I was talking with a CFL official today and we were talking about the off-season tests he's been writing and this question came up.

What happens on a try for a field goal or on the PAT when the ball strikes the umpire before going through the uprights?

I know the correct answer, but only because he told it to me ;)

In a JV game 2 years ago, a PAT attempt hit my U in the head, however it di not go through the uprights. But if it had, score 1 point for K.

I think it should count, same as if a pass hit him in the head and was complete.

Just curious, could the try be ruled dead when it is obvious that it is going to be unsuccessful.

In Canadian rules, if the pass hits an official, it is treated as if it hits the ground. So it would be incomplete.

Is this not the same in American rules?

regarding American rules: Nope, a ball hitting an official does not make it dead or incomplete or "no good".

..but chances are real good that if the ball hits an umpire (an American one at least) it will become chocolate-coated.

An of all the officials, the chances of it hitting the umpire are the greatest. And not just because of his positioning :D

I'd love it if that happened to my umpire! I would get the tape of that, and we'd watch it every year at our 1st get together. :D

A ball hitting an umpire would become unplayable, kinda like a baseball hitting the Pillsbury Dough Boy! :eek:

Hey, these comments about umpires are starting to hurt my feelings. Don't we get enough insults from coaches?

I see no reason using amateur Canadian rules that the FG or Convert should not be good so I say signal good!

Not sure about CFL though.

See you soon ref18 for summer ball!

REPLY: I may have related this story before. If I did, please chalk it up to another of my "senior moments."

I was the referee at a game in Westfield NJ a number of years ago. Dave Brown (late of the Giants and Arizona Cardinals) was the QB. He threw a pass up the middle that hit my umpire (a hefty older gent) right in the forehead. He immediately fell to the ground as the ball landed incomplete in front of him. I thought he was dead. Brown turned and asked me, "What was that?" I answered, "Assault and battery, I think."

Heck no! You're in the middle of the field, surrounded by taller players. Umpires get less heat than anyone.:)