NFHS/Leaping

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

Had some interesting banter over this subject with some members of a few other crews sitting around one night.

Running back A33 has the ball and runs downfield getting out in the open field, player B24 (upright on 2 legs) attempts to make a tackle.

* A33 leaps up in the air over A24, completes a forward somersault, and continues running. Ruling?

Or

* A33 leaps straight up (pulling his legs up as he jumps) and goes over the top of B24 trying to make the tackle. Ruling?

Note: The group as a whole had some strong discussion on this for a bit because when he pulls his feet up in the second example, A33's knees come out front of him and become the foremost point to B24. Meeting the definition of a hurdle?

In (1), that’s a foul.

In (2), I have a hard time believing that’s even physically possible unless the defender has already left his feet to attempt the tackle.