Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Ok- It’s fourth down with 4 sec left. The QB runs backward on 4th down. The clock hits zero and he tosses the ball underhand, skyward to celebrate. The ball comes down to the field and bounces in the end zone. If it went backwards- isn’t it a fumble

Asked by The Old AD over 7 years ago

Yup. Or technically, a backward pass which is still alive. This is the end of the JMU - South Dakota State game that someone just called me about. He thought the whistle had blown and if so, the ref may have felt the QB had "given himself up" knowing what the purpose of the running around was. In truth, the QB should have killed the clock running around and then gone to a knee to end the game.

528 Votes

Why is a quarterback not charged for "intentional grounding" when he spikes the ball?

Asked by Les about 8 years ago

The rules allow the player who "first controls the snap" to immediately throw it to the ground without being called for grounding.

528 Votes

with regard to forward progress - if an offensive player is running and then collides with a teammate at the 35 yard line and falls backwards landing on the ground with the ball at the 34 yard line is the ball spotted at the 34 or 35

Asked by boby over 8 years ago

I have answered this question - or a variation of it - three times. No more!

527 Votes

In the NFL if a player possesses the ball and a teammate standing partially out of bounds contacts him is the ball considered out of bounds?

Asked by Ron over 8 years ago

Well, based on what we saw on the Giants-Packers game, no. My understanding on other levels is if a player (ball carrier) comes on contact with something or someone out of bounds, then he is out of bounds. But...

526 Votes

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Why do officials stand over the football and deliberately deny the center from hiking the ball as the play clock ticks away? Sometimes the offense wants to "hurry up"offense and cannot due to the ref standing over the ball on the line of scrimmage

Asked by Willfire67 over 8 years ago

If the offense has substituted, the defense has to be given an opportunity to "match up". There are limits in time, but the D has to have the chance. If the defense doesn't sub immediately, the official moves off the ball. When you see an official with his arms out to the side ("iron cross") they are in that time frame allowing the defense to sub.

524 Votes

It is 4th down, with 5 seconds left in the game. The offensive team is ahead by 2 points. The QB receives the snap and runs backward and throws the ball up The offensive team storms the field and ball is caught by a player not in the game. Is game o

Asked by Rick over 8 years ago

This play will never never happen, even in a Pop Warner game.

Here is my take: Too many men on the field and yes 15 yds for unsportsmanship and replay after 15 yds back.

Also, if QB threw up ball, would this be intentional grounding? If yes, that is a spot foul, 5 yds from spot and loss of down. LOD on 4th down with no time left means that we do not extend so game would be over and B loses if they accept this foul (which they would not).

The QB would take the snap and run backwards for 4 seconds and then take a knee. Period.

524 Votes

If a team was punting out of their own endzone, and the punter muffed the kick straight up and a person on the opposition called a fair catch in the endzone would it be a touchdown. Also if they interfered with the fair catch would it be a touchdown?

Asked by Erik over 7 years ago

Let's correct a term first. The punter can't muff the kick. What I think you're saying is the punter kicked the ball straight up in the air. If the ball was still in the endzone, that means the kick never crossed the line of scrimmage. And that means you can't call for a fair catch. If the receiving team has possession in that endzone, you have a touchdown.

522 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Ok- It’s fourth down with 4 sec left. The QB runs backward on 4th down. The clock hits zero and he tosses the ball underhand, skyward to celebrate. The ball comes down to the field and bounces in the end zone. If it went backwards- isn’t it a fumble

Why is a quarterback not charged for "intentional grounding" when he spikes the ball?

with regard to forward progress - if an offensive player is running and then collides with a teammate at the 35 yard line and falls backwards landing on the ground with the ball at the 34 yard line is the ball spotted at the 34 or 35

In the NFL if a player possesses the ball and a teammate standing partially out of bounds contacts him is the ball considered out of bounds?

Also on Jobstr...

Why do officials stand over the football and deliberately deny the center from hiking the ball as the play clock ticks away? Sometimes the offense wants to "hurry up"offense and cannot due to the ref standing over the ball on the line of scrimmage

It is 4th down, with 5 seconds left in the game. The offensive team is ahead by 2 points. The QB receives the snap and runs backward and throws the ball up The offensive team storms the field and ball is caught by a player not in the game. Is game o

If a team was punting out of their own endzone, and the punter muffed the kick straight up and a person on the opposition called a fair catch in the endzone would it be a touchdown. Also if they interfered with the fair catch would it be a touchdown?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Ok- It’s fourth down with 4 sec left. The QB runs backward on 4th down. The clock hits zero and he tosses the ball underhand, skyward to celebrate. The ball comes down to the field and bounces in the end zone. If it went backwards- isn’t it a fumble

Why is a quarterback not charged for "intentional grounding" when he spikes the ball?

with regard to forward progress - if an offensive player is running and then collides with a teammate at the 35 yard line and falls backwards landing on the ground with the ball at the 34 yard line is the ball spotted at the 34 or 35

In the NFL if a player possesses the ball and a teammate standing partially out of bounds contacts him is the ball considered out of bounds?

Also on Jobstr...

Why do officials stand over the football and deliberately deny the center from hiking the ball as the play clock ticks away? Sometimes the offense wants to "hurry up"offense and cannot due to the ref standing over the ball on the line of scrimmage

It is 4th down, with 5 seconds left in the game. The offensive team is ahead by 2 points. The QB receives the snap and runs backward and throws the ball up The offensive team storms the field and ball is caught by a player not in the game. Is game o

If a team was punting out of their own endzone, and the punter muffed the kick straight up and a person on the opposition called a fair catch in the endzone would it be a touchdown. Also if they interfered with the fair catch would it be a touchdown?

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