The Official Forum - Lost Helmet by Defender?

The Official Forum (https://forum.officiating.com/)

- Football (https://forum.officiating.com/football/)

- - Lost Helmet by Defender? (https://forum.officiating.com/football/92068-lost-helmet-defender.html)

Lost Helmet by Defender?

With the new rule regarding a helmet lost during play requiring a player to sit a down if the helmet coming off was not the result of a foul. That is easy to figure out. What I haven't seen is what if B1 loses his helmet, then continues to participate in the play, like making or assisting on the tackle or by defending a pass. Would that be illegal participation? or do you have nothing other than to send him to the sideline for a play?

Rule references would be helpful.

Thanks

NFHS: No, it's not IP or any other foul. The new rule has nothing to do with your question. That situation continues to be officiated just as it always has. If his helmet comes off as you suggest, he sits out the next play.

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfdesigner (Post 849440)

If we are talking FED rules, then there is no foul.

In NCAA rules, it is a personal foul.

Rule 3-3-9-c: "...If the player is not the ball carrier the ball remains alive, but he must not continue to participate in the play beyond the immediate action in which he is engaged. Prolonged participation is a personal foul (Rule 9-1-17). By definition such a player is obviously out of the play (Rule 9-1-12-b)."

Quote:

Originally Posted by golfdesigner (Post 849440)

With the new rule regarding a helmet lost during play requiring a player to sit a down if the helmet coming off was not the result of a foul. That is easy to figure out. What I haven't seen is what if B1 loses his helmet, then continues to participate in the play, like making or assisting on the tackle or by defending a pass. Would that be illegal participation? or do you have nothing other than to send him to the sideline for a play?

Rule references would be helpful.

Thanks

CANADIAN RULING:

Illegal Participation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbailey (Post 849446)

Correct. In NCAA, it's also a personal foul for an opponent to contact the aforementioned helmetless player.

And, according to the interpretation I heard at a clinic this spring, if the player's helmet comes off and he puts his helmet back on, at that point he can rejoin the play. He will still be required to sit out the next down, however.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jTheUmp (Post 849488)

And, according to the interpretation I heard at a clinic this spring, if the player's helmet comes off and he puts his helmet back on, at that point he can rejoin the play. He will still be required to sit out the next down, however.

Not per the latest CFO memo. Once his helmet comes off, he's out of the play. They changed the language of the rule slightly and modified the ruling.

This is from the memo:

9-1-17
“A player whose helmet comes completely off during a down may not continue to participate beyond the immediate action in which he is engaged, whether or not he puts his helmet back on during the down.”

NOTE: This requires a change in Play 12 of the Helmet Comes Off—Play Situations, posted March 21, 2012. That play now reads:

12. During a down B55’s helmet comes off without a helmet foul by Team A. B55 immediately picks up his helmet, puts it on and continues to chase the ball carrier.

RULING: Personal foul by B55 for continuing to participate after losing his helmet. The clock stops at the end of the down and B55 must leave the game for the next down.