wave off flag

[KWH]

How 'bout the "Penalty" of an "Awarded Fair Catch" for a Kick Catch Interfernce Foul??? Some consider this is a "Zero" yard penalty!
Perhaps we should consider waving this flag off also "because no yardage is marked off!"
We sure don't want to confuse those fans!

[svm1010]

Ok, I see your point. I still maintain that a flag should stand for any "foul" regardless of the distance penalty.

That being said, upon checking the officials manual I found something interesting. On page 22 under "controlling the sideline and team box" is states.....

First violation bt team
"A. Results in sideline warning."
"B. Covering official sound whistle, give proper signal, then report the infraction to R." (note there is no reference to a flag, dropped or otherwise)

On the second violation:
"A.Covering official will drop penalty marker, sound whistle, report infraction tot he referee."

Based on that, the Flag should not even come out until you are going to tack on yardage.

[Jim D]

Originally Posted by svm1010

Ok, I see your point. I still maintain that a flag should stand for any "foul" regardless of the distance penalty.

That being said, upon checking the officials manual I found something interesting. On page 22 under "controlling the sideline and team box" is states.....

First violation bt team
"A. Results in sideline warning."
"B. Covering official sound whistle, give proper signal, then report the infraction to R." (note there is no reference to a flag, dropped or otherwise)

On the second violation:
"A.Covering official will drop penalty marker, sound whistle, report infraction tot he referee."

Based on that, the Flag should not even come out until you are going to tack on yardage.

That's last year's version. The new manual includes "drop penalty marker" on the first violation. You do not waive off this flag.

[KWH]

JIM D is correct! And he beat me to the punch.

Please see 2008-2009 Officials Manual, also page 22, and you will note drop penalty marker, has been added and highlited in GREY!

[svm1010]

Thanks for the correction. Didn't have my 08-09 manual at work.

[Forksref]

FED Rule book, p. 74 at the bottom: Arts 1k,3 - First offense-warning.

"First offense" indicates to me that there is a foul, which requires a flag. The "warning" is the penalty, which has nothing directly to do with dropping a flag.

The flag is very powerful because it is VISIBLE to everyone and it lets everyone know that there is a problem. I have found that coaches are appreciative that there is no yardage associated with the first flag and they actually clean up their act. I've never worked a game where we had to throw a second flag for this.