Washington team returns blocked field-goal

[bigjohn]

The football lay on the field for about five seconds. Then the River coaches began screaming.

"It's live! Pick it up!"

Dead ball

[asdf]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Dead ball

Based on what interpretation?

This isn't a ball coming to rest beyond the NZ with nobody from the receiving team anywhere near the ball. (they are the only one who can advance the ball)

This is a ball behind the NZ that can be advanced by either team, or legally passed / kicked by the kicking team. There were plenty of K players within 3 yards of the ball, all eligible to pick it up and advance it.

Great job by the crew..... especially the guys who covered the goal line.

[voiceoflg]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Dead ball

Help out a broadcaster here. How long does a live ball have to be untouched before it becomes dead?

[asdf]

Originally Posted by voiceoflg

Help out a broadcaster here. How long does a live ball have to be untouched before it becomes dead?

Until the covering official deems it dead.

The fact that it could have been recovered and advanced by either team (a receiving team player initially tried to recover it, but made a bad decision and didn't secure it) means you give it more time than when a kick beyond the NZ comes to rest.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by voiceoflg

Help out a broadcaster here. How long does a live ball have to be untouched before it becomes dead?

It's not a matter of time. It's when it becomes obvious no one will.

Example - punted ball rolling to a rest, no receiving team players anywhere near the play, several kicking team players around the ball. When the ball stops and no one reaches over to touch it, kill the play. They can't just sit there looking at the ball to let time roll off the clock.

On THIS play - where either team can pick it up, you've got to wait until it's completely obvious that no one is going to pick it up. Like - the kicking team leaves the field like the receiving team did.

[APG]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

Dead ball

That's only a dead ball to the team on the losing end of this play.

[bigjohn]

e. When any loose ball:
1. Is simultaneously caught or recovered by opposing players.
2. Is on the ground motionless and no player attempts to secure possession.
3. Touches, or is touched by, anything inbounds other than a player, substitute, replaced player, a game official, the ground or authorized equipment. In this case the ball will be put in play in accordance with the procedure for an inadvertent whistle as in 4-2-3b.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by bigjohn

A kick is a loose ball play--Kick end when
e. When any loose ball:
1. Is simultaneously caught or recovered by opposing players.
2. Is on the ground motionless and no player attempts to secure possession.

Yes, and you're being told by actual officials how to interpret that 2nd part. How long we wait to decide that "no player attempts" varies by situation. In THIS situation, we wait...

[bigjohn]

Wait until a coach comes on the field and tells them to pick it up and run?? Baloney!

[asdf]

You can cut and paste till the cows come home, but you are wrong (again).


Even the AD from the team that lost admitted that the ball was still live.

[bigjohn]

5 seconds?

[JRutledge]

I have no problem with the play. Recover the ball and none of this is an issue. There is a problem with players celebrating too soon and not finishing the play. Seems like a theme lately across football.

Peace