Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Could you tell me if there was a time when the team trailing at halftime received the 2nd half kickoff...if so, could you tell me what years this rule was in the books?

Asked by sirtop1963!!! over 7 years ago

I am not aware of that. I tried to do some research but couldn't come up with anything.

In high School can a QB wear 79 and can a player play tackle one play then qb then rb then then the the tackle in consecutive plays without reporting as eligible?

Asked by Thom over 6 years ago

Can a qb wear 79? Yes. But there is no "reoortibgvas eligible" in high school or college. The qb wearing 79 can play the libe and ho back. But 79 cannot catch a pass - that's an ineligible number.

646 Votes

I recently saw an Appalachian State game where App. St. went on a drive which took over 10 minutes (the final play of the drive started 10 minutes and 4 seconds after the initial play of the same drive. It made me wonder the following regarding the NFL overtime rule which states:

No more than one 10-minute period will follow a three-minute intermission.

Each team must possess, or have the opportunity to possess, the ball. The exception: if the team that gets the ball first scores a touchdown on the opening possession.

Sudden death play — where the game ends on any score (safety, field goal or touchdown) — continues until a winner is determined.

So, what happens if the team that receives the ball to start OT just runs out the clock, or kicks a FG as time expires in OT? In each case, both teams did not have the opportunity after no TD was scored on the initial ball possession.

Thanks,

Ben

Asked by Ben over 6 years ago

Hi Ben -Good question. I want to follow up with a friend who is in the NFL, but....

CORRECTION - I WAS WRONG!!

If a team drives the fieldctakingvupbsllvten minutes and then kicks field goal: gsne over. The FG wins it.

What is below is WRONG.

I don't think we have a winner. NFL Rule 16 states:ARTICLE 3. EXTRA PERIODFollowing an intermission of no more than three minutes after the end of the regular game, the extra period shall commence.Both teams must have the opportunity to possess the ball once during the extra period, unless the team that receives the opening kickoff scores a touchdown on its initial possession, in which case it is the winner, or if the team kicking off to start the overtime period scores a safety on the receiving team’s initial possession, in which case the team that kicked off is the winner. I

It seems that if a team tries a field goal, it would not matter - a touchdown was not scored and both teams have not had an opportunity to possess the ball.

645 Votes

On 9/15/19 Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook got a penalty for blocking on Stephan Diggs touchdown catch before halftime. THe officials didnt throw a flag. It was during the touchdown review that the officials in New York called it. What?

Asked by Lonny Adkison over 6 years ago

Lots of stuff now can be adjusted via replay. It seems that the replay folks can initiate a penalty (usually an egregious oversight or miss) if it needs to be called. There are similar situations in the college ranks re: targeting, for example.

641 Votes

Also on Jobstr...

Subway Store Manager

The 6" sub is too small and the 12" is too big. Why no 9-inch sub?

Yoga Instructor

Why don’t more men do yoga?

Ice Sculptor

What was the raciest sculpture you ever made?

Regarding the NCAA "Invalid fair catch signal", the rule mentions any "Waving" being considered an invalid signal. Does this include a below-the-waist, baseball-umpire-"safe" type signal to teammates to stay away? Seems like that isn't a "wave".

Asked by Wild Boars Special Teams over 6 years ago

It isn't a wave but because it can be misconstrued, the "safe" sign isn't a fair catch but does kill the play.

639 Votes

If a high school player has touretts syndrome and tics are there accommodations made for him as to illegal movement on offense or can he only play on the defensive side of the ball

Asked by BOB almost 7 years ago

In all likelihood, that is a question to be decided by the state athletic association. If you play, the rules apply to you unless someone at a higher pay grade says otherwise.

637 Votes

Why can ball carriers stiff arm any defender directly in the face but if anyone but the ball carrier does it it's "illegal hands to the face?"

Asked by Michael Hoopazaka over 6 years ago

This is a very popular question. My sense is that in theory, a defender getting stiff armed a) could pull away easier than a lineman getting pushed under the chin, b) the hands to the face is a safety issue in close line play, and c) a stiff arm by a ball carrier is generally not "continuous" as it is in close line play.

635 Votes

Showing 344 - 350

Show All

51 More Answers by Football Official

Last 7

47 48 49 50 51 52

...

Next 7 Answers

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Could you tell me if there was a time when the team trailing at halftime received the 2nd half kickoff...if so, could you tell me what years this rule was in the books?

In high School can a QB wear 79 and can a player play tackle one play then qb then rb then then the the tackle in consecutive plays without reporting as eligible?

On 9/15/19 Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook got a penalty for blocking on Stephan Diggs touchdown catch before halftime. THe officials didnt throw a flag. It was during the touchdown review that the officials in New York called it. What?

Also on Jobstr...

Regarding the NCAA "Invalid fair catch signal", the rule mentions any "Waving" being considered an invalid signal. Does this include a below-the-waist, baseball-umpire-"safe" type signal to teammates to stay away? Seems like that isn't a "wave".

If a high school player has touretts syndrome and tics are there accommodations made for him as to illegal movement on offense or can he only play on the defensive side of the ball

Why can ball carriers stiff arm any defender directly in the face but if anyone but the ball carrier does it it's "illegal hands to the face?"

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Could you tell me if there was a time when the team trailing at halftime received the 2nd half kickoff...if so, could you tell me what years this rule was in the books?

In high School can a QB wear 79 and can a player play tackle one play then qb then rb then then the the tackle in consecutive plays without reporting as eligible?

On 9/15/19 Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook got a penalty for blocking on Stephan Diggs touchdown catch before halftime. THe officials didnt throw a flag. It was during the touchdown review that the officials in New York called it. What?

Also on Jobstr...

Regarding the NCAA "Invalid fair catch signal", the rule mentions any "Waving" being considered an invalid signal. Does this include a below-the-waist, baseball-umpire-"safe" type signal to teammates to stay away? Seems like that isn't a "wave".

If a high school player has touretts syndrome and tics are there accommodations made for him as to illegal movement on offense or can he only play on the defensive side of the ball

Why can ball carriers stiff arm any defender directly in the face but if anyone but the ball carrier does it it's "illegal hands to the face?"

Login

Forgot Your Password?

Register