Quote:
Originally posted by Ed Hickland
Quote:
Originally posted by Middleman
This is not a foul during a loose ball play. You are correct that it is a foul behind the basic spot.
When Ed changed his play (he moved the previous spot from B's 35 to A's 35) he changed it from a loose ball play to a running play, because the fumble was beyond the neutral zone.
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Let's leave the play as is even though the balls rolls forward and ends up going backward, we all know footballs bounce kinda funny.
The key to the play is whether you rule the the foul during a loose ball play or a running play.
The correct answer is the ball is loose during a loose ball play while in team possession of A. Middleman is correct, we need to see a bean bag at the 50 because that is the spot where possession is lost. The 50 becomes the previous spot for a loose ball foul.
The trick involves the all-but-one principle because the foul occurs behind the basic spot. And, the basic spot becomes the previous spot on a loose ball play. So the spot of enforcement becomes the spot of the foul A's 47.
Question? If this was incorrectly enforced, how many coaches would know to question it?
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Ed, I've got to stick to my guns regarding the semantics of this play. It is
not a
loose ball play. Repeat after me - "It is
not a
loose ball play. It is a
running play with the ball being loose following loss of player possession."
Why is the distinction so important?
If you call this a
loose ball play, the basic spot is the previous spot and therefore the foul by the offense occured
beyond the basic spot. If this were a
loose ball play you would take the ball back to A's 35 and enforce from there. That would be wrong.
It is
not true that "The 50 becomes the previous spot for a loose ball foul." The 50 becomes the
basic spot, not the previous spot. The previous spot is the spot where the ball was last put in play and cannot change during a down.
If you are going to be writing an article for publication, it is absolutely essential that you get the terminology correct. The distinction in this case is so important that the Federation Rules define
loose ball play and
running play not once but twice; first in rule 2-31 and again in rule 10-3. Rule 10 is difficult enough to master with its procedures, spots, and special enforcements. Mixing up the terms is confusing and counterproductive. Definitions and terminology are critical to proper game management and administration.
In answer to your question, I don't know how many of our coaches would know the difference between enforcing the foul from the 50 or the 47, but I can almost guarantee that every one of them would squawk if we went back to the 35!