Zebra
Somewhere in, NJ
Male, 62
I've officiated football for over 30 years, now in my 26th on the college level. I've worked NCAA playoffs at the Division II and III level. In addition, I've coached at the scholastic level and have been an educator for over 35 years. I have no interest whatsoever in being an NFL official! Ever!
It's pretty similar at all levels of play. The big difference in the NFL and at the higher levels of college ball is the "O2O" (official-to-official) communication - the headsets. The official who threw the flag has to communicate to the referee what the foul is. Most times, the coach knows what it is, but the nearest official - one on the sideline - will try to get him the information if it isn't clear. The penalty also should be communicated so the coach understands his options. You'll often see the referee look to the sideline and signal the foul and possibly the decline signal if it seems appropriate) with a questioning look; he's communicating with the coach - the head coach. Any official who takes a response from an assistant in that situation is....uhh, not very smart.
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As noted above, on a running play, a foul behind the basic spot (in this case the end of the run) is enforced from the spot of the foul. It may or may not be a first down. In the play above, there was a gain well beyond the line to gain, so in enforcing the foul, you had a first down. But if the hold was, say, only five yards beyond the line of scrimmage, that is from where the penalty is enforced. So if there was more than five yards to go, a ten yard penalty is an issue. Enforcing from five yards beyond takes it to five yards behind. No first down.
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No. The offense put the ball in the endzone, so that can't be a safety. Now, if he left the endzone and then went back in - on his own - and then was tackled, yes, that's a safety, because the ball was put in the endzone by the defense.
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I can only imagine what happened that generated THIS question!
Lots here so one step at a time. The whistle blows, play is supposed to stop. In theory, the "play kills itself", meaning that even if a whistle didn't sound,if a player, for example, jumped on the pile, that is still a foul. "But I didn't hear a whistle!" says over-zealous player. You jumped on a pile of players!
You ask if there is an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose; I'm guessing you mean what happens if the ball is loose - or not in possession, such as a pass in the air - and the whistle sounds. Yes, there is a rule for that. It is termed an "inadvertant whistle"; the official screwed up and, yes, I've done it. As have most officials, whether they admit to it or not. Depending on the result, different things happen. Too much to cover here.
Next, penalty for not stopping? Hmm, yes, but there's some judgmenf involved. Example A: player calls for a fair catch, whistle blows, he takes off. Technically, that is a delay of game. Careful throwing that one. The most obvious is Example B: Whistle blows and player continues to block or tackle. It could be a personal foul; not for not "stopping" but for the forceful action (contact) when it should be stopped.
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Help Desk Technician
Do the stats actually back up the "Mac's never get viruses and crash way less than PCs" thing?
Mailman (City Letter Carrier)
Is there a big difference in the amount of mail you deliver today from 5-10 years ago?
Pharmacist
Have you ever given someone the wrong prescription?
Wrong football. No idea
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These are all line if scrimmage fouls. In some cases your confusion may simply be the terminology the referee used in making the announcement.
Most of what you list are defensive fouls. If the offense lines up "in the neutral zone" the play never goes off, similar to a false start; often that's referred to as offside. If the defense lines up in the zone, that's the famous "free play " foul; the play goes off but it won't be adjudicated til thd play is over. It's also a "neutral zone infraction", similar to the defense jumping into the neutral zone before the snap. Aa s point of information, in college and NFL, defense offside/neutral zone/encroachment us a "live ball goul"; the play continues. In high school, the defense being offside shuts down the play.
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I don't know. That is an NFL policy or regulation dealing with the structure of the league. I have a hard enough time understanding the playing rules. Sorry.
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