Tom Dunleavy CACPFO Rules Interpreter 21 February 2015
This presentation is intended for use by the New Officials Class of 2015 It is based on the 2014 rule book, but has been revised to includes rule changes for 2015. 2
Go over key parts of rule 9 Note: this is not meant to go over every single foul in this rule, but to go over the highlights 3
This rule contains most of the major fouls, other than those specifically tied to kicking and passing Many of the major fouls involve blocking Blocking is defined in 2-3-1 as obstructing an opponent by contacting him with any part of the blocker s body Rule 9 assumes you know the definitions of most of these actions that are contained in Rule 2, so we will constantly refer to both rules in this presentation 4
The legal blocking techniques are described in 2-3-2, and the illegal techniques are listed in rule 9 Even using legal techniques can be a foul if the block occurs when blocking is prohibited: Contacting the snapper in a scrimmage kick formation Blocking by or on eligible receivers downfield Blocking by receivers who signal for a fair catch Kick catch interference Blocking the kicker or holder 5
This rule was written so a player should not be contacted from behind by an opponent he cannot see The legality of the block is based on the initial contact (2-5-3) Clipping is allowed in one special circumstance (9-3-5a) 6
Offensive linemen may clip in the free blocking zone The offensive linemen must have been both: Offensive linemen (2-32-9) and In the zone (2-17-1) at the snap Remember, the zone disintegrates as soon as the ball leaves the zone (2-17-5) The clip must be against defensive players who Are on the line of scrimmage (2-25-3) and Are in the zone at the snap So, since this is for offensive linemen only, no players in the backfield or those in no man s land may clip 7
FREE-BLOCKING ZONE 2-17
The block must be By an offensive linemen who is in the zone at the snap In the zone Against an opponent who is in the zone and on his line of scrimmage at the snap Before the ball leaves the zone 9
A little less restrictive than clipping To be legal, a block in the back must be: By an offensive lineman who is in the zone at the snap In the zone Against an opponent who is in the zone at the snap [remember, clipping must be against a defensive lineman, this is less restrictive, anyone who was in the zone at the snap] Before the ball leaves the zone 10
Defensive players are allowed to push an opponent in the back above the waist if they are trying to get to the runner Players of either team may push or pull in the back when trying to reach a loose ball (fumble, backward pass, a kick they are eligible to touch, or a tipped forward ass Players are also allowed to push in the back if they are warding off a blocker 11
Clipping Block in the Back 15 yard penalty 10 yard penalty Defensive player must be on the line & in the FBZ to be clipped Defensive player must be in the FBZ to be blocked in the back Legal anywhere on the field to get at the runner, a loose ball that the blocker may legally touch or possess or to ward off a block 12
Like clipping, it is a block that is allowed under specific circumstances (9-3-2, 2-17-2) It also depends on the initial contact By definition, the prohibition only applies when the opponents have one or both feet on the ground which means that player who jumps up in order to block a pass or a kick can be contacted below the waist 15
Both players must have been on their line of scrimmage and in the zone at the snap (2-17-2) The contact must take place in the zone Implications During a free kick, there is no zone During a scrimmage kick, the ball leaves the zone almost immediately, so any blocking below the waist has to occur almost simultaneous with the snap During a change in possession, the zone has ceased to exist 16
Penalty is 15 yards Both offensive and defensive players can be guilty of a chop block Two high blocks are legal when blocking is allowed Two low blocks are legal where low blocks are legal High-low or low-high blocks are chop blocks Low, in this case, is at the knee or below (2-3-8) 19
Hands to the head or neck is an illegal blocking technique (2-3-3) Offensive players can use their hands in a typical pass blocking technique, per 2-3-2 Not complying with these techniques, such as hands at the opponent s side, or hands too high, is a foul for illegal use of the hands per 9-2-1a Holding, which is grasping, encircling, hooking, pulling, etc. that illegally obstructs an opponent, is a foul for holding, per 9-2-1c 21
A player may not grasp or connect with a teammate in any way just prior to or while blocking an opponent (2-3-9) This is referred to as interlocked blocking and is prohibited by 9-2-1b The signal for this foul is the same as helping the runner (S-44) 22
Rules for defensive use of hands is more liberal (2-3-5, 9-2-3) Defensive players cannot use hands to add momentum to the charge of a teammate who is on the line of scrimmage (9-2-3b) Defensive players cannot slap a blocker s head (9-4-7) that is a personal foul 23
It is a foul for any player to grasp an opponent s face mask, the chin strap, any edge or a helmet opening, or a mouth guard strap (9-4-3h) Incidental grasping is a foul with a 5 yard penalty, while twisting, turning or pulling is a foul with a 15 yard penalty 24
When the offensive team is in a scrimmage kick formation, as defined in 2-14-2, no defensive player may charge directly into the snapper The protection exists until the snapper is able to protect himself, moves to block or otherwise participate in the play The protection exists whether or not there is a kick The penalty is a personal foul, roughing the snapper, which is 15 yards and an automatic first down 25
These are fouls with 15 yard penalties and automatic first downs. 28
Is defined in 2-11 9.4.1B makes it clear that fighting is a physical act Per 9-4-1, any player or nonplayer who fights is penalized 15 yards and is disqualified A substitute who leaves the team box during a fight is also penalized 15 yards and disqualified, per 9-8-1L 29
Is defined in 9-4-3k as grabbing the inside back or side collar of the should pads or jersey or the running and subsequently pulling him backwards or sideways to the ground Even if the runner subsequently loses the ball, this is still a foul for a horse collar tackle A horse collar tackle is enforced as a live ball foul, even if the taking to the ground occurs out of bounds or in the end zone 30
Targeting Rule 9-4-3m (NEW) Illegal Personal Contact Targeting is an act of taking aim and initiating contact to an opponent above the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow or shoulders. Targeting may be called for contact against any opponent, including the runner. Note that the passer in this play is also a defenseless player. Targeting is a 15-yard penalty for illegal personal contact. REFEREE ENTERPISES INC. 2012
A player whose helmet comes completely off cannot be contacted (9-4-3l) Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play. (9-4-3b) Examples are given in 9.4.3 Comment Illegal helmet contact (butt blocking, face tackling and spearing (2-20-1) Target an opponent (2-20-2) 34
9-4-3g (Unnecessary Roughness) has been revised in 2015 to include contact against a defenseless player, and now reads: No player or non-player shall make any contact with an opponent, including a defenseless player, which is deemed unnecessary or excessive and which incites roughness. 35
Listing of penalties in 9-4-4 is being revised to exclude a 5-yard facemask against the passer. A 5-yard facemask against the passer will not result in an automatic first down. 36
There are 2 parts of rule 9 dealing with USC: 9-5 is for players 9-8 is for nonplayers Remember, players are the 22 team members on the field (2-32-1) Both sections list a variety of things that are considered USC In a different class is the use of disconcerting words prior to the snap by the defense to interfere with Team A s snap count or to induce a false start (9-5-1c) this is still USC for ejection purposes 37
Personal fouls involve contact using the body while USC fouls are non-contact A second USC foul results in disqualification (9-8 Penalty), while a player can have several personal fouls, although a flagrant personal foul can also result in ejection USC fouls, even if committed while the ball is live, are enforced as dead ball fouls 38
There are some USC fouls that are charged to the head coach, per 9-8-1g and 9-8-1h: Failure of the team to be ready to start the first half or second half Failure of the team to be ready to start the 3 minute warm-up period at the end of half time Failure of a player to wear required equipment or a player is wearing illegal equipment There is a 3 rd non-contact violation of the restricted area or for individuals being outside the team area (9-8-1k) 39
For the most part, it is illegal to kick or bat a loose ball Remember, batting is intentionally striking the ball with the hand or arm (2-2) That means there can be no attempt to secure possession if there is an attempt to secure the ball, it is a muff, not a bat 40
Any player eligible to touch a forward pass may bat it in any direction (9-7-3) Any player may bat a fumble in flight (9-7-2) A backward pass in flight may be batted in any direction by the defensive team, but the passing team may not bat it forward (9-7-3) A player may block a low scrimmage kick if he is attempting to block it in or behind the ENZ (9-7- 2) 41
A Team K player may bat a grounded scrimmage kick which is beyond the NZ toward his own goal line (9-7-2 Exc) A Team K player may bat a scrimmage kick in flight beyond the NZ if no Team R player is in position to catch the ball (9-7-2 Exc) If the batting does not meet one of these 6 criteria, it is illegal batting, which has a 15 yard penalty 42
All team members must remain within the team box during the game unless legally entering or leaving the field If a nonplayer who is not an entering substitute is on the field, it results in a foul for unsportsmanlike conduct (9-8-1i) on that nonplayer Up to 3 coaches are allowed in the 2 yard restricted area between the sideline and the front of the team box while the ball is dead When the ball is live, all coaches must be in the team box 43
Teams who have coaches and team members outside the team box while the ball is live are penalized as follows (9-8-3): An official sideline warning A 5 yard penalty for the next infraction A 15 yard penalty for each additional infraction The 15 yard penalty is an unsportsmanlike foul 9-4-8 talks about unintentional contact in the restricted area. This is a 15 yard penalty for the first offense, and, if there is a second offense, the head coach is disqualified. Remember, 9-8-3 and 9-4-8 are separate fouls, do not combine them. 44
The LJ moves down the field to cover a pass play and he collides with an assistant coach Ruling: A foul under 9-4-8, 15 yards. On the next down, LJ sees, but does not run into, a team member outside of the team box. Ruling: Sideline warning. We have to progress up each of the 2 rules, not combine them. 45
More than 11 players participating at the snap or free kick (almost always avoidable!) A player may not intentionally go out of bounds and: Intentionally touch the ball, Subsequently return to the field, Influence the play, or Otherwise participate Players of A or K may not go OOB before a change of possession and return unless blocked OOB by an opponent if blocked, they must return immediately 46
A substitute enters before the snap, is not on his team s side of the netural zone at the snap and then participates A substitute enters the field during the down and participates An injured player is not replaced for a down, unless halftime or overtime intermission occurs A player lies on the ground to deceive opponents at, or immediately before, the snap or free kick Simulated or actual substitutions used to deceive opponents A disqualified player re-enters the game 47
Sideline personnel may not interfere with the ball or a player during play Use of an illegal kicking tee Acts which make a travesty of the game Repeated half-distance fouls to prevent a score Or any other such act not specifically covered by the rules Classic example is a player going down the opponents sideline, with no one near him, and a member of the opponents bench tackles that player. The Referee may award a score under this rule. 48
Another example is the where s the tee? play: see 9.9.1B 49
Go over key parts of rule 9 Note: this is not meant to go over every single foul in this rule, but to go over the highlights 50