New Rulings - Helmets Off

[TXMike]

From CFO:

COLLEGE FOOTBALL OFFICIATING, LLC

HELMET COMES OFF DURING PLAY: NEW RULINGS
 
Please note the following changes regarding a player’s helmet coming off.

Helmet Comes Off Near The End Of The Down
 When a player’s helmet comes off near the end of a down it is quite possible
that this happens after the ball is dead.  The first play on the CFO “Helmets Come Off”
video shows a good example, in which the receiver who catches the ball lands on his
back and then his helmet comes off, just shortly after the ball becomes dead.  The intent
of the rule is that this player should leave the game for the next down.
 To make the statement of the rules consistent with this intent, the phrase
“through play” replaces “during the down” in the applicable rules.  Here is the new
language, with the changes shown in italics:

Rule 3-2-4-c
“13.  An offensive team player’s helmet comes off through play….”

Rule 3-3-2-e
“16.  A player’s helmet comes completely off through play.”

Rule 3-3-9
“a.  If a player’s helmet comes completely off through play, other than as a direct
result of a foul by an opponent, the player must leave the game for the next down…..”


Continued Participation After the Helmet Comes Off
 Questions have arisen about whether a player who loses his helmet may
continue to play if he quickly puts the helmet back on.  An earlier interpretation would
allow this; however, that interpretation is no longer in effect.  The applicable rule (9-117)
now
reads
(new
language
in
italics):



9-1-17
“A player whose helmet comes completely off during a down may not continue to
participate beyond the immediate action in which he is engaged, whether or not he
puts his helmet back on during the down.”

NOTE: This requires a change in Play 12 of the “Helmet Comes Off—Play Situations,”
posted March 21, 2012.  That play now reads:
12. During a down B55’s helmet comes off without a helmet foul by Team A. B55
immediately picks up his helmet, puts it on and continues to chase the ball carrier.
RULING: Personal foul by B55 for continuing to participate after losing his helmet. The
clock stops at the end of the down and B55 must leave the game for the next down.
 

Rogers Redding
Secretary-Rules Ed

[El Macman]

Someone was listening. That's good to know.

[FLBJ]

Someone was listening. That's good to know.

Yes, but all this 'beta' testing of new rules is getting a little annoying. Curious as to what next week's rule 'correction' will be...

Oh boy, might get in trouble for that one...

[clearwall]

Are there any mechanics to use so we know that a player took his helmet off in case he does put it back on? Beanbag, hat, anything?

[TXMike]

If he "takes it off" then you have a flag as that is a foul.  (You can wave it off later iff you determine he was "repairing " it)   

There has been discussion about marking the spot where it "comes off" as you may not see him participate until later in the down.  For now i am not aware of any instruction to bag that spot.  I guess it would be like other fouls, as soon as you see it is a foul, flag that spot, which may well not be where he first lost helmet.  EX:

1st and 10 at 50.  B66 loses his helmet in line play, no foul by A caused it to come loose.  B66  just sort of mills around while play develops.  Long pass is caught by A88 at the 15 and just before he scores, he is hit and fumbles.   B20 picks up the looose ball and starts a run back.  B66 has sauntered back to the B-45 to pick up his helmet.  Seeing a teammate running back the fumble he slips the hat on and goes to block someone at the B-35.  B20 is tackled at the B-40.  B66 has fouled.  Did he foul before or after the change of possession?  What is the spot of the foul and enforcement?

[FLBJ]

I hadn't heard that 'losing' your helmet (not to be confused with losing your head) was a foul, only if he then chooses to participate in the play. At that point, I would think the flag would be thrown. In your example, sounds like he participates after the COP but you might have a situation where it is before the COP.

[Atlanta Blue]

I hadn't heard that 'losing' your helmet (not to be confused with losing your head) was a foul, only if he then chooses to participate in the play. At that point, I would think the flag would be thrown. In your example, sounds like he participates after the COP but you might have a situation where it is before the COP.

Agree, but when did he "participate"?  If he is chasing the ball carrier but never catches him, did he participate?  If a defender continues to block him and he resists, has he particpated?

Some case will be clear, but many will not.

[TXMike]

The guidance is pretty clear on both your situations Atl.  Chasing is participating, contact or not.  And the continued action he was engaged in (i.e. resisting while being blocked as he loses the hat) is NOT a foul. 

Whether or not the player's conduct is worthy of a flag seems pretty straight forward.  What is not so clear to me is how we keep track of the player all throughout the down and decide at what moment and where he was when he started to participate.

[Sumstine]

I believe this is immediate continuing action.

http://youtu.be/i1c9JaCZ9W0

[Rulesman]

I believe this is immediate continuing action.

http://youtu.be/i1c9JaCZ9W0

Kind of a "no-brainer", too! 

[Magician]

Agree, but when did he "participate"?  If he is chasing the ball carrier but never catches him, did he participate?  If a defender continues to block him and he resists, has he particpated?

Some case will be clear, but many will not.

And if the other player continues to block him the opponent has committed a personal foul. If they both continue both are guilty.  We won't see helmets come off very often.

[clearwall]

Mike, my question would mostly be about remembering that either HE was the one who lost the helmet and that he DID lose his helmet. In your situation, a lot of other stuff has gone on that might cause us to forget about the lost helmet and who exactly it was. This is going to be worse than BBW, imho

[El Macman]

This is going to be worse than BBW, imho

Only in week 1 - maybe 2. After that, this will not be a problem at all.

[JasonTX]

Only in week 1 - maybe 2. After that, this will not be a problem at all.

Sending out a team's start QB for one play will definitely solve this problem.  I know some schools that may wrap duct tape on them to keep them on if we send out their QB.

[VALJ]

Sending out a team's start QB for one play will definitely solve this problem.  I know some schools that may wrap duct tape on them to keep them on if we send out their QB.

Especially if the QB gets to sit a play at a critical point in the game because he can't keep his hat on.  Teams all around the country will take note pretty darn quick, then.

[clearwall]

Playing devil's avocate here, but I would think under most scenarios unless the QB is TAKING his own helmet off, if he's getting hit and losing it, you're probably going to have a roughing call.

[JasonTX]

Playing devil's avocate here, but I would think under most scenarios unless the QB is TAKING his own helmet off, if he's getting hit and losing it, you're probably going to have a roughing call.

I've seen them run the ball and get hit cleanly in the chest and the helmet flies off like a ball cap.

[TXMike]

Yep and now since it has been clarified that losing the helmet after you hit the ground also means you have to go out there is even more chance of a QB leaving.  Most of the helmets I have seen come off of runners have been when they hit the ground. 

[Diablo]

Most of the helmets I have seen come off of runners have been when they hit the ground.

No disrespect, but I don't think that is an unique observation.  Perhaps the prevalence of helmets coming off when the player hits the ground led Dr. Redding to announce the change "during the down" is replaced by "through play". 

[JasonTX]

I heard today at a clinic that during the D-1 spring games that there was only 1 report of a helmet coming off.  Perhaps this is already beginning to be a non-issue.

[secondeagle]

Jason, you must have been at Abilene. Was there also. Ha

[JasonTX]

Jason, you must have been at Abilene. Was there also. Ha

I was the one who Bill used to describe a block in the back.

[secondeagle]

Was further back. I see you posting on Six man site sometimes, I think.

[TxSkyBolt]

A, 2/10 @ 50... While pass blocking at the 50-yard line, the L-Tackle’s helmet comes off. The L-Tackle runs from the 50 to the 30-yard line and blocks or attempts to block a defender trying to tackle the pass receiver. The ball becomes dead at the B-25. No foul was involved regarding the Tackle’s helmet coming off.

[El Macman]

A, 2/10 @ 50... While pass blocking at the 50-yard line, the L-Tackle’s helmet comes off. The L-Tackle runs from the 50 to the 30-yard line and blocks or attempts to block a defender trying to tackle the pass receiver. The ball becomes dead at the B-25. No foul was involved regarding the Tackle’s helmet coming off.

The trick here is determining the enforcement spot. If the foul occurs before the pass is complete, then the previous spot is the enforcement spot. Easy.  If after the pass, it becomes a 3 and 1 enforcement based upon the Basic Spot. This can be a bit of a judgment call. If he immediately begins running hard to get involved in the play, then he has fouled immediately, and the spot is wherever he began to move (in this case probably right at the 50). However, he might just wander downfield a bit before he decides to move hard to get into the play. In your judgment, when he begins to move to participate in the play, he has fouled at that spot, and that is where the flag goes.

In the given play, the EOTR is beyond the NZ. The spot of the foul is most assuredly at or beyond the NZ, but definitely behind the EOTR. So, the penalty would be from the spot of the foul. Let's assume it was  the 50. So the 15-yard penalty leaves the ball at the A-35. A, 2/25, A-35, 25-second play clock, game clock status quo. The Team A left tackle is sent off the field for at least one down.