Do you have to think about incomplete "shovel" passes?

[BulldogMcC]

Originally posted by Texas Aggie
Had this happen twice this week in JH games, both times, a bean bag was thrown, OR one or more officials moved in position to determine possession as they would in a fumble.

First play: QB wrapped up (but not ruled down) and pitched ball forward with both hands. Second play tonight, QB was starting to lose control, but extended arm out and tossed ball forward only to have it hit the ground. On both plays, I was the one that ruled incomplete, and both times, I saw a covering official nod his head in agreement after I made the call. In other words, he knew what we had, but didn't put it together very fast.

Obviously, players go for a loose ball, and well they should. But, even when I've seen that play on TV for years, it always looked like an incomplete pass and still does, whether underhanded or two handed. Does anyone have trouble with the play, or did you when you started? Just curious.

I would rather have officials take a moment to put it together but get it right as a crew than to have someone blow a whistle while a loose ball is on the ground. Remember, not everyone is watching the QB, or at least they are not supposed to. The Wing may very well have been watching the blocking and/or down field receivers and then out of the corner of his eye observed the ball become loose. He may not know how so his safest bet is to cover it like a fumble. The official responsible for the ball carrier is the one that must rule on fumble or forward pass.