Hurdling

[cmathews]

Jrod...whether right or wrong, I am sure you know that you have committed the most basic foul of all by an official. Know what it is you are calling, especially when it is an abscure rule with a large penalty....that said a couple things to consider. Hurdling is a safety concern. Not for the hurdler but rather for the hurdlee...The knees cause a lot of damage when they crash into a helmet, therefore to try and prevent injury to (usually defenders) hurdling is not allowed. The definitions are there to make sure that the knees are leading as that is what causes the injuries...now don't get tooooo caught up in the actual pose or position of the players. If it looked like it could have caused an injury, you are probably correct in protecting the defender....as to whether or not it was correct only you will know for sure, but I have been officiating for 14 yrs, and have never called it or seen it called, and only heard of it once..

[JRod37]

Thanks for the thoughts, CM. Appreciated. You're totally right, I should have known the rule if calling it. Unfortunately I thought I did know the rule. Now I KNOW that I know the rule.

I emailed with my U this morning who was in position to see the play through his key. He remembers the positioning of B, and B was not on the ground. His comment to me was, "I don't recall anything about the runner's feet or knees though, but I have a hard time thinking he could have pulled off the move he made if his feet/knees weren't in front of the rest of his body."

I'm going to find the tape.

[MD Longhorn]

Were you on ESPN yesterday?

This exact call was screwed up on one of the top plays which came from a high school game where a runner jumped over a player. A) said player was partially on the ground, and B) The part of the runner's body that went over the defender was, shall we say, more centrally located than his feet or knees.

[jTheUmp]

I'm the umpire on jRod37's crew.

No, we were not on ESPN yesterday... I'm pretty sure ESPN wouldn't broadcast a 56-0 game.

As I remember seeing the play, the B player was upright, with only his feet touching the ground, in a good "breakdown" position ready to make the tackle.

I had two reactions: "Wow, I can't believe he managed to jump over the defender like that", followed almost immediately by "isn't that considered hurdling?"

If/when we do get a hold of the game tape, this is one of the plays I definitely want to review.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by jTheUmp

I'm the umpire on jRod37's crew.

No, we were not on ESPN yesterday... I'm pretty sure ESPN wouldn't broadcast a 56-0 game.

Not the whole game - just the hurdling highlight on Top Plays.

[Welpe]

Aaa cmathews said, don't get too wrapped up in the pose if the runner. The rule is written so that a head first dive or similar over an opponent is legal. What you need to be concerned with is the feet or knees. If those are leading the way then you probably have a foul. Think of the way a track hurdler goes over hurdles, same thing really.

But, be knowing. You probably won't see it again for a long time but you will be ready.

[Eastshire]

If a player who is running jumps over anything and lands on his feet and continues to run, short of doing a somersault in the air, I'm having a hard time seeing how he could lead with anything other than a foot or a knee.

Any way of leading with the upper body would put you seriously off-balance, making it difficult to keep your feet let alone continue running. Obviously it's difficult to know without seeing the play, but given he ran an additional 20 yards, I think it's very likely he had to have hurdled the player.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

If a player who is running jumps over anything and lands on his feet and continues to run, short of doing a somersault in the air, I'm having a hard time seeing how he could lead with anything other than a foot or a knee.

Any way of leading with the upper body would put you seriously off-balance, making it difficult to keep your feet let alone continue running. Obviously it's difficult to know without seeing the play, but given he ran an additional 20 yards, I think it's very likely he had to have hurdled the player.

He literally "hurdled" the player and did have a lead leg in doing so. The B player, who looked to be a DB was in position and was hung out to dry but standing totally upright and the runner jumped and completely cleared the DB. I have yet to ever see a play where a ball carrier cleared any kind of height like that. It was like Walter Payton doing his famous leap over the D-line...except landing on his feet.

[Canned Heat]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Were you on ESPN yesterday?

This exact call was screwed up on one of the top plays which came from a high school game where a runner jumped over a player. A) said player was partially on the ground, and B) The part of the runner's body that went over the defender was, shall we say, more centrally located than his feet or knees.

I saw those as well...didn't see any hankies, either.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Canned Heat

I saw those as well...didn't see any hankies, either.

There was... not only was there a flag, but the announcer reading the top plays informed the viewer that "unfortunately, where this game was played, hurdling is illegal".

[Robert Goodman]

Originally Posted by cmathews

Hurdling is a safety concern. Not for the hurdler but rather for the hurdlee...The knees cause a lot of damage when they crash into a helmet, therefore to try and prevent injury to (usually defenders) hurdling is not allowed. The definitions are there to make sure that the knees are leading as that is what causes the injuries.

I'd always assumed it was to protect the head of the hurdlee from the likelihood of the hurdler's failing to clear the hurdlee, and therefore hitting the hurdlee's head with his crotch at high speed.