Interesting Twist - Runner's Helmet Comes Off w/Questionable Pass Reception

[VA-Ump]

Had an interesting twist on combining two rules in our D3 game this weekend...

Pass play over the middle.  As I turn, I see the receiver jump and possess the ball.  As he comes to the ground he is hit and his helmet comes off.  After he goes to the ground, the ball comes out.  It was ruled a catch because his helmet had come off, thus causing the ball to become dead before he went to the ground.  I had never thought about that scenario... has anyone seen a similar play or interpretation

[Andrew McCarthy]

What about a player that gets a foot down in bounds but goes to the ground out of bounds before completing the catch?  Touching OOB would make the ball become dead but doesn't automatically make it a catch. 

AR 7-3-6-XIII

Airborne receiver A85 grasps a forward pass and in the process
of going to the ground, first contacts the ground with his left foot
inbounds as he falls to the ground out of bounds. Immediately
upon A85 hitting the ground out of bounds, the ball comes loose.

RULING: Incomplete pass regardless of whether or not the ball hits
the ground because the receiver is out of bounds.


Or how about going to the ground in the end zone, perhaps more similar to your play as possessing the ball in the end zone would cause the ball to become dead...

AR 7-3-6-XIV

Receiver A85 stretches out at the Team B two-yard line and grasps
a forward pass and is going to the ground on his own as he is
attempting to complete the catch. As A85 falls to the ground in the
end zone, the ball immediately comes loose and falls to the ground.

RULING: Incomplete pass. Any receiver going to the ground on his
own in the process of making a catch must maintain control of the
ball when he hits the ground.

[FLBJ]

One could also consider the rule for the ball becoming dead (4-1-3q) that says the 'ball carrier's helmet comes completely off'. The receiver doesn't become a 'ball carrier' until he has possession and he doesn't have possession until he completes the catch and he doesn't complete the catch until he's finished falling to the ground (even sans helmet).

[pgh guy]

One could also consider the rule for the ball becoming dead (4-1-3q) that says the 'ball carrier's helmet comes completely off'. The receiver doesn't become a 'ball carrier' until he has possession and he doesn't have possession until he completes the catch and he doesn't complete the catch until he's finished falling to the ground (even sans helmet).

Well stated.  Besides, common sense dictates that we do not officiate in "freeze frame" at any time and the proper ruling is always incomplete when the process is not completed.

[With_Two_Flakes]

Had an interesting twist on combining two rules in our D3 game this weekend...

I had never thought about that scenario... has anyone seen a similar play or interpretation.

Must be a Div III thing!!

I was in the USA a few weeks ago and my contacts fixed me up with some games, one of which was a Div III JV game in Michigan and we had a "helmet-off" play.

To the best of my recollection, it went like this. The kid runs a hook pattern, he turns and catches a 15yd(?) pass over the middle a little inside the hash marks to my side of the field. He is tackled by a corner and a safety from different angles, one high and one low which flips him somewhat in mid-air so his body is parallel to the ground face upwards. Then three things seem to happen simultaneously - the kid hits the deck on his back like a sack of potatoes but he's holding the ball, the kid's helmet comes off, a defender pulls the ball out of his hands and begins a return.
I'm HL on a 7 man crew, he wasn't my key. I turn to watch the completion once I realise the pass is in the air, I see it's going to be my progress spot. I see the catch, I see him hit the turf, I see the helmet rolling on the ground, I see someone starting a return toward me.

In my head, it seemed to take me an hour to run through the thought processes, but I decided he was down in possession and the play was over due to the helmet off, so killed it with my whistle. I don't remember starting to move backward in reverse mechanics at all, I think I kept moving forward to take the spot.

It was the toughest play I can recall having to rule on for years.

[NCAA-SJ]

I agree with the original play that we have an incomplete pass.  I also agree in this last play, we have a completed pass with the ball being dead when helmet came off (despite B taking ball).

P.S.  Never heard the analogy of "Freeze Frame" officiating before; awesome reference!!  I think I'll steal it for my own purposes...if that's allowed.