2011 Season Week 1 Clips
Scrimmage Kick Touched by Team B and then Batted in the Team B End Zone It is fairly common to see Team A players attempt to bat a scrimmage kick that is near Team B's goal line in an attempt to keep the ball out of the end zone and to pin team B deep in its own territory. Often this results in Team As bat actually being in the end zone. Although batting loose balls in the end zone is a foul, 6-3-11 makes the act simply a violation if the batting occurs BEFORE Team B has touched the kick. In this video, the kick was apparently touched by Team B before the Team A bat in the end zone. Therefore, 9-4-1-c should apply. The foul by Team A would be enforced from the previous spot with a replay of down. Had Team A simply recovered the ball in the end zone they would have been awarded a TD. (From a mechanics point-of-view, crews should discuss the wisdom of an official who was NOT on the goal line dropping a bean bag in the end zone when an official who WAS on the goal line did not do so.)
Rugby-style Kickers and the Tackle Box The rule regarding running into and roughing the kicker was changed in the past to account for the increasingly popular rugby-style punter. These punters take several steps left or right before kicking. While moving they are reading the defense and may opt to run or pass instead of kicking based on the defense's reaction. The rule change (9-1-16-a-4-b) removes the kicker' special protection when he carries the ball outside the tackle box. In this video, the viewer can judge whether the ball was taken outside the tackle box prior to being kicked. (It is noted there are 11 yards from the top of the numbers to the hashes. The tackle box extends 5 yards from the snapper who was on the hashes)
Passers and the Tackle Box The tackle box is also an important point of reference with regards to passers who are attempting to legally throw the ball away in order to conserve yardage. If the passer is attempting to conserve yardage and throws the ball to an area where there are no eligible receivers he must: 1 - be or have been outside the tackle box and 2 - must ensure the ball crosses or lands beyond the neutral zone. If he fails in either of these, he has committed a foul for an intentional grounding. Has this passer fouled?
Blocking Below the Waist This year's rule changes related to blocking below the waist officially added a new term to the rule book, the "north-south line" (2-12-9). Players who are restricted at the snap may block low towards their adjacent sideline as well as along the "north-south line." Observe the 2d receiver from the bottom of the screen in this video and judge whether his block was "north-south".
Kick Catch Interference Illegal touching of a scrimmage kick, deliberate or unintentional, can be kick catch interference. This play appears to be exactly what is described at AR 6-4-1-III. (Typically announcements will refer to a team by using the terms offense, defense, kicking team, or receiving team, and not by referring to team jersey color. The term "first touching" may be a Federation term and is not normally used in NCAA announcements).
10 Second Subtraction This year there will be times when certain fouls during the last minute of a half will qualify for the "10 second subtraction" from game clock. This play is an example of such a time and a very well-done announcement of the subtraction.