In the previous Ready for Play article, we defined “Basic Spot” and identified seven basic spot possibilities:
- Previous spot
- Succeeding spot
- Spot where the kick ends
- Spot of the foul
- Spot of the end of the run or related run
- 20-yard line
- Goal line
If you’ve officiated for more than 2 years, you’ll recall the “All but One” principle.
In 2023, penalty enforcement significantly changed (with many gray highlights in Rule 10-4 and Table 10-4).
The “spot comparison” procedure is like the old “All but One” principle and applies to three specific circumstances:
- Following a change of possession (the team in possession fouls and the basic spot is the end of the run or related run)
- Post Scrimmage Kick foul (when Team R fouls and the basic spot is the end of the kick)
- The end of the run and Team A’s foul are beyond the neutral zone (when the basic spot is the end of the run or related run)
With these three events:
- Compare the basic spot with the spot of the foul and
- Choose the spot closest to the offending team’s goal line to enforce the foul.
We do not toss a beanbag at the spot of a fumble recovery, interception, or free-kick recovery (unless the momentum exception is in effect) because that spot will never be a live-ball foul penalty enforcement spot.
A running play begins when the ball is possessed by Team B or R. There is no neutral zone to consider for penalty enforcement if B or R fouls during the run. So, we’ll use the “spot comparison” procedure.
We toss a beanbag when R possesses the ball during a scrimmage kick play because the end of the kick is a basic spot and could be the spot of post scrimmage kick penalty enforcement.
Quiz
Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer.
1/10 from midfield. B18 intercepts A12’s pass at the B-40. During B18’s run, B77 is flagged for an illegal blindside block at the A-45. B18 is tackled at the A-49. Enforce B77’s foul from the ______.
- B-40 (spot of the interception)
- A-49 (end of the run)
- A-45 (spot of the foul)
Review Rule 10-4-6b