Region One Football Officials Association Rule Topics: Fouls in End Zone We Are All Here to Learn

Basics – Fouls Resulting in Safety If any player on offense commits any foul for which the penalty is accepted and enforcement is from a spot behind his goal it is a safety. Scenario 1: A1 completes forward pass to A3 while in his end zone. A3 to avoid being tackled in the end zone, throws the ball forward. Ruling: Illegal Forward Pass. Since enforcement spot is from where the ball was thrown, the result is Safety. Scenario 2: A2 is tackled in his end zone while running. A 1 blocks below the waist behind the goal line prior to the dead ball. Ruling: Safety. Scenario 3: A1 blocks below the waist behind the goal line prior to the dead ball. Ruling: Safety.

Fouls During a Touchback Basic spot is 20-yard line for fouls by either team when the opponent of the team in possession at the time of the foul is responsible for forcing the ball across the goal line of the team in possession. Scenario 1: A3 fumbles ball into B’s end zone. B1 recovers & B2 is flagged for dead ball personal foul. Ruling: Touchback. 1st & 10 from 10-yard line. Scenario 2: K1’s kick breaks the plane of R’s end zone. K3 is flagged for late hit after the dead ball. Ruling: Touchback. 1st & 10 from 35-yard line.

Fouls During Momentum When defensive player intercepts opponent’s forward pass, intercepts or recovers opponent’s fumble or backward pass, or an R player catches scrimmage or free kick between his 5-yard line & goal line and his original momentum carries him into the end zone, where the ball becomes dead in his teams possession or goes out of bounds in the end zone  Ball belongs to his team at spot (BEAN BAG) where the pass was intercepted, recovered or where kick was caught or recovered. Scenario 1: B4 intercepts A1 pass at 3-yard line & his momentum carries him into the end zone where he is tackled there by A4. B4 is flagged for taunting. Ruling: Momentum. The basic spot is the 3 yard line. B will be penalized half the distance and it with be 1st & 10 for B at the 1 1/2 yard line. Scenario 2: A6 is hit on 6-yard & fumbles the ball. B3 recovers on 3-yd line & his momentum carries him into his end zone. A2 attempts to tackle B3 in the end zone & grasps face mask taking him to the ground. Ruling: Momentum. It will be 1st & 10 for B at 18-yard line.