offside

Oh, he's been caught. Regional final against Trinity 4 or 5 years ago. Our line judge called it against them and he bet us a steak from Ruth's Chris that it wouldn't be on the film. Of course, he never sent us a copy of the film--or bought the steaks. Like I said, rascal.

I rather doubt that Coach Redman knew that it was an illegal play as he drew it up. Heck, he probably thought it was a brilliant idea. So I don't think it's cheating in any way. It's up to the officials to penalize fouls; they just missed a couple on this play:ohbrother:. And the aw-shucks, shoulder shrug description of the play is hilarious. He's a classic rascal; one of my all-time favorites.

YES! 7-2-4...A snap shall be such that the ball immediately leaves the hand or hands of the snapper and touches a backfield player or the ground before it touches an A lineman. That was not a legal snap.

That is not in the rules book.

For a snap to be legal, the ball must touch a backfield player or the ground before it is touched by a lineman. Otherwise, it's an illegal snap, dead ball foul.

I'd sure like to see this play on film! Did a backfield player (QB or RB) ever touch the ball? Did the ball ever touch the ground? If either of those 2 things happened, it was a legal play. But then...since the snapper was wearing #87, were there 5 other linemen numbered 50 - 79? And as always, it's pretty easy for me to ref a game sitting at my keyboard. It's a tad more difficult in real time.

We're working on it, one meeting at a time.

Here's my philosophy: It is LEGAL for offensive linemen to use his hands or arms to hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold an opponent, so long as there is no RESTRICTION of the opponent. You can see a "hook, lock, clamp, grasp, encircle or hold" on every play. That's just part of blocking. It's the RESTRICTION that the officials need to do a better job of judging. If the restriction is slight, it's nothing. Only if the restriction keeps the defender from directly making a tackle should holding be considered. The problem, as we all know, is there are a few refs out there (at all levels) who like to sling a flag at the sight of a little jersey grabbing. THAT makes us inconsistent.

I read a lot of game threads with "they missed a lot of holding calls" comments. Those people don't realize it, but what they're really saying is "our guys were getting blocked and we're sore that the ref's didn't give us some charity flags". Thanks for the kind words, by the way.

Restriction and proximity to the ball carrier are the two important elements of holding. If a defender is "grabbed", the ball carrier must be in the immidiate vicinity of the defender, and that grabbing must be so restrictive that it prevents the defender from making a tackle for the action to be deemed holding. Otherwise, it's just grabbing (which is not a foul). I've called holding 5 times in 15 years.

There is no specific rules book coverage. The referee will ask game management to fix the problem, if possible.

It's a correct enforcement. And you've got the rest of it backwards, too. Rule 8-2-2...If during a touchdown-scoring play, the opponent of the scoring team commits a foul other than unsportsmanlike, the scoring team may accept the results of the play and have a penalty enforced from the succeeding spot or may choose to have foul enforced on the subsequent kickoff.

Incidental grasping of the facemask is still a 5 yard penalty in HS football. Grasping and turning, pulling or twisting the facemask is a 15 yard penalty. (There is no longer a 5 yard FM foul in college football.)

It's a judgment call based on the definition of a "catch". Your question is based on an NCAA game, but since this is a HS forum and the basics are the same, here's the NFHS definition of what is a catch: Rule 2-4-1...A catch is the act of establishing player possession of a live ball which is in flight, and first contacting the ground inbounds... I didn't see the play (I was being booed elsewhere), but it sounds like the official judged that the receiver did not "possess" or "catch" the ball before his knee hit out of bounds. The NCAA rules also includes the phrase "in his firm grasp" within the definition of catch and "when in question, the catch, recovery or interception is not completed".

1. Rule 3-1-3...a period or periods may be shortened...by agreement of the opposing coaches and the referee. (Refs ain't gonna argue with a quick clock in a JV game, sorry.) 2. JV games are a great opportunity for young players, young coaches and young refs to get game experience. Mistakes happen with all involved. Please don't disparage players, coaches or refs at JV games. 3. Please post any question for the refs at any time. THERE ARE MANY OF US LURKING ABOUT AT ALL TIMES! WE ARE FALLING OVER OURSELVES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK UP THE ANSWER AND POST IT FOR YOU ON BGP. IF YOU POST IT, WE WILL ANSWER!