Football Official

Football Official

Zebra

Somewhere in, NJ

Male, 62

I've officiated football for over 30 years, now in my 26th on the college level. I've worked NCAA playoffs at the Division II and III level. In addition, I've coached at the scholastic level and have been an educator for over 35 years. I have no interest whatsoever in being an NFL official! Ever!

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Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Best Rated

Why is it that toward the end of the half or end of the game, the officials run faster and hustle more when the time is running out to place the ball? I feel like their helping the offense, they shouldn't be helping one team over the other.

Asked by Vilas over 11 years ago

Good point to raise.  Officials try to maintain a steady pace, regardless of how fast the offense is going (no huddle, hurry up).  However, as time is getting ready to expire in a half, officials will use one ball, the same one that was in the previous play, rather than substitute a new ball. There still has to be an opportunity for the defense to "match up", which means if the offense is subbing (even in a hurry up), the defense has to be given the opportunity to match subs (at least in college rules).

Does the offense have to allow the defense to come set before snapping the ball? In the Out back bowl the reff said the offense didnt allow the defense to get set a on a quick snap on 4th and 1. It was the worst call I have ever seen and want to know

Asked by tmyers378@gmail.com about 11 years ago

Didn't see that game and don't know what the ref said.  But....

It isn't that the offense has to let the defense get "set"; the defense has to be allowed to "match up" if the offense makes changes late in the 40 second count. For example, if the offense is running a hurry up offense (or no huddle) and they do not substitute, there's no action taken. But the citation is Rule 3-5-2-e: "....Team A [offense] is prohibited from rushing quickly to the line of scrimmage with the obvious attempt of creating a defensive disadvantage.  If the ball is ready for play, the game officials will not permit the ball to be snapped until Team B [defense] has placed substitutes in position and replaced players have left the field of play. Team B must react promptly with its substututes." The Referee and other officials will hold their arms out to the side ("iron cross") and the Umpire will stand over the ball preventing a snap. 

There's a good deal of interpretation and judgment by the officials on such plays.  And it is used often, but most times the defense makes its substitutions and the play goes off normally. Most games, fans don't even know it's happening.  Obviously that wasn't the case here.

So if one team commits two penalties and the other commits one on the same play. Neither is a personal foul penalty do they offset?

Asked by Evildeadted over 10 years ago

yes

In Bills vs Packers game yesterday. In the last 2 minutes of the game Aaron Rogers had the ball knocked or of his hands and ball landed in endzone and was recovered by Ed Lacy resulting in a safety. Is that considered a fumble or muff by NFL rules?

Asked by Eini34 over 10 years ago

From what you stated, "had the ball knocked or of his hands", that is a fumble. We are taking the position that he had possession, so there is no muff. A fumble by the offensive team that is recovered by the offense in the end zone, and the recovering player (Lacy) remains on the ground in the end zone, results in a safety. Even it was a muff, if the offense put the ball into the end zone and it remains there in their possession, it is a safety.

A snap goes over the qb head, dl kicks the ball forward into opposing endzone then falls on it. What is the decision on the play. Touchdown? Ian@bigstake.com

Asked by ian about 11 years ago

That's an illegal kick by the defensive lineman.  College rules call for a ten yard penalty against the offending team - in this case the defense. So, no TD and, after accepting the penalty, it's still the offense's ball.

If a snap goes over a punters head; the punter retrieves it @ the 1.5 yd line & tries to throw a pass. The defense deflects it and the ball lands in the endend zone, but bounces out-of-bounds.
What's the ruling?

Asked by lcpcop@gmail.com about 11 years ago

If it is ruled a forward pass (unlike the Patriots' play in the playoffs), it's an incomplete pass. On the other hand, if it is ruled a fumble -- as it was against the Pats -- then you have a safety. If anyone legally throws a forward pass - a punter, kick holder, a halfback - and it's incomplete, then it's, well, incomplete. The fact that it rolled out of the endzone is irrelevent.

I have noticed while watching a game, the play clock will be down to a certain number say 8 then change to 25 before the ball is snapped. Please, tell me why or should this be happening?

Asked by Rick Greenberg over 10 years ago

If the ball isn't set for some reason by the time the play clock reaches 20 seconds, the referee will pump one hand in the air to reset the play clock to 25. That's to give the offense a fair opportunity to run their offense. But 8 seconds? Something else must have happened - was there a timeout or some clock malfunction or an injury? The 25 count is "sacrosanct" and generally you don't interrupt it.