IW's

Refman12 · #1 (**permalink**) Sun Sep 14, 2014, 08:25am

During a High School Football Game we had a Kick Off Return where the receiving team caught the ball and started the return when the return man slipped and placed the ball with both hands on it on the ground. which I blew the return dead. Need to know if this was an IW. The rules stats that a runner can place his hand with the ball on the ground. does not say hands. For some reason I processed it as dead. Need a rule to determine correct call or IW.

BktBallRef · #2 (**permalink**) Sun Sep 14, 2014, 09:04am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Refman12

During a High School Football Game we had a Kick Off Return where the receiving team caught the ball and started the return when the return man slipped and placed the ball with both hands on it on the ground. which I blew the return dead. Need to know if this was an IW. The rules stats that a runner can place his hand with the ball on the ground. does not say hands. For some reason I processed it as dead. Need a rule to determine correct call or IW.

Yes, this was an inadvertent whistle. There's no rule that makes the ball dead as you describe.

Jimmie24 · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Sep 15, 2014, 05:45pm

Did you buy dinner?

BIG UMP · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Sep 16, 2014, 09:25am

Been in a big argument over this. This is an IW. Rule states no part of the body other than the hands and feet can touch the ground. This was the ball.

Years ago had a wing stop a play at the B-1 when the runner put the ball down as he was leaping for the EZ. Never did convince that official that we had an IW, (TD). Thank goodness it was a middle school game.