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Well, you better drop something (maybe your snickers bar) otherwise you really didn't see anything and therefore you don't have anything. We've discussed this in other posts. It can be a very hard call to get right. One thing, the team should NOT be lining up for a try until the foul/no foul problem is resolved. If that means marching back 90, 95 or 99 yards to toss a flag, so be it.
NFHS published mechanics say this (I quote from the 5-man section which is also the same for 4-man) for what the Referee will do on a forward pass:
refer to page 62 if you like (last years manual).
Forward Pass:
Referee: I.B.6 Be alert to observe illegal pass
a. move to spot of pass to determmine whether passers feet were in or behing the neutral zone when ball was released.
b. If illegal, drop penalty marker. Continue to officiate
c. If close, mark spot of pass with a bean bag and continue to officiate.
Umpire: II.B.5. Assist referee to determine whether passers feet were in or behind neutral zone when ball was released.
B.6. Drop penalty marker at spot from which illegal pass is thrown.
If your local/state mechanics say to do something else, you of course do that.
There is one potentially devasting flaw with bagging a close play rather than flagging it for a possible wave off later. I think it is obvious, but the flaw is this, the chain crew, despite all your pre-grame pep talk with them, may take off down the field prior to the Referee taking a look at the bag/box relationship. You've now lost the exact reference spot. I tought call now becomes even tougher. Hey, you do your best and move on.
[Edited by Theisey on Jul 10th, 2002 at 07:18 PM]
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