foul or not

[vtwin900]

during a try, B57's near the nose guard. just after the snap, he jumps to block the ball, and falls on guard A61. before snap B57 skips on the spot and wasn't immovable. foul or not?  R9.1.2.n say player must be aligned in a stationary position. this does mean immovable? or can he skips?

[foureyedzebra]

9.1.2.n- No defensive player, in an attempt to gain an advantage, may step, jump
or stand on an opponent (Rule 9-3-5-b). No defensive player who runs
forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps from beyond the neutral
zone in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any
player(s). It is not a foul if the leaping player was aligned in a stationary
position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was
snapped.


If I undestand the play correctly, B57 did not run forward before leaping. The following is predicated on this being a fact.

The spirit of the rule is to prohibit players from rushing the LOS from beyond the neutral zone and leaping in such a manner that would cause them to "collide" with another player, thereby reducing the possibility of catastrophic injury. Since B57 did not "run forward from beyond the neutral zone" he does not (in my opinion) meet the necessary requirement for this to be classified as a foul. In my opinion, the last sentence of 9.1.2.n only clarifies that it is not a foul if the leaping player did not "run forward" before leaping.



On a side note, this rule is presently on a CFO officials' survey questioning whether or not one would support elimination of this rule.

http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?topic=7734.0

[JasonTX]

On a side note, this rule is presently on a CFO officials' survey questioning whether or not one would support elimination of this rule.

http://www.refstripes.com/forum/index.php?topic=7734.0

I hope it gets removed.

[sj_31]

Just want to make sure I understand this in spite of how I'm reading it. If B99 runs from beyond the LOS but jumps from a point that is within 1 yard of the LOS, it is still a foul, correct? The answer is still yes even though the following states that he must leap from beyond the NZ. Poorly written rule?

No defensive player who runs forward from beyond the neutral zone and leaps from beyond the neutral zone in an obvious attempt to block a field goal or try may land on any player(s). It is not a foul if the leaping player was aligned in a stationary position within one yard of the line of scrimmage when the ball was snapped.