Question for the white hats.

[hawkishowl20]

Can someone state the rule that defines a clean hit or block as a penalty due to its position in relationship to the ball / play. I honestly just cannot find it. I want to educate about this but I don’t have the parameters to do so.

[Bob M.]

Originally Posted by hawkishowl20

Can someone state the rule that defines a clean hit or block as a penalty due to its position in relationship to the ball / play. I honestly just cannot find it. I want to educate about this but I don’t have the parameters to do so.

REPLY: NF 9-4-3: (in part) "No player or nonplayer shall:
.
.
.
b. Charge into or throw an opponent to the ground after he is obviously out of the play, or after the ball is clearly dead either in or out of bounds.
.
.
.
g. Make any other contact with an opponent which is deemed unnecessary and which incites roughness."

[hawkishowl20]

That is what I remembered. I guess I was hoping their was some guideline as to what obviously out of the play is. 10 yards from ball? 15? 20? Behind the ball? In front of? I know this is ticky tac, but I’m curious as to what others think it is.

I know this is ridiculous, but you could interrupt “out of the play” as virtually impossible because they are on a football field during a “play.” That is what the old and masochistic coaches think. I don’t know the guideline as to what that definition is, I can only guess… which I try to eliminate by asking questions.

[Jim D]

Originally Posted by hawkishowl20

That is what I remembered. I guess I was hoping their was some guideline as to what obviously out of the play is. 10 yards from ball? 15? 20? Behind the ball? In front of? I know this is ticky tac, but I’m curious as to what others think it is.

I know this is ridiculous, but you could interrupt “out of the play” as virtually impossible because they are on a football field during a “play.” That is what the old and masochistic coaches think. I don’t know the guideline as to what that definition is, I can only guess… which I try to eliminate by asking questions.

If a player can't possibly get to the ball carrier before he gets to the goal line, he would be out of the play. It's simply a matter of judgment. That's why we get the big bucks.

[mikesears]

Originally Posted by hawkishowl20

That is what I remembered. I guess I was hoping their was some guideline as to what obviously out of the play is. 10 yards from ball? 15? 20? Behind the ball? In front of? I know this is ticky tac, but I’m curious as to what others think it is.

I know this is ridiculous, but you could interrupt “out of the play” as virtually impossible because they are on a football field during a “play.” That is what the old and masochistic coaches think. I don’t know the guideline as to what that definition is, I can only guess… which I try to eliminate by asking questions.

The majority of these will jump out at you if you are being a good clean-up official. You will see the player carrying the brick and targetting an unsuspecting opponent.

A player who is either jogging downfield without a care as to where the ball is or a player standing still watching the ball are often targeted for this kind of illegal hit. However, those aren't the only two that can be fouled. A player in chase mode who is losing ground to the runner and more of an observer can also be fouled if you judge him to be "out of the play". The first two should be easy to get. The third one is more difficult.