When in Question Rules

 

Catch or recovery not completed…………………..2-2-7

A catch is an act of firmly establishing player possession of a ball in flight.

When in question, the catch, recovery or interception IS NOT COMPLETED

 

Blocking below the waist…………………………….2-3-2

Blocking below the waist is the initial contact below the waist with any part of the blocker’s body against an opponent, other than the runner.

When in question, the contact is BELOW THE WAIST.

 

Chop Block……………………………………………2-3-3

A chop block is a high-low or low-high combination block by any two players against an opponent (not the runner) anywhere on the field, with or without delay between contacts; the low component is at the opponents thigh or below

Block in the back…………………………………….2-3-4

A block in the back is contact against an opponent occurring when the force of the initial contact is from behind and above the waist

Exception: against the runner.

When in question, the contact is BELOW THE WAIST

 

Ball not touched on kick or forward pass………………..2-10-4

Touching of a ball not in player possession denotes any contact with the ball (Exception: (Rules 6-1-4a,b and 6-3-4 a,b). It may be intentional or unintentional, and it always precedes possession and control. Intentional touching is deliberate or Intended touching..

When in question, a ball has not been touched on a kick or forward pass

 

 

 

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Ball is accidently kicked (touched)………………………2-15-1

Kicking the ball is intentionally striking the ball with the knee, lower leg or foot.

When in question, a ball is ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED rather than intentionally kicked.

 

Forward Pass rather than Backward Pass……………...2-19-2

A forward pass is determined where the ball first strikes the ground, a player, an official or anything beyond the spot of the pass. All other passes are backward passes.

When in question, it is a forward pass rather than a backward pass when thrown in or behind the neutral zone.

 

Forward pass and not fumble…………………….……….2-19-2

When a Team A player is holding the ball to pass it forward toward the neutral zone, any INTENTIONAL forward movement of his hand or arm starts the forward pass. If a Team B player contacts the passer or the ball after forward movement begins and the ball leaves the passer’s hand, a forward pass is ruled regardless of where the ball strikes the ground or a player.

When in question, the ball is passed and not fumbled during an attempted forward pass.

 

Catchable Forward Pass………………………………..2-19-4

A catchable forward pass is an untouched legal forward pass beyond the neutral zone to an eligible player who has a reasonable opportunity to catch the ball.

When in question, a legal forward pass is catchable.

 

Stop clock for injured player………………………..……3-3-5

ANY official may stop the clock for an injured player.

When in question, the clock shall be stopped for the injured player.

 

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Forward Progress Stopped……………………………..4-1-3

A live ball becomes dead and an official shall sound his whistle or declare it dead when a ball carrier is so held that his forward progress is stopped.

When in question, the ball is dead….

 

Kick-catch Interference…………………………………..6-4-1

It is interference if the kicking team contacts the potential receiver before, or simultaneous to, his first touching the ball.

When in question, it is an interference call.

 

Reasonable Opportunity to Catch Pass………………..7-3-2

If, to save a loss of yardage, a forward pass is thrown where no eligible Team A player has a reasonable opportunity to catch it, a forward pass is illegal. Loss of down at spot……

When in question, the Team A player has a reasonable opportunity to catch the pass.

 

It is a Catchable Forward Pass………………………….7-3-8

Defensive pass interference is contact beyond the Neutral Zone by a Team B player whose INTENT to impede an eligible opponent is OBVIOUS and it could prevent the opponent the opportunity of receiving a catchable forward pass.

When in question, a legal forward pass is catchable.

 

Touchback rather than Safety……………………………8-5-1

It is a safety when the ball becomes dead out of bounds behind the goal line, except from an incompleted pass, OR becomes dead in the possession of a player on, above or behind his own goal line, or becomes dead by rule and the defending team is responsible for the ball being there.

When in question, it is a touchback, not a Safety……..

 

 

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Twisting, turning, pulling facemask (helmet opening)…..9-1-2

No player shall twist, turn or pull the face mask or any helmet opening of an oppenet. It is not a foul if the face mask or helmet opening is not twisted, turned or pulled.

When in question, it is a FOUL.

 

Initiating contact and targeting defenseless opponent at or above the shoulders…………………………………………………….9-1-3

No player should initiate contact and target an opponent with the crown of his helmet.

No player shall initiate and target a defenseless opponent above the shoulders.

When in question, it is a FOUL.

 

Roughing Kicker rather than running into………………..9-1-4

When it is obvious that a scrimmage kick will be made, no opponent shall run into or rough the kicker or holder of a place

kick.

When in question, it is roughing rather than running into.