Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

If the person who has the football has a knee that touches the ground, is he down?

Asked by Ed Gouge almost 10 years ago

Generally speaking, in HS and college yes. In the NFL, the player needs to be "down by contact", so if a player is running free and slips or trips in the NFL, he can still get up and continue. In HS and college, the player is down.

788 Votes

On a pass two feet are required to be in bounds for a pass to be ruled complete. Could a player double hop on one foot, with adequate ball control, before going out of bounds and it be considered complete.

Asked by Rich over 10 years ago

You gave the answer: "On a pass two feet are required". And that's two different feet, otherwise it's one foot.

787 Votes

When a running back uses a stiff arm to the facemask...Shouldn't it be a penalty?? I've notice that linemen get flagged for hands to the face quite often so what would the difference be between that and a stiff arm to the facemask?

Asked by Scott almost 11 years ago

A RB stiff arming usually is pushing away the defender. It is not the upward stretching/straining motion that you're talking about with OLs. If a RB were to grab the facemask and twist or hold onto it, then you have a foul.

787 Votes

in college when a players helmet comes off is the play blown dead then or is it allowed to continue

Asked by millometter almost 11 years ago

There are several scenarios to what you ask. If a ball carrier's helmet comes off, the play is dead immediately. That's a safety issue. If anyone else's helmet comes off, they have an opportunity to step away and not participate; the play goes on. If a player's helmet comes off and he is already engaged (making a play on the runner, in process of making a block) he may continue. If a player's helmet comes off, he may not continue to play (beyond a step or two) or it is a personal foul.

784 Votes

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If a team punts the ball and the ball lands on <15 and bounces to lets say the <23. Let's say the ball takes a bad bounce and the defender trying to down the ball has no other way to touch the ball but kicking it into the end zone. Wheres the LOS?

Asked by Chris almost 11 years ago

Intentionally kicking the ball is a foul. If a receiver kicks the ball into his own endzone we have a foul and safety.

783 Votes

During a play a unsportsmanlike flag is thrown on the offensive tackle. the play ends in a touch down. Where is the ball placed?

Asked by Alvin almost 11 years ago

If it's during the play, it is a live ball foul. The penalty is enforced from the previous spot. No score.

780 Votes

Kind of a a strange question here; if an offensive player in possession of the ball gets tackled by a defensive player so hard that his arm that is cradling the ball is dismembered is this a fumble or down since his arm is still holding the ball?

Asked by Mike F almost 11 years ago

You are so right. That is strange. And after I finish throwing up, I'd say it is a fumble since the runner no longer has possession....of the ball or his arm. Where did you come up with that!?

780 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If the person who has the football has a knee that touches the ground, is he down?

On a pass two feet are required to be in bounds for a pass to be ruled complete. Could a player double hop on one foot, with adequate ball control, before going out of bounds and it be considered complete.

When a running back uses a stiff arm to the facemask...Shouldn't it be a penalty?? I've notice that linemen get flagged for hands to the face quite often so what would the difference be between that and a stiff arm to the facemask?

in college when a players helmet comes off is the play blown dead then or is it allowed to continue

Also on Jobstr...

If a team punts the ball and the ball lands on <15 and bounces to lets say the <23. Let's say the ball takes a bad bounce and the defender trying to down the ball has no other way to touch the ball but kicking it into the end zone. Wheres the LOS?

During a play a unsportsmanlike flag is thrown on the offensive tackle. the play ends in a touch down. Where is the ball placed?

Kind of a a strange question here; if an offensive player in possession of the ball gets tackled by a defensive player so hard that his arm that is cradling the ball is dismembered is this a fumble or down since his arm is still holding the ball?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If the person who has the football has a knee that touches the ground, is he down?

On a pass two feet are required to be in bounds for a pass to be ruled complete. Could a player double hop on one foot, with adequate ball control, before going out of bounds and it be considered complete.

When a running back uses a stiff arm to the facemask...Shouldn't it be a penalty?? I've notice that linemen get flagged for hands to the face quite often so what would the difference be between that and a stiff arm to the facemask?

in college when a players helmet comes off is the play blown dead then or is it allowed to continue

Also on Jobstr...

If a team punts the ball and the ball lands on <15 and bounces to lets say the <23. Let's say the ball takes a bad bounce and the defender trying to down the ball has no other way to touch the ball but kicking it into the end zone. Wheres the LOS?

During a play a unsportsmanlike flag is thrown on the offensive tackle. the play ends in a touch down. Where is the ball placed?

Kind of a a strange question here; if an offensive player in possession of the ball gets tackled by a defensive player so hard that his arm that is cradling the ball is dismembered is this a fumble or down since his arm is still holding the ball?

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