Most football officials are familiar with the term “momentum exception,” but when pressed to articulate the rule’s components, many are confounded by the nuances, both in description and application. Rules that contain multiple “and” and “or” statements, where several variables are part of the code, are often hard to fully comprehend.
To understand the momentum exception rule, it’s helpful to break it down into multiple discussions: Why does the rule exist? What does the rule state? How do we officiate the momentum exception? Who will like the call?
Why does the rule exist?
Identifying to which rule the momentum exception applies is an important first step in understanding why the rule exists. It is an exception to the rule describing action that results in a Safety (other than by penalty) (NFHS 8-5-2a). The NFHS rule book employs a single sentence to describe a safety; it stipulates if a ball becomes dead in a team’s end zone and the defending team is responsible for the ball being there, it is a safety.
Based on that simple definition, and without an exception, if a defensive player carries the ball into his own end zone, the opponent is awarded two points. A player makes a critical fumble recovery or spectacular interception on the B-3 and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed? Two points for the opponents. This doesn’t seem fair, but prior to 1982, high school players could make an apparent game-changing play and be personally responsible for adding two points to the opponent’s score.
Recognizing this incongruence, the NFHS rules interpreters added the momentum exception to the safety rule. They realized to uniformly apply the strict definition of “safety” would sometimes result in an unfair outcome of the play for the defensive team (an unreasonable consequence for making a good play). The momentum exception provides some clemency when a defending team player possesses the ball close to his goalline and his original momentum takes him into the end zone.
What does the rule state?
Like other complex rules with multiple components (i.e., post-scrimmage kick enforcement) the “exception to safety” rule must be examined in distinct segments.
- The momentum exception applies between the defensive team’s five yardline and goalline.
- It applies to an interception or a recovery.
- It applies to a forward or backward pass, free or scrimmage kick, or fumble.
- It applies only to the interception or recovery of an opponent’s pass, kick, or fumble.
- The ball must be declared dead in the end zone in the defending team’s possession or the ball must go out of bounds in the end zone.
- The defending player’s original momentum must take him into the end zone.
If all of the above play conditions are satisfied, the ball belongs to the defensive player’s team at the spot where he gained possession. Identifying the succeeding spot as the spot of possession is an acceptable compromise for both teams. For the opponents, it is an equally unjust result to award a touchback to the defensive team for the play.
Note: If the ball leaves the end zone for any reason (the ball is carried, fumbled, or muffed), the momentum exception expires.
How do we officiate the momentum exception?
The most significant answer to the “how” question is a mental one. It’s important for officials to keep surprises out of the game, and mental preparation and conditioning is key to recognizing and responding to this rare occurrence. Referees should include a momentum exception discussion in every pregame. Before every play, officials should consider potential scenarios: Referees should mentally prepare for a possible momentum exception during free kicks. Back judges and side officials should mentally prepare to rule on defensive player possession location when the defensive team’s goalline is threatened.
Another important “how” component is proper positioning. The covering official should be stationary on the goal line to rule if a defensive team player physically possessed the ball between the 5 yardline and the goalline.
The covering official will toss a beanbag at the spot of player possession.
When in doubt, the ball was possessed inside the five yardline. When in doubt; the kick reached the endzone, the fumble was caught recovered in the endzone, or the interception was caught in the end zone. In other words, when in doubt, it is not a safety.
Who will like the call?
Neither team! The defensive team will want it ruled a touchback and their opponents will want it to be a safety.
Plays
Play 1: R1 catches a free kick on the R-3. His original momentum takes him into the end zone where he takes a knee. Ruling 1: Team R’s ball first and 10 on the R-3. The momentum exception applies to a free kick.
Play 2: B1 intercepts a pass on the B-4 and his original momentum takes him into the end zone. He is hit while in the end zone and fumbles out the back of the end zone. Ruling 2: The momentum exception applies. Team B’s ball first and 10 on the R-4.
Play 3: B1 intercepts a pass on the B-4 and his original momentum takes him into the end zone. He is hit while in the end zone and fumbles. The ball rolls out of the end zone and out of bounds on the B-6. Ruling 3: It is Team B’s ball, first and 10 on the B-6. The momentum exception expired when the ball left the end zone and the ball is spotted where it went out of bounds (NFHS 2-15).
Play 4: R1 intercepts a pass on the R-4 and runs parallel to the goal line. He is hit and fumbles on the R-4. R2 catches the fumble and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed. Ruling 4: The result of the play is a safety. The momentum exception does not apply as R2 caught a teammate’s fumble.
Play 5: R1 muffs a free kick in the end zone and the ball rolls into the field of play. R2 recovers the ball on the R-4 and his momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed. Ruling 5: The ball is dead when it breaks the plane of R’s goal line (6-3-1). First and 10 for Team R on the R-20.
Play 6: Second and 8 from the B-9. A1 fumbles at the B-6. B1 bats A1’s fumble at the B-4. B2 recovers at the B-3 and his original momentum carries him into the end zone where he is downed. Ruling 6: The momentum exception applies, so the result of the play is not a safety. Team A will enforce B1’s illegal batting foul from the end of the related run (NFHS 10-4-8). Second and 2 from the B-3.