Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from October 31, 2008 (Edited for clarity)
One of the glaring errors we as officials have consistently made over the years involved the “double action” of the tackled ball carrier. I am talking about the play where the ball carrier is tackled and his knee hits the ground, which is the first action. Then the ball carrier lunges forward and the ball hits the ground a yard or two in advance of where it was when the knee hit. That is the second action. Very often, we awarded forward progress where the ball rested after the second action rather than where it was after the first action.
This error in judgment is especially egregious when the line to gain or, worse yet, the goal line is involved. A play comes to mind in the Colorado State Championship game of a couple of years back where the game-winning score was awarded on a “Double Action” play that video showed should have been spotted on the 3-yard line. But, before you think it is just us high school types that screw up this play, I saw booth reviews in three collegiate games last weekend involving “Double Action” or “Renewed Effort” plays as the collegiate types call this play. Then, last Sunday, I saw a TD ruling reversed on this very same type of play in the NFL.
So the lesson we want to learn or revisit, if we have already learned it, is to remember forward progress is where the ball is when the knee hits and ignore the “renewed effort.”
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)
3/10 from the A-40. A12 runs 15 yards and fumbles at the B-45. B57 scoops up the ball and runs 10 yards, where he is hit and fumbles at the A-45. A33 falls on the ball at the A-45.
- 4/5 from the A-45
- 1/10 from the A-45
- The game clock will start on the snap
- The game clock will start on the “silent wind” after the ball is spotted
- The game clock should not stop
- 25-second play clock
- 40-second play clock
Review Rules 3-4-2, 3-4-3, 3-4-4b, 5-1-3d, 3-5-7b, 3-6-13