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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: boydmarq on October 05, 2010, 01:18:16 PM

Title: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: boydmarq on October 05, 2010, 01:18:16 PM
If R receives the ball at his own 3 yard line, and his momentum carries him back into the end zone, is the ball dead when it crosses the plane of the end zone?

If so, does that mean the kick ended in the end zone or when he possessed it?
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: Atlanta Blue on October 05, 2010, 01:20:44 PM
If R receives the ball at his own 3 yard line, and his momentum carries him back into the end zone, is the ball dead when it crosses the plane of the end zone?

Not if it is in player possession.  If it was possessed outside of the end zone, then a "kick" never crossed the plane.  The kick ended when the ball was possessed by R.
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: boydmarq on October 05, 2010, 01:31:05 PM
Based on that, he then has the option of running it out or kneeling and taking it on the 3.  Correct?
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: Curious on October 05, 2010, 01:36:45 PM
If R receives the ball at his own 3 yard line, and his momentum carries him back into the end zone, is the ball dead when it crosses the plane of the end zone?

If so, does that mean the kick ended in the end zone or when he possessed it?

AB is correct the kick ended when possessed; but, remember, the play didn't.  Rule 8-5-2 Exception (The Momentum Rule) gives the defensive or receiving player, in effect, his "forward progess" if his interception or recovery is between the 5 yd line and goal line - as long as the ball subsequently becomes dead in the end zone.
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: Curious on October 05, 2010, 01:40:36 PM
Based on that, he then has the option of running it out or kneeling and taking it on the 3.  Correct?

Correct.  It matters not how the ball became dead (kneel down or he gets tackled - or even if the ball goes out of bounds) in the end zone.  When he carries it out of the EZ, however, all bets are off.
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: bama_stripes on October 05, 2010, 03:58:40 PM
as long as the ball subsequently becomes dead in the end zone.
I tell our new officials "behind the goal line" to cut down on confusion.
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: Atlanta Blue on October 05, 2010, 08:34:12 PM
I tell our new officials "behind the goal line" to cut down on confusion.

"Behind the goal line" is easier than "in the end zone"?  Sounds pretty much the same to me.
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: bama_stripes on October 06, 2010, 07:49:14 AM
"Behind the goal line" is easier than "in the end zone"?  Sounds pretty much the same to me.
It is, except when R fumbles and the ball rolls out the back or side of the end zone.  Since that's not physically IN the end zone, it makes the concept clearer to newbies.
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: LarryW60 on October 06, 2010, 09:27:56 AM
The issues I have with these momentum plays is the player who catches the kick on the 3, his momentum takes him into the end zone, and he takes a knee expecting the ball to be placed on the 20.  They get upset when we place the ball at the three.  I feel like telling the coach, "If your player had let the ball go three more yards, coach, you would have had it at the 20."
Title: Re: Free kick - Dead Ball?
Post by: lawdog on October 06, 2010, 11:14:42 AM
I agree it can be confusing to those kids.  They need to be taught if the kick goes in the endzone we'll kill it with a whistle and a touchback, otherwise its not going to the twenty unless they run it that far.