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514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Scenerio: 4th down punt; receiver calls for fair catch; ball hits the ground, then the receiver; ball rolls into the endzone and is recovered by the kicking team... what is the call?

Asked by jason over 11 years ago

Unless I'm really screwing this up - always a possibility - it's a touchback. The status of the ball is that it is still a kick, even though it touched a receiver. In high school and college, a grounded kick in he endzone is a touchback. If it was receovered by the kickers in the field of play (between the goal lines), then it would be K's ball.

955 Votes

Tackling a player by his long hair is a personal foul and thereby precludes the ability of the tackler from grabbing the jersey from behind. Why does the NFL not mandate a hair within the helmet rule and level the field. This is not fair.

Asked by tommdawg over 11 years ago

I didn't see the game or play and I'm not sure of the NFL rule. That isn't the rule in HS or college. The hair is just a part of the body. Based on hw you describe it, I agree with you.

955 Votes

Can you snap the ball sideways as long as it goes backwards like a lateral. Not between the legs but standing sideways as long as you keep the ball perpendicular to LOS?

Asked by Bravovictor over 12 years ago

Yup. Using college rule 2-23-1-g: The snap need not be between the snapper's legs; but to be legal, it must be a quick and continuous backward motion.

And don't use "lateral". The term "lateral" is not used; it's a backward pass.

953 Votes

In High School if you have a fake field goal or extra point if the snap is to the holder and his knee is touching the ground can he get up and run or throw the ball or us he down where the snap was caught?

Asked by Brian over 10 years ago

The holder may come up and become a passer. He can also rise up to get a high snap and return to the ground to be the holder - that would not be a downing of the runner.

952 Votes

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A blocker is not allowed to put his hands on the opponents face mask, so why can a running use a stiff arm into the face Masks? This seems inconsistent.

Asked by Ace57 over 10 years ago

The runner can't grab and twist. He can push off the facemask. Hands to the facemask usually involves pushing up under the mask, putting pressure on the opponent's neck and head. It's a judgment call.

952 Votes

are officials more "loose" on college players than they are on nfl player or vise-versa

Asked by Ryan about 11 years ago

I don't think anyone is looser. The rules are the rules, and at both levels officials are graded. There are officiating philosophies that most fans aren't aware of, and that might lend itself to people thinking someone is letting a player "get away" with something. Officials are following the directives of their supervisors. I suppose if a supervisor had the attitude of "let'em play", there might be a more loose game. But I don't know of any like that.

951 Votes

Watching the Steelers game. During a punt holding was called on the receiving team, and 10 yard penalty was assessed from the end of the run, how would it be assessed if it was returned for a touchdown? Or even a long return?

Asked by Cksteffy@dejazzd.com over 10 years ago

NFL rules are different but generally, if the foul is behind the "basic spot" (the end of the run) it's marked off from the spot of the foul.

950 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Scenerio: 4th down punt; receiver calls for fair catch; ball hits the ground, then the receiver; ball rolls into the endzone and is recovered by the kicking team... what is the call?

Tackling a player by his long hair is a personal foul and thereby precludes the ability of the tackler from grabbing the jersey from behind. Why does the NFL not mandate a hair within the helmet rule and level the field. This is not fair.

Can you snap the ball sideways as long as it goes backwards like a lateral. Not between the legs but standing sideways as long as you keep the ball perpendicular to LOS?

In High School if you have a fake field goal or extra point if the snap is to the holder and his knee is touching the ground can he get up and run or throw the ball or us he down where the snap was caught?

Also on Jobstr...

A blocker is not allowed to put his hands on the opponents face mask, so why can a running use a stiff arm into the face Masks? This seems inconsistent.

are officials more "loose" on college players than they are on nfl player or vise-versa

Watching the Steelers game. During a punt holding was called on the receiving team, and 10 yard penalty was assessed from the end of the run, how would it be assessed if it was returned for a touchdown? Or even a long return?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Scenerio: 4th down punt; receiver calls for fair catch; ball hits the ground, then the receiver; ball rolls into the endzone and is recovered by the kicking team... what is the call?

Tackling a player by his long hair is a personal foul and thereby precludes the ability of the tackler from grabbing the jersey from behind. Why does the NFL not mandate a hair within the helmet rule and level the field. This is not fair.

Can you snap the ball sideways as long as it goes backwards like a lateral. Not between the legs but standing sideways as long as you keep the ball perpendicular to LOS?

In High School if you have a fake field goal or extra point if the snap is to the holder and his knee is touching the ground can he get up and run or throw the ball or us he down where the snap was caught?

Also on Jobstr...

A blocker is not allowed to put his hands on the opponents face mask, so why can a running use a stiff arm into the face Masks? This seems inconsistent.

are officials more "loose" on college players than they are on nfl player or vise-versa

Watching the Steelers game. During a punt holding was called on the receiving team, and 10 yard penalty was assessed from the end of the run, how would it be assessed if it was returned for a touchdown? Or even a long return?

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