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GAMES
PROCEDURES |
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| INTENTIONAL
GROUNDING OF FORWARD PASS |
1.
Intentional grounding of a forward pass is a foul:
loss of down and 10 yards from previous spot if passer
is in the field of play or loss of down at the spot of
the foul if it occurs more than 10 yards behind the
line or safety if passer is in his own end zone when
ball is released.
2. Intentional grounding will be called when a passer,
facing an imminent loss of yardage due to pressure
from the defense, throws a forward pass without a
realistic chance of completion.
3. Intentional grounding will not be called when a
passer, while out of the pocket and facing an imminent
loss of yardage, throws a pass that lands at or beyond
the line of scrimmage, even if no offensive player(s)
have a realistic chance to catch the ball (including
if the ball lands out of bounds over the sideline or
end line).
4. Intentional grounding will not be called when a
screen pass is developing and the quarterback throws
the ball in the vicinity of the receiver.
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| PROTECTION
OF PASSER |
1.
By interpretation, a pass begins when the passer-with
possession of ball-starts to bring his hand forward.
If ball strikes ground after this action has begun,
play is ruled an incomplete pass. If passer loses
control of ball prior to his bringing his hand
forward, play is ruled a fumble.
2. No defensive player may run into a passer of a
legal forward pass after the ball has left his hand
(15 yards). The Referee must determine whether
opponent had a reasonable chance to stop his momentum
during an attempt to block the pass or tackle the
passer while he still had the ball.
3. No defensive player who has an unrestricted path to
the quarterback may hit him flagrantly in the area of
the knee(s) when approaching in any direction.
4. Officials are to blow the play dead as soon as the
quarterback is clearly in the grasp and control of any
tackler, and his safety is in jeopardy.
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| PASS
INTERFERENCE |
1.
There shall be no interference with a forward pass
thrown from behind the line. The restriction for the
passing team starts with the snap. The restriction on
the defensive team starts when the ball leaves the
passer's hand. Both restrictions end when the ball is
touched by anyone.
2. The penalty for defensive pass interference is an
automatic first down at the spot of the foul. If
interference is in the end zone, it is first down for
the offense on the defense's 1-yard line. If previous
spot was inside the defense's 1-yard line, penalty is
half the distance to the goal line.
3. The penalty for offensive pass interference is 10
yards from the previous spot.
4. It is pass interference by either team when any
player movement beyond the offensive line
significantly hinders the progress of an eligible
player or such player's opportunity to catch the ball
Offensive pass interference rules apply from the time
the ball is snapped to the time the ball is touched
Defensive pass interference rules apply from the time
the ball is thrown until the ball is touched.
Actions that constitute defensive pass interference
include but are not limited to:
(a) Contact by a
defender who is not playing the ball and such contact
restricts the receiver's opportunity to make the
catch.
(b) Playing through the
back of a receiver in an attempt to make a play on the
ball.
(c) Grabbing a
receiver's arm(s) in such a manner that restricts his
opportunity to catch a pass.
(d) Extending an arm
across the body of a receiver thus restricting his
ability to catch a pass, regardless of whether the
defender is playing the ball.
(e) Cutting off the path
of a receiver by making contact with him without
playing the ball.
(f) Hooking the receiver
in an attempt to get to the ball in such a manner that
it causes the receiver's body to turn prior to the
ball arriving.
Actions that do not constitute pass interference
include but are not limited to:
(a) Incidental contact
by a defender's hands, arms, or body when both players
are competing for the ball, or neither player is
looking for the ball. If there is any question whether
contact is incidental, the ruling shall be no
interference.
(b) Inadvertent tangling
of feet when both players are playing the ball or
neither player is playing the ball.
(c) Contact that would
normally be considered pass interference, but the pass
is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.
(d) Laying a hand on the
receiver that does not restrict the receiver in an
attempt to make a play on the ball.
(e) Contact by a
defender who has gained position on a receiver in an
attempt to catch the ball.
Actions that constitute offensive pass interference
include but are not limited to:
(a) Blocking downfield
by an offensive player prior to the ball being
touched.
(b) Initiating contact
with a defender by shoving or pushing off thus
creating a separation in an attempt to catch a pass.
(c) Driving through a
defender who has established a position on the field.
Actions that do not constitute offensive pass
interference include but are not limited to:
(a) Incidental contact
by a receiver's hands, arms, or body when both players
are competing for the ball or neither player is
looking for the ball.
(b) Inadvertent touching
of feet when both players are playing the ball or
neither player is playing the ball.
(c) Contact that would
normally be considered pass interference, but the ball
is clearly uncatchable by the involved players.
Notes:
1: If there is any question whether player contact is
incidental, the ruling should be no interference.
2: Defensive players have as much right to the path of
the ball as eligible offensive players.
3: Pass interference for both teams ends when the pass
is touched.
4: There can be no pass interference behind or at the
line of scrimmage, but defensive actions such as
tackling the receiver can still result in a 5-yard
penalty for defensive holding if accepted.
5: Whenever a team presents an apparent punting
formation, defensive pass interference is not to be
called for action on the end man at the line of
scrimmage, or an eligible receiver behind the line of
scrimmage who is aligned or in motion more than one
yard outside the end man of the line. Defensive
holding, such as tackling the receiver, can still be
called and result in a 5-yard penalty from the
previous spot, if accepted. Offensive pass
interference rules still apply.
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| BACKWARD
PASS |
1.
Any pass not forward is regarded as a backward pass. A
pass parallel to the line is a backward pass. A runner
may pass backward at any time. Any player on either
team may catch the pass or recover the ball after it
touches the ground.
2. A backward pass that strikes the ground can be
recovered and advanced by either team.
3. A backward pass caught in the air can be advanced
by either team.
4. A backward pass in flight may not be batted forward
by an offensive player.
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| FUMBLE |
1.
The distinction between a fumble and a muff should be
kept in mind in considering rules about fumbles. A
fumble is the loss of player possession of the ball. A
muff is the touching of a loose ball by a player in an
unsuccessful attempt to obtain possession.
2. A fumble may be advanced by any player on either
team regardless of whether recovered before or after
ball hits the ground.
3. A fumble that goes forward and out of bounds will
return to the fumbling team at the spot of the fumble
unless the ball goes out of bounds in the opponent's
end zone. In this case, it is a touchback.
4. On a play from scrimmage, if an offensive player
fumbles anywhere on the field during fourth down, only
the fumbling player is permitted to recover and/or
advance the ball. If any player fumbles after the
two-minute warning in a half, only the fumbling player
is permitted to recover and/or advance the ball. If
recovered by any other offensive player, the ball is
dead at the spot of the fumble unless it is recovered
behind the spot of the fumble. In that case, the ball
is dead at the spot of recovery. Any defensive player
may recover and/or advance any fumble at any time.
5. A muffed hand-to-hand snap from center is treated
as a fumble.
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| KICKS
FROM SCRIMMAGE |
1.
Any kick from scrimmage must be made from behind the
line to be legal.
2. Any punt or missed field goal that touches a goal
post is dead.
3. During a kick from scrimmage, only the end men, as
eligible receivers on the line of scrimmage at the
time of the snap, are permitted to go beyond the line
before the ball is kicked.
Exception: An eligible receiver who, at the snap, is
aligned or in motion behind the line and more than one
yard outside the end man on his side of the line,
clearly making him the outside receiver, replaces that
end man as the player eligible to go downfield after
the snap. All other members of the kicking team must
remain at the line of scrimmage until the ball has
been kicked.
4. Any punt that is blocked and does not cross the
line of scrimmage can be recovered and advanced by
either team. However, if offensive team recovers it
must make the yardage necessary for its first down to
retain possession if punt was on fourth down.
5. The kicking team may never advance its own kick
even though legal recovery is made beyond the line of
scrimmage. Possession only.
6. A member of the receiving team may not run into or
rough a kicker who kicks from behind his line unless
contact is:
(a) Incidental to and
after he had touched ball in flight.
(b) Caused by kicker's
own motions.
(c) Occurs during a
quick kick, or a kick made after a run, or after
kicker recovers a loose ball. Ball is loose when
kicker muffs snap or snap hits ground.
(d) Defender is blocked
into kicker.
The penalty for running into the kicker is 5 yards.
For roughing the kicker: 15 yards, an automatic first
down and disqualification if flagrant.
7. If a member of the kicking team attempting to down
the ball on or inside opponent's 5-yard line carries
the ball into the end zone, it is a touchback.
8. Fouls during a punt are enforced from the previous
spot (line of scrimmage).
Exception: Illegal touching, illegal fair catch,
invalid fair catch signal, and fouls by the receiving
team during loose ball after ball is kicked.
9. While the ball is in the air or rolling on the
ground following a punt or field goal attempt and
receiving team commits a foul before gaining
possession, receiving team will retain possession and
will be penalized for its foul.
10. It will be illegal for a defensive player to jump
or stand on any player, or be picked up by a teammate
or to use a hand or hands on a teammate to gain
additional height in an attempt to block a kick
(Penalty: 15 yards, unsportsmanlike conduct).
11. A punted ball remains a kicked ball until it is
declared dead or in possession of either team.
12. Any member of the punting team may down the ball
anywhere in the field of play. However, it is illegal
touching (Official's time out and receiver's ball at
spot of illegal touching). This foul does not offset
any foul by receivers during the down.
13. Defensive team may advance all kicks from
scrimmage (including unsuccessful field goal) whether
or not ball crosses defensive team's goal line. Rules
pertaining to kicks from scrimmage apply until
defensive team gains possession.
14. When a team presents a punt formation, defensive
pass interference is not to be called for actions on
the widest player eligible to go behind the line.
Defensive holding may be called.
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| FAIR
CATCH |
1.
The member of the receiving team must raise one arm a
full length above his head and wave it from side to
side while kick is in flight. (Failure to give proper
sign: receivers' ball five yards behind spot of
signal.)
Note: It is legal for the receiver to shield his eyes
from the sun by raising one hand no higher than the
helmet.
2. No opponent may interfere with the fair catcher,
the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards
from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded.
3. A player who signals for a fair catch is not
required to catch the ball. However, if a player
signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate
contact with any player on the kicking team until the
ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards behind
spot of foul.
4. If ball hits ground or is touched by member of
kicking team in flight, fair catch signal is off and
all rules for a kicked ball apply.
5. Any undue advance by a fair catch receiver is delay
of game. No specific distance is specified for undue
advance as ball is dead at spot of catch. If player
comes to a reasonable stop, no penalty. For violation,
five yards.
6. If time expires while ball is in play and a fair
catch is awarded, receiving team may choose to extend
the period with one fair catch kick down. However,
placekicker may not use tee.
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| FOUL
ON LAST PLAY OF HALF OR GAME |
1.
On a foul by defense on last play of half or game, the
down is replayed if penalty is accepted.
2. On a foul by the offense on last play of half or
game, the down is not replayed and the play in which
the foul is committed is nullified.
Exception: Fair catch interference, foul following
change of possession, illegal touching. No score by
offense counts.
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| SPOT
OF ENFORCEMENT OF FOUL |
1.
There are four basic spots at which a penalty for a
foul is enforced:
(a) Spot of foul: The
spot where the foul is committed.
(b) Previous spot: The
spot where the ball was put in play.
(c) Spot of snap, pass,
fumble, return kick, or free kick: The spot where the
act connected with the foul occurred.
(d) Succeeding spot: The
spot where the ball next would be put in play if no
distance penalty were to be enforced.
Exception: If foul occurs after a touchdown and before
the whistle for a try-for-point, succeeding spot is
spot of next kickoff.
2. All fouls committed by offensive team behind the
line of scrimmage and in the field of play shall be
penalized from the previous spot.
3. When spot of enforcement for fouls involving
defensive holding or illegal use of hands by the
defense is behind the line of scrimmage, any penalty
yardage to be assessed on that play shall be measured
from the line if the foul occurred beyond the line.
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| DOUBLE
FOUL |
1.
If there is a double foul during a down in which there
is a change of possession, the team last gaining
possession may keep the ball unless its foul was
committed prior to the change of possession.
2. If double foul occurs after a change of possession,
the defensive team retains the ball at the spot of its
foul or dead ball spot.
3. If one of the fouls of a double foul involves
disqualification, that player must be removed, but no
penalty yardage is to be assessed.
4. If the kickers foul during a kick before possession
changes and the receivers foul after possession
changes, the receivers will retain the ball after
enforce-ment of its foul.
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| PENALTY
ENFORCED ON FOLLOWING KICKOFF |
| 1.
When a team scores by touchdown, field goal, extra
point, or safety and either team commits a personal
foul, unsportsmanlike conduct, or obvious unfair act
during the down, the penalty will be assessed on the
following kickoff. |
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