How would you handle this.

[SBEII]

K punts from their own 20. The ki c k is partially blocked and lands on the K-24. Without being touched yet, the ball bounces backwards 8 yards to the K-16. A K player picks up the ball at the 16 and stands there without any attempt to advance the ball. R-Players also do nothing.  Would you just give it a 1/ second delay and blow it dead? Ball belongs to R?

[bama_stripes]

After a reasonable interval, I’d blow it dead and award R a first down.  That’s what everybody expects anyway.

The other alternative is to loudly announce “The ball’s live!” as many times as necessary until action resumes.

[MAFBRef]

I would give a slow 3 count in my head, blow it dead, and first down for Team R. Gives K enough time to process in his head. If he’s still standing there, he obviously thinks it’s dead.

[bossman72]

Happened about 10 years ago in a local HS championship

http://youtu.be/QPh_sEVSPxg

[ncwingman]

If both teams think the ball is dead, then the ball is dead. There is nothing good that can happen by letting the play continue when nobody is continuing the play.

At best, both teams start full scale substitutions, then somebody picks up the ball and starts running with it -- and now you have illegal substitution on both teams? As long as that hasn't happened, I'll give K a few seconds to see if they realize the situation, but not too long.

[zebrastripes]

If both teams think the ball is dead, then the ball is dead. There is nothing good that can happen by letting the play continue when nobody is continuing the play.

At best, both teams start full scale substitutions, then somebody picks up the ball and starts running with it -- and now you have illegal substitution on both teams? As long as that hasn't happened, I'll give K a few seconds to see if they realize the situation, but not too long.

Agreed.

And I’m definitely not announcing “The ball is live!” That’s a recipe for major issues with the B head coach if A runs for a first down with B players asleep at the wheel. Not our job to coach players when they don’t know the rules.

[Fatso]

And I’m definitely not announcing “The ball is live!” That’s a recipe for major issues with the B head coach if A runs for a first down with B players asleep at the wheel. Not our job to coach players when they don’t know the rules.

Agreed.  I've seen officials take a position like staring hard at the ball to sort of tip off the players that it's still live but yeah, you can't say anything or make hand gestures. 

[dammitbobby]

I had a similar situation several years ago, except the Team a player then threw ball forward, OOB, to his sideline, thinking it was dead.

Don't think anyone knew anything was amiss except me and one other official, .

[NVFOA_Ump]

Agreed.  I've seen officials take a position like staring hard at the ball to sort of tip off the players that it's still live but yeah, you can't say anything or make hand gestures.

Agreed, 100%.  We are not coaches and IN NO CIRCUMSTANCES should we be announcing that "the ball is still live" or anything similar.  That is not our job, and should not be part of our game.

[Ralph Damren]

IMHO, once the runner has decided not to run the SAFE thing is to blow the play dead.

[Ted T]

Play blown dead due to lack of interest.