OOB...on a cheerleader!

[crosscountry55]

I'm assuming there was no unsporting intent on the part of the cheerleader, just an absent-minded moment?

If so, was any part of the cheerleader OOB when she reached out and touched it? If the cheerleader was OOB, then now the ball is OOB just as if it had touched an official who was standing partly OOB. Since the ball was off B1, we award a TI to Team A at the spot. End of story, easy resolution.

If the cheerleader was entirely inbounds, I think under NCAA rules we might have a technical here (reminds me of the situation of the Montana recruit in the Big Sky semi-final game last year which, if I recall correctly wasn't a T but only because the recruit ultimately didn't interfere with play). But under NFHS, I don't believe there's any specific technical foul rules coverage here (again, assuming the cheerleader's actions are not deemed unsporting). So that leaves you with blowing the whistle for a game interruption, and then awarding the ball to A nearest the POI because A still had team control at the time. Still a good result because A would have had the ball either way.

If B hadn't touched it, meaning the ball would have gone OOB off A when A's cheerleader touched it, then we'd have a more sticky situation, but I'd still favor following the rule than arbitrarily saying, "I'm giving it to B because the problem was caused by A's cheerleader."

[Nevadaref]

Outside person interferes = blow it dead and award based upon POI.

Team A had team control so that is who gets the ball in this case.

[bob jenkins]

B last touched it, give it to A.

Change the situation (cheerleader is on the floor; someone had a chance to get to the ball, etc.) and you might get a different answer.

[OKREF]

Team A ball. Why on earth would you give it to team B?

[bwburke94]

Originally Posted by crosscountry55

If the cheerleader was entirely inbounds, I think under NCAA rules we might have a technical here (reminds me of the situation of the Montana recruit in the Big Sky semi-final game last year which, if I recall correctly wasn't a T but only because the recruit ultimately didn't interfere with play).

The Montana situation should have been a technical, but that's beside the point. Team A ball according to the situation in the OP.