Case

1
Case

• During a play A2 trips and falls on a rock,
  cutting his shin. He bleeds profusely, soaking
  his sock. He gets up and catches a pass and is
  tagged after a 5 yard gain.

• If the ball is live when the injury occurs, the
  Officials shall not blow their whistles until the
  play has been completed and the ball is dead.
• A player or official who has any part of his
  uniform or equipment saturated with blood must
  have it changed or cleansed immediately.

2
Case

• During the game, B3 is found to be wearing a pair
  of baseball cleats with metal spikes.

• Since the shoes are illegal, B3 shall be ejected
  from the game and the team assessed a penalty for
  objectionable conduct. It is the responsibility
  of the teams to know the rules regarding footwear
  as outlined in the rule book (Rule 2.5.4) and
  (Reg. 2.5.4)

3
Case

• During a kick off return. A9 runs onto the field
  to pick up the kicking tee. He does not
  interfere with the play.

• A9 is guilty of illegal substitution. Team B has
  the option to decline the penalty and scrimmage
  at the point the ball became dead or have Team A
  re-kick with a 10 yard penalty. (Rule 3.1)

4
Case

• Team A Captain requests a measurement. The
  Referee believes beyond all reasonable doubt that
  a first down has not been made.

• The Referee has the right to refuse the request
  for measurement if the Referee is satisfied
  beyond all reasonable doubt that a first down has
  not been made. (Rule 6.7.1)

5
Case

• A forward pass is thrown high, towards the
  sideline. The ball crosses the boundary line in
  the air just as A3 jumps high over the sideline
  and bats the ball out of the air, back to A2 who
  is standing in bounds.

• Even though A3 contacted the ball while it was
  past the sideline, the play is valid because A3
  had not touched the ground out of bounds. A2 can
  advance the ball, subject to the rules governing
  offside passes. (Rule 7.2.1)

6
Case

• A1 dives for and catches the ball. B1, who was
  covering A1 jumps over A1 to avoid contact. A1
  gets up and runs.

• The play was dead when B1 jumped over A1 to avoid
  contact. B1 is considered to have touched A1 in
  this situation. (Rule 9.2)
• The key factor in awarding a touch, when one has
  not occurred is that the defender jumps over or,
  in some other manner, avoids a collision with the
  ball carrier and in doing so, gives up the
  opportunity to make a touch.

7
Case

• Situations involving inadvertent whistles are
  often controversial
• Officials must maintain their composure and work
  together and relay their decisions to the
  captains.
• Key concepts to remember
• the play will stand unless the Referee decided
  that the whistle affected the play
• the Referee will decide which team was adversely
  affected that team may choose to let the play
  stand or repeat the down (the entire play)
• if the Referee cannot decide which team is
  adversely affected, the down will be repeated

• A1, the QB, throws a long pass to A4. While the
  ball is in flight, an official inadvertently
  blows the whistle. Both A4 and B3, the defender,
  hesitate when the whistle sounds. The pass is
  incomplete.

• It is difficult to determine which team has been
  adversely affected by the whistle. Team A might
  have caught the pass while Team B may have
  intercepted. In this situation, the down should
  be repeated.

8
Case

• Team B calls a time out and informs the Referee
  that they want a rule check. Team B has already
  used its 60 second time out but not its 20 second
  time out.

• The referee should inform Team B Captain that
  they have used their 60 second time out and a 20
  sec. time out cannot be used to check a rule.
  The Captain cannot withdraw the request and will
  have to use their 20 sec. time out now. (Rule
  11.2.1 11.3.4)
• If they do not have a 20 second time out, they
  will be penalized for delay of game!

9
Case

• B1 runs and intercepts a forward pass on the B2
  yard line. His momentum results in the ball
  being carried into the B End Zone where he is
  touched by A4.

• Team B is awarded the ball on the B2 yard line.
  No safety touch. (Rule 12.5.3)

10
Case

• Team A scrimmages 2nd and 10 on the A 10yd line.
  The QB, A1, attempts a lateral pass to HB A2, but
  B2 manages to defect the pass on the 1 yd line
  into the end zone, where A1 catches it before it
  hits the ground. B7 then touches A1 in the end
  zone.

• Even though the pass was headed to the end zone,
  the defender caused it to go into the end zone.
  Thus, a rouge is scored by B and Team A gets the
  ball at their own 35 yd line. (Rule 12.6.2)
• If the defender had been in the end zone when he
  tipped the ball, a safety touch would be awarded.

11
Case

• On a two point convert attempt, A3 is interfered
  with in the target area at the Team B 2 yard
  line.

• Ruling The penalty would be applied at the
  point of the foul and Team A would have another
  attempt from the B 2 yard line. (Rule 13.2.2)

12
Case

• A1 kicks off, and the ball travels only 15 yards
  where it is downed by A2.

• Ruling The ball is dead when downed by A2 (no
  no-yards). Team Bs option to scrimmage the ball
  at the point where A2 downed it or have Team A
  re-kick with a 5 yard penalty (Rule 14.3.1)

13
Case

• A1 kicks off, and the ball travels only 30 yards
  where it is downed by A2.

• Ruling This is legal. Team B scrimmages, 1st
  and 10 at the point the ball is downed. (Rule
  14.3.1)

14
Case

• B4 attempts to catch a kick off. The ball
  strikes his foot and rolls forward on the ground.

• Ruling This is considered an offside pass and
  is dead when the ball hits the ground. If the
  ball is in the air. It is a free ball until it
  hits the ground. (Rule 19.6.2 and 19.6.3)

15
Case

• B7, the Team B rusher lines up 5 yards from the
  line of scrimmage (LoS) and moves forward early.
  When the ball is snapped the rusher is only 3
  yards away from the LoS. Realizing the
  situation, the rusher decides not to cross the
  LoS. B2 was lined up 5 yards from the LoS at the
  time of the snap and rushes the QB.

• Ruling Team B should not be penalized. This is
  a legal play. B2 was the first to cross the LoS
  and is a legal rusher. B7 can cross the LoS to
  pursue the QB at any time after B2 does.

16
Case

• The center comes over the ball, adjusts it prior
  to the snap then sets it on the ground. After
  the center puts his head down, the rusher jumps
  from one side to the other. Following the snap,
  the center runs into the rusher accidentally.

• Ruling The rusher should be called for pass
  interference in the remote zone. By jumping to
  the other side without the centers knowledge,
  the rusher looses the right to an unobstructed
  path to the QB prior to crossing the LoS. (Rule
  15.7.2)

17
Case

• B1 receives a kick-off on the B 25 yard line. B2
  runs in front of B1 and takes a hand off at the B
  26 yard line.

• Ruling A hand off in a forward direction is
  illegal on a kick-off. The play must be whistled
  dead when B2 takes the hand off. (Rule 16.3)

18
Case

• Team A scrimmages 2nd and 10 from the A 6 yard
  line. While in the end zone, the QB throws an
  offside pass to the HB who is also in the end
  zone. The HB remains in the end zone and throws
  a pass which is a) complete at the A 20 b)
  incomplete

• Ruling In both cases, a safety touch should be
  awarded to team B. (Rules 16.3, 24.3.1, and 12.5)

19
Case

• Team A is 1st and goal on the B 10 yard line.
  A1, the QB throws a forward pass to A2, who is
  standing 1 yard inside the B End Zone. A2
  bobbles the ball, is touched by B2 in the End
  Zone, then finally gains control of the ball
  outside the End Zone on the B1 yard line.

• Ruling No touchdown. On a bobble, the ball is
  dead when the ball carrier is touched. The spot
  of the ball is at the point of the touch or where
  the ball is finally caught, whichever is closer
  to the receivers dead line. (Rule 17.6.1 and
  Regulation 10.2.2)

20
Case

• The pass is thrown and the defense commits
  interference in the target zone, but the Back
  Judge calls a sack on the QB.

• Ruling There can be no target area interference
  if the ball is not in the air or if the ball is
  dead, as it is in this case. Ignore the flag.
  (Rules Committee 1988)

21
Case

• Just as receiver A5 is about to catch the ball,
  B4 yells drop it! in an attempt to distract A5.

• Ruling There is no pass interference call in
  this situation. (Rules Committee 1990)

22
Case

• B1 fields a short punt on the B 30 yard line. A2
  is caught in the 5 yard restraining zone but
  tries to withdraw and does not take part in the
  play

• Ruling No yards. However, if, in the
  officials judgment, A2 did not affect the play,
  the 5 yard incidental no yards penalty should be
  applied.
• Comment Yards must be given on all punt plays.
  Incompetence and bad luck are not grounds for the
  incidental call (i.e.) the player misjudges the
  ball or the ball bounces back into the player.
  (Rule 19.5.1)

23
Case

• Team A scrimmages on the a)B35 b) B20 yard line.
  On the play the pass is incomplete, but B1 is
  called for tripping.

• Ruling B1 is ejected (major foul). a) The 25
  yard penalty for this is enforced, but the ball
  cannot be brought closer than Bs 15 yard line
  therefore, Team A will scrimmage 1st and 10 at
  the B 15 yard line. b) As the ball was inside
  the 30 yard line half the distance to the goal.
  Team A will scrimmage 1st and 10 at the B 10 yard
  line. (Ruling 22.1.1, 24.4.2)

24
Case

• a) B1 commits target area interference on A2 in
  the B End Zone on a convert attempt.
• b) The reverse situation. A2 commits target area
  interference on B1 in the B End Zone on a convert
  attempt.

• Ruling a) The convert is automatically awarded
  to A. b) No score. The convert attempt is not
  repeated. (Rule 24.6)

25
Case
last one!

• On the last play of the game, A5 is running
  toward the Team B End Zone. As he gets close to
  the goal line, the ball is extended with one arm
  in an effort to break the plane of the goal. a)
  He is touched by B2 after his body breaks the
  plane of the end zone. b) He is touched on the B2
  yard line.

• Ruling No touchdown in either case. Extention
  is illegal at any time. If this was not the last
  play of the game, the 5 yard penalty would be
  applied from the furthest point of advance of
  A5s torso. Team A does not get another play.
  The game is over. (Rule 21.5.1 and 24.7.1
  Regulation 10.13)