August 2010 1

The Referee’s Perspective on the Passing Game

Presented by

Jeff Hilyer and Steve Newton

2010 AHSAA Football Officials Camp

Dothan, Alabama

August 2010

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Pre-game Conference

• We will be using 7-man mechanics• Provide better coverage for the passing

game• Better sideline dead ball officiating• Emphasize to L and LJ that they have

downfield help from SJ and FJ

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Terms Related to the Passing Game

• Legal and Illegal Forward Passes• Forward/Backward Pass• Pass Eligibility Rules• Blocking Rules• Ending a down/Ball Becomes Dead• Illegal Participation• Roughing the Passer• Pass Interference• Substitutions

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Legal and Illegal Forward PassesForward pass - pass thrown with its initial direction toward the opponent’s end line.

NOTE: Prior to releasing the ball on a pass, if the potential passer is contacted, and the ball is released, it is a forward pass if his arm was moving forward on contact.

Legal forward pass - during a scrimmage down and before team possession has changed, a player of A throws the ball with both feet of the passer in or behind the neutral zone when the ball is released. Only one forward pass may be thrown during the down.

Illegal forward pass is a foul and includes:a. A pass after team possession has changed during the down.b. A pass from beyond the neutral zone.c. A pass intentionally thrown into an area not occupied by an eligible offensive

receiver.d. A pass intentionally thrown incomplete to save loss of yardage or to conserve

time.EXCEPTION: It is legal to conserve time by intentionally throwing the ball forward to

the ground immediately after receiving a direct hand-to-hand snap.e. A second or subsequent forward pass thrown during a down.

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Backward Pass

Backward pass - pass thrown with its initial direction parallel with or toward the runner’s end line.

Signal for backward pass

Primary responsibility for making the determination:– Quick out pass

– Delayed pass

Cover mechanics in the pregame conference

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Pass Eligibility Rules

Pass eligibility rules apply only to a legal forward pass.

The following players are eligible pass receivers:a. All A players eligible by position and number include those who, at the timeof the snap, are on the ends of their scrimmage line or legally behind theline (possible total of six) and are numbered 1-49 or 80-99. (See 7-2-5bEXCEPTION 2)b. All A players become eligible when B touches a legal forward pass.c. All B players are eligible.d. A player who is eligible at the start of the down remains eligible throughoutthe down.

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Neutral Zone

3 ya

rds

3 ya

rds

4 yards4 yards

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Dead Ball and Live Ball Intervals

Prior to Free Kick or Legal Snap

Ball Dead by Rule

17% 31%52%

Live Ball

RFP RFPBall Dead

Free Kick or Legal Snap

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Illegal Participation

Rule 2-29 – Participation is any act or action by a player or non-player that has an influence on play.

Rule 9-6 – Illegal Participation – Article 1 most frequently occurrence on a pass play – A out of bounds.

• Call generally made by the linesman or line judge• Need to see the entire action – Blocked out, avoided block, went out

on own• What does first opportunity mean?• Enforcement – all illegal participation fouls are live ball fouls• Articles 1,2,3,4a are basic spot fouls; 4b through 4f are previous spot

fouls

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Roughing the Passer

Rule 2-32-11 – A passer is a player who throws a legal forward pass. He continues to be a passer until the legal forward pass ends or until he moves to participate in the play

Rule 2-30-4 – A forward pass ends when it is caught, touches the ground or is out of bounds.

Rule 9-4-4 – Roughing the passer. Defensive players must make a definite effort to avoid charging into the passer, who has thrown the ball from in or behind the neutral zone, after it is clear the ball has been thrown. No defensive player shall charge into the passer who is standing still or fading back, because he is considered out of the play after the pass

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Roughing the Passer

• Get in position to make the call – watch the potential foul develop

• Watch for helmet to helmet contact – launching is a key.• If blocked into the QB, no foul• Scrambling QB not free game to get hit – stay focused on

your man – the QB• When ball is released, do not “officiate air”• When ball is released, indicate “Ball’s away” – preventive

officiating.• During completed passes, 15 yards from the end of the last

run, automatic first down.

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Pass Interference

Pass interference restrictions only apply beyond the neutral zone and only if the legal forward pass, untouched by B in or behind the neutral zone, crosses the neutral zone.

Pass interference restrictions are in effect for all A and B players until the ball is touched or the pass is incomplete. Pass interference restrictions on a legal forward pass begin for:

a. A with the snap.

b. B when the ball leaves the passer’s hand.

Pass interference restrictions on a legal forward pass end for all:a. A players, when B touches a legal forward pass.

b. Eligible A players when A touches a legal forward pass. Ineligible A players

may not touch the pass, but can use hands or arms in a legal block to ward

off an opponent.

c. B players when a legal forward pass has been touched by A or B.

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Pass Interference

It is forward-pass interference if:a. Any player of A or B who is beyond the neutral zone interferes with aneligible opponent’s opportunity to move toward, catch or bat the pass.b. Any player hinders an opponent’s vision without making an attempt tocatch, intercept or bat the ball, even though no contact was made.

It is not forward-pass interference if:a. Unavoidable contact occurs when two or more eligibles are making asimultaneous, bona fide attempt to move toward, catch or bat the pass.b. Contact by A is immediately made on a B lineman and the contact does

notcontinue beyond the expanded neutral zone.c. Contact by B is obviously away from the direction of the pass.

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Substitutions

Rule 2-31-15 – A substitute is a team member who may replace a player or fill a player vacancy. A substitute becomes a players when:– He enters the field and communicates with a teammate or official– Enters a huddle – can legally break with 12– Positioned in a formation – remember, must get inside the numbers– Participates in a play

Rule 3-7– A replaced player must leave the field within 3 seconds– Substitutions allowed only between downs– Replaced player or substitute must leave on his side of the field and

immediately go to his team box– Cannot come in and then withdraw nor withdraw then come back in– Substitute unsuccessful getting off the field and does not participate– Substitute enters the field during a down but does not participate

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Dead Ball Foul for Illegal Substitution when Replaced Player Crosses the End Line

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Dead Ball Foul for Illegal Substitution when Replaced Player Crosses the Opponent’s Side Line

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Legal Substitution

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Live Ball Foul for Illegal Substitution if Replaced Player does not get off the Field before the snap and does not participate.

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Questions?