These plays are from games officiated in Colorado Springs, so I’ll reference the Colorado 5-person mechanics manual, along with Colorado rules interpretations and modifications. If anything I say doesn’t match what you do in your state, please consult your state’s mechanics manual and rules interpretations.
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1 – We’re going to look at three plays involving contact against a defenseless receiver, and I expect we may have differing opinions on some of them. That’s okay. Officiating football is a human endeavor, and high-speed plays in the secondary require split-second judgment.
Would you flag any of these hits as illegal personal contact?
After viewing a play, we need to be able to explain more than, “That looked bad.” We should be able to articulate, using rules book words, why the contact was legal or why it was a foul.
Rule 2-32-16 defines a defenseless player as one who, because of his physical position and focus of concentration, is especially vulnerable to injury. This specifically includes a receiver attempting to catch a pass.
When we see contact against a receiver, we’ll have to consider at least two components of the play
First, is the contact forceful?
Not every contact with a defenseless receiver is a foul. We must distinguish normal or incidental football contact from a forceful blow. But there’s no measuring device on the field that tells us when contact becomes “forceful.” That’s a judgment, and reasonable officials may see the same contact differently.
Second, how was the contact initiated or delivered?
Rule 9-4-3p prohibits forceful contact against a defenseless receiver unless the contact is:
1. Incidental contact resulting from making a play on the ball;
2. Initiated with open hands; or
3. An attempt to tackle by wrapping the arm or arms around the receiver.
It may be helpful to consider the defender’s target. What is the defender aiming for? If the defender is legitimately attempting to catch or knock down the pass, resulting contact, even if forceful, may be incidental to making a play on the ball and therefore legal. Of course, illegal helmet contact would still be a foul.
If the defender ignores the flight of the ball and instead delivers a forceful blow to the receiver, the defender must contact the receiver in one of two ways: the contact must be initiated with open hands, or the defender must attempt to tackle by wrapping an arm or arms around the receiver.
If the defender delivers a forceful blow without open hands or without wrapping up, we’re probably looking at a foul.
4 – In the last weekly dozen video, we discussed illegal blocks in the back. This is an excellent video because it shows two blocks, within feet of each other, happening at the same time, and I think the line judge nailed it!
Rule 2-5-2 says blocking in the back is a block against an opponent when the initial contact is in the opponent’s back.
Let’s look at the first block. A22 initially contacts B15 from the front, he does not disengage and finishes his block by pushing B15 to the ground from behind. This action is not a foul.
A6’s initial contact with B3 is from behind. This is an illegal block in the back.
I’d like to see the line judge complete officiating the play before he reports the foul to the referee. Yes, we know the end of the run will not be the spot that Team A next snaps the ball. But let’s get into the habit of finishing the play as if we had not thrown a flag. Mark forward progress at the B-36, wait until the colors separate, take a breath, then approach the referee to report the foul.
5 – Here’s another play that features two blocks that could be incorrectly ruled illegal blocks in the back if the covering officials only observed the end of the action.
The formation is unbalanced to the line judge’s side. The back judge will key on the two outside players if he reads pass, and the line judge will key on the inside receiver.
I like how the line judge does not drift downfield. He remains motionless on the line of scrimmage. At this moment, he must shift his attention from A26 to this matchup. The back judge will key on this matchup. It would be impossible in a four person crew to be able to simultaneously watch both blocks.
A0 contacts B4 from the side. No foul.
A11’s initial contact with B2 is from the side, and he continues contacting B2 throughout the remainder of the block. No foul.
Hypothetically, if A11’s initial contact was from the back, I would not throw a flag for an illegal block in the back. The Colorado Mechanics manual states, “Blocks in the back which occur at or about the same time a runner is being tackled shall not be called, unless they are a personal foul.” Check your state’s mechanics manual to see if it shares the same philosophy.
See how the line judge remains on the sideline and doesn’t step into the players? Keep that cushion to the players so you have the widest possible field of view.
Finally, notice how both the line judge and the linesman know exactly the location of the line to gain and give the stop-the-clock signal when the runner is downed at the B-31. As part of your presnap routine, note the line to gain so you can respond appropriately when the runner is downed.
6 – There are two fouls on this play that were not flagged.
Watch the right guard, A50. At the snap, he forcefully swings his right arm and contacts B55. It’s not clear if he strikes B55 in the shoulder pad or in the back of the head.
Rule 9-4-7 says, “No player may use the hands to slap the opponent’s head.” So if the umpire judges the blow was to the back of the head, it’s a clear foul.
Rule 2-3-3 says, “The blocker’s hands may not be locked, nor may he swing the elbow or forearm so that it is moving faster than the blocker’s shoulders at the time the forearm contacts the opponent.” In other words, the driving force of a block must come from the blocker’s entire upper body and shoulders moving forward into the opponent. A blocker cannot swing their forearm outward independently to club his opponent. If the umpire judges the blow was to the shoulder pad or neck, in my judgment, this is still a foul.
Let’s continue with the clip and now focus on A67.
In my judgment, this block is a foul. Pick your rules book definition. This is a blindside block, as it is not executed with open hands.
B5 is obviously out of the play. He’s completely upright and no longer actively participating in the play as the runner is downed four or five yards away.
This hit is unnecessary and excessive and incites roughness.
The linesman is focused on the runner. The back judge or umpire should be looking for colors moving against the flow. We need to get this illegal block.
7 – There is a lot for the line judge to observe on this play. As I play the clip for the first time, focus on A61, the left guard.
The line judge ruled this was holding, possibly because of the perceived takedown hold at the end of the block. Let’s dissect the play.
This is a well-designed play. A22 catches the ball two yards behind the line of scrimmage, and we can see four offensive linemen setting up a wall in front of him.
First, watch B3. He slips as he tries to cut inside, just before making contact with A54 below the waist. If the line judge sees only the end of this matchup, he might be tempted to throw a flag for an illegal block below the waist. But B3 didn’t block A54. He simply slipped.
Now watch A61. He contacts B31 at the B-25 with runner A22 four yards behind the block. I don’t see holding here. A61 is not materially restricting B31. I don’t see a foul that screams. I think A61 simply overpowers his opponent.
Once A22 passes A61, the line judge needs to move on. His focus must shift to blockers ahead of the runner and any contact involving A22. Another official responsible for players behind the runner, most likely the linesman or referee, must pick up A61.
Instead, the line judge continues watching A61 behind the play as B85 attempts to tackle the runner. B85 slips off, A22 continues downfield, and the line judge is still watching players now about 10 yards behind the ball.
He finally throws his flag and turns back to the runner, who is already near the B-5 and approaching the sideline.
This is an important officiating concept. We must shift our focus from one key or area to the next as the play develops, trusting another official to pick up what we leave behind. As players advance, our responsibilities can change in a split second. We rarely have the luxury of staying with one matchup this long.
Now look at the back judge. He’s walking and is only at the B-1 when the runner dives toward the pylon. The back judge must work hard to get to the goal line and be stationary when the ball arrives. Meanwhile, the line judge is now 16 yards behind the end of the run.
When the ball becomes dead, the line judge must hustle to the goal line and mark the forward-progress spot; instead, he turns away from the players, presumably to tell the referee he has a foul behind the play. Continue to officiate the play as if you had not thrown a flag.
Finally, let’s go back and look at how A61 gets off the ground. Instead of rolling off B31 and using the ground to get up, he pivots so that his body is directly over B31 and then slides across B31’s upper body and head.
I didn’t like that action the first time I watched it, and I like it even less after watching it 10 times. I’m not convinced it rises to the level of unnecessary roughness, but I’m definitely talking to A61: “I need you to roll off the player. Don’t slide your body across his upper body and head.”
8 – Watch the right tackle, A53. A53 is the line judge’s key at the snap.
At the snap, A53 grasps B8 above the shoulders, steps backward, and pulls B8 to the ground. This should be flagged for holding. We don’t often see this grasp-and-step-back action, but it creates clear restriction at the point of attack that impacts the play.
I’m not in love with the wings’ forward-progress spot. A28’s knee is down here at about the B-41, and then he dives forward and extends the ball beyond the B-40.
We call this double action. The ball is dead when A28’s knee touches the ground at about the B-41. But after he’s down, he makes a second action to extend the ball beyond the line to gain.
The wings spot the ball at the B-40 and award Team A a first down. This is tough, especially with the linesman fighting the sun. I’m not showing this to criticize the wings’ judgment. I’m 100% sure that if I were a wing on this game, I would have marked it the same way.
I’m showing it because it’s a good example of double action. On plays, especially near the line to gain and goal line, we need to be alert for that second action after the ball is dead.
9 – We’ve discussed blocking below the waist in previous weekly dozen videos, and I’d like to quickly view a block that is not a foul.
Rule 2-17-2 says blocking below the waist is permitted in the free-blocking zone when the block is an immediate, initial action following the snap.
In my judgment, this block is an immediate, initial action. A73 does not stand upright, nor does he step backward and then go low on B77.
10 – A4 is under heavy pressure and tosses the ball underhand. B8 makes a great play and intercepts the forward pass.
Here’s what I like. The umpire sells the call! Giving the “catch” signal is not an NFHS mechanic, but it works for me! And he emphatically points toward Team A’s goal line.
The umpire looks up and toward the goal line while signaling. There is nothing of interest down there. Keep your eyes on the players on the ground while signaling. Don’t be so quick to turn your back to the players to get a clean ball from Team B’s sideline. Make sure all colors separate, then go on to your next action.
This is not an illegal forward pass. It may appear the quarterback is simply tossing the ball to conserve yardage, but this is a designed play. The linemen are well beyond the expanded neutral zone, which means the play is designed for A6 to receive the forward pass behind the neutral zone. However, A6 panics and instead of stopping here, he turns upfield. I’m sure A4 expected his teammate to be in position to receive the underhand pass. So if the pass had fallen incomplete, a flag for an illegal forward pass would not be warranted.
11 – What is your ruling? Catch and fumble or muff? It matters, because Team K cannot advance a kick.
The NFHS rules do not provide great detail in defining the nuances of “a catch.”
In the Redding Study Guide, page 40, says, “There is no expressed intent for the NFHS to have a different definition of a catch than the other levels of football. Consequently, what is offered here is intended to enhance the understanding of a catch; nothing offered overtly conflicts with an NFHS rule. Catching the ball is a process, not an act.”
“The process includes: Securing firm control of a live ball in flight and maintaining control of the ball ‘long enough.’
Maintaining control of the ball ‘long enough’ means there is an undefined time element associated with a catch. No one will define that in seconds. Thus, it makes sense to say if a player can perform an act common to the game, the ball has been controlled long enough to demonstrate a catch has been made. Such an act includes advancing the ball; (and in parentheses), the study guide indicates (two steps).
Chapter 27 of the Colorado Mechanics Manual, Philosophies of Officiating, says essentially the same thing.
I like the back judge’s ruling on this play. In my judgment, the receiver possessed the ball at the R-19 and took two, maybe three, steps before he was hit and fumbled.
Let’s talk mechanics for a second. The line judge releases at the snap. In Colorado, the line judge should advance downfield about half the distance from the line of scrimmage to the end of the kick.
The snap is from the R-47, and the receiver possesses the ball at about the R-19. Halfway puts the line judge around the R-33. I’d like to see him hustle to that spot instead of walking. Get downfield, get to the halfway point, and be stationary when the receiver catches the ball and the return begins.
I’d also like the back judge closer to the receiver. The back judge should begin three to five yards behind the deepest receiver, between the hash marks, and wide enough to observe the receiver’s hands. When the receiver catches this kick, I think the back judge is too deep and too wide to effectively see his hands.
Once Team R possesses the ball, the line judge needs to hustle toward the goal line and stay connected to the play. He continues to walk and is still 27 yards from the goal line when the runner crosses it. I’d like to see him somewhere around the R-15 to R-20 at this point.
On a five-person crew, there are times when the wings simply have to go. Sprint down the sideline, get yourself into position, and add credibility to your ruling. We can’t officiate plays from 25 or 30 yards away if we have the opportunity to get closer.
That’s your Weekly Dozen, Episode 2 for games through August 30, 2026. Thanks for watching!
And if you encounter an interesting or unusual play during your season, I’d love to see it. You can send it to me at contact@artofofficiating.com.