Fouls During Plays With a Change of Possession

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Fouls During Plays Witha Change of Possession

• July 26, 2004
• John Hoffmann
• referee_at_bellsouth.net
• [phone]

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Definitions

• COP change of possession
• Team A is the team which puts the ball in play,
  and Team B is their opponent.
• These team designations are retained until the
  ball is next declared ready for play.
• The offense is the team which is in possession of
  the ball. Their opponent is the defense.

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Ground Rules

• Plays are
• Not scoring plays
• Not kicking plays
• Fouls are
• Live ball
• Not nonplayer
• Not unsportsmanlike
• Dont involve a loss of down by Team A
• Penalties are
• Accepted (when practical)

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All-But-One Principle

• When the foul is by the team not in possession
  (whether behind or beyond the basic spot), the
  penalty is enforced from the basic spot.
• When the foul is by the team in possession and it
  occurs beyond the basic spot, the penalty is
  enforced from the basic spot.
• When the foul is by the team in possession and it
  occurs behind the basic spot, the penalty is
  enforced from the spot of the foul.

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All-But-One Principle
Basic Spot
Defensive Foul Beyond Basic Spot
Defensive Foul Behind Basic Spot
Offensive Foul Beyond Basic Spot
Offensive Foul Behind Basic Spot
Team Direction
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Basic Spot

• The basic spot is either the end of the related
  run or the previous spot.
• The spot of the foul is never (hardly) a basic
  spot.
• The basic spot is the end of the related run on
  running plays.
• The end of the related run is
• Where the ball becomes dead in runners
  possession.
• Where the runner loses possession if his run is
  followed by a loose ball.
• The spot of the catch when the momentum rule is
  in effect.
• The basic spot is the previous spot on loose-ball
  plays.

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Plays

• Loose-Ball Play 10-3-1 is action during a
• Legal forward pass
• Free kick or scrimmage kick
• Act made behind the neutral zone prior to a COP
• Backward pass (including the snap)
• Illegal kick
• Fumble
• The run or runs that precede any of the above
• Running Play 10-3-2 is all live ball action
• which is not included in a loose-ball play above

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Scenarios of Interest

• Single Foul
• Foul by A before COP
• Foul by B before COP
• Foul by A after COP
• Foul by B after COP
• Two Fouls
• Both teams foul before COP
• Foul by A before COP, foul by B after COP
• Foul by B before COP, foul by A after COP
• Both teams foul after COP
• Two Fouls and Two COP

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Single Foul - Simplification

• If the penalty is accepted, the ball belongs to
  the team in possession when the foul occurred.

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Foul by A before COP

• It is probably in Bs best interest to decline
  the foul by A. The results of the play stand and
  B will keep the ball.
• If B accepts As foul, the penalty will be
  enforced as normal. Replay the down and A still
  has the ball.

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Foul by B before COP

• It is probably in As best interest to accept the
  foul by B. The penalty will be enforced as
  normal. Replay the down and A still has the ball.
• If A declines the foul by B, the results of the
  play stand and B will keep the ball.
• Depending on the scenario, this may be more
  advantageous to A.
• Roughing the passer can still be enforced even if
  A does not end up with the ball.
• Previous spot (fumble or interception)

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Foul by A after COP

• It is probably in Bs best interest to accept the
  foul by A. Team B will keep the ball and the
  penalty will be enforced as a running play using
  the all-but-one principle.
• This is now a foul by the defense and the basic
  spot is the end of the run.
• If B declines the foul by A, the results of the
  play stand and B will keep the ball.
• If B was ahead, this might be advantageous to
  prevent extending the period with an untimed down.

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Foul by B after COP

• It is probably in As best interest to accept the
  foul by B. Team B will keep the ball and the
  penalty will be enforced as a running play using
  the all-but-one principle.
• This is now a foul by the offense and the basic
  spot is the end of the run.
• If A declines the foul by B, the results of the
  play stand and B will keep the ball.
• If A was ahead, this would be advantageous to
  prevent extending the period with an untimed down.

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COP and the Goal Line

• If A fouls after a COP and during a run which
  would result in a safety, the penalty is enforced
  from the goal line.
• If B fouls after a COP and during the run which
  results in a safety, accepting the penalty is
  still a safety since it is enforced from the end
  of the run in the end zone.
• If either team fouls after a COP and during a run
  which results in a touchback, all-but-one
  enforcement is used and the basic spot is the
  20-yard line.

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Two Fouls - Simplification

• If each team fouls during a down in which there
  is a COP, the team last gaining possession may
  retain the ball, provided its foul is not prior
  to the final COP and it declines the penalty for
  its opponents foul. In this case, the team not
  last in possession has no penalty options.
  10-2-2
• This is also known as the clean hands rule.
• In case of a double foul, the captains are not
  consulted since the penalties offset. 10-1-1

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Both teams foul before COP

• This is a double foul. The penalties cancel and
  the down is replayed.
• It is a double foul if both teams commit fouls
  during the same live-ball period in which there
  is a change of possession, and the team in
  possession at the end of the down fouls prior to
  final change of possession. 10-2-1b
• See 10.2.1 Sit. A, page 80

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Foul by A before COP, foul by B after COP

• If B accepts As foul
• This is a double foul. The penalties cancel and
  the down is replayed.
• It is a double foul if both teams commit fouls
  during the same live ball period in which there
  is a COP and the team in final possession accepts
  the penalty for its opponents foul. 10-2-1c
• If B declines As foul
• B may retain the ball and A has no penalty
  option. 10-2-2
• Bs foul will be enforced as a running play using
  the all-but-one principle.
• See 10.2.2 Sit. A, page 80 and 10.2.2 Sit. D,
  page 81

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Foul by B before COP, foul by A after COP

• This is a double foul. The penalties cancel and
  the down is replayed.
• It is a double foul if both teams commit fouls
  during the same live-ball period in which there
  is a change of possession, and the team in
  possession at the end of the down fouls prior to
  final change of possession. 10-2-1b

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Both teams foul after COP

• If B accepts As foul
• This is a double foul. The penalties cancel and
  the down is replayed.
• It is a double foul if both teams commit fouls
  during the same live ball period in which there
  is a COP and the team in final possession accepts
  the penalty for its opponents foul. 10-2-1c
• If B declines As foul
• B may retain the ball and A has no penalty
  option. 10-2-2
• Bs foul will be enforced as a running play using
  the all-but-one principle.
• See 10.2.2 Sit. B, page 80 and 10.2.2 Sit. C,
  page 81

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Two Fouls with Two COP

• SITUATION A1 is in illegal position and the pass
  by A2 is intercepted by B1. During the return by
  B1, there is clipping by B2 and a subsequent
  fumble by B1 is recovered by A3.
• SUMMARY Foul by A1, COP, foul by B2, COP.
• RULING Double foul. Even though there was a COP
  during the down, the team gaining final
  possession had fouled before gaining final
  possession. Both fouls occurred during the
  live-ball period and the result is a double foul.
  The penalties cancel and the down is replayed.