Bag or No Bag

[sm_bbcoach]

Wanted to be sure of myself on the use of bags.

QB in shotgun, snap goes over his head. IN the process, he attempts to pick it up but kicks it again. Finally he falls on it for a 29 yd loss. NO bag on this play, correct?

Which brought up the next question I think is correct: on a scrimmage kick. R32 muffs the kick and it rolls away from him. The bag should be placed at the point where possession is gained. correct?

Thanks for your help.

[kentref]

Originally Posted by sm_bbcoach

Wanted to be sure of myself on the use of bags.

QB in shotgun, snap goes over his head. IN the process, he attempts to pick it up but kicks it again. Finally he falls on it for a 29 yd loss. NO bag on this play, correct?

Which brought up the next question I think is correct: on a scrimmage kick. R32 muffs the kick and it rolls away from him. The bag should be placed at the point where possession is gained. correct?

Thanks for your help.

The QB never has possession so there can be no fumble so you are correct, you don't bag anything here. (Note: You say he, "kicks it again." I'm assuming you mean he inadvertently kicks it while trying to gain possession.)

Your second question: You are correct. You bag the end of the kick, which is where possession is established. In some cases the ball may become dead by rule (no one attempts to gain possession, the ball breaks the plane of the end zone, the ball goes out of bounds). You don't need to bag those situations because there is no action after that point and the covering official should have the dead ball spot.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: sm_bbcoach...just to follow up on kentref's post, the reason that you bag the end of a scrimmage kick is in case a foul by R enforceable under PSK is committed.

[DJ_NV]

Also in NF, by rule you never bag a fumble behind the LOS. There is no reason for it. I know that some guys feel that a bag *signals* a fumble, but I personally don't agree. Just remember that if you or someone on your crew does bag a fumble behind the LOS, you will never use the spot or yard line that you bagged.

NCAA is different, but only for fumbles that are forward OOB or 4th down and try plays. Otherwise, for penalty enforcement and IW issues, it's the same as Fed (though different 'rulebook' wording)

[BIG UMP]

Worked a scrimmage last week with another high school association's officials. We had an interception and they bagged the spot. I asked why and they said it was an enforcement spot.

Can someone tell me when we would use the spot of an interception for enforcement purposes?

I can't think of one and feel that their bagging this spot is wrong.

[DJ_NV]

There is never a reason to bag the spot of an interception in either code as it will never, ever be used as an enforcement spot. All the interception signifies from a penalty perspective is that it starts a new running play