Region One Football Officials Association Rule Topics: Beanbag We Are All Here to Learn

Beanbags – General Comments All officials must carry a blue beanbag Back Judge needs to carry a 2nd beanbag of a contracting color (white or black) There is no need to “throw” the beanbag, just “drop” on the line of the spot you wish to mark Have beanbag in hand for all free kicks

Beanbag Necessary Fumble As enforcement spot for fouls that occurred during that particular running play First touching (do not drop flag & do not blow whistle) By K of a scrimmage kick beyond the LOS By K in the neutral zone on a free kick Momentum Rule Any interception or recovery inside the 5-yard line & momentum carries player with ball into endzone End of scrimmage kick PSK enforcement Inadvertent Whistle (Don’t let this happen!) Mark spot where ball was when whistle sounded

Beanbag Optional Spot of forward pass near LOS  We prefer flag So you can confirm location Easier to wave flag off if passer was not beyond LOS To hold a spot Have to retrieve ball Have to cover pile or OOB players Dead ball spot ONLY if you can’t otherwise get there

Beanbag Not Necessary Backward pass Muffed hand-to-hand snap  Snap is backward pass & spot already marked by the down box Muffed long or shot gun snaps End of free kick Spot where R muffs a scrimmage kick Spot of an illegal pass  flag Spot of illegal kick or illegally kicking of loose ball  flag Spot of intercepted pass or any change or possession (unless it falls under momentum rule)

Case Play - Fumble Play 1: 1st & 10 for team A at its 20 yardline. A1 runs to team B’s 35 yardline, where he fumbles. While ball is loose, A2 holds B1 at B’s 40 yardline. A3 falls on the ball at B’s 45 yardline. Ruling 1: Basic enforcement spot for penalty is B’s 35 yardline (where the fumble occurred). Beanbag marks the fumble spot. Since the spot of the foul is in advance of the fumble, enforcement is from the spot of the fumble. Thus, it is A’s ball, 1st & 5 at B’s 25 yardline.

Case Play – End of Kick Play 2: R1 muffs punt at his 35 yardline. The ball rolls forward to R's 40 yardline. R1 picks up the ball & runs to midfield, where he is tacKled. While the ball was loose from R1's muff, R2 clipped K1 at R's 45 yardline. Ruling 2: The kick ended where R1 possessed the kick, not where he muffed it. A beanbag should be dropped at R's 40 yardline (end of kick & the PSK spot), which is the spot for penalty enforcement. The result is R's ball, 1st &10 from its 25 yardline.

Case Play – First Touching Play 3: K1's punt beyond the neutral zone is rolling when K2 touches it at R's 20 yardline. Ball rolls to R's 5 yardline, where K3 falls on it. Ruling 3: Beanbag should be dropped at R's 20 yardline (spot of K1's touching). It is team R's ball, 1st &10 at its 20 yardline.