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514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Monday night football tonight had a player go in the end zone with the ball in the opposite side of the pile on i.e. Ball looks out of bounds but called touchdown. I thought the ball to cross the plane or be inside the pile on.

Asked by Louanne over 7 years ago

Didn't see the play but....

The ball must break the plane of the goal line....or the goal line extended. If the runner is completely inside the pylon when he crosses the goal, then the goal line is extended beyond the pylon and the plane is broken by the ball. Out there.

606 Votes

If a High School QB is hiked the ball in his own end-zone, scrambles out to the one yard line, and is then sacked in the end-zone, is it a safety?

Asked by EJ over 6 years ago

There are a few moving parts in your question. You say he gets out to the one; if he is stopped there and pushed back, then the QB gets forward progress at the one. No safety. If he gets out to the one and the returns on his own to the endzone and then is tackled, he put himself there. That's a safety.

605 Votes

Ref marks the ball in play after a long pass. Team wants to spike ball and kick FG. But not enough time. However first O player to line takes stance and fires out on def player. Penalty? Is that enough to stop clock so FG can be kicked?

Asked by Jay over 7 years ago

You put in a bunch of good stuff in this question. I have to make a few inferences. You say there isn't enough time [to spike and kick]. That likely means it is the end of a quarter. If it's the end of the second or fourth quarter, we have some special rules. First, if the clock is running (ref marked it ready so it is) and a penalty (the false start) causes the clock to stop, then the offended team (defense here) has the option of a ten second runoff. Here, you say there isn't enough time to spike it and then get your FG team on for a kick. With a ten second runoff, the period might be over. Also, in college, if there are less than three seconds left, you can't spike it and get another play in. Timing is everything.

603 Votes

Help with NCAA rule. Team A attempts a FG and the FG is blocked. There is an inadvertent whistle in scramble for ball. Defense recovers ball. Does Defense retain possession or does offense get to rekick? Our ruling - kicking team rekicked and won

Asked by Jason O almost 7 years ago

Loose ball - replay the down.

603 Votes

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2nd and 5 from the 20 yard line. Their is a 30 yard run to the 50. But their is a block in the back at the 40. Where do you mark off yardage from?

Asked by JB over 7 years ago

Spot of the foul - the 40

599 Votes

Is it a penalty when a ball carrier pushes one of his offensive players into a defender?

Asked by Lance T Morgan about 7 years ago

No. Even if the pushed player ends up "blocking" a defender in the back, it isn't a foul.

594 Votes

Does a play have to be over in order to call timeout? For example, in last week’s MNF the Saints through a pass in the middle of the field and the down receiver was touched by a Texan ending play. Could Texan not touched and run out clock?

Asked by Larry over 6 years ago

I'm not sure what the touching of a player has to do with this. Yes, a play has to end in order to call time out. If a player isn't touched - downing him in the NFL - but he doesn't get up, he's in essence giving himself - and the play - up (like a QB sliding). So, not specifically knowing the NFL philosophy, the play has ended if the receiver doesn't get up and the Saints could call TO as soon as the officials blow it dead.

592 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

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Monday night football tonight had a player go in the end zone with the ball in the opposite side of the pile on i.e. Ball looks out of bounds but called touchdown. I thought the ball to cross the plane or be inside the pile on.

If a High School QB is hiked the ball in his own end-zone, scrambles out to the one yard line, and is then sacked in the end-zone, is it a safety?

Ref marks the ball in play after a long pass. Team wants to spike ball and kick FG. But not enough time. However first O player to line takes stance and fires out on def player. Penalty? Is that enough to stop clock so FG can be kicked?

Help with NCAA rule. Team A attempts a FG and the FG is blocked. There is an inadvertent whistle in scramble for ball. Defense recovers ball. Does Defense retain possession or does offense get to rekick? Our ruling - kicking team rekicked and won

Also on Jobstr...

2nd and 5 from the 20 yard line. Their is a 30 yard run to the 50. But their is a block in the back at the 40. Where do you mark off yardage from?

Is it a penalty when a ball carrier pushes one of his offensive players into a defender?

Does a play have to be over in order to call timeout? For example, in last week’s MNF the Saints through a pass in the middle of the field and the down receiver was touched by a Texan ending play. Could Texan not touched and run out clock?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Monday night football tonight had a player go in the end zone with the ball in the opposite side of the pile on i.e. Ball looks out of bounds but called touchdown. I thought the ball to cross the plane or be inside the pile on.

If a High School QB is hiked the ball in his own end-zone, scrambles out to the one yard line, and is then sacked in the end-zone, is it a safety?

Ref marks the ball in play after a long pass. Team wants to spike ball and kick FG. But not enough time. However first O player to line takes stance and fires out on def player. Penalty? Is that enough to stop clock so FG can be kicked?

Help with NCAA rule. Team A attempts a FG and the FG is blocked. There is an inadvertent whistle in scramble for ball. Defense recovers ball. Does Defense retain possession or does offense get to rekick? Our ruling - kicking team rekicked and won

Also on Jobstr...

2nd and 5 from the 20 yard line. Their is a 30 yard run to the 50. But their is a block in the back at the 40. Where do you mark off yardage from?

Is it a penalty when a ball carrier pushes one of his offensive players into a defender?

Does a play have to be over in order to call timeout? For example, in last week’s MNF the Saints through a pass in the middle of the field and the down receiver was touched by a Texan ending play. Could Texan not touched and run out clock?

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