Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

Can you snap the ball sideways as long as it goes backwards like a lateral. Not between the legs but standing sideways as long as you keep the ball perpendicular to LOS?

Asked by Bravovictor about 12 years ago

Yup. Using college rule 2-23-1-g: The snap need not be between the snapper's legs; but to be legal, it must be a quick and continuous backward motion.

And don't use "lateral". The term "lateral" is not used; it's a backward pass.

904 Votes

Is it illegal for a player to touch a referee in between plays?

Asked by Joe DellaVecchio about 10 years ago

That depends. I've had a player talk to me and put a hand on my arm as you might to someone in conversation. That's communicating. I've see players say "Nice call" and tap an official's shoulder or back. That's ok. Intentionally contacting an official - pushing, shoving, bumping - that will draw a flag.

903 Votes

Watching the Steelers game. During a punt holding was called on the receiving team, and 10 yard penalty was assessed from the end of the run, how would it be assessed if it was returned for a touchdown? Or even a long return?

Asked by Cksteffy@dejazzd.com over 10 years ago

NFL rules are different but generally, if the foul is behind the "basic spot" (the end of the run) it's marked off from the spot of the foul.

901 Votes

When a straight arm involves the offense player using the defender's face mail, why isn't that a personal foul?

Asked by Tris Dammin over 10 years ago

It could be. It is a matter of interpretation and judgment by the official. A push off is likely okay. A grab and twist? Then it is no different than any other face mask call.

899 Votes

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On a pass two feet are required to be in bounds for a pass to be ruled complete. Could a player double hop on one foot, with adequate ball control, before going out of bounds and it be considered complete.

Asked by Rich about 11 years ago

You gave the answer: "On a pass two feet are required". And that's two different feet, otherwise it's one foot.

898 Votes

When a running back uses a stiff arm to the facemask...Shouldn't it be a penalty?? I've notice that linemen get flagged for hands to the face quite often so what would the difference be between that and a stiff arm to the facemask?

Asked by Scott over 11 years ago

A RB stiff arming usually is pushing away the defender. It is not the upward stretching/straining motion that you're talking about with OLs. If a RB were to grab the facemask and twist or hold onto it, then you have a foul.

898 Votes

If the person who has the football has a knee that touches the ground, is he down?

Asked by Ed Gouge over 10 years ago

Generally speaking, in HS and college yes. In the NFL, the player needs to be "down by contact", so if a player is running free and slips or trips in the NFL, he can still get up and continue. In HS and college, the player is down.

898 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Can you snap the ball sideways as long as it goes backwards like a lateral. Not between the legs but standing sideways as long as you keep the ball perpendicular to LOS?

Is it illegal for a player to touch a referee in between plays?

Watching the Steelers game. During a punt holding was called on the receiving team, and 10 yard penalty was assessed from the end of the run, how would it be assessed if it was returned for a touchdown? Or even a long return?

When a straight arm involves the offense player using the defender's face mail, why isn't that a personal foul?

Also on Jobstr...

On a pass two feet are required to be in bounds for a pass to be ruled complete. Could a player double hop on one foot, with adequate ball control, before going out of bounds and it be considered complete.

When a running back uses a stiff arm to the facemask...Shouldn't it be a penalty?? I've notice that linemen get flagged for hands to the face quite often so what would the difference be between that and a stiff arm to the facemask?

If the person who has the football has a knee that touches the ground, is he down?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

Can you snap the ball sideways as long as it goes backwards like a lateral. Not between the legs but standing sideways as long as you keep the ball perpendicular to LOS?

Is it illegal for a player to touch a referee in between plays?

Watching the Steelers game. During a punt holding was called on the receiving team, and 10 yard penalty was assessed from the end of the run, how would it be assessed if it was returned for a touchdown? Or even a long return?

When a straight arm involves the offense player using the defender's face mail, why isn't that a personal foul?

Also on Jobstr...

On a pass two feet are required to be in bounds for a pass to be ruled complete. Could a player double hop on one foot, with adequate ball control, before going out of bounds and it be considered complete.

When a running back uses a stiff arm to the facemask...Shouldn't it be a penalty?? I've notice that linemen get flagged for hands to the face quite often so what would the difference be between that and a stiff arm to the facemask?

If the person who has the football has a knee that touches the ground, is he down?

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