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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.