Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

If a receiver catches a pass (let's say for 40 yards) and then fumbles the ball. The opposing team recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Does the receiver still get the 40 yards added to his stats?

Asked by austivino about 9 years ago

That's not really an official's issue, it's stats. But my guess is that he does receive credit. He caught it and gained the yards. That's hoe the ball got to where it was.

583 Votes

Team A punts the ball. Team B's return man signals fair catch. Ref Blows whistle and return man drops kick team A recovers. Whose ball if whistle was blown before punt touched by return man. whose ball if whistle was blown at instant of touch.

Asked by eagle about 9 years ago

If the whistle sounds during a loose ball play (before touch - ball still in air) you either replay the down or take the result of the play. K would have the choice. At instant of touch, it is still a loose ball - no possession. Same options.

583 Votes

I played high school and college football (D3). I coached HS football for 6 years. I am a special ed teacher in high school (12 yrs). How do I become a college referee? I only want to do lower divisions, D3, D2, NAIA.

Asked by Matt over 8 years ago

A lot depends on your location. Once upon a time, you didn't become a college official unless you had a good number of years (5-10) of working high school. Today, it's not that difficult t get seen, although it may cost you some money. There are a number of clinics that you pay to attend and get trained; you can Google that. They are run by individuals who have their connections (to the NFL and P5 conferences) and can get you "seen". You could also contact a local D3 or D2 college and ask the AD who assigns his games and try going through that person or group. I'm also guessing from your info that you're in your mid 30's - that's not a bad age to start but when I started in college at 37, I had ten years of HS ball. I hope this helps; good luck.

583 Votes

If a field goal kicker kicks the ball and it somehow deflects off a referee and goes through the uprights, is the field goal try good?

Asked by LASooner almost 10 years ago

Yes. Officials are "part of the field". Same as if a player tipped it and it went through. But that's gotta sting!

580 Votes

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On the TD by the sumersalting Steelers receiver since the ball was moving up the back of his leg and after he controlled it he only had one foot down, was it not called incomplete?

Asked by Chip almost 9 years ago

I did not see the play, and I don't know that anyone knows what a catch is in the NFL. But I'll guess. It's the ball, not the player, that needs to be in the endzone. If the ball is in control in the endzone, it's a score.

580 Votes

Polson punted the ball. A Polson Player ran down the field - touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it. The returner picked up ball and ran wrong way in Polson endzone, was tackled, fumbled and Polson recovered. No whistle.

Asked by Polson High School FBall Fan about 9 years ago

If I'm understanding correctly what you're saying, you have an illegal touch by the kicking team ('touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it."). The receiving team has the right to take the ball at that spot. Which they did. I think they got that right.

580 Votes

a pass was blocked, the ball hit the ground, the quarterback caught the bounce, threw again, incomplete, offense was called for illegal second forward pass and penalized. Q) Wasn't the ball and play dead when the ball hit the ground the first time?

Asked by becidaguy about 9 years ago

Once the forward pass - off the block - hits the ground, it is an incomplete pass. Not sure what was seen by crew.

579 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If a receiver catches a pass (let's say for 40 yards) and then fumbles the ball. The opposing team recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Does the receiver still get the 40 yards added to his stats?

Team A punts the ball. Team B's return man signals fair catch. Ref Blows whistle and return man drops kick team A recovers. Whose ball if whistle was blown before punt touched by return man. whose ball if whistle was blown at instant of touch.

I played high school and college football (D3). I coached HS football for 6 years. I am a special ed teacher in high school (12 yrs). How do I become a college referee? I only want to do lower divisions, D3, D2, NAIA.

If a field goal kicker kicks the ball and it somehow deflects off a referee and goes through the uprights, is the field goal try good?

Also on Jobstr...

On the TD by the sumersalting Steelers receiver since the ball was moving up the back of his leg and after he controlled it he only had one foot down, was it not called incomplete?

Polson punted the ball. A Polson Player ran down the field - touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it. The returner picked up ball and ran wrong way in Polson endzone, was tackled, fumbled and Polson recovered. No whistle.

a pass was blocked, the ball hit the ground, the quarterback caught the bounce, threw again, incomplete, offense was called for illegal second forward pass and penalized. Q) Wasn't the ball and play dead when the ball hit the ground the first time?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

If a receiver catches a pass (let's say for 40 yards) and then fumbles the ball. The opposing team recovers the fumble and returns it for a touchdown. Does the receiver still get the 40 yards added to his stats?

Team A punts the ball. Team B's return man signals fair catch. Ref Blows whistle and return man drops kick team A recovers. Whose ball if whistle was blown before punt touched by return man. whose ball if whistle was blown at instant of touch.

I played high school and college football (D3). I coached HS football for 6 years. I am a special ed teacher in high school (12 yrs). How do I become a college referee? I only want to do lower divisions, D3, D2, NAIA.

If a field goal kicker kicks the ball and it somehow deflects off a referee and goes through the uprights, is the field goal try good?

Also on Jobstr...

On the TD by the sumersalting Steelers receiver since the ball was moving up the back of his leg and after he controlled it he only had one foot down, was it not called incomplete?

Polson punted the ball. A Polson Player ran down the field - touched the ball in mid air on a bounce but never possessed it. The returner picked up ball and ran wrong way in Polson endzone, was tackled, fumbled and Polson recovered. No whistle.

a pass was blocked, the ball hit the ground, the quarterback caught the bounce, threw again, incomplete, offense was called for illegal second forward pass and penalized. Q) Wasn't the ball and play dead when the ball hit the ground the first time?

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