmage kick touched by R can they advance it? a. Recovered in or behind NZ YES. Ball remains live, and any K player can advance it and down counts must reach line to gain to get a 1 st down. b. Recovered beyond NZ NO. Ball is dead, K can t advance it. (R muffs catch and K recovers ball dead). 3. If R muffs (touches) kick beyond the NZ and the ball bounces back behind the LOS, if K recovers ball, it is a first down for K since R touched ball beyond NZ. 4. Touching of low scrimmage kicks by A or B is ignored if it s in or behind expanded neutral zone. a. Does not expand into end zone. If touched in EZ, ball becomes dead. 5. Kick catching interference R has three options: 1. Take results of play 2. Elect an awarded fair catch after 15 yd penalty 3. Replay down after 15 yd penalty. 6. K touches ball in air (untouched by R), it s first touching and also kick-catching interference. If first touching, R has option of taking ball at spot of first touching depending on result of play plus 15 yd penalty. - *(case B) 7. Roughing vs. running into kicker: a. Always roughing kicker if contact could have been avoided (case B). 15 yds and auto 1 st down. b. Running into kicker 5 yd penalty. 3

4 8. Roughing snapper is only for a direct charge into snapper. 9. Illegal kick (beyond LOS) treated as a fumble penalty enforced at spot of illegal kick. **(read case B) 10. Kicks going into K s EZ: a. Scrimmage kick by K1 from own EZ is muffed in flight beyond the NZ by R and rebounds into the EZ and recovered by K2. Ball is dead when K2 tackled there. Safety because force was still K1 s kick (8.5.1.C). b. 4 th and 3 from K s 10 yd line and K s kick is blocked so that it rebounds into K s EZ and is muffed out of bounds by K or R. Safety since force into EZ was K s kick. c. 4 th and 3 from K s 10 yd line and K s kick is blocked so that it rebounds into K s EZ and is simultaneously recovered in EZ by K and R. Touchdown for R (they recovered ball in K s EZ case B) d. K s kick is blocked on 5 yd line and is rolling away from K s goal line when R1 muffs the ball into K s EZ (applies a new force to a grounded kick). K2 recovers and attempts to advance but is downed in EZ. During K2 s run, holding by R in EZ. Touchback and basic spot is 20 yd line (case I) e. K s kick is blocked on 5 yd line and is rolling away from K s goal line when R1 muffs the ball into K s EZ (applies a new force to a grounded kick). K2 recovers and attempts to advance but is downed in EZ. During K2 s run, K3 holds R in EZ. Foul committed in EZ result is a safety (case I) 11. If scrimmage kick becomes dead in R s end zone, touchback in all cases 12. If any receiver gives a fair catch signal (valid or invalid) it causes ball to become dead regardless of who finally catches the ball. 13. If K s legal bat or muff on a kick hits R, the touching is ignored. 14. If A legally bats kick at 2 yd line near R s goal line and R recovers and retreats into own EZ and is downed in EZ, instead of a safety for K, R can take spot of 1 st touching 2 yd line. (case A) 15. PSK fouls: Scrimmage kick. Ball crosses expanded NZ. Foul beyond expanded NZ (if not previous spot) Foul before end of kick (kick ends when player gains possession). K will not be next to put ball into play a. Invalid signal during scrimmage kick is a PSK foul. Case A: 4 th and 5 for K on K s own 9-yard line. K s punt goes beyond LOS and R1 gives invalid fair-catch signal at K s 20. Untouched ball bounces back behind LOS where K recovers at K s 10 yd line. PSK and ball belongs to R. PSK foul if accepted will be R s ball on K s 25 yd line (spot of foul plus 5 yd penalty). b. If R fouls during return (after obtaining possession), not PSK but a post-possession foul. c. Illegal participation fouls by R during the kick (not at snap) are now PSK fouls (new 2017). If foul at snap, enforced from previous spot. d. Case C: With 4 th and 5 from K s 30 yd line, K9 punts the ball downfield where it is grounded and touched by K88 (first touching) at R s 30. The ball continues rolling and is picked up by R35 at R s 25 yd line. R35 is subsequently hit and fumbles at R s 28. The loose ball is recovered by K88 on the ground at R s 26. During the kick, R55 is flagged for holding. RULING: If K accepts R s foul for holding, enforcement spot is previous spot (loose ball play). Not PSK since K recovered and is next to put the ball in play. If K accepts foul, the awarded spot for illegal touching is not applied. If K declines foul, R will get ball at the spot of first touching. Penalty declined result is a Try or Field Goal touchback 1. Illegal kick can t score a field goal - holder muffs snap and kicker kicks while ball still on ground (case A) 2. Holder with knee on ground: a. Can catch or recover ball and then rise with ball to run, pass, hand, kick or pass. b. Can rises to catch or recover an errant snap and must immediately return to knees to place ball for kick. c. Ball dead if holder muffs or fumbles snap, rises (knees off ground) and then returns to knees or makes pass with knees still on ground (must rise first). 2. If a kick is used for the try and is blocked, ball is immediately dead. 4

5 Free Kick 1. R can signal for fair catch. 2. K can be called for kick catching interference interferes with R attempting to catch ball. a. K touches ball in air (untouched by R), it s first touching and also kick-catching interference 3. K cannot make contact until free kick goes 10 yds unless R blocks them. 4. K can recover kick if kick has both touched the ground and goes beyond R s free kick line can t advance it. 5. Kicker on a free kick can be blocked as soon as ball touches ground. 6. K must have 4 on each side of kicker when ball kicked if not dead ball illegal procedure foul. 7. Only kicker can be 5 yds beyond free kick line if beyond 5 yds, only player who can kick the ball. 8. Kick goes into the EZ or muffed by R into EZ, BALL IS DEAD. R cannot run it out. 9. Pop-up kick is an illegal kick when K drives the ball immediately into the round, the ball strikes the ground once and goes into the air in a manner of a ball kicked directly off the tee dead ball free kick infraction. 10. Free kick kicked out of bounds new option for R they can accept a 5-yard penalty from succeeding spot. Force 1. Muffing/batting of a pass, kick or fumble in flight is not a new force a. If R muffs scrimmage kick in flight and it goes into R s end zone touchback (case C). b. If R muffs scrimmage kick that comes to rest and rolls into R s end zone, it s still part of the kick and a touchback (muffing does not constitute possession). c. If R kicks K s punt as its rolling on ground into R s end zone, touchback in all cases (**see case d) 2. If ball loose, it would have to be almost stationary before a new force would be a factor. 3. If player blocked into ball, it s not a new force. 4. Force not a factor on kicks going into R s EZ always a touchback regardless if K or R supplied force. 5. If K s kick bounces back behind the LOS into their EZ as a result of a muff by R beyond the LOS, it s still a kick into K s EZ and a safety. 6. A1 s pass intercepted in B s EZ by B1 who attempts to advance but is downed there. B2 clips at B s 3 yd line during the run. Touchback 1 st and 10 from B s 1 ½ (spot of foul behind basic spot at 20 yd line. (case E) 7. A1 s pass intercepted in B s EZ by B1 who attempts to advance but is downed there. B2 clips at B s 3 yd line after B1 is down (dead ball). Touchback - 1 st and 10 from 10 yd line (1/2 distance from basic spot). (case E) 8. B1 intercepts A s pass in own EZ and then passes backward to B2 who muffs or bats the ball out of bounds behind the end line. Force which put ball in EZ was pass by A. Result is a touchback. B s ball on 20 yd line. (case 8.5.3C). READ case D 1. Basic spot: Running play end of run a. Run ends when: i. Ball becomes dead ii. Runner loses possession by fumble iii. Spot of catch or recover with momentum rule b. Hand-off is not a pass or fumble Fouls Loose ball play previous spot a. Includes run(s) before loose ball b. Includes backward pass or fumble behind NZ c. Any foul occurs during free kick, legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass, snap or fumble in/behind NZ considered part of loose ball play spot is always previous spot. 5 Read Cases A B A B 2. Fumble by A in or behind neutral zone is a loose ball play if B fouls, previous spot for enforcement. 3. K1 kicks off from 40 yd line. Kick caught by R1 at R s 5 yd line. R2 clips at 50 yd line. After clip, R1 fumbles at R s 20 yd line where R3 picks up fumble and runs for TD. Basic spot is where run ended, which was fumble at R s 20. After penalty, R s ball 1 st and 10 at R s 10 yd line. (Case B)

6 4. Live ball and dead ball fouls: a. Dead ball fouls: i. Delay of game v. Snap infraction ii. Illegal substitution between downs (not vi. False start 3 secs or on wrong side of field) vii. Sideline interference iii. Free kick infraction viii. Nonplayer outside team box but not on field iv. Encroachment b. A live ball and a dead ball foul are administered separately and in order of occurrence not double foul. c. Unsportsmanlike foul treated as a dead ball foul and not combined to create a double foul ( D) d. Two equal dead ball fouls will offset. Can be personal foul and/or Unsportsmanship since both 15 yds. (Case A and B). e. Any foul out of bounds is a dead ball foul. 5. If A gains a first down as a result of the play and then commits a dead ball foul, the yardage for the foul is enforced and then the chain is set for a new series (case E & F, E). 6. Loss of down fouls: a. Illegally handing ball forward spot foul b. Illegal forward pass spot foul (**if pass is thrown by A past the first down marker the loss of down part of penalty has no significance since the succeeding spot is beyond the line to gain and a new series is awarded case B) c. Illegal touching of forward pass by ineligible d. Intentional grounding 7. Automatic 1 st down fouls (plus 15 yds): a. Roughing kicker or holder b. Roughing passer (15 yds end of a catch) c. Roughing snapper 8. Enforcement spot for any foul by defense is goal line when run ends in the EZ and would result in safety. a. Example 1: A fumbles and recovers ball in own EZ but R fouls A in the EZ. b. Example 2: B1 intercepts A s pass at the A10 and returns for a TD. B2 clips in A s EZ after the interception, but before the score. - Basic spot is end of run which is the goal line. After penalty enforcement, it would be B s ball, 1 st and 10 at A s 15 yd line. (Case A) 9. Penalty accepted with < 2 minutes remaining in either half, offended team will have option to start the clock on the snap. must ask offended team coach for the option. 10. B1 intercepts a pass in own EZ and is tackled there after attempting to advance. During B s run, B2 clips A at B s 4 yd line. If accepted, B s ball 1 st and 10 at B s 2-yd line. If declined, at 20 yd line - basic spot (case H) 11. Change of possession fouls when both teams foul: a. If both teams foul prior to change of possession it is a double foul and penalties cancel i. A2 holds during A1 s run. Thereafter A1 fumbles and recovered by B2 who runs for a touchdown. While ball was loose, B2 clips A3 after which B3 recovers ball. Both fouls occurred before change of possession. (case A) ii. K1 is in illegal position and the scrimmage kick is caught by R1. During run, R2 clips and a subsequent fumble by R1 recovered by K double foul since K (final team in possession) fouled before gaining possession and both teams fouled during down (case B) b. When team in final possession gets the ball free of a foul (Clean Hands) and then commits a foul, they can retain possession by declining A s foul. However, their foul will be enforced (case B). If they accept A s foul becomes a double foul. i. Scrimmage kick caught by R1 who advances to K s 10. During run, R2 clips at K s 30 and K2 trips R2. R s foul followed change of possession, R can decline K s foul and keep ball. If R accepts K s foul for tripping results in a double foul. (case ). 6

7 c. If both teams foul and there is a change of possession and R s foul is PSK, R can keep ball if they decline K s foul - A can then accept R s foul. d. Foul by A before and a foul by B after does not automatically create a double foul. If B accepts A s foul, then it s a double foul. If B declines, A can accept B s penalty i. A1 is illegally in motion at snap and B1 intercepts A s pass. During return, B2 clips A2 not a double foul since B s foul occurred after change of possession. B can accept or decline A s foul. If accepted it creates a double foul. If declined, B s foul is enforced (case A 12. Situation: 4 th down and A in punt formation at own 8 yd line has a penalty on a muffed snap in their own EZ: a. Example 1: A1 fumbles snap in own EZ and throws a pass to ineligible A2 in EZ who muffs the ball. If B accepts penalty for illegal touching, result is a safety. If B declines, result is B s ball first and goal from A s 8 yd line (8.5.2.D) b. Example 2: A1 fumbles snap in own EZ and while ball is loose, illegally kicks ball beyond the end line. If B accepts penalty for illegal kick result is a safety. If B declines penalty, result is B s ball first and goal from A s 8 yd line 13. Illegal participation: a. When A goes out of bounds voluntarily or by accident (before change of possession) OR delays his return after being blocked out of bounds, it is illegal participation spot of foul is where player returns inbounds. b. A steps OOB and returns and pass is thrown to him. B1 also commits pass interference. Double foul. c. Linebacker B runs out of bounds while the ball is live. As A runs past him, he reaches inbounds and makes the tackle illegal participation. d. If a replaced player or substitute is used to deceive opponent illegal participation. e. If a player on the sideline interferes with the play or gets in the way, - illegal participation. f. Any player who continues to play after helmet comes off illegal participation. Must stop immediately or if still engaged in a block. (case H) 14. All A players must be momentarily within the 9 yd mark before snap (illegal formation) 15. Normal kicking rules and restrictions are not in effect during an illegal kick treated as a fumble. 16. Illegal substitution by B during down (not illegal participation) is a non-player foul penalized from succeeding spot. (Case C) 17. Illegal contact foul: a. When a player charges into or throws an opponent to the ground after he is out of play (9.4.3C). b. Receiver A1 unable to catch a pass that either (a) hits ground or (b) is overthrown. B1 aggressively contacts A1. In (a) dead-ball foul at succeeding spot. In (b), live ball foul at previous spot. 18. PSK requirements: a. During scrimmage kick b. Ball must cross expanded neutral zone c. Foul occurs beyond expanded NZ d. Before end of kick (prior to R gains possession) e. K will not be next to put ball into play Safety If ball goes into end zone, Basic Spot is 20 yd line for penalty enforcement ( C) Punt could bounce back behind NZ but we can still have PSK since kick went beyond( d) If B s foul not beyond expanded NZ, penalty enforced at previous spot (case B) 1. To avoid a safety, the entire ball must be advanced completely out of EZ with no part touching goal line (case B) 7