1/10, A-30 (with ball in center of field). Time/score irrelevant. A12 hands the ball to back A44 at the A-28. A44 advances and is tackled/downed inbounds, very near the pressbox sideline, and the ball becomes dead at the 50. During A44's run, A77 blocked B55 below the waist at the A-45, with the actual spot of the foul being approximately 2 yards inbounds. After discussion between the U and the R, the U proceeds to the actual spot of the foul, steps off the 15-yard penalty to the A-30 (still 2 yards inbounds), then, according to rule 7-1-1-c, moves to the hash mark nearest the pressbox sideline and places the ball at the hashmark, on the A-30. The R makes his announcement, and declares the ball ready for play, and re-starts the game clock (1/10, A-30, pressbox hash).
That's how it is done, technically. Anybody ever actually do it that way? Nah. We just get the replacement ball to the U at the hash mark in line with the actual spot of the foul, and let him go from there. Just wanted to point out another technicality (because you know I like those). But, 7-1-1-c is necessary, to not ever have the ball snapped outside the hash marks. There was a time, I believe, when there were no hash marks, and penalties from the spot of the foul could leave the ball near the sideline. So, they put in hash marks ("inbounds lines" as they were originally known), and added 7-1-1-c to keep the ball from being snapped in a side zone.
I recall, in my earliest days, yes, we really would step off the penalty from the actual spot of the foul, then hustle in to the 'inbounds line' and spot the ball. We wore knickers, solid black stockings with white crew socks (then striped baseball stirrup stockings over white 'sanitary' under-stockings), and 1" stripes, and had red/white foul markers. Bean bag? What the heck is that?
Now, I'm all modern, and still workin'. What else am I gonna do? No good at gardening.
Well, best get back to work. Got some new elementary schools to make sure the contractor builds right. See Non-Officiating Topics for some related comments.
