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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: Ted T on September 28, 2024, 10:30:11 AM

Title: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: Ted T on September 28, 2024, 10:30:11 AM
(I've searched but haven't been able to find this particular play.)
QB A1 drops to pass and is blitzed.  He scrambles beyond the edge of the free blocking zone, but under heavy pressure fires the ball into the ground at the feet of back A2 (#33) who had stayed in to block and is behind the LOS.  Is this IG or not?
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: bama_stripes on September 29, 2024, 05:31:09 AM
Not.  Area was occupied by an eligible receiver.

Of course, everyone knows he grounded it intentionally to save loss of yardage, but he did it legally.
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: GA Umpire on September 29, 2024, 02:30:02 PM
Not.  Area was occupied by an eligible receiver.

Of course, everyone knows he grounded it intentionally to save loss of yardage, but he did it legally.
:thumbup
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: Fatso on September 30, 2024, 08:55:34 AM
Not.  Area was occupied by an eligible receiver.

Of course, everyone knows he grounded it intentionally to save loss of yardage, but he did it legally.

Agree.  No foul
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: Ted T on September 30, 2024, 09:31:19 PM
That is exactly what I think.  However, there is an interpreter from our area who believes this should be intentional grounding.  Here is what he bases his thinking upon: "A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible receiver, OR thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time.  The "OR" and what comes after it is what he is basing his interpretation on.

Thoughts?

Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: NVFOA_Ump on September 30, 2024, 10:24:39 PM
Where I'm at we would get a call from our assignor if we flagged that.
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: Fatso on October 01, 2024, 03:26:29 PM
That is exactly what I think.  However, there is an interpreter from our area who believes this should be intentional grounding.  Here is what he bases his thinking upon: "A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible receiver, OR thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve time.  The "OR" and what comes after it is what he is basing his interpretation on.

Thoughts?

Like others have said, he obviously threw incomplete to save loss of yardage/time. But if an eligible is in the area, that's been acceptable on all levels forever.  Similar to throwing a pass into the stands way over the covered receiver's head.  Everyone knows he threw it away intentionally, but it's considered ok.
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: bossman72 on October 02, 2024, 12:40:03 PM
NCAA changed this in 2011.  Before that year, the OP was grounding since the receiver wasn't actually trying to catch it.  So the argument was that the QB wasn't really trying to complete the pass, therefore grounding.  They changed it so that there only needs to be a receiver in the area, no matter what he's doing.

To my knowledge, NFHS never had an interp or case play one way or the other.
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: animalspooker on October 16, 2024, 01:58:51 PM
Quiz?  What if he throws into the back of a lineman?  Illegal Touching or Intentional Grounding?
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: Fatso on October 16, 2024, 03:20:03 PM
Quiz?  What if he throws into the back of a lineman?  Illegal Touching or Intentional Grounding?

Grounding. 
Title: Re: Intentional Grounding or No?
Post by: bama_stripes on October 17, 2024, 07:57:21 AM
Quiz?  What if he throws into the back of a lineman?  Illegal Touching or Intentional Grounding?

There is a difference between “touching” (an intentional act) and “being touched by” (an unintentional act).