BAFOC: ‘ Fundamentals: what is…? ’ BRUSSELS – September 6th, 2009

Some basic info Team A: will next put the ball in play Team B: will defend its goalline Live ball: ball in play Dead ball: play is dead for whichever reason. Ball can’t be advanced. Live ball foul: foul during a play (ex: holding) Dead ball foul: foul before or after the ball is put in play (ex: false start)

What is…possession? A live ball held AND controlled by a player A player who juggles a live ball has no possession of the ball: no interception, no catch.

What is…false start? Any player on team A moving and creating the idea that the play has started. Team A players entering the neutral zone. Interior lineman (nr 50-79) may not move their hands or make a quick movement The center may not twist, move or pick up the ball. Only gently take his hand of. In the backfield is it more liberal but still: if they fake the start of the play by going forward or making a sudden movement: false start! Exception: if an offensive lineman moves to defend himself or because he was provoked by a team B player entering the neutral zone, it is NOT a false start but offside on the defense! But: this team B player must be head-on or close to the offensive player. Examples

What is…offside? Any player on team B who is in or beyond the neutral zone at snap Any player on team B who really threatens a team A player, who then reacts. Any player on team B who touches a team A player before the ball is snapped. Remember: all team B players may move as much as they want and WHEN they want as long as they stay on their side of the neutral zone. If no A player is touched, it will be a live ball foul, meaning the play will continue. If a B player touched an A player, the ball is dead and we have a dead ball foul.

What is …illegal motion? An offensive player team A who is moving parallel or away from the scrimmage line when the ball is snapped: OK Moving towards the line / forward while the balled is snapped: foul! A lineman of team A may NOT be in motion. If a wideout wants to shift or move, he has to step into the backfield, take a brief STOP, and then go into motion away from or parallel with the scrimmage line. If he forgets to stop: foul! The STOP makes him no longer a lineman… Or… a wideout can move away from the line and stop in the backfield right before the ball is snapped: OK! So he also stopped before the snap and that made him no longer a lineman The player in motion does not have to stop for one second before the snap: see illegal shift! Examples

What is …illegal shift? Two or more offensive players/team A simultaneously move between the ready and the snap. They can NOT move towards the scrimmage line at the snap: only parallel or away from the scrimmage line Linemen of team A may NOT move or shift. Both players have to stand still for a second and then another pair/one player can go into motion. They have to pause and stand still for one second before the snap. If one player stops and the other play continues and the ball is snapped: foul! If a wideout wants to shift or move, he has to step into the backfield, take a brief STOP, and then go into motion away from or parrallel with the scrimmage line. If he forgets to stop: foul! More then one shift is possible per play. Moving towards the line / forward while the balled is snapped: foul! Examples

What is …holding? An illegal action where one player keeps another from advancing by grabbing him and holding him back. Can be both on team A or team B. Players may block each other but not… With locked hands Graps, hook, pull or encircle an opponent If the foul occurs in teams A’s end zone, and the foul is by A: safety! Holding will not always be called unless is affects the play. Clear take-downs away from the play will always be called. Examples

What is…a catch? A) Firmly grasping the live ball in flight B) First touching the ground inbounds When pushed out of bounds: NO catch When carried out of bounds: official decides: would he have landed inbounds or not? VERY unusual C) Maintaining firm control when landing on the ground. The ground can cause an incompletion When someone receives a forward pass, gets hit at the same time, ball pops out: NO fumble, but incomplete pass! Ball is dead. When someone receives a forward pass, catches it, makes a football move and then the ball pops out due to a hit: fumble! Ball is live. Examples

What is…pass interference? Applies only on: A legal forward pass that has crossed the neutral zone has not been touched by a player or official The contact must hinder / disturb the opponent. Just having contact is NOT enough. When there is no contact between players: NO OPI/DPI When there is contact behind the neutral zone: NO OPI/DPI When there is contact out of bounds: NO OPI/DPI When the pass is illegal: NO OPI/DPI When the pass is behind the neutral zone: NO OPI/DPI When the pass is uncatchable: NO OPI/DPI When an ineligble player of team A has DPI committed on him: NO DPI However, other fouls can be in play: holding,… Both players have as much right in taking possession of the ball. Examples

What is…horsecollar tackle? A foul where the ball carrier is grabbed by the inside back collar of the shoulder pads or jersey OR the inside collar of the side of the shoulder pads and pulled down immediately. A very dangerous tackle! If he is grabbed at the front of his shoulder pads en pulled down: no horsecollar. If the ball carrier is grabbed by the shoulder or jersey and just ridden to the ground over a couple of yards: no horsecollar. It must be an immediate take-down. If the ball carrier is in the tackle box and then pulled back by the inside of the pads: no foul Reasoning: ball carrier has no speed so less dangerous… More or less: open field tackle Examples

What is…clipping? An illegal block at or below the waist with the force of contact coming from behind. In the free blocking zone, clipping is allowed by team A linemen, BUT… If the contact is at or under the knee, it is not accepted and will be ruled clipping as a foul Clipping is not a foul against the runner Clipping is not a foul if it is against an opponent who first engaged himself in ‘accepting the block’ and then all of a sudden turns his back to the ‘clipper’. Examples

What is…Block below the waist? A block below the waist is a legal block but illegal in some cases: Team B players may not block below the waist on team A players in their backfield in position to recieve a backward pass. No blocking below the waist is allowed on free kick and scrimmage kick plays. Against the ball carrier: no foul. No blocking below the waist is allowed after a change of possesion. Against the ball carrier: no foul. Team B players may not block eligible team A receivers, below the waist. Unless it is in an effort to get to the ball or ball carrier. Crackback blocks: team A linemen (more then seven yards from the middle lineman) and team A backs (outside the normal tackle position) can not block below the waist in the direction of the ball. Examples.

What is…Block in the back? An illegal block with the force of contact coming from behind and above the waist In the free blocking zone, a block in the back is allowed by team A linemen, BUT… If the contact is at or under the knee, it is not accepted and will be ruled clipping as a foul A block in the back is not a foul against the runner. A block in the back is not a foul if it is against an opponent who first engaged himself in ‘accepting the block’ and then all of a sudden turns his back to the ‘clipper’. No blocking in the back is allowed on free kick and scrimmage kick plays. Against the ball carrier: no foul. Examples