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Football Officiating => National Federation Discussion => Topic started by: robin083 on November 30, 2012, 10:22:33 AM

Title: Ineligible down field
Post by: robin083 on November 30, 2012, 10:22:33 AM
I was wondering the proper mechanic for an ineligible down field call where there is an attempted screen pass that appears to cross the neutral zone with linemen past the neutral zone. Is that the umpire's responsibility to determine whether the ball crosses or not? Or the wings'? Does 7 man or 5 man make a difference? The call for the wing would definitely being easier in 7 man mechanics. I'd just like to get everyone's opinions.
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: TampaSteve on November 30, 2012, 10:32:44 AM
5-man it's primary the U to determine
7-man it's H...
When in dobut flag it.. You can always waive it off...
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: TampaSteve on November 30, 2012, 10:36:13 AM
To clarify earlier:
5-man it's primary for U due to wings potentially being downfield with their primary keys.  Thus the mechanic for U to go to LOS upon reading pass.

7-man, H/L have the #3 receiver (back out of the backfield) so they stay home - as does U.  He does not move to LOS upon reading pass.
Although I get them confused, for 7-man,  upon reading pass:
H stays put while L moves 5 yd downfield.  (or vice-versa)
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: FredFan7 on November 30, 2012, 04:56:31 PM
In 5-man and U takes this.

I had this exact thing happen early in my career.  I was a U and there was a screen pass.  I caught a whole mess of linemen down field and my flag flew with gusto.  I was so proud of myself for catching this foul!

As the play ended, I thought to myself, "Why was the entire line downfield?"  I asked the R, "Did that pass cross the line of scrimmage?"  When he said "no" I told him to wave my flag off.  There was no harm and no shame in waving a flag off.

At least I didn't flag it on a running play!  pi1eOn
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: Atlanta Blue on November 30, 2012, 05:29:44 PM
no shame in waving a flag off.

There is if the flag was thrown because of a brain fart!
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: NorCalMike on December 01, 2012, 03:41:58 PM


At least I didn't flag it on a running play!  pi1eOn
I through a flag for ineligible downfield one time. Go over to the ref and tell him what I have. He looks at me kind of funny. I say "What?" He says, "You know that there was no pass. The QB scrambled and was sacked."
I guess we should wave of the flag then.
Title: Great topic
Post by: bulldogs1msu on December 17, 2012, 10:08:58 AM
This call is missed often on screen passes.  I watched a ton of high school games on TV this year thanks to Fox Sports. (ohio mainly)  A screen pass that is thrown past the line of scrimmage needs to be a POE next year.   ^flag
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: maven on December 17, 2012, 01:10:12 PM
This call is missed often on screen passes.  I watched a ton of high school games on TV this year thanks to Fox Sports. (ohio mainly)  A screen pass that is thrown past the line of scrimmage needs to be a POE next year.   ^flag

No point. For a pass close to the LOS it's a tough foul to pick up in 5-official mechanics, and if it's that close the offense isn't getting much advantage from IED anyway.
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: bossman72 on December 17, 2012, 02:07:39 PM
6-man (PIAA)
Primary - H (who holds the LOS in PIAA)
Secondary - U
Tertiary - L (who drifts on pass plays)

7-man (CCA)
Primary - L
Secondary - U
Tertiary - H


I'm usually the "drifting" official in both mechanics.  I find that if there is action to the opposite side of the field, the wing has a bunch of other stuff to worry about rather than IDP.  This is where the back side wing and U can help with IDP.
Title: Re: Ineligible down field
Post by: VALJ on December 21, 2012, 03:08:22 PM
Your mechanics may vary.  For a 5-man crew, as with everyone else, that's going to primarily be the U's call.  Our 7-man mechanics have the L holding the line, so that's his job to watch that.

On a related note, I spent most of this season downfield working B, F, or S, and had several flags for potential PI that I've thrown on screen plays.  When I've been working B or F, before I even go to the R I've been heading o the L and asking him if the pass crossed the LOS.  If not, I've been telling the R "I had contact beyond the neutral zone by A76, but the pass didn't cross the line of scrimmage.  Wave it off."  I'd rather have the flag down and wave it off than not call a clear violation.