Protecting QB.
 

We had a play last friday that my crew was kind of divided on. I'm the HL and the entire play happened away from me on the other sideline. Here is the play as best as I remember.

Down not significant but started at B45. A14(Qb) drops back to throw and throws deep down the middle of the field, where it is intercepted by B33 and returned about 15 to 20 yards on B's sideline, approximately the B30. As HL I was completely away from the play on the other sideline and was watching blocking occurring slightly ahead of B33 and toward the middle of the field. After the play ended the coaches are upset with us because their qb, A14, was double teamed about 20 downfield from where the play ended. All I saw of this was the end result, 2 B players on top of A14 near B's sideline. Could not see hit on video either.

My question is after an interception or fumble and there is a return, how much protection do you provide for the qb of the team that just turned the ball over?

Under the rules, I don't think the QB is afforded any special protection. Similar to a punter after he runs down field. Could invoke player out of the play rule, but so long as the QB is ahead of the returner, I think that is a stretch. I have nothing.

He's a passer until the pass ends or he moves to participate. If those conditions are satisfied then contact on the passer is legal unless it's a PF or some illegal block.

Correct and well stated. As long as all blocks were legal and no personal foul contact or action occurred, you have nothing.

This is, once again, the result of too many people bringing Sunday football examples into the high school football arena, with the extreme over-protection of today's NFL QB's. I'd say at least 3 or 4 times a year I have a kid scramble out of the pocket, chased by defenders, and the kid dumps the ball OOB into his team box and when the flag comes out, you hear: "He was out of the pocket!!" Coaches and fans....priceless.

but if a kid is targeted for a late hit because he is the QB, DQ time for someone!


*9.4.3 COMMENT: Is there suggested guidance on what is meant by a defenseless
player who should be protected from unnecessary roughness? Yes, defenseless
players are especially vulnerable to potential injury. Game officials must diligently
observe safety rules and watch for contact against players who are deemed
defenseless such as: (a) A quarterback moving down the line of scrimmage who
has handed or pitched the ball to a teammate, and then makes no attempt to participate
further in the play; (b) A kicker who is in the act of kicking the ball, or who
has not had a reasonable amount of time to regain his balance after the kick; (c)
A passer who is in the act of throwing the ball, or who has not had a reasonable
length of time to participate in the play again after releasing the ball; (d) A pass
receiver whose concentration is on the ball and the contact by the defender is
unrelated to attempting to catch the ball; (e) A pass receiver who has clearly
relaxed when he has missed the pass or feels he can no longer catch; (f) A kick
receiver whose attention is on the downward flight of the ball; (g) A kick receiver
who has just touched the ball; (h) Any player who has relaxed once the ball has
become dead; and (i) Any player who is obviously out of the play. The game official
must draw distinction between contact necessary to make a legal block or
tackle, and that which targets defenseless players.

Any late hit can result in a DQ!

agreed but if he was targeted because he is the qb.... oh never mind officials can't read minds.
:rolleyes:

We have been seeing more and more hits on players that are obviously out of the play 25-40 yards away and the defense is always that they didn't hear a whistle. Anyone else having this issue?

Yes, and my answer is always the same -- you gotta have better awareness than that.

By rule, which you like to always quote, he's no different than anybody else at that point.

I had a kid about 6 years ago on a 80 yard run jack one of the offensive lineman 60 yards from the ball. He see my flag hit the ground and looks at me and says, "I thought he had the ball!" So I reach and throw my other flag, who says, "What is that for?" I said for lying to me.

flagrant is defined by the official.


The game official
must draw distinction between contact necessary to make a legal block or
tackle, and that which targets defenseless players.

We can read yours bigjohn and it's not pretty.;);)