Rule 7, Case 7

Quiz / Scenarios

1. A, 3/9, A-40. An A team substitute enters the field and stops outside the numbers on his team’s side of the field. Before the snap, he goes in motion and is behind the QB at the snap.

Answer: D. Legal

2. A, 3/4, B-6. An offensive player receives a handoff at the B-8 and runs to the B-2 where he fumbles. The ball rolls into B’s end zone and then out of bounds.

Answer: C. Touchback

3. A, 4/Goal, B-8. The QB’s pass is complete to an eligible receiver in B’s end zone. During the play, the receiver pushed off the free safety to give the receiver room to make the catch.

Answer: D. A, 4/Goal, B-23, Clock starts on the snap

4. A, 2/10, A-40. The QB drops back to the A-30 and throws a pass that is caught by the tailback, an eligible receiver at the A-33. The tailback throws a forward pass downfield. At the B-23, a cornerback interferes with another eligible receiver, preventing a catch.

Answer: C. The only foul on the play is an illegal forward pass by the tailback

5. A, 1/10, A-44. The QB throws a screen pass toward the flanker, who is behind the neutral zone. The outside linebacker comes across the LOS and deflects the pass, which then goes beyond the neutral zone. An offensive lineman, who is blocking at the A-46, attempts to catch the pass and muffs it. The pass falls incomplete.

Answer: C. A, 2/10, A-44. Incomplete pass

6. From behind the line of scrimmage, the QB throws a forward pass which is caught by A57 beyond the line of scrimmage. An eligible receiver is in the vicinity of A57. This is one of the five types of illegal forward passes.

Answer: B. False

7. First and goal at team B’s 10 yard line. Quarterback A1 runs to team B's eight yard line, then retreats to team B's 15-yard line and throws a forward pass to A2, who is in team B’s end zone. A2 makes the catch. At no time are there team A ineligibles downfield.

Answer: D. Legal pass; team A touchdown

Rule

Questions

Insights

7.1

7.1.1

7.1.2

7.1.3

7.1.4

7.1.5

7.1.6

7.1.7

The offense/defense calling signals to throw off the offense to create a false start seems open to a lot of subjectivity. How should we think about this? 

Judgement call, look for imitating the offensive calling signals. The language is different on one side of the ball than the other. When defense starts using offensive language you can tell. If you can tell that this is happening without a FS then talk to the defense and give them a warning. If it results in a FS then you have no choice but to call it. Don't call this if there isn't a FS (no advantage gained). If the team continues to do this without a FS and after multiple warning - talk to the coach (Flank).

Context (part of rule or case): This rule seems to have a lot of judgment in the situation B/C when the conduct seems to try and prompt a foul by the opponent.

7-1-8

7.1.9

7.2

7.2.1

Are the flanks the responsible ref for substitutions/enter the 9 yrd marks? - Last season I watched from the chain gang as a team intentionally left their WR outside the numbers for a number of successive plays on their side of the field in what seemed like a diliberate attempt to make the D forget about him or do a quick snap before the defense could cover him. 

We hope this would be the Flank but anyone who sees it can call it. Flank should see it first, especially on a scrimmage play. Often happens on a scrimmage kick where the LJ is off

Context (part of rule or case): 7.2.1 SITUATION C: Following a second down play that ends inbounds, the 40-second play clock begins. With 35 seconds on the play clock, A89 (a) who was in on the previous play and remains outside the 9-yard marks until the snap or (b) who comes onto the field as a substitute and is outside the 9-yard marks and remains outside the 9-yard marks until the snap. With 32 seconds on the play clock, the umpire places the ball, moves to position and the ball is ready for play.

7.2.2

7.2.3

 

7.2.4

7.2.5

On fourth down, eligible players that line up as ineligible remain ineligible throughout the down. 

Context (part of rule or case): Exception 2: Eligible players on 4th down.

This should be done at pre-game at scrimmages. Sometimes they will have the wrong number need to talk to the coach.

Context (part of rule or case): b. At the snap, at least five A players on their line of scrimmage must be numbered 50-79.

7.2.6

We need to make sure that the motion man isn't going forward at the snap. It appears we are missing them.

Context (part of rule or case): ART 7 Only one A player may be in motion at the snap and then only if such motion is not toward his opponent’s goal line. Except for the player “under the snapper,” as outlined in 7-2-3, the player in motion shall be at least 5 yards behind his line of scrimmage at the snap if he started from any position not clearly behind the line and did not establish himself as a back by stopping for at least one full second while no part of his body is breaking the vertical plane through the waistline of his nearest teammate who is on the line of scrimmage.

7.2.7

7.2.8

7.3

7.3.1

7.3.2

7.3.3

7.4

7.4.1

7.4.2

7.4.3

7.4.4

7.5

Pass Interference Table

7.5.1

This is where Referee needs help on eligible receivers. Whether we are pointing at a receiver or LOS signal. If you have neither one of these you should be talking to the Referee.

Context (part of rule or case): d. A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive receiver, or thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time.

7.5.2

Table 7-5-2

7.5.3

7.5.4

Table 7.5.4

7.5.5

7.5.6

This is important when we have an illegal foward pass.

Context (part of rule or case): ART 7 Pass interference restrictions only apply beyond the neutral zone and only if the legal forward pass, untouched by B in or behind the neutral zone, crosses the neutral zone. Pass interference restrictions are in effect for all A and B players until the ball is touched or the pass is incomplete.

7.5.7

HS rule is that Pass Interference starts at the snap. This is rule is different at upper levels (PI starts when the ball is in the air).

Context (part of rule or case): ART 8 Pass interference restrictions on a legal forward pass begin for:
a. A with the snap.
b. B when the ball leaves the passer’s hand.

7.5.8

7.5.9

7.5.10

Question: If the foul occurs during a 4th down and team A committed the foul shouldn't team B have the option to decline the penalty and be awarded the ball? I understand it's OPI on team A. 

That would be correct. This would be an obvious penalty for the Referee to decline without talking to the coaches. 

Context (part of rule or case): 7-5-10: It is a forward-pass interference if any player of A or B who is beyond the
neutral zone interferes with an eligible opponent's opportunity to move towards, catch or bat the pass.

7.5.11

7.5.12

7.5.13

Question: The legal numbering is 50-79 for offensive linemen who are ineligible to receive the ball beyond the line of scrimmage. In the quiz A57 did just that. The ball wasn't touched by a B player. Why is this not one of the five types of illegal forward pass.? 

The foul for this play would be illegal touching.

Context (part of rule or case): 7-5-13: An ineligible A player has illegally touched a forward pass. If he bats, muffs
or catches a legal forward pass, unless the pass has first been touched by B.

Table 7-5