Enforcement Question

[wheels71]

2 and 8 @ A35. Run left side and then fumbles @ B25. Two scenarios; a) A illegally bats/kicks ball out of bounds. b) B illegally bats/kicks ball out of bounds. Enforcement for both with rules reference please.

[bama_stripes]

Foul during a running play.  Basic spot is the end of the related run, the B-25.

In (a), penalize A 15 yards from the basic spot (unless the illegal kick happened behind the B-25). 1/10 at the B-40.

In (b), penalize B half-the-distance from the basic spot, 1/10 at the B-12.5  OR  A can decline the penalty and take the ball at the OOB spot if that's more advantageous.

[yankeesfan]

2 and 8 @ A35. Run left side and then fumbles @ B25. Two scenarios; a) A illegally bats/kicks ball out of bounds. b) B illegally bats/kicks ball out of bounds. Enforcement for both with rules reference please.

what yard line was the ball kicked/batted at?

[prosec34]

Looks like a loose ball play to me.

Enforce against A at spot of foul using all-but-one principal.

Enforce against B at previous spot.

[Ump33]

Looks like a loose ball play to me.

Enforce against A at spot of foul using all-but-one principal.

Enforce against B at previous spot.

Fumble happens beyond the LOS = Running Play as bama_stripes stated ...

[Atlanta Blue]

Looks like a loose ball play to me.

Enforce against A at spot of foul using all-but-one principal.

Enforce against B at previous spot.

It is a "loose ball", it is not a "loose ball play".  Big difference.

A loose ball play is:

- A free kick or scrimmage kick other than post-scrimmage kick fouls.
- A legal forward pass.
- A backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession.
- The run or runs which precedes such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble.

Everything else is a running play, even if the ball is loose.

[wheels71]

It is a "loose ball", it is not a "loose ball play".  Big difference.

A loose ball play is:

- A free kick or scrimmage kick other than post-scrimmage kick fouls.
- A legal forward pass.
- A backward pass (including the snap), an illegal kick or fumble made by A from in or behind the neutral zone prior to a change of team possession.
- The run or runs which precedes such legal or illegal kick, legal forward pass, backward pass or fumble.

Everything else is a running play, even if the ball is loose.

The 4th one regarding the run or runs I believe is what was tripping everyone up last night.

[FLAHL]

The 4th one regarding the run or runs I believe is what was tripping everyone up last night.

QB scrambles around in the backfield, eludes several defenders, finally throws a pass.  The scrambling is the run which precedes the loose ball play.  So even if the foul happens while the QB is scrambling, the entire play is a loose ball play, and penalties are enforced accordingly.

If the pass is caught, we have a running play and fouls that occur during the run are enforced from the end of the run, unless the foul is by the offense behind the basic spot (All But One).

[Ralph Damren]

IMHO, the easy way to remember all this is :

  To be a "loose ball play" the ball has to become loose BEHIND the LOS.

  Balls that become loose downfield establish the end of the related run.

   You can have many running plays (ie..many downfield fumbles) during a play but only
   one loose ball play.

Hope this helps....

[prosec34]

I didn't read the yardline correctly.  My bad.

[Ump33]

I didn't read the yardline correctly.  My bad.

Much easier on the field because you can see how everything is laid out versus trying to figure it out in your head.