The ball becomes dead out of bounds behind a goal line, except from an incomplete forward pass, or becomes dead in the possession of a player on, above or behind his own goal line, or becomes dead by rule, and the defending team is responsible for the ball being there (A.R. 6-3-1-IV; A.R. 7-2-4-I; A.R. 8-5-1-I-II, IV and VI-X; A.R. 8-7-2-II; and A.R. 9-4-1-VIII).
I have always interpreted these 3 as the player being the one that's "on, above or behind his goal line", regardless of where he holds the ball.
But reading the Case Book, I read:
First and 10 on the A-2. A22 takes a handoff and gets hit near the goal line and driven back into the end zone where he is tackled. The officials rule that A22’s forward progress was stopped at the A-1 yard line and put the ball there. Replays show that when A22’s progress was stopped the ball was still in the end zone.
RULING: Reviewable play, regarding where the ball was in relation to the goal line when progress was ruled. Reverse to safety, safety kick A-20. Reset game clock to where it was when progress was stopped. Entire ball must be in the field of play when progress is stopped or runner is down in order for it not to be a safety (Rule 12-3-1-a)
So should the above statement be interpreted as the ball being "on, above or behind his goal line", while in possession of a player (regardless of where this player is)? Should they not have used the word "its" (the ball) over "his" (the player) then?
Or am I making the mistake again of supposing IRO's use the same Rule Book as on-field officials?
