Quote:
Originally Posted by GoodScout
Had a similar one Saturday. Scrimmage kick was deflected, went about 10 yards past the LOS. R player picks it up off the ground and proceeds to run it in 17 yards for the score -- right after the first-year LJ blows his whistle as it's picked up. Since it was a loose ball play, we had to go back to the previous spot and re-kick. R coach was amazingly cool about it after we explained the rule and why we had to do what we did.
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Was the whistle blown before or after R possesed the ball?
The way you're describing the play makes it seem like the whistle came while R was in possession when the whistle was blown. If that was the case, why wouldn't R have the option to keep the ball at the dead-ball spot?
Don't confuse a "loose ball" (fumble, kick, or pass) with a loose ball play.
The only time that there are no options is when the whistle is blown while the ball is not in player possession. The fact that it was a loose ball play is irrelevent. The ball was possessed when the whistle was blown.
What if the IW came on a pass play? If it is blown during the pass BEFORE it is caught, the only option is to replay the down because nobody possessed the ball when the whistle was blown. Conversely, if it is blown AFTER the ball is caught the team in possession has the option to take the play or re-play the down.