RULE 7. SNAPPING, HANDING AND PASSING THE BALL
ENCROACHMENT
7.2.1 SITUATION: After the ball is marked ready for play by the Referee, B4 charges into the neutral zone beyond B’s scrimmage line (second ball spotter – gold), to give Team A a first down. RULING: Dead ball foul for encroachment, 5 yards. The penalty is declined by Team A. Team B is informed by the Referee that if this occurs again during the same dead ball interval, a 10 yard penalty will be enforced, if accepted.
MOTION
7.3.3 SITUATION: After a huddle all Team A players come to a stop and remain stationary for a full second, then A2 goes in motion legally and the ball is snapped. RULING: Legal.
DIRECT SNAP
7.3.4 SITUATION: A1 is under the center. The center snaps the ball through the legs of A1 to A6 who is 5 yards behind Team A’s scrimmage line. RULING: Legal. The snap was received by a player who was at least 2 yards behind Team A’s scrimmage line.
SHIFT
7.3.5 SITUATION A: Following a huddle or shift one offensive player takes a preliminary position, then advances or drops into a final position. RULING: Such movement constitutes a shift; all players must hold their final positions for at least one second before the snap.
7.3.5 SITUATION B: A1 goes in motion legally as A2 moves to a new position in the backfield, sets, and the ball is snapped. RULING: Illegal shift, live ball foul, 5 yards.
MALE RUNNER (COREC ONLY)
7.5.1 SITUATION A: Male A1 throws a forward pass to female A2 beyond the neutral zone who then throws a backward pass to male A3 who is behind Team A’s scrimmage line (first ball spotter – orange). Male A3 runs through Team A’s scrimmage line for a 10 yard gain. RULING: Legal play.
7.5.1 SITUATION B: Third and 5 on A 15. The play is “open.” Male A1 throws a legal forward pass to male A3 who first touches the ball behind Team A’s scrimmage line, juggles it through Team A’s scrimmage line, and catches it beyond. RULING: Legal play. A3 becomes a runner when he possesses the ball. The next play is “closed.”
LEGAL AND ILLEGAL FORWARD PASSES
7.7.1 SITUATION A: A1 runs with the ball beyond the scrimmage line, then returns behind the scrimmage line and throws a forward pass. RULING: Legal play.
7.7.1 SITUATION B: A1 throws a backward pass from Team A’s 31 yard line which is caught by A6 at the Team A 33 yard line. RULING: Legal play. The initial direction of the pass determines whether the pass is forward or backward. While a backward pass may have its flight path altered by wind or forward player momentum and subsequently be caught beyond the point of release, this does not change the status of the pass.
7.7.1 SITUATION C: QB A1 throws a legal forward pass which is controlled by airborne A2. Prior to returning to the ground, A2 throws the ball forward or backward to A3 who runs for a touchdown. RULING: Legal play. The pass remains a pass until A2 alights on the ground for a completion. Since A2 is airborne he/she may bat or throw the legal forward pass in any direction.
7.7.2 SITUATION A: A1 throws a short forward pass: (a) A1 catches; (b) the ball is tipped by A4, or B3, then A1 catches; or (c) A6 catches pass and throws a backward pass to A1. RULING: In (a) illegal forward pass. In (b) and (c) the play is legal as another player touched the ball before A1 again possessed it. However, Team A cannot throw a second forward pass during the down.
7.7.2 SITUATION B: QB A1 catches the snap from center and IMMEDIATELY throws the ball into the ground to stop the clock. RULING: This play is legal provided the QB is not trying to avoid a loss of yardage.
ILLEGAL FORWARD PASS (COREC ONLY)
7.7.3 SITUATION A: Second and 15 on the A25. The down is “closed” – the last legal forward pass completion was male to male. (a) Male A1 throws a legal forward pass caught by female A2 at the A23. Female A2 runs to the A26 and is deflagged; or (b) Same play except Female A2 is deflagged at the A24. RULING: (a) The next play is “open.” Team A may throw a male to male legal forward pass completion. In (b) there is no foul. The next play is still “closed” – Team A may not
throw a male to male forward pass completion. Team A did not gain positive yards. The dead ball spot was behind the Team A scrimmage line.
7.7.3 SITUATION B: Second and 7 on the A13. This down is “closed.” Male A1 completes a legal forward pass to female A2 at the A19. After the catch A2 guards her flag belt at the A22. RULING: If accepted, enforce guarding the flag belt, 10 yards from the spot of the foul. It would be A’s ball second and 8 on the A12. All fouls carry their usual enforcement. The next play will be “open” since there was a male to female legal forward pass completion, and the ball became dead beyond the Team A scrimmage
line. Whether the foul is accepted or declined has no effect on “open” or “closed” restrictions.
7.7.3 SITUATION C: The down is “closed.” Male A1 completes a pass to female A2 for positive yards. A3 commits illegal contact and B2 roughs the passer. RULING: Double foul. Repeat the down. The down is “open” since female A2 caught a pass for positive yards.
7.7.3 SITUATION D: The down is “closed.” Male A1 throws a legal forward pass beyond the scrimmage line to male A2 who secures the pass with his feet off the ground. Male A2 tosses the ball forward or backward to female A3 prior to touching the ground. RULING: Completed pass. The next down is “open.” NOTE: Male A2 did not complete a catch since his feet were off the ground. He “handled” a loose ball.
7.7.4 SITUATION: The down is “closed.” Female A1 throws a legal forward pass from the A26 to male A6 who catches the ball behind his scrimmage line and: (a) advances the ball beyond his scrimmage line for positive yards; or (b) is deflagged behind his scrimmage line. RULING: In (a) Illegal Forward Pass. Male A6 advanced the ball through the Team A scrimmage line. Enforce the foul at the A26. The next down is “closed” because the pass was illegal. (b) Legal play. The next down is still “closed.”
FORWARD PASS INTERFERENCE
7.10.1 SITUATION A: A1 throws a legal forward pass toward A5 who is beyond Team A’s scrimmage line. Before A5 touches the pass, B2 deflags A5. RULING: Defensive pass interference.
7.10.1 SITUATION B: B1, defending against a legal forward pass beyond Team A’s scrimmage line, waves his/her arms in the face of A2 who is attempting to catch the pass. RULING: Defensive pass interference.
7.10.3 SITUATION: A3 muffs a legal forward pass and B2 pushes A3 out of the way in an attempt to secure the ball. RULING: Personal foul for illegal contact, penalize 10 yards.
