Thread: Double fouls
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Old Tue Nov 28, 2006, 03:56pm
sj sj is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2001
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Double fouls

This may have been brought up at some time but...

Should a coach have the option of declining a penalty in a live ball/double foul/offsetting situation?

Here's a play....

A's ball 3rd and 5 from the A-15 yard line (85 yards to go). A1 takes of on a long run and is at the B-15 yard line when A2 commits a block in the back at the B-20 yard line. Almost immediately after this B1 commits a facemask foul on A2. A1 scores.

So we have two live ball fouls on opposing teams. They offset and replay the down. By rule it will be 3rd and 5 for A on the B-15 yard line again.

But if coach A could decline the facemask penalty on B you are left with only one penalty to enforce and it would be Team A's ball, 1st and 10 from the B-30 yard line. In this case that is a difference of 55 yards of field position as well as the getting a new series of downs.

Team B has gained a huge advantage as a result of their foul. Should a coach have the option to decline a penalty in this type of situation? NF and NCAA.
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