Loose Ball Play

[SCHSref]

Agreed, SCHSref, beanbags were not needed to mark the spot of the fumble in this play. It just seemed natural to do following a fumble -and may have caused me to screw up and send the ump on his journey from there - my beanbag was there,too, so I can only blame myself  . IMHO, the only times beanbags that  are needed behind the LOS are:

(1) Runner goes OOB behind the LOS;
(2) QB sacked and driven back a few yards-I'll beanbag forward progress , retrieve the ball and flip to ump at spot;
(3) scrambling QB near LOS when he throws forward pass- I'll beanbag spot of feet, then look to downs marker to see if over LOS.

You guys may have other situations. Please share....

I agree that it is a good practice, even if it is for no enforcement reason. However, I believe that knowing the importance of why a bean bag is thrown is crucial, especially when rookies are trained.

[CalhounLJ]

I agree that it is a good practice, even if it is for no enforcement reason. However, I believe that knowing the importance of why a bean bag is thrown is crucial, especially when rookies are trained.

I agree. Most fans and many officials believe the bean bag is a fumble indicator.


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[Tom.OH]

"No harm, no foul" applies to many things.  It's a LOT easier to pick up a beanbag, that technically may not have needed to be thrown, than find a spot, one you forgot to mark.

Lots off times you do not need to pickup the beanbag as one of the players will pick it up, hand it to you and say you dropped this...

[CalhounLJ]

Lots off times you do not need to pickup the beanbag as one of the players will pick it up, hand it to you and say you dropped this...

Very true. We have some super polite players who will pick up anything you drop, including a flag.


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[AlUpstateNY]

Best response is usually a simple "thank you", with a constructive suggestion that the best idea, for the future, would be to leave either a flag, or a beanbag. where it was left for the person who left it their to retrieve it.

[fudilligas]

"No harm, no foul" applies to many things.  It's a LOT easier to pick up a beanbag, that technically may not have needed to be thrown, than find a spot, one you forgot to mark.

It is always better to have and not need than need and not have 

[Ralph Damren]

Beanbags mark spots. Spots that need to be marked :
(1) live football goes OOB;
(2) runner with ball goes OOB;
(3) fumble downfield;
(4) where scrimmage kick ended;
(5) where scrimmage kick was touched by K;
(6) where free kick was touched by K in NZ.

Spots that do NOT need to be marked by beanbag :
(1) where free kick ended or pass intercepted - what you see on TV is for stats, fetching beanbag several yards downfield add a long ,unneeded journey;
(2) fumble in the backfield;
(3) where spot foul occurred - this should be marked by your flag, OK if moved to spot after initial toss.

I agree with you guys that it is tempting and acceptable to toss beanbag during any fumble -white hat's job to properly enforce. I listed some other uses earlier that I feel aid in game management that could be used.

When I returned to Maine in 1971, I had officiated in Connecticut for two years prior which was then a NCAA state. With me ,I brought a black hat with white piping (NFHS - sloid black), red and white flag (NFHS-solid red) and beanbag (NFHS used hats to mark spots). I quickly adopted the NFHS hat and flag, but kept using my beanbag. One of the officials was extremely interested in the beanbag and wanted to buy one. I later found out the interest : He wore a wig under his hat and was always worried that his wig, along with his hat would "mark the spot"  .