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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: QAfta on August 19, 2014, 10:07:23 AM
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We had some training on extra periods during our meeting. In going over extra period rules we discussed the approved rulings. I have a question on this one:
"Team A's field goal attempt is untouched beyond the neutral zone until B17 muffs it at the five-yard line. A75 recovers at the three-yard line. Ruling: Team A's possession series continues; first down for Team A at the three-yard line."
I understand this is the approved ruling so this is what we are supposed to call. The problem I have is that the continuity of downs is broken (5.1.4.b) So shouldn't B get the ball at this point or end of extra period? When B possess the ball after a turnover, and then A get the ball back, Team A doesn't get to continue with the ball. Why is this different? I'm glad we went over this in the meeting because I would have gotten it wrong, just want to understand why.
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I got this wrong in an exam question at the end of last year/beginning of this.
The way I understand it now (having got the exam question wrong)...
Yes - the continuity of Downs is broken (5-1-4-b), however 3-1-3-e states that Team A may not have a first and 10 if it again possesses the ball after a change of team possession. (Emphasis mine).
The continuity of the series of downs has changed, but team possession has not changed during the down, in AR 3-1-3-IX, Team A end the down in Legal Possession, so they can continue on with their possession series with a new 1st & 10 from where they recovered the ball from.
Had B17 fumbled the ball (having recovered or caught the kick) instead of muffed, then Team A's possession series would be over.
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Continuity of downs is not the correct term to use here. Apply 3-1-3-e. In this case team A has a first down at the end of the down. There was no change of possession because team B never had possession. Therefore the possession series continues.
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Continuity of downs and turnover/change of possession are different animals. The continuity of downs is broken which means A will get a 1st down regardless of what the previous down was. Example
(Not in Extra periods):
3d and 20 at the B-21. A attempts a FG on 3d down. The kick goes haywire and is bounding at the B-15 when B muffs it and A falls on it there. It will not be 4th down because the continuity of downs in broken. It will be a first down for A. There has been no change of possession or turnover.
In Extra periods, if B actually gets possession of the kick and then loses it, A must score during the play or they lose their possession for that "inning".
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I guess I was trying to over-simplify the end of a half-inning. "Team A's half-inning is over on the continuity of downs being broken." But by this ruling the end of a half-inning is really only when a change of possession, a score, or Team A fails to gain a first down.
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I guess I was trying to over-simplify the end of a half-inning. "Team A's half-inning is over on the continuity of downs being broken." But by this ruling the end of a half-inning is really only when a change of possession, a score, or Team A fails to gain a first down.
Keep in mind that continuity of downs is simply talking about the progression of downs 1-2-3-4 within a series. If team A just gains sufficient yards to make a first down the continuity is broken as well and a new series is awarded.