does the play become dead everytime the ball crosses the goal line. I konw it does when it is kicked. Are there any situations when it doesn't become dead?????

In NFHS, the only times I can think of off the top of my head that the ball becomes dead when it breaks the plane of the goal line is when a free, or scrimmage kick breaks the plane of R's goal line, or when the ball is in possession of a player and breaks the plane of his opponents goal line. Other than that, the ball stays live.

[Edited by MJT on Sep 14th, 2005 at 08:41 PM]

A fumble or grounded bkwd pass into either EZ doesn't kill the play until the ball becomes dead by rule.

A scrimmage kick that is a scoring attempt stays alive after
crossing the goal line unless grounded, touched by K, or
after breaking the plane of R's goal line has apparently
failed.
4.2.2 d. 2. also look at the exception there...


A scrimmage kick also stays alive until a field goal is scored.

;)

Thus the debate about blowing the whistle when the ball is kicked on a try.