When in Question

The Colorado Mechanics Manual provides multiple “When in Question” (aka “When in Doubt”) axioms that aid our judgment. Yes, we want fouls to scream, and we want the covering official to see the beginning, middle, and end of a play. However, especially with 5-person mechanics and without the luxury of slow-motion replay, we may not be 100% sure of the observed action.

Here is a list of Colorado Mechanics Manual “When in Question” statements that may be useful.

When in question:

A quick or abrupt movement by the linemen or quarterback is a false start.

Players have paused for 1 second before the snap.

Offensive players are legally on the line.

Offensive players are legally in the backfield.

Players are legally moving rather than in illegal motion.

A departing player left the field prior to the snap.

Regarding whether the quarterback passed or fumbled, it will be ruled a pass.

On action against the passer, it is roughing the passer if the defender’s intent is to punish.

The passer has not intentionally grounded the ball.

As to “caught or trapped” the pass is incomplete.

The catch, recovery or interception is not completed.

The pass was released in or behind the neutral zone rather than beyond it.

The pass is forward rather than a backward pass when thrown in or behind the neutral zone.

The pass is backward rather than forward when thrown beyond the neutral zone or when there is no neutral zone.

The ball has not been touched on a forward pass.

A defensive back has legally initiated contact with a receiver.

Whether an illegal block occurs in the end zone or field of play, it occurs in the field of play.

It is legal use of the hands rather than holding or illegal use of the hands. 

The contact is below the waist (for blocking below the waist).

It is a block at the side rather than behind (for block in the back).

The contact is below the waist (for chop block).

A player has been blocked out of bounds by an opponent.

It is roughing rather than running into the kicker/holder.

A ball is accidentally touched with the foot rather than intentionally kicked.

A fair catch signal is valid rather than invalid.

During a kick, a player has not touched rather than touched the ball.

During a kick, the ball has been muffed rather than caught.

During a kick, the ball crossed the goal line for a touchback.

The ball has exited the end zone rather than remaining in the end zone for a safety.

A runner did not step out of bounds.

Regarding hits away from the ball near the end of the play, consider it a dead-ball foul rather than live-ball foul.

It is twisting, turning or pulling the facemask.

It is touching the facemask rather than grasping it.

The runner’s knee has not touched the ground.

The runner’s forward progress is stopped rather than a fumble.

A player is inbounds rather than out of bounds.

When in Question, don’t throw the flag.


Quiz

Read the quiz stem and then choose the best answer(s). (Choose all that apply.)

4/5 from the R-38 with 10 seconds remaining on the game clock in the fourth quarter. During a field goal attempt, R30 pushes lineman R55 from behind to add momentum to his charge.

  1. Legal play
  2. Unsportsmanlike conduct
  3. Illegal use of hands
  4. If the field goal is successful, Team K may choose to accept the result of the play and enforce the penalty on the first overtime snap

Review Rules 8-4-3 and 9-2-3b

Click below to reveal the Quiz answer and accompanying explanations.