Video Play #2 from last friday night

[Welpe]

I don't really care for it either. It doesn't seem the runner was actually assisted forward all that much, even though there is contact from the back behind him.

[JugglingReferee]

I believe that #44 didn't really assist #11 at all. Yes, his hands were likely on 11's back, but 11's legs were working and nothing in 11's body movement gave evidence that 44 pushed him. I think the O-line did their work, allowing 11 to get the first down.

No flag.

[SC Ump]

Originally Posted by Welpe

...assisted forward all that much...

I probably would not have called it but have no objection to it being called. From the R position, it might be tough to tell what was actual line surge vs. the obvious attempt to assist the runner.

[Mike L]

Only time I've ever seen assisting the runner called the fullback grabbed the QB and literally threw him into the EZ, kinda Olympic hammer throw style.

On this play, you've got to be kidding.

[tjones1]

Again, I've got nothing.

[Ed Hickland]

Not worth the flag. cmathews mentioned what I would call the acid test, that is, physically grabbing the running and pulling him. Not here.

[jeepinchad]

Nothing from me. Only time I call is if a player picks another player up, or grabs the player and literally pulls him out of a pile.

[parepat]

This type of action occurs on 95% of all QB sneaks on the goal line. I would not call it.

[PSU213]

Originally Posted by SC Ump

From the R position, it might be tough to tell what was actual line surge vs. the obvious attempt to assist the runner.

I am certainly not arguing with what the R saw, as from his vantage point the view may have been quite different than it was from the press box or end line. That having been said, I would not call helping the runner unless I saw, and was sure, that the back pushed, propelled, and provided momentum to the runner.

[Jimmie24]

Let the wings call it. They can tell if the qb gained the advantage. Sure it looks like the back pushed him, but even so he fell to the left instead of continuing straight.

[cleash]

I called this once as the R. It was after a turnover and B was advancing to the end zone. He was close and getting tackled so a lineman grabbed him and pulled him into the end zone. No argument on that play. Even the player that scored told the other player he couldn't do it.

This play....no call for me.

[jjrye22]

Our association sees this differently than most of you. They worry about the injury potential for the kid with the ball, and had decided to call plays just like this as helping the runner.

As comes up a lot here though - you go with what your supervisor wants.