Inadvertant whistle

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by splitveer

When, if anytime, does the offense/kicking team get to choose the play or the down over on an inadvertant whistle? I vaguely remember this scenerio could be true.

Coach, if the whistle sounds while a legal kick, legal forward pass or legal snap is in flight, the down must be replayed.

Otherwise, the team last in control has the option to take the result of the play or replay the down.

An accepted penalty prior to the IW trumps all.

[Bob M.]

REPLY: Coach, in the play you posted, the receiving team actually did have a choice: take the ball at the spot where they fumbled it, or have the down replayed. Of course, they would never choose that one. Think of it this way...the only times a team does NOT have a choice to make is if the inadvertent whistle blows (1) during a legal forward pass, or (2) during a legal scrimmage or free kick.