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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: White_Ranger on June 10, 2026, 12:23:58 AM
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I have a difficult time categorizing some of these downfield contact plays when it’s not an obvious hold or dpi. Thoughts?
3/14 @ A26 - A2 received snap and rolls out to the right. A5 runs to the A30 and turns to qb A2. B52 sensing A2 wants to throw to A32 put both hands into A5 back and pushes him in the ground. A2 keeps the ball and scrambles to the A29.
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Players in this situation are also subject to the various blocking rules (9-3-3, 9-3-4, 9-3-5).
In this case, the contact is a foul for an Illegal Block in the Back (9-3-5) since B52 is not attempting to reach the ball or a ball carrier. 10 yards added to the end of A2's run. 3/1 @ A's39.
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Players in this situation are also subject to the various blocking rules (9-3-3, 9-3-4, 9-3-5).
In this case, the contact is a foul for an Illegal Block in the Back (9-3-5) since B52 is not attempting to reach the ball or a ball carrier. 10 yards added to the end of A2's run. 3/1 @ A's39.
For the exact reasons you state, this is illegal use of hands, and includes an automatic first down.
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For the exact reasons you state, this is illegal use of hands, and includes an automatic first down.
So the penalty statement in the latest online book is wrong? "PENALTY—10 yards. Penalties for Team A fouls behind the neutral zone are enforced from the previous spot. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line. [S43]."
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Illegal use of hands is equivelent to Defensive Holding. 9-3-4
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So the penalty statement in the latest online book is wrong? "PENALTY—10 yards. Penalties for Team A fouls behind the neutral zone are enforced from the previous spot. Safety if the foul occurs behind Team A’s goal line. [S43]."
Kalle, per 9-3-4, unless a defensive player is making an attempt to reach a runner, reach a ball loose ball, or ward off an opponent obviously attempting to block them, then they are bound by the same rules as offensive players with respect to using their hands and arms against an opponent. In the action described, B52 is doing none of those things, and is using his hands to “…illegally obstruct an opponent other than the runner.” The penalty is 10 yards (3 & 1, Basic Spot), plus an automatic first down.
It may also be an illegal block in the back, but, because this contact “…illegally obstruct(s) an opponent other than a runner…,” this action rises to the level of illegal use of hands/arms, which carries the automatic first down. This action is no different in effect than when a defensive player grasps an opponent - especially an eligible player - and restricts his free movement. A ‘pull and shoot’ is gets an automatic first down. A tackle of an offensive blocker to take him out of the play is an automatic first down. Equally, a block in the back simply to take a player out of the action - whether that is as a potential blocker for a runner or as a potential pass receiver - deserves the same penalty. 10 yards, and a first down.