Federation Rule Question

[cmathews]

James,
No I wouldn't blow it dead when it is clearly out of the action but I might say "hey be careful". The more I thought about your first post I came to this thought though. If he gives a fair catch signal, he is most definitely not expecting to get blasted, and I really don't see any difference, aside from the fact that it is a penalty, in this and taking a knee, or for that matter "hook sliding". In all instances the player with the ball is "giving up" his right to advance the ball in return for protection. I do agree that this is an illegal fair catch there is no doubt about that. I just think that in a case such as this it is best to blow it dead. I personally wouldn't sleep very well if a kid gave an illegal fair catch, turned to hand me the ball and got drilled in the back and injured.... With that said, I don't know that I have ever seen it happen, how many times has anyone else seen it....oh and another thing I usually don't have to worry cause I am up by the LOS as the U I don't have the books here at work, is there a case book play that addresses the issue at hand??

[Edited by cmathews on Jul 1st, 2003 at 09:52 AM]