FOOTBALL

GROUND RULES

Ball on the Turf Could Be a Muff or a Fumble

By George Demetriou

It’s pretty rare to have a fumblefree game. Muffs are less common. Muffs and fumbles are treated differently.

A fumble is the loss of player possession and is characterized by an act other than passing, kicking or successful handing of the ball. A muff is an unsuccessful attempt to get possession of the ball and is always preceded by a touch. Also, an accidental kick is a muff (NFHS 2-18, 2-27; NCAA 2-221. 2-11-2).

Play 1: A1 receives the snap and attempts to hand off to A2. The ball falls to the ground. Ruling 1: A1 has fumbled; he had possession of the ball before it became loose.

Play 2: As A1 takes the snap, the ball falls to the ground. Ruling 2: A1 has muffed the snap; he never had possession.

Under NCAA rules only, there is an exception. On fourth down or during a try, before a change of team possession, a fumble caught or recovered in advance of the spot of the fumble by a member of the fumbling team other than the fumbler results in a dead ball. The ball is returned to the spot of the fumble. If the fumble is caught or recovered behind the spot of the fumble by a member of the fumbling team other than the fumbler, the ball is dead at that spot.

Those restrictions apply only to team A; team B may legally advance any fumbled ball.

In NFHS, if team B recovers a fumble on a try, the ball is dead and the try is ended.

If the quarterback had control of this snap before he dropped it, the result is a fumble. If he touched the ball but never gained possession of it, it’s a muff. If the snap was such that it never got to the quarterback at all, it’s an illegal snap and a column for another day.

Play 3: Fourth and 10 on team A’s 30 yardline. A1 catches a pass at his 38 yardline and fumbles there. The ball is recovered at team A’s 32 yardline and advanced to team A’s 45 yardline by (a) A1, or (b) A2. Ruling 3: In NFHS, the play stands in (a) and (b) and it’s team A’s ball, first and 10 on its 45 yardline. Under NCAA rules, in (a), the play stands since A1 recovered his own fumble. In (b), the ball is dead when A2 recovers and it is returned to the spot where possession was lost, making it team B’s ball, first and 10 on team A’s 38 yardline.

Out of bounds. In NFHS play, when the ball is fumbled in the field of play and goes out of bounds, the ball belongs to the fumbling team at the out-of-bounds spot. That is the same ruling in NCAA if the ball goes out of bounds behind the spot of the fumble. However, in NCAA, a fumble out of bounds in advance of the spot of the fumble is returned to the fumbling team at the spot of the fumble.

Play 4: Third and 10 on team A’s 30 yardline. A1 pitches to A3 for a sweep. As A3 approaches the line, he is hit and fumbles at his 30 yardline. The ball goes out of bounds at (a) team A’s 28 yardline, or (b) team A’s 33 yardline. Ruling 4: In (a), in both codes, the ball belongs to team A at the out-of-bounds spot (team A’s 28 yardline) and it will be fourth and 12. In (b), in NFHS, the ball also belongs to team A at the out-ofbounds spot (team A’s 33 yardline) and it will be fourth and seven. In NCAA games, the ball is returned to the spot of the fumble, where it will be fourth and 10 for team A on its own 30 yardline.

Muffs. It is a muff when a defender deflects a pass he is attempting to intercept. A muff may also occur after a fumble as several players vie for the ball. Arguably muffs occur most frequently during kicks and present a challenge to officials. Muffed kicks cannot be advanced by the kicking team. The underlying reason for that is not because the ball is muffed, but because the status of the ball remains as a kick.

Let’s go back to the defender who muffs a pass in flight. If his deflection ends up in the hands of a teammate or an opponent (perhaps the intended receiver), the ball remains live and may be advanced. Certainly, there is no debate that either team can advance a fumble after it is muffed and recovered. While caught or intercepted passes and recovered fumbles may be advanced, kicks may not. When the kicking team gains possession of a free kick, the ball is always dead; on scrimmage kicks in NFHS, it remains live if team K recovers behind the line and in NCAA, if team K recovers behind the line and the ball did not cross the line (NFHS 4-2-2f; NCAA 4-1-3e).

Play 5: K1’s punt hits the ground at team R’s 30 yardline and rolls. R1 muffs the kick at his 26 yardline, and the ball is recovered at team R’s 24 yardline and advanced for an apparent touchdown by (a) R5, or (b)K5. Ruling 5: In (a), a legal play. In (b), since team R was the first to touch the kick beyond the line, team K is entitled to possession; however, the ball is immediately dead on the recovery and no advance by team K is possible. It is team K’s ball, first and 10 on team R’s 24 yardline.

Fumble or muff? In most situations, the distinction between a muff or fumble will not make any difference, but here is a play where that knowledge is essential.

Play 6: K1’s punt is very high and R3 decides to catch it without signaling for a fair catch. The ball hits R3’s chest at team R’s 30 yardline. R3 takes a step forward as he struggles to get a firm grip on the ball. K5 contacts R3 and the ball falls to the ground. K5 recovers the ball and takes it into the end zone. Ruling 6: The covering official must judge whether R3 had possession of the ball before he was contacted. If he had possession, R3 fumbled and K5’s touchdown stands. If R3 never had possession, his muff may be recovered by K5, but the ball is dead and cannot be advanced. It will be first and 10 for team K at the spot of recovery. George Demetriou has been a football official since 1968. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. *

SIDELINE

A Better Mousetrap?

In the 2022 NFL preseason, selected players were required to wear Guardian Caps, a soft shell worn over helmets as a concussion prevention device. Concussions among players in those position groups fell by more than 50 percent compared to the previous three-year average.

According to the Guardian Caps website, the product was introduced in 2011. But the idea is nothing new.

According to an item in the Sept. 11, 1967, issue of Sports Illustrated, Ohio State coach Woody Hayes advocated a similar device.

“For 13 years we’ve padded our headgear at OSU inside and outside. We’re now using a synthetic rubber 20 times as absorbent as foam rubber,” Hayes said. “But we can’t get much support from other schools.”

The design and material may be different from that used by the Buckeyes, but you have to tip your helmet to Hayes for his foresight.

SURVEY SAYS ...

Should hits on the quarterback in the NFL be reviewable by replay? yes - 54.5% no - 45.5%

SOURCE: SURVEY OF 44 REFEREE READERS

DID YOU KNOW?

Under NFL rules regarding punts, only eligible receivers on the line of scrimmage at the time of the snap, or an eligible receiver who is aligned or in motion behind the line and is more than one yard outside the player on the end of the line, are permitted to advance more than one yard beyond the line before the ball is kicked. The NCAA was actually first to pass such a rule, in 1967. But the rule was eliminated in 1968.

TEST YOURSELF Set Your Standard Early

In each of the following you are given a situation and at least two possible answers. You are to decide which answer or answers are correct for NFHS and NCAA rules, which might vary. Note: In kicking situations, K is the kicking team, R the receiving team.

Solutions: p. 85.

1. Team K is in a legal scrimmagekick formation with holder K1 on one knee and K2 in position as if to kick. K1 catches the snap and, with his knee still on the ground, pitches the ball forward to K3, who was positioned as a back. K3 catches the ball and advances to team R’s end zone. When the pass is thrown, the covering official should: a. Do nothing; that’s legal. b. Drop a flag but allow the play to continue. c. Drop a flag and blow the whistle. d. Blow the whistle only.

2. Fourth and goal on team B’s two yardline. With the game clock running and before team A breaks its huddle, B1 removes his helmet and exhorts his teammates. He does not curse nor direct comments toward team A. a. No problem. b. Unsportsmanlike conduct foul on B1.

3. K1’s free kick from his 40 yardline is untouched and goes out of bounds at team R’s 30 yardline. After the ball is dead, K2 knocks R3 to the ground. a. If team R accepts both penalties, team K could rekick from its own 20 yardline. b. If team R accepts both penalties, it could start a new series from the 50 yardline. c. Either a or b.

4. Team A’s ball, first and 10 at its own 20 yardline. A1 catches a legal forward pass at the 50 yardline and is advancing toward team B’s goalline. B2 is able to catch A1 and punches the ball loose at team B’s three yardline. The ball rolls into the end zone, where it is recovered by B3. B3 is contacted before he can advance, fumbles and the ball rolls out of the back of the end zone. a. The momentum exception applies; team B’s ball at its own three yardline. b. Safety; two points for team A. c. Touchback; team A’s ball at its own 20 yardline.

By Jon Bible

Early in my years as a college referee, I had a tough night. Team A’s offensive line was porous and defenders relentlessly pounded the quarterback. For whatever reason, although I knew instinctively some hits were late, I didn’t start calling roughing until the third quarter. It took several calls before the defense finally backed off. I got abuse from team B’s coaches because I suddenly put up a stop sign after letting them almost get away with murder the whole game. Had I taken care of business when the first defender approached or crossed the line, my life would have been easier.

There are two lessons. First, the standard we set at the outset of a game can make or break the rest of it. It will likely take the players a few plays to figure out the standard, but once they do they’ll play accordingly. If the standard is too lax, the game may degenerate into a sloppy affair and maybe become a war zone. If, by contrast, we’re too technical we may turn the game into a flag day event that bores everyone to tears.

I once graded a game film where, early in the first quarter, an official flagged a tackle for holding when the defender beat him and he grabbed the jersey. The official processed the action too quickly; the jersey stretch registered in his mind, but the fact the defender’s stride wasn’t altered didn’t. I wrote, “Do you really want to tell everyone that will be your standard for calling holding for the rest of the game?”

The need to be aware of what standard we’re setting applies at every position. How “handsy” are deep officials going to let defenders be with receivers? How much will umpires let linemen grab defenders? How technical will wing officials be with offensive formations and how much yapping will they let coaches get away with? What’s everyone going to do about players bickering and squaring off at each other? A separate issue is whether we call things the same way everywhere on the field or change our standard depending on whether we’re at the five yardline or 50 yardline.

By setting a standard early I don’t necessarily mean throwing a flag. I believe in warning players if they’re on the edge of fouling but haven’t yet crossed my line. After the play, get word to a tackle who’s creeping off the line to move up. Warn a back that any more restriction and it’s holding. Tell a defender that if he hits the quarterback any later it’ll be roughing, and so on. Then get word to the coaches we’ve warned. We can’t expect the players to tell them that. That lets everyone know the ball is in their court and a marker may be dropped if they don’t fix things. Understand, I’m not advocating letting obvious fouls go. I’m talking about borderline cases.

It’s also good to compliment players when they let up, like the ones who could have hit a downed runner but didn’t. Those who receive praise tend to want to continue to do so, and that can have a calming effect on their teammates as well.

Of course, to talk about our standard begs the question: What should it be? Much has been said about using an advantagedisadvantage approach in foulcalling, where we don’t toss our flag unless something jumps out and puts a team at a disadvantage. I’m a firm believer in “call what matters and avoid the nitpicky stuff” approach at all levels, because I think it’s best calculated to produce a clean, fair game.

How do we know where that “make it big” line is? It takes study, effort and lots of snaps. People who have officiated for decades still devote hours to fine-tuning. Talk with veteran officials. Use available resources. If you’re in an association it may have helpful instructional material. NASO and this magazine have produced many worthy study guides on various topics.

See “Set Your Standard” p.72

face it: a Few options here

It’s fairly obvious the player on the right is guilty of a foul. But what is the exact nature of the foul? A still photo is just that and we don’t know what happens next. Here are some possibilities.

Only NCAA has a specific foul for illegal hands to the face. This act could also turn out to be grasping and twisting the facemask or illegal use of hands. The penalty for the latter is 10 yards; the other fouls carry a 15-yard penalty and, if by team B, an automatic first down.

The NFHS rulebook is not as specific; there is no hands to the face foul. Grasping and twisting the facemask carries a 15-yard penalty. This could also be illegal use of hands, which carries a 10-yard penalty.

CASEPLAYS

One Too Many

Play: Team B has 12 players in its formation, and no player is attempting to leave the field. The snap is imminent. Quarterback A1, late in the play clock, is struggling to read the defense and the play clock expires. Ruling: In NFHS, when the officials count 12 team B players, both teams are in formation, no team B player is attempting to leave the field and the snap is imminent, the ball remains dead and team B is penalized five yards for illegal substitution. In NCAA, if the play clock expires in that situation, penalize team B for a dead-ball illegal substitution foul (NFHS 3-71, 3.7.1B Comment; NCAA 3-5-3, AR 3-5-3 VII).

Substitution

Play: A1 is a substitute for A2. Can A1 legally leave the game assuming the ball doesn’t become live? Ruling: In NFHS, during the same dead-ball interval, A1 must remain in the game unless a penalty is accepted, a dead-ball foul occurs, there is a charged timeout or the period ends (3-73). In NCAA, A1 must remain in the game for one play except during the interval between periods, after a score or when a timeout is charged to a team or to the referee with the exception of a live ball out of bounds or an incomplete forward pass (3-5-2d).

Out of Bounds

Play: Fourth and 10 on team K’s six yardline. Punter K1 is near his endline. After the snap, K1 takes a step backward and his foot touches the endline, but he has both feet inbounds when he catches the snap. The punt rolls out of bounds at midfield. Ruling: A team K player who goes out of bounds during a scrimmage kick down may not return inbounds during the down, unless he is blocked out of bounds and attempts to return inbounds immediately. In NFHS, K1 is guilty of illegal participation, a 15-yard penalty enforced under the all-but-one principle. In the play cited, the spot of the foul is behind the basic spot. Since that spot is in the end zone, it is a safety. In NCAA, the penalty is five yards from the previous spotor team R may choose enforcement from the dead-ball spot (NFHS 9-6-1; NCAA 6-3-12). SET YOUR STANDARD

continued from p.66

Also, there is video depicting what’s pass interference, holding, roughing the passer and kicker, etc. Some may come from NFL or college games, but it’s beneficial. Unless the applicable rules are different, what’s a foul at higher levels should pretty much be the same at lower ones. Officials and aspirants at the highest levels devote so much time to film study in and out of season the term “film junky” has been coined for them. Everyone at every level can benefit from that.

Whatever our foul-worthiness standard is, it at least has the benefit of consistency if we stick with it for four quarters. My second point is if we change our standard midgame, we create a whole other issue. Having been effectively told the game will be called one way, the coaches and players may have a hard time shifting gears, especially because there’s no practical way for us to tell everyone in advance we’re about to change and to what extent.

Now, when it’s getting toward crunch time, they’ll have to figure out the new standard. They can’t do that until we toss a flag for something we’ve been letting go, or vice versa. Until we keep doing it, moreover, they can’t be sure it’s not a one-off and we won’t revert to what we were calling. And because they won’t know we have a reason for changing, they’ll likely chalk it up to inconsistency and poor officiating.

Sometimes we have no choice but to change our standard. If, for example, I had stuck with what I started with in my game, the quarterback may have been seriously injured, and I’ve seen officials loosen up after starting out being way too nitpicky. As I’ve explained, that is not ideal, but it’s better than allowing the game to become a farce. Jon Bible is a replay official in the Southeastern Conference. A resident of Austin, Texas, he formerly officiated collegiate and pro football. *

THE HARDEST RULES

SEE FEATURE ON PAGE 16 Kick Touched and a Foul Make for an Evil Mix

By Jeffrey Stern

From an enforcement standpoint, the rule that always makes my train of thought jump the track involves the kicking team being first to touch a scrimmage kick, followed by a foul, a recovery by the receiving team and a fumble that gives the ball back to the kicking team.

Consider this play as seen in the MechaniGram: K1’s punt is first touched by K2 at team R’s 42 yardline. The ball is picked up by R3 at team R’s 40 yardline. R3 is subsequently hit and fumbles at team R’s 48 yardline. The loose ball is recovered by prone K4 at the 50 yardline. During the kick, R5 holds at team R’s 42 yardline.

Mike Graf, a coordinator for the Minnesota High School League, offered some advice on how to handle such plays. After everyone takes a deep breath and the officials who have bags and flags on the ground communicate what they have, Graf says, “First thing I would try to do is figure out whether first touching might come into play. It is vital to remember team R cannot have the ball placed at the spot of first touching if team R touched the ball and subsequently committed a foul or the penalty is accepted for any foul committed by either team during the down.”

In the play cited, team K cannot keep the ball at the spot of the

recovery because if it declines the penalty for team R’s foul, team R will take the ball at the spot of first touching. If team K accepts the penalty, team R’s first touching option is canceled. Post-scrimmage kick enforcement does not apply as team K would be next to put the ball in play as a result of recovering team R’s fumble. The penalty for R’s foul is enforced from the previous spot, resulting in a first down for team K at team K’s 40 yardline.

Let’s change the play to a team K foul during the kick. Fourth and 10 at team K’s 30 yardline. K1’s punt is first touched by K2 at team R’s 30 yardline. The ball is picked up by R3 at team R’s 25 yardline. R3 is subsequently hit and fumbles at team R’s 28 yardline. The loose ball is recovered by prone K4 at team R’s 26 yardline. During the kick, K5 grasps and twists R6’s facemask at midfield.

If team R accepts the penalty, the first touching option is eliminated and the penalty would be enforced from the previous spot. It would be team K’s ball, fourth and 25 from team K’s 15 yardline. Declining the penalty would give team R the first touching option.

As Graf notes, handling of the situation can be broken down this way: Team R cannot have the ball placed PRESS BOX

at the spot of first touching if team R touched the ball and subsequently committed a foul, or the penalty is accepted for any foul committed by either team during the down. Jeffrey Stern is Referee’s senior editor. He officiated high school and collegiate football and umpired high school baseball. *

K2

LOOSE BALL

TOUCHES

R3 K6 R5

HOLDING

R3

FUMBLE

K4

K1

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