Tackle of non-ball carrier
 

A question on the part 2 test got me thinking.

What is the call for a defender tackling an opponent who is obviously not a ball carrier? On the test it said it was defensive holding. Is this right?

Also as a side question... At what point, if any, do you call a penalty on a defender who hits a "soon to be receiver" behind the LOS? Obviously because it is behind the LOS it can't be DPI, but can it be other things (like holding, illegal contact, etc)?

Canadian Ruling
 

CANADIAN RULING:

Absolutely this is defensive holding. The defense illegally took a potential blocker out of the play. Such judgment is probably among the more difficult types to learn/detect. It should be flagged only if it has an impact on the play, just as any other tactical foul is considered.

CANADIAN RULING:

We do have DPI even if the receiver is behind the LS. DPI behind the LS is only if the ball is obviously thrown to said receiver.

Of course...unless you see the type or degree or timing of the contact as being gratuitous or unnecessarily rough, in which case it would be UR. But "obviously not" had better be from the POV of the tackler; there could be cases in which you had a better view and it was obvious to you but not to the defender.

From just your present description it could just as well be a nothing.

Robert

The issue is that you can tackle a player that is faking as if they have the ball. Those players can be tackled within reason. If it is a blocker, then they cannot be tackled because it would be holding. Not a very common thing, but it can happen and I have seen it.

Peace