Defintions Flashcards
LOOSE BALL BETWEEN LEGS OF PLAYER—NO POSSESSION
Second-and-10 on B40. A1 runs with the ball to the B30 where he fumbles. In the scramble for the loose ball, B1
ends up on the ground with the ball securely held between his legs, although his hands/arms are not around the ball.
A2, while standing on his feet, reaches down and pulls the ball from B2 and runs for a touchdown.
Ruling: Touchdown. Kickoff A35. Possession requires control with the hands or arms. (3-2-7-Item 1)
FAIR-CATCH SIGNAL—BEHIND THE LINE
Fourth-and-7 on A40. A1’s punt is blocked and it goes straight up in the air behind the line of scrimmage. B1 signals
for a fair catch (valid or invalid) on the A36 and is tackled immediately by A3.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on A36. No foul by A3 or B1 since a fair catch cannot occur behind the line of
scrimmage. (3-10)
TEAM A BLOCKS TEAM B PLAYER INTO PUNT—TOUCHING / IMPETUS
Fourth-and-5 on A44. A1 punts and the ball is nearly at rest when A2 blocks B3 (high) into the ball (new impetus).
B3 was not attempting to block or recover the ball. The ball goes into the end zone where A3 falls on it
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B20. Touchback. The touching of the ball by B3 is ignored, so the ball is dead for a
touchback when the punted ball hits in the end zone, untouched by Team B.
BLOCKED PUNT INTO END ZONE—IMPETUS
Fourth-and-10 on A7. A’s punt is partially blocked by B1. B2 muffs the ball at the A10, and the ball rebounds into A’s
end zone where: (a) A2 falls on it; (b) A3 and B3 simultaneously recover it; or (c) the ball rolls over the end line.
Rulings:
(a) Safety. (3-29, 3-17)
(b) Touchdown. (11-2-1, 3-17)
(c) Safety. (3-17, 11-5-1)
BAT BY TEAM B ON PUNT INTO TEAM B END ZONE
Fourth-and-10 on 50. A1’s punt is rolling on the B10 when B1 bats the ball backward out of the back of the end zone.
At the time of the bat, the rolling punt was: (a) nearly at rest; or (b) still rolling toward the sideline (not nearly at rest).
Rulings: (a) and (b) Safety B, Safety Kick B20.
RUNNER TOUCHING OUT OF BOUNDS PLAYER
Third-and-goal on B7. Runner A2 runs toward the sideline and is inbounds at the B1-yard line when he touches A3
who is out of bounds at the time. A2 then scores.
Ruling: Touchdown. (3-21-1)
RUNNER TOUCHING OUT OF BOUNDS OFFICIAL
On a kickoff, B1 catches the ball near the sideline and then touches the Line Judge who is standing on the sideline
at the B10. B1 goes out of bounds at the B18.
Ruling: B’s ball, first-and-10 on B18. (3-21-1)
PLAYER OUT OF BOUNDS TOUCHES LOOSE BALL IN BOUNDS
Third-and-4 on A43. A1 runs to the A49 where B1, who is standing out of bounds, strips or knocks the ball loose
from A1, making contact with the ball after knocking it loose. B2 recovers at the B48.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on A49. This is considered a loose ball touching a player out of bounds and the ball is
dead. If the ball does not come loose or the out of bounds player does not make contact with the ball, the play is not
dead. (3-21-3)
ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS
Third-and-5 on A40. A2 is running with the ball at the B30 where he tosses it underhand to A3 who catches it at the
B29. A3 continues on for an apparent touchdown.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on B35. This is an illegal forward pass. (3-22-4) - from spot of foul
ILLEGAL SCRIMMAGE KICK—BEYOND LINE—RECOVERED BY TEAM A BEHIND LINE
Fourth-and-6 on A35. Punter A1 runs to the A37 and punts the ball. It is blocked by B1 and rolls behind the line to
the A33. A2 picks up the ball and runs to the 50.
Ruling: Fourth-and-14 on A27. The illegal kick foul must be accepted or it would be A’s ball, 1-10-50. (3-18 and 9-
1-1-Notes 1 and 2)
ILLEGALLY KICKING/BATTING LOOSE BALL BEHIND LINE OF SCRIMMAGE
Fourth-and-5 on B30. Quarterback A1 muffs the hand-to-hand snap, and while the ball is loose on the ground at the
B31, (a) A1 deliberately kicks it, causing it to go out of bounds at the B24, or (b) A1 bats the ball, causing it to go out
of bounds at the B24.
Rulings: (a) and (b) B’s ball, first-and-10 on B40. Illegally kicking or batting a loose ball behind the line of scrimmage
is enforced 10 yards from the previous spot, and a loss of down.
FUMBLE INTO AND OUT OF END ZONE
Third-and-7 on A11. A1 fumbles the ball on the A8 where B1 recovers the ball, advances to the A2, where he is hit
and fumbles the ball out of bounds through the end zone.
Ruling: A’s ball, first-and-10 on A20. Touchback. (3-38, 8-7-3)
MUFFED SNAP—TRY
During a kick or two-point Try, the snap is muffed by holder A2 or QBA1. In attempting to recover, A1 or A2 muffs
the ball into the end zone where A5 recovers.
Ruling: Try good. Award two points to Team A. Kickoff A35. Since this is a muffed backward pass, it is legal for A5
to recover the ball. Had it been a fumble, only the fumbling player could recover. (3-32, 3-41, 8-7-1-Note)
2-POINT TRY—5 VS. 15
Before the ball is snapped from the B2 on a 2-point Try, A2 false starts, and B2 then roughs quarterback A1
Ruling: Re-Try B2 and kickoff 50; re-Try B1 and kickoff A35; re-Try B7½ for 1-point kick-Try and kickoff A35; or reTry B15 for 1-point kick-Try and kickoff 50. (3-41)
2-POINT TRY—5 VS. 15
Before the ball is snapped from the 2-yard line, B1 encroaches and A3 then punches B2.
Ruling: Re-Try B17 for 2-point Try; or re-Try B30 for kick-Try. In neither case is there an option to enforce Team A’s
pre-snap foul on the kickoff. Disqualify A3. (3-41)
