2005 open book test

2005 OPEN BOOK TEST2005 OPEN BOOK TEST

Meeting of 1 September 2005Meeting of 1 September 2005

Our MissionOur Mission

• Review the open book test and go over any questions that caused problems.

BackgroundBackground• Based on questions I was asked about,

interesting situations I observed in games or on TV, and interesting stuff from a variety of sources

• Comprised of 3 types of questions– Straight from the case book– From on-line discussion groups, such as the

nfhs.org discussion board or McGriff’s (http://www.gmcgriff.com/refonline/wwwboard/football/football.html)

– From me

Situation #1 (MP) Situation #1 (MP)

• 1st and 10 from midfield. A1 throws a forward pass to A2, who catches the pass and begins a long run. B3 then roughs A1. A2 fumbles at B’s 4 yard line, and the ball rolls into the end zone. As the ball is rolling loose, an inadvertent whistle blows. B4 then falls on the ball in the end zone.

SITUATION #1 RULING:SITUATION #1 RULING:

• Step #1: As far as we are concerned, B4 fell on a dead ball. (4-2-2j)

• Step #2: The inadvertent whistle (IW). If an IW is blown, and there is a foul, the foul “trumps” the IW. See Situation 7 on the 2004 Comments, also 4-2-3, which says that we ignore the IW during a down in which a foul occurs and the penalty is accepted.

Situation #1 Ruling (continued)Situation #1 Ruling (continued)• Step #3: Roughing the pass (RTP). This situation

meets all of the special provisions of the RTP enforcement in 10-5-5—the pass was complete, the last run was beyond the neutral zone, and there was no change of team possession. Therefore the spot of enforcement for the RTP was the end of the last run, which is the spot of the fumble (beanbag spot).

• Step #4: If the penalty is declined, then we had an IW after a fumble, so the team last in possession (in this case A) may choose to put the ball in play where possession was lost (beanbag spot) or replay the down. (4-2-3b)

Situation #1: A’s options (in Situation #1: A’s options (in descending order of likelihood):descending order of likelihood):

• 1. Accept the RTP penalty, which will be assessed from the end of the last run (A2’s fumble at the 4). A’s ball, first and goal at B’s 2.

• 2. Decline the RTP, take the best IW administration for a fumble (where possession was lost). A’s ball, first and goal at the B’s 4.

• 3. Decline the RTP, take the worst IW administration of a fumble (replay the down). A’s ball, 1st and 10 from midfield.

• 4. Take the result of the down—A’s force put the ball in the end zone where it was declared dead due to the inadvertent whistle. B’s ball, 1st and 10 from their own 20. (8-5-3c)

Situation #2 (MP)Situation #2 (MP)

• 4th and 10 from midfield. K1’s punt goes almost straight up into the air. K2, who is wearing #75, catches the ball at K’s 45 and begins to run. The covering official throws his flag and sounds his whistle when K2 was (a) at midfield; or (b) at R’s 39. The covering official tells the Referee that he has illegal touching, fair catch interference and a delay of game foul, all on K2.

SITUATION #2 RULING:SITUATION #2 RULING:

• K2’s actions are all legal. Illegal touching relates only to passes. (7-5-13).

• Any kicker can catch or recover a scrimmage kick while it is in or behind the neutral zone and advance (unless it is during a try—6-2-3), so there is no fair catch interference.

• Since K2’s actions were legal, there is no delay of game foul on K2, because the down did not end after his catch.

Situation #2 Ruling (cont.) Situation #2 Ruling (cont.)

• Therefore, we pick up the flag for all of the reported fouls, and we have an inadvertent whistle (IW).

• We have to administer the IW for a ball in player possession. K’s options: Accept the results of the down at the spot of the IW or replay the down (4-2-3c), which translate into

• Situation (a) Replay 4th and 10 for K at midfield or R’s ball, 1st and 10 at midfield;

• Situation (b) Replay the 4th and 10 at midfield or K’s ball, 1st and 10 at R’s 39.

Situation #3 (MP) Situation #3 (MP) • Try for point. A is going for 2. A1 pitches back to

A2, who is at the 10 yard line. Linebacker B3 tackles A2 immediately, but in doing so he grabs and twists A2’s facemask.

• RULING: This is action during a running play (10-3-2). Basic spot is the end of the run, which is the 10 yard line. There are no exceptions for tries, so we enforce the foul from the end of the run. A will re-try the point from the 5.


• Try for point. A is going for 2. A1 pitches back to A2, who is at the 10 yard line. Linebacker B3 tackles A2 by the facemask, A2 fumbles the ball, and linebacker B3 falls on it at the 10.

• RULING: This is a foul during a loose ball play, because a loose ball play includes fumbles by A from in or behind their neutral zone. Even though the foul occurred prior to the fumble, the loose ball play includes the run or runs prior to the fumble (10-3-1c, d). The basic spot for a foul during a loose ball play is the previous spot, so enforce the foul from the 3, A will re-try from the 1½.

Situation #5 (2004 Casebook Situation #5 (2004 Casebook Comments, Situation #8) Comments, Situation #8)

• Team K free kicks from its own 40 yard line. K1’s onside kick is rolling at K’s 46 yard line, when K2 muffs the ball, which then touches R3’s leg and goes out of bounds at K’s 48 yard line.

Situation #5 RULING: Situation #5 RULING:

• Since R’s touching is now ignored, this is a free kick that went out of bounds. R has the option of accepting the ball at the spot of first touching by K (R’s ball, 1st and 10 at K’s 46) or having the penalty enforced for the free kick out of bounds with all these enforcement options:– (a) Re-kick following a 5-yard penalty (K’s ball to kick off

at the 35); – (b) Award the ball at the out-of-bounds spot (R’s ball,

1st and 10 at K’s 48); or – (c) Accept the ball 25 yards from the spot of the free

kick. R’s ball, 1st and 10 from R’s 35. (6-1-8; 10-5-1a)


• Team K free kicks from its own 40 yard line. The kick is very short and has not touched the ground when K2 catches it at: (a) K’s 48; or (b) R’s 48.

• RULING: This is kick-catching interference in both (a) and (b) (6-5-6).

• R’s options: have K re-kick from their own 25 or R may take the ball at (a) K’s 48 or (b) R’s 48 as an awarded fair catch.

Situation #7 (MP)Situation #7 (MP)

• 1st and 10 for A from midfield. A1 passes the ball from his own 45. Eligible A2, who is at B’s 45, muffs the ball. The ball goes from A2’s hands directly back to ineligible A3, who is at his own 48, without hitting the ground. A3 catches the ball and begins to run with it. He is downed at midfield.

SITUATION #7 RULING: SITUATION #7 RULING: • This is a forward pass, since the initial direction of the

pass was forward (2-29-2). • The muff by A2 did not end the pass, since it was not

caught. (2-29-4) • Ineligible A3 has committed illegal touching because he

caught a forward pass while he was in or behind the neutral zone before the pass was touched by B. (7-5-13)

• B’s options: – Enforce the illegal touching from the spot of the foul

(A’s 48), 5 yards and loss of down: A’s ball, 2nd and 17 from his own 43.

– Result of the play is A’s ball, 2nd and 10 from midfield.

Situation #8 (1.5.3d) Situation #8 (1.5.3d) • During the pregame visit to A’s dressing room, the

umpire notices that some squad members have eye shields which are (a) dark;, or (b) clear. The coach of A has a letter from a physician indicating that the dark shield is a necessity for the players.

• RULING: In (a), the umpire indicates to the coach only eye shields which permit 100% light transmission may be worn, a physician’s statement cannot supersede this rule. In (b), the eye shield is legal if, in addition to being clear, it is also molded and rig, and attached firmly to the helmet. By PIAA ruling, the coach of A must also have a letter in situation b.

Situation #9 (3.1.1A) Situation #9 (3.1.1A)

• At the beginning of overtime, A wins the toss and elects to go on offense. On first down, B1 intercepts a pass, but then fumbles and A1 recovers.

• RULING: The ball became dead and A’s series ended immediately when B1 intercepted. A1 recovered a dead ball. B will put the ball in play to start its series of four downs, first and goal from anywhere between the inbounds lines on the 10 yard line.

Situation #10 (3.1.1B) Situation #10 (3.1.1B)

• During the last timed down of the 4th period, A scores a touchdown to make the score 14-13. During the successful kick try, B1 roughs the kicker/holder.

• RULING: If A accepts the score, the penalty is enforced to start the overtime, if an overtime is played. If A accepts the penalty, the try will be replayed from the 1½ yard line. (2-40-10; 8-3-5)

Situation #11 (3.3.3H) Situation #11 (3.3.3H)

• K1 punts on 4th and 15 from his own 20 yard line. R1 signals for a fair catch at R’s 30. K2 commits kick-catching interference at R’s 35 and time for the second period expires during the down. R2 recovers the kick at R’s 28.

Situation #11 RULING: Situation #11 RULING:

• If R declines the penalty, the period is over. If R accepts the awarded fair catch at R’s 35 or has the 15-yard penalty enforced from K’s 20, the period will be extended by an untimed down.

• Even though the awarded fair catch has no distance walk-off, it is considered penalty acceptance for purposes of extending the period. This is also true if on a free kick out of bounds R takes the ball 25 yards beyond the previous spot. (6-1-8b; 6-5-6 Pen)

Situation #12 (4.2.3A):Situation #12 (4.2.3A):

• With 4th and 2 from K’s 38 yard line, a scrimmage kick by K1 is muffed beyond the neutral zone by R1 following his signal for a fair catch. While the ball is loose following the muff, an official sounds his whistle inadvertently.

• RULING: Because the whistle was inadvertently sounded during a kick, the down will be replayed even though R1 was first to touch the scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone. The clock will start on the ready-for-play signal. (3-4-2c)

Situation #13 (4.2.3D)Situation #13 (4.2.3D)

• A1 throws a forward pass from his own 40 yard line. B1 intercepts on his 2 yard line and circles back into his end zone. While B1 is in the end zone, an official inadvertently sounds his whistle.

• RULING: Since B1 is in possession, B has the option of accepting the results of the play at the time of the whistle or asking for a replay of the down. Since the result of the play would be a safety, B would normally choose to replay the down. (4-2-3c; 8-5-2a)

Situation #14 (MJT on McGriff’s)Situation #14 (MJT on McGriff’s)

• 4th and 5 at midfield. K1 punts. R2 muffs the punt at his own 10 yard line and the ball rolls toward his end zone. K3 muffs the ball at the R 6 yard line, then R4 accidentally kicks it at 4 yard line and it rolls into the end zone where K5 falls on the ball.

SITUATION #14 RULING: SITUATION #14 RULING:

• The ball has remained a kick from the time it was punted all through the series of muffs. (2-23-2) R2’s muff means that the subsequent touches by K are not first touching. (6-2-5)

• An accidental kick is not a kick (2-23-1), it is a muff (2-26), therefore, there is no foul for illegal kicking by R4.

• There is no need to determine what force caused the ball to get into the end zone, because force is not a factor for kicks going into R’s end zone. (2-13-4a)

• Touchback, R’s ball 1st and 10 from the 20.

#15 (MJT on McGriff’s) #15 (MJT on McGriff’s)

• 4th and 5 at midfield. K1 punts.

• R2 signals for a fair catch at his own 8 yard line. He steps aside and tries to block K3 at the 10 yard line, but misses.

• The punt hits the ground at R’s 6, and K3 shoves R2 into the ball at the 2 yard line.

• K3 then falls on the ball at (a) R’s 2; or (b) in the end zone.

SITUATION #15 RULING: SITUATION #15 RULING: • R2 is prohibited from blocking after he signals for a fair

catch; however, there is no penalty for attempted blocking, (6-5-1, 2-3-1) therefore no foul on R2.

• K may recover a scrimmage kick if it is touched by R beyond the neutral zone; however, if the touching is caused by K blocking R into the ball, as in this case, R’s touching is ignored (6-2-4).

• K3 may push, pull or ward of an opponent to get a loose ball (2-3-5b)

• K3’s recovery in (a) is first touching, R’s ball, 1st and 10 from their own 2. (6-2-5)

• In (b), all kicks into R’s end zone are touchbacks, R’s ball, 1st and 10 from their own 20. (2-13-4a)


• A’s ball 1st and goal from B’s 5. A1 throws a forward pass to A2, who is in the end zone. B3 interferes with A2’s opportunity to catch the pass, but A2 completes the catch and lands inbounds in the end zone.

• RULING: Defensive pass interference by B3. A can have the touchdown count and can enforce the penalty for the foul on the try, or they can decline the foul. (8-2-2)


• A’s ball 1st and 10 from their own 10. A1 goes in motion, but clearly starts to move toward his line of scrimmage prior to the snap. Quarterback A2 throws a forward pass that is intercepted by B3, who runs the ball into A’s end zone for an apparent touchdown.


• A1 is guilty of illegal motion. (7-2-7) This is a foul prior to a change of possession. For B to keep the touchdown, he must decline the illegal motion penalty. (8-2-2)


• A’s ball 2nd and 10 from their own 10. Quarterback A1 throws a backward pass to running back A2, who is tackled by his facemask (grabbed and twisted) in the end zone.

• RULING: This is a foul by the defense when the run ends in the end zone and would result in a safety. (10-5-2) Enforce the 15 yard facemask from the goal line, A’s ball, 2nd and 5 from their own 15.


• Try for point. A is going for 2. A1 throws a forward pass to A2, who is in the end zone. B3 interferes with A2’s opportunity to catch the pass, but A2 completes the catch and lands inbounds in the end zone.

• RULING: This is a foul during a successful try. A will obviously take the points and will assess the foul for defensive pass interference on the kickoff. A will kick from B’s 45. (8-3-5)

Situation #20 (6.2.3B) Situation #20 (6.2.3B) • 3rd and 10 on K’s 10 yard line, K1’s punt is

blocked and recovered on K’s 4 yard line: (a) simultaneously by K2 and R1; or (b) by K2 who advances to K’s 15.

• RULING: In (a), the ball is dead immediately and is awarded to R because of the joint recovery. (5-1-3e)

• In (b), since K may recover in or behind the neutral zone and advance, it is fourth and 5 for K from its own 15 yard line. The series for K did not end because the kick was blocked. (4-2-2e) (6-2-3)

Situation #21 (6.2.3A)Situation #21 (6.2.3A)

• A scrimmage kick by K1 is partially blocked in the neutral zone by R1. The ball goes beyond the neutral zone to R2, who muffs it back behind the neutral zone. K2 recovers behind the neutral zone and advances across R’s goal line.

Situation #21 Ruling:Situation #21 Ruling:• Touchdown for K. • COMMENT: The right of the kickers to advance

their recovered scrimmage kick depends entirely upon whether the kick is recovered in, behind or beyond the neutral zone. whether the kick went beyond the neutral zone and then rebounded behind it is of no consequence. The spot of recovery is the only factor. If the recovery is in or behind the neutral zone, K may advance. If the recovery is beyond the neutral zone, K may recover, but may not advance.

Situation #22 (6.2.5)Situation #22 (6.2.5)• K1 attempts to down a punt beyond the neutral

zone, but his touching only slows it down. The bouncing ball is subsequently recovered by R1, who advances 25 yards but then fumbles and K2 recovers. K2 is immediately tackled.

• RULING: R may either take the results of the play or retain possession by taking the ball at the spot of K1’s first touching. R can exercise this option, unless after R1 touches the ball, R commits a foul or the penalty is accepted for any foul committed during the down.

Situation #23 (7.5.13A)Situation #23 (7.5.13A)

• Ineligible receiver A2 is in or behind his neutral zone when a forward pass by A1: (a) accidentally strikes him in the back; or (b) is muffed by him; or (c) is caught by him.

• RULING: In (a), there is no infraction, but in (b) and (c), it is illegal touching. The acts in both (b) and (c) are intentional and not accidental as in (a).

Situation #24 (7.5.13B) Situation #24 (7.5.13B)

• A1’s forward pass is deflected by B1 and then caught by interior lineman A2 behind the neutral zone.RULING: No foul has occurred as A2 became an eligible receiver after B1 touched the pass.


• A’s ball, 1st and 10 from their own 10. Quarterback A1 muffs the snap, which rolls into the end zone. Running back A2 falls on the ball in the end zone, and is simultaneously tackled by B3. A2 believes the hit is late, and loudly berates the covering official, who throws a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct on A2.


• The result of the play is a safety. The unsportsmanlike conduct foul by A2 is enforced from the succeeding spot, which is the kickoff. A will kick off from their own 10. (10-4-5A, 4-1-2, 6-1-1B)


• K’s ball, 4th and 10 from midfield. K1’s punt is partially blocked by R2 at midfield. The ball bounces forward to R’s 45, where it is muffed by R3, and then bounces back to K1, who is standing at his own 45. From his own 45, K1 throws a forward pass to K2, who is at R’s 40. The pass falls incomplete.


• The partial block by R2 is touching in the neutral zone, and is therefore ignored (6-2-6).

• The muff by R3, however, is touching by R of a scrimmage kick beyond the neutral zone. Per 5-1-3f, the team in possession at the end of the down will have a new series.

• The pass by K1 is legal per 7-5-1, because it is the first forward pass made behind the line of scrimmage, and there has been no change of team possession (R never possessed the ball, so the ball was always in team possession of K. Also note that in Federation rules, the line of scrimmage does not disappear, per 2-24-1.)

Situation #26 (cont.)Situation #26 (cont.)

• The ball was dead when the pass was incomplete, but still in possession of team K.

• The ball is returned to the previous spot per 4-3-4.

• Therefore, K’s ball, first and 10 from midfield.

Our MissionOur Mission

• Review the open book test and go over any questions that caused problems.

2005 open book test

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