When In Doubt
July 19th, 2006
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Don’t throw the flag!
- Don’t blow the whistle!
- The catch, recovery or interception is not completed.
- A ball has not been touched on a kick or forward pass.
- A ball is accidentally kicked rather than intentionally kicked.
- It is a forward pass rather than a backwards pass when thrown in or behind the line of scrimmage.
- The ball is passed and not fumbled during an attempted forward pass.
- The clock shall be stopped for an injured player.
- The ball is dead (runner is held so that his forward progress is stopped).
- The ball is dead (runner loses possession as he contacts the ground).
- It is a contact foul (it does not have to be catch able).
- It is a touchback not a safety.
- It is legal use of the hands rather than holding or illegal use of hands.
- A departing player has left the field prior to the snap.
- Offensive players are legally on the line.
- Offensive players are legally in the backfield.
- It is a block at the side rather than at the back.
- The passer has not intentionally grounded the ball.
- The defensive back has legally initiated contact.
- Defensive signals are legal.
- Players are legally moving rather in illegal motion.
- The pass is backward rather than forward beyond the line of scrimmage.
- The ball is dead in the field of play rather than out of bounds.
- As to the free blocking zone assume it is intact.
- An opponent has forced a player out of bounds.
- It is a touchback rather than the ball belonging to Team B near the goal line under the momentum rule.
- The pass is incomplete as to “caught or trappedâ€.
- A ball has been muffed rather than caught.