Facemask on the runner?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

I see it ~ once a year (6 month season). I call it against A every time I see it.

In the above photo, I'll say that there's a good chance that this was a facemask by A.

Really? How come? Just from the photo, it looks like a perfectly legal (if somewhat painful) stiffarm. Facemask requires at the VERY least a grasp - and then action coming from that grasp (twist, yank, etc). I got nothing based on both the OP description and the photo.

Only time I've called this, both were runners grasping the facemask and throwing the defender straight down by pulling on the facemask.

[JugglingReferee]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Really? How come? Just from the photo, it looks like a perfectly legal (if somewhat painful) stiffarm. Facemask requires at the VERY least a grasp - and then action coming from that grasp (twist, yank, etc). I got nothing based on both the OP description and the photo.

Only time I've called this, both were runners grasping the facemask and throwing the defender straight down by pulling on the facemask.

Just my experience. I can easily accept that a facemask did happen on this play. Naturally, video tells all.

[Coach Jinx]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Really? How come? Just from the photo, it looks like a perfectly legal (if somewhat painful) stiffarm. Facemask requires at the VERY least a grasp - and then action coming from that grasp (twist, yank, etc). I got nothing based on both the OP description and the photo.

Only time I've called this, both were runners grasping the facemask and throwing the defender straight down by pulling on the facemask.

Wow, from the photo it looks like a face mask, not sure what your looking at. I blew the photo up & you can see is pinkiw & ring finger in the mask. I agree you can't tell all the facts from a photo. I called this for the first time in about a 1000 games last week when the runner was trying to stiff arm/go around the defender & pulled the defenders mask straight down as he was tackled, he puller the defender so hard it looked like the first thing that hit the ground from the defender was his chin & the runner still had a good hold of the mask. It should be a no doubter if your gonna call it.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Coach Jinx

Wow, from the photo it looks like a face mask, not sure what your looking at. I blew the photo up & you can see is pinkiw & ring finger in the mask. I agree you can't tell all the facts from a photo. I called this for the first time in about a 1000 games last week when the runner was trying to stiff arm/go around the defender & pulled the defenders mask straight down as he was tackled, he puller the defender so hard it looked like the first thing that hit the ground from the defender was his chin & the runner still had a good hold of the mask. It should be a no doubter if your gonna call it.

I'm looking at the same photo you are. Even if there is a grasp ... this appears to be a simple facemask - pushing the player's head up and back is not a facemask. His pinky may be in there, but the movement you're getting is not due to the grasp (apparently, at least). The sitch you describe above (pulling down on the mask) is exactly where I'd call it - the picture, no. There's no yank, pull, twist, etc. (Again ... apparently).

[JRutledge]

I would like to see the whole play or see several pictures before I can say that was absolutely the right call. Then again that is why still pictures are not very good to determine fouls. That is just a very brief time compared to several seconds that help make these calls in real life.

Also I have seen this at least once a season. I think with the gloves players us now and the nature of the material, you see payers not able to get their hand off of the mask as easy. Also I think a lot of technique is off and I am seeing this more. Runners used to be taught to kind of "strike" with the stiff arm and know players keep their arm out there and the mask will be grabbed even if it is not intentional. In the picture the runner has a glove on and it is clear the pinky got caught up in the mask. But whether that is a foul or not is up for debate.

Peace

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by Coach Jinx

It should be a no doubter if your gonna call it.

Exactly. And this is not a "no doubter." He's pushing against the mask, open handed. I got nothing.

Also, there are no 5 yarders under NCAA rules.

[With_Two_Flakes]

Is facemasking an opponent with only the pinky finger a technique being coached in the US?
American players must have pretty strong pinky fingers.

But to be serious, you can't judge 100% from a still photo. This photo could just as easily show the end of a facemask foul as it could a legal straight arm.