Inadvertant whistle

[CT1]

Originally Posted by splitveer

Please post the rule. I would love to read it and see if I can make any sense of it. I am just trying to learn more about the rules. As far as a specific play....here is one.

1.It is 1st and 10. Ball is handed off on an iso play and the ball carrier runs ten yards when the ball comes loose. No one has control and the official blows the whistle. What should happen? What choices does the offense have?

Offense can take the ball where the runner was when the IW blew, or replay the down.

2. The ball is being punted and the snap is such that it goes over the head of the punter. The punter picks up the ball then fumbles it. The whistle is blown while the ball is loose. What should happen? What choices does the punting team have?

Same choice.

[cdoug]

Originally Posted by CT1

Offense can take the ball where the runner was when the IW blew, or replay the down.



Same choice.

I assume by these you are assuming that the runner is in the same place he was when the ball came loose. If so, your answer is correct...if not then it's not, since the new dead ball spot is where the ball became loose (assuming A takes the result of the play instead of replaying).

Also, if I'm interpreting the rule correctly, K would want to replay the down in #2 since it'd give the ball to R (assuming that it's 4th down when they're punting).

[cdoug]

4-2-3...
"An inadvertent whistle ends the down. Inadvertent whistles are administered as follows:

a. The down shall be replayed if, during a down or during a down in which the penalty for a foul is declined, and inadvertent whistle is sounded while a legal forward pass or snap is in flight, or during a legal kick.

b. The team last in possession may choose to either put the ball in play where possession was lost or replay the down if, during a down or during a down in which the penalty for a foul is declined, an inadvertent whistle is sounded while the ball is loose following a backward pass, fumble, illegal forward pass or illegal kick.

c. The team in possession may choose to either accept the results of the play at the dead-ball spot or replay the down if, during a down or during a down in which the penalty for a foul is declined, an inadvertent whistle is sounded while the ball is in player possession.

d. The penalty shall be administered as determined by the basic spot and takes precedence over inadvertent whistle administration if, during a down, a live-ball foul occurs prior to the inadvertent whistle and the penalty is accepted."

[PocketSidewalk]

Originally Posted by cdoug

4-2-3...
d. The penalty shall be administered as determined by the basic spot and takes precedence over inadvertent whistle administration if, during a down, a live-ball foul occurs prior to the inadvertent whistle and the penalty is accepted."

Am I correct that if an IW occurs while the ball is in player possession, the basic spot for any fouls committed during that related running play is the dead ball spot (i.e., location of the ball when the IW was blown)?

In other words, the basic spot is no different than if the ball had become dead by some other means such as the runner taking a knee.

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by PocketSidewalk

Am I correct that if an IW occurs while the ball is in player possession, the basic spot for any fouls committed during that related running play is the dead ball spot (i.e., location of the ball when the IW was blown)?

In other words, the basic spot is no different than if the ball had become dead by some other means such as the runner taking a knee.

Correct. But the enforcement spot may not necessarily be the basic spot.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by cdoug

I assume by these you are assuming that the runner is in the same place he was when the ball came loose. If so, your answer is correct...if not then it's not, since the new dead ball spot is where the ball became loose (assuming A takes the result of the play instead of replaying)..

Um ... that's what he said. Same answer for both: Offense can take the ball where the runner was when the IW blew, or replay the down.

[cdoug]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Um ... that's what he said. Same answer for both: Offense can take the ball where the runner was when the IW blew, or replay the down.

Okay...I guess I was assuming (incorrectly, evidently) that the ball had bounced and/or gone somewhere other than where possession was lost. Sorry.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Um ... that's what he said. Same answer for both: Offense can take the ball where the runner was when the IW blew, or replay the down.

I think his point is that where the runner is when the whistle blows is of no consequence. Where the runner was when the ball came loose is what matters. They could be the same place, but chances are there will be at least a couple of yards difference between the two.

[cdoug]

Originally Posted by Adam

I think his point is that where the runner is when the whistle blows is of no consequence. Where the runner was when the ball came loose is what matters. They could be the same place, but chances are there will be at least a couple of yards difference between the two.

Yes, that's what I was going at...I guess I should have stated it more clearly.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by cdoug

I assume by these you are assuming that the runner is in the same place he was when the ball came loose. If so, your answer is correct...if not then it's not, since the new dead ball spot is where the ball became loose (assuming A takes the result of the play instead of replaying).

Also, if I'm interpreting the rule correctly, K would want to replay the down in #2 since it'd give the ball to R (assuming that it's 4th down when they're punting).

Yes, it's the spot of the fumble, which is one reason we throw a beanbag there.

I was trying to keep it simple for the non-official who asked the original question.