Columbus Football Officials Association

 Official who throws flag (or anyone who sees a flag) should signal timeout when ball is dead.  Get EVERYONE’S attention with short tweets of the whistle.  Somebody should hold the dead ball spot!  Calling official should communicate with the referee and tell him EVERTHING.  With multiple flags, both officials should get together before going to referee.  Make sure flag is AT spot of foul.  Referee gives preliminary signal.  Umpire gets captains for Referee.  Referee presents options to captain (do not rely upon R as the “all-knowing”).

 Umpire listens to (and verifies) Referee’s options and walks off yardage if penalty is accepted (suggest holding ball after enforcement until assured ball is at correct yard line).  Linesman should be at resulting spot and verify with the Umpire.  If Umpire and Linesman are not in same place, figure out why.  Line Judge holds spot of enforcement (basic spot or spot of foul).  Back Judge does whatever else needs to be done. (Retrieving flag, holding spot of foul, relaying information to a sideline, etc.)  Referee should watch the Umpire enforce penalty then signal to press box.

 Yardage to be assessed (distance) for every foul.  Loss of down or automatic first down aspect of every foul. “4” Automatic 1 st down fouls “4” loss of down fouls  Signals for all fouls so you know the distance penalty for the foul.  The type of play (running or loose ball play).  Definition of Spots.  The “all-but-one” principle.  The special penalty enforcements (i.e. exceptions)  When to start the clock (snap or ready-for-play).

 Roughing Snapper  Roughing Passer  Roughing Kicker/Place Kick Holder  Defensive Pass Interference.

 Illegal forward pass (Pass from beyond neutral zone or forward pass after change of possession and intentional grounding)  Illegal forward handing  Offensive pass interference  Illegal touching

 Who - Team that fouled (Offense or Defense)  What – Describe foul  Where - The spot of the foul  When - The basic spot (status of the ball when foul occurred)  Referee will also need to know the result of the play, change of possession and clock status

 Free kick out of bounds  Kick catching interference.  Unfair Acts.  Foul by opponent of the scoring team during successful field goal, try, or touchdown.  Roughing the passer on a completed pass.

 Fouls that occur after a down has ended and before the ball is next snapped or free-kicked.  Once the ball is dead, any foul committed by either team is a dead ball foul.  Live ball – A foul that occurs during the down (that is not unsportsmanlike conduct).  Multiple – two or more fouls by the SAME team (other the unsportsmanlike or non-player fouls). Offended team may choose ONE of the penalties to enforce.  Non-player or unsportsmanlike – a NON-CONTACT foul while the ball is dead or DURING the down which is not illegal participation and does not influence the play in progress.

 One or more live ball fouls committed by each team at such a time that the penalties offset.  If both teams commit fouls, it is a double foul if: There is no change of possession during the down (excludes PSK fouls). There IS a change of possession, and the team in final possession fouled PRIOR to gaining final possession (excludes PSK fouls). Team did not get ball with “clean hands”. There IS a change of possession during the down, and the team in final possession accepts the penalty for its opponent’s foul.

 It is NOT a double-foul if both teams foul (AND) there is a change of possession (AND) the team in final possession fouls after gaining final possession. The team in final possession may keep the ball but they must decline their opponents foul and have their foul enforced. (Often referred to as “Clean Hands”)  Unsportsmanlike fouls, non-player fouls, and dead ball fouls are not paired with live-ball fouls to create double fouls. Do not “offset” these.  Fouls during a try are not paired with a dead-ball foul to create double or multiple-fouls.

 Always enforced from succeeding spot.  Double and Multiple dead ball, unsporting, or non-player fouls are enforced in the order of occurrence.  Down counts.  First down awarded if line-to-gain is reached before ball became dead. Penalty is then enforced and then chains are set (No 1 st and 25).

 Personal fouls are contact fouls. Two players fighting each other are charged with personal fouls, not unsportsmanlike fouls. Both players are STILL ejected but it isn’t classified as UC.  Unsportsmanlike fouls are NON-CONTACT fouls. Two unsportsmanlike fouls and a player is ejected. Players CAN be ejected after the first unsportsmanlike.

A Loose-Ball Play is action during  Free kick  Scrimmage kick  A legal forward pass  From in or behind the NZ (prior to COP) A backward pass (including the snap) Illegal kick Fumble by A  Runs which precede such Legal kick Illegal kick Legal forward pass Backward pass Fumble A Running Play is:  Any action not included above

The basic spot is determined by the action that occurs during the down. This is the basic spot for penalty administration. The basic spot could be…  The previous spot  Where the kick ends  Where the related run ends  The succeeding spot

The basic spot is the previous spot for:  A foul which occurs simultaneous with the snap or free kick.  A foul which occurs during down in which a legal kick occurs and an inadvertent whistle ends the down prior to possession by either team.  A foul which occurs during a loose ball play. See [10-5-5] for special enforcement on roughing the passer  The enforcement spot is the end of the last run for roughing the passer when the last run ends beyond the neutral zone and there has been no change of team possession.

The basic spot is the spot where the kick ends, when R commits a post-scrimmage kick foul:  During scrimmage kick plays, other than a try or successful field goal.  During a scrimmage kick play in which the ball crosses the expanded neutral zone.  Beyond the expanded neutral zone.  Before the end of the kick.  K does not have possession of the ball when the down ends. R fouls behind the post-scrimmage kick spot are spot fouls.

The basic spot is the spot where the related run ends for a foul which occurs during a running play. The end of the run is:  Where the ball becomes dead in the runner’s possession.  Where the runner loses possession if his run is followed by a loose ball.  The spot of the catch when the momentum rule is in effect.

The basic spot is the succeeding spot:  For an unsportsmanlike foul.  For a dead-ball foul.  For a non-player foul.  When the final result is a touchback.

 Violation of restricted area by coaches 1 st offense – throw flag and give sideline warning 2 nd offense – throw flag and penalize 5 yards 3 rd and subsequent offenses – throw flag and penalize 15 yards for unsportsmanlike against Head Coach  Failure to be on the field at the conclusion of halftime intermission Flag and start 3 min warm-up period

 Fouls are enforced from the basic spot.  The only exception is a foul by the offense that occurs behind the basic spot. These are enforced from the spot of the foul.  PSK fouls behind the basic spot are enforced from the spot of the foul. 21

Basic Spot Team Direction Defensive Foul Beyond Basic Spot Defensive Foul Behind Basic Spot Offensive Foul Beyond Basic Spot Offensive Foul Behind Basic Spot Spot foul

Basic Spot Line of Scrimmage Pass Catch Run Snap A run followed by a legal forward pass. Both are part of one loose-ball play.

Basic Spot Line of Scrimmage Punt Catch Snap Backward Pass A backward pass followed by a scrimmage kick. Both are part of a loose-ball play.

Basic Spot Line of Scrimmage Fumble Recovery Run Snap A run followed by a fumble behind the neutral zone. Both are part of a loose-ball play. Scramble

Run Snap A player takes the snap and runs with it until tackled. It does not matter whether the run ends beyond or behind the neutral zone. Tackle

Run Snap There is only one run on this play. The scramble is part of the running play. Consequently, the basic spot for any foul that occurs during the mad scramble is the spot of the fumble. RecoveryFumble Basic Spot Scramble

1st Run Snap Two runs. Two running plays. Two basic spots. For fouls during the first run and ensuing scramble, the spot of the fumble is the basic spot. For fouls during the second running play, the basic spot is where the ball finally becomes dead. Tackle 2nd Run RecoveryFumble Scramble Basic Spot 1st Running Play2nd Running Play

Basic Spot Line of Scrimmage Pass Catch Run Snap The forward pass and the run preceding it are a loose ball play. Once the ball is caught, a separate running play begins. Run Tackle Loose Ball Play Running Play Basic Spot x

Type of Foul Live Ball or Dead Ball? Dead Ball Foul- Penalize from succeeding spot Live Ball Foul Loose Ball Play or Running Play? Simultaneous with snap? Simultaneous with snap Penalize from previous spot Loose Ball Play Basic Spot = Previous Spot Running Play Basic Spot = End Of Run Foul by A from behind basic spot Penalize from spot of foul All other fouls Penalize from Basic Spot Foul by A behind the basic spot Penalize from spot of foul All other fouls Penalize from basic spot Type of Foul Live Ball or Dead Ball?