S / B must be bored. He/They picked some oddball situations this week. Not hard.
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1. 4/8 @ A-48. From a scrimmage kick formation, A92 punts the ball to the B-7 where it hits B25 on the leg. As the ball rolls along the ground, B25 then kicks it at the B-4 to prevent Team A from recovering. The ball bounces into Team B’s end zone and over the end line.
RULING:
B, free kick, B-20, free kick timing (25).
B25’s illegal kicking of the ball imparts the impetus on the ball that causes it to become dead behind B’s goal line, and, thus, results in a safety, 2-point for Team A, with a free kick to follow from the B-20.
2. Free Kick @ A-35. Team A is prepared to kick off. The ball is on the tee, and the referee has signaled it ready for play. As the kicker approaches the ball it begins to fall off the tee just as he starts his kicking motion. The kicker follows through and kicks the ball as it continues to fall off the tee. The ball squibs down the field and rolls out of bounds at the B-45.
RULING:
A, kickoff, A-35, free kick timing (25).
By rule, the ball remains dead when it falls from a tee, and the ball shall not be kicked. The game officials are required to stop all action and re-set the ball and players and resume the kickoff with a new play clock count.
3. 3/10 @ A-35. Early in the 2nd quarter, Team A’s formation at the snap includes only 6 players on the line with five players on the line of scrimmage numbered 50-79 and one player on the line wearing number 82. There are four players lined up legally in the backfield. A21 takes a handoff and runs to the A-47.
RULING:
A, 1/10, A-47, game clock running (40 and running).
Although Team A is handicapped with only 10 players participating in this down, Team A complied with the requirements to have at least 5 linemen numbers 50-79, and no more than 5 players in their backfield, at the snap. Team A’s advance was legal, an is awarded a new scrimmage series at the dead-ball spot. The game clock is not interrupted, and the 40-second play clock begins automatically when the ball became dead after 3rd down. (The referee should be alert to a substitution by Team A.)
4. 4/10 @ A-30. A91’s punt travels downfield and B21 has a foot out of bounds at the B-30 when he gives a valid fair catch signal. B21 then catches the kick inbounds at the B-33.
RULING:
B, 1/10, B-33, snap (40 and running).
Although out of bounds when he gives the fair catch signal, the signal is valid, and the catch is legal. B21 retains the protection afforded a player that has completed a fair catch. The ball becomes dead when caught, and Team B is awarded a scrimmage series at the dead-ball spot.
5. 4/7 @ A-35. A91 punts the ball, and at the snap Team A had five players in the backfield. A91’s kick is partially blocked, rolls forward and goes out of bounds at the A-45.
RULING:
B, 1/10, A-40, snap (25), OR A, 4/12, A-30, snap (25).
Team A commits a foul for an illegal formation. Team B may have the 5-yard penalty enforced at the spot where the dead ball belongs to them (A-45), taking the ball to the A-40, where Team B will be awarded a scrimmage series, OR Team B may have the penalty enforced at the previous spot, with 4th down repeated.
6. 3/5 @ B-15. In trying to gain yardage, ball carrier A44 is slowed by defensive players attempting to make the tackle at the B-12. Lineman A77 puts his hands on the buttocks of A44 and pushes him forward to the B-9 where A44 is downed.
RULING:
A, 1/G, B-9, game clock running (40 and running).
The pushing action (with no grasping, pulling, or lifting) by A77 on ball carrier A44 is legal, and A44’s advance is legal. Team A is awarded a new scrimmage series at the B-9. The game clock is not interrupted, and the 40-second play clock begins automatically when the ball became dead after 3rd down.
7. 3/5 @ B-15. In trying to gain yardage, ball carrier A44 is slowed by defensive players attempting to make the tackle at the B-12. Lineman A77 drives the pile of teammates who begin to surround A44 and A44 goes forward with the pile and is down at the B-9.
RULING:
The pushing action by A77 on the pile of opponents is legal, and A44’s advance is legal. Team A is awarded a new scrimmage series at the B-9. The game clock is not interrupted, and the 40-second play clock begins automatically when the ball became dead after 3rd down.
8. 3/5 @ B-15. In trying to gain yardage, ball carrier A44 is slowed by defensive players attempting to make the tackle at the B-12. Lineman A77 grabs the arm of A44 at the B-12 and pulls him forward for more yardage. A44 is down at the B-9.
RULING:
A, 3/7, B-17, ready (25).
The grasping and pulling action by A77 on A44 is a foul for assisting the ball carrier. The 5-yard penalty is penalized per Basic Spot/3 & 1 enforcement from the spot of the foul (B-12), taking the ball to the B-17, where 3rd down will be repeated.
