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Football Officiating => NCAA Discussion => Topic started by: Navcom on June 28, 2026, 10:24:49 AM

Title: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: Navcom on June 28, 2026, 10:24:49 AM

DURING A FK RETURN, THE BALL CARRIER COMMITTED AN OFFENSE FACEMASK AND INSISTED IT WAS A STIFF ARM TO ELUDE THE TACKLER. CAN SOMEONE GIVE ME MORE CLASSIFICATION ON THESE FOULS?

Title: Re: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: Etref on June 28, 2026, 11:50:07 AM

Touching the face mask is not a foul, grabbing the face mask is no longer a foul.
 It is a foul to grab and twist or pull the face mask.

Title: Re: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: ElvisLives on June 28, 2026, 04:08:23 PM

To be clear, the rule regarding grasping and twisting/turning/pulling an opponent’s facemask applies to ALL players. The ball carrier is not exempt.
There is a rule that prohibits all players from continuously contacting an opponent’s face, neck, or helmet - including the facemask, with the exception of a ball carrier. The BC is allowed to ward off an opponents with his hand with continuous contact to the head/neck/helmet/facemask. He can’t strike a blow, but he can ‘ward off’ (commonly referred as a ‘stiff-arm) an opponent. But, in doing so, he can’t grasp the mask, chin strap, ear opening, face opening, or neck opening, and twist/turn/pull the helmet.

Title: Re: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: Navcom on June 30, 2026, 04:07:06 PM

THANK YOU GENTILEMEN

Title: Re: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: ElvisLives on June 30, 2026, 05:15:05 PM

Quote from: Navcom on June 30, 2026, 04:07:06 PM

THANK YOU GENTILEMEN

You are welcome. That’s why we are here.

Title: Re: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: Bulldog75 on August 21, 2026, 01:35:40 PM

And the ball carrier can even grasp the facemask to ward off, as long as he does not pull or twist, right?  If he contacts and extends and pushes away and his fingers curl around the bars of the facemask, no flag.

Title: Re: OFFENSIVE FACEMASK
Post by: ElvisLives on August 21, 2026, 01:42:10 PM

Quote from: Bulldog75 on August 21, 2026, 01:35:40 PM

And the ball carrier can even grasp the facemask to ward off, as long as he does not pull or twist, right?  If he contacts and extends and pushes away and his fingers curl around the bars of the facemask, no flag.

Officially, and technically, correct. But, in reality, IMHO, it would be very hard to grasp a mask without twisting or turning the head. But, possible.