Here is a Ray Lutz “Forward Progress” post from September 9, 2009 (Edited for clarity)
Forward progress is the number one job of wing officials. Last evening at our crew meeting, a question was asked about where forward progress is marked when the knee of the runner touches the turf, then he lunges forward, and the runner’s hand and ball hit the ground about a yard and a half beyond the knee. The question was whether it is marked where the knee hit or where the ball hit the ground. A first-year official asked this excellent question. The end of a running play like this is sometimes called “double action” or “renewed effort.”
Then, early this morning, I got a call from an old college friend who is still coaching football in Iowa, telling me how his team got “hosed” last Friday night at the goal line on this same “double action” situation on fourth down. The opponents tried a sweep to the right on 4th down and goal. Their runner was tripped up at about the two-yard line, the knee hit at the one-yard line, and the “double action” put the ball in the end zone. The covering official awarded the score. For Colorado high school football fans, this play is disturbingly similar to one in the 5A championship a couple of years ago at Invesco Field, where the official also awarded a score.
The answer to the question is the ball is not marked where the knee went down or where the “renewed effort” put the ball, but where the ball was when the knee went down. Don’t get fooled by the “double action.”
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)
R20 catches a free kick on the R-4 and his momentum takes him into the end zone. He runs toward the sideline and then leaves the end zone. He is hit and fumbles at the R-2. During the scramble for the ball, the covering official blows an inadvertent whistle. K10 falls on the ball at the R-5.
- Team R may choose to have Team K rekick
- Team R may choose to snap the ball on the R-2
- Team R may choose to snap the ball on the R-4
- Team R does not have a choice. Team K will rekick
- The ball is dead when R20 enters the end zone. Team R will snap the ball from the R-20
Review Rules 4-2-3b and 8-5-2a EXCEPTION