Ask a Football Official anything

514 Questions

Last Answer on January 23, 2021

What's the call. A college defender intercepts a ball, while evading, he runs back into the endzone and falls or is tackled.

Asked by Tim about 7 years ago

Oooh, good question. First, if a defender intercepts a pass from the five yard line in to the goal, he gets momentum, meaning if he ends up in the end zone it was his momentum that put him there so he isn't penalized. It will be his team's ball at the spot of the interception - btw, you'll see an official drop a bean bag at that spot to mark it. However, that isn't what you asked. You wrote "he runs back into the endzone ", meaning he put himself in the endzone. If he falls or is tackled there, it's a safety.

578 Votes

A holds B on a scimmage kick at the line of scrimmage. Is the spot of enforcement where A recieves the scrimmage kick.

Asked by Jeffrey Kroupa about 7 years ago

First, minor correction: B receives the kick. The foul by A is a previous spot, meaning a rekick after penalty enforcement.

578 Votes

Hi, If a striker comes from an offside position and challenges a defender for the ball - would the striker be offside?

Asked by Bruce over 7 years ago

Wrong football. No idea

576 Votes

What’s the difference between offside, encroachment, lined up in the neutral zone, and neutral zone infraction? I know they’re all five yard penalties so maybe it doesn’t matter, but I want to understand the game better.

Asked by TomN. almost 7 years ago

These are all line if scrimmage fouls. In some cases your confusion may simply be the terminology the referee used in making the announcement.

Most of what you list are defensive fouls. If the offense lines up "in the neutral zone" the play never goes off, similar to a false start; often that's referred to as offside. If the defense lines up in the zone, that's the famous "free play " foul; the play goes off but it won't be adjudicated til thd play is over. It's also a "neutral zone infraction", similar to the defense jumping into the neutral zone before the snap. Aa s point of information, in college and NFL, defense offside/neutral zone/encroachment us a "live ball goul"; the play continues. In high school, the defense being offside shuts down the play.

575 Votes

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So if a team plays football on a Thursday of a given week, and that player plays in the game, but is then traded/released and signs with a new team on Friday, are they able to play in another game on that Sunday?

Asked by John about 6 years ago

I don't know. That is an NFL policy or regulation dealing with the structure of the league. I have a hard enough time understanding the playing rules. Sorry.

574 Votes

Interception in the opponents end zone. Player runs sideways with in the end zone. If tackled is it a safety and 2 points. He doesn’t kneel down.

Asked by Steve OB almost 7 years ago

No. The offense put the ball in the endzone, so that can't be a safety. Now, if he left the endzone and then went back in - on his own - and then was tackled, yes, that's a safety, because the ball was put in the endzone by the defense.

574 Votes

Does the rulebook require cessation of play when the whistles begin blowing? Is there an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose? What is the penalty for not stopping when the whistle blows, if in fact not stopping can be penalized?

Asked by James about 7 years ago

I can only imagine what happened that generated THIS question!

Lots here so one step at a time. The whistle blows, play is supposed to stop. In theory, the "play kills itself", meaning that even if a whistle didn't sound,if a player, for example, jumped on the pile, that is still a foul. "But I didn't hear a whistle!" says over-zealous player. You jumped on a pile of players!

You ask if there is an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose; I'm guessing you mean what happens if the ball is loose - or not in possession, such as a pass in the air - and the whistle sounds. Yes, there is a rule for that. It is termed an "inadvertant whistle"; the official screwed up and, yes, I've done it. As have most officials, whether they admit to it or not. Depending on the result, different things happen. Too much to cover here.

Next, penalty for not stopping? Hmm, yes, but there's some judgmenf involved. Example A: player calls for a fair catch, whistle blows, he takes off. Technically, that is a delay of game. Careful throwing that one. The most obvious is Example B: Whistle blows and player continues to block or tackle. It could be a personal foul; not for not "stopping" but for the forceful action (contact) when it should be stopped.

572 Votes

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Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

What's the call. A college defender intercepts a ball, while evading, he runs back into the endzone and falls or is tackled.

A holds B on a scimmage kick at the line of scrimmage. Is the spot of enforcement where A recieves the scrimmage kick.

Hi, If a striker comes from an offside position and challenges a defender for the ball - would the striker be offside?

What’s the difference between offside, encroachment, lined up in the neutral zone, and neutral zone infraction? I know they’re all five yard penalties so maybe it doesn’t matter, but I want to understand the game better.

Also on Jobstr...

So if a team plays football on a Thursday of a given week, and that player plays in the game, but is then traded/released and signs with a new team on Friday, are they able to play in another game on that Sunday?

Interception in the opponents end zone. Player runs sideways with in the end zone. If tackled is it a safety and 2 points. He doesn’t kneel down.

Does the rulebook require cessation of play when the whistles begin blowing? Is there an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose? What is the penalty for not stopping when the whistle blows, if in fact not stopping can be penalized?

Football Official

Ask me anything!

What do YOU do?

What's the call. A college defender intercepts a ball, while evading, he runs back into the endzone and falls or is tackled.

A holds B on a scimmage kick at the line of scrimmage. Is the spot of enforcement where A recieves the scrimmage kick.

Hi, If a striker comes from an offside position and challenges a defender for the ball - would the striker be offside?

What’s the difference between offside, encroachment, lined up in the neutral zone, and neutral zone infraction? I know they’re all five yard penalties so maybe it doesn’t matter, but I want to understand the game better.

Also on Jobstr...

So if a team plays football on a Thursday of a given week, and that player plays in the game, but is then traded/released and signs with a new team on Friday, are they able to play in another game on that Sunday?

Interception in the opponents end zone. Player runs sideways with in the end zone. If tackled is it a safety and 2 points. He doesn’t kneel down.

Does the rulebook require cessation of play when the whistles begin blowing? Is there an explicit rulebook exception for when the ball is loose? What is the penalty for not stopping when the whistle blows, if in fact not stopping can be penalized?

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