2011 MINI MISSIVE #7


USE OF HANDS - LOOSE BALL

9-3-3-c Exception 3: When a player attempts to reach a runner or legally attempts to recover or catch a fumble, a muff, a backward pass, a kick or a touched forward pass, he may push an opponent in the back above the waist.


#

PLAY

RULING

1
RUN: 4th and 7 on B's 17. A33 advances to B's 14 where he fumbles. A88 recovers while grounded on B's 8. A88 pushed B94 in the back on B's 13 during the fumble.
B 1/10 B14. Legal attempt to recover or catch a fumble. A88 was attempting to get to the loose ball. The 4th down fumble is returned to the spot of the fumble.
2
RUN: 2nd and 8 on A's 32. A33 advances to A's 38 where he fumbles. A88 recovers while grounded on A's 42. A88 pulls B94 out of the way on A's 39 during the fumble.
A 2/12 A28. Illegal use of hands. A88 may push but not pull or grasp.
3
RUN: 3rd and 8 on B's 28. A33 fumbles on B's 24. The ball rolls to B's 20 where A67 pushes B87 at the back of B87's knees, knocking B87 down. This allows A67 to recover the ball on B's 17 where he is downed.
A 3/19 B39. A67's push in the back of B87's knees is a clipping foul since the block was below the waist with initial contact from behind.
4
PASS: 2nd and 8 on A's 32. A16's legal forward pass is muffed by A88 on A's 38. Eligible A82 pushes B94 in the back on A's 36 and catches the pass while grounded on A's 39.
A 3/1 A39. This is a legal attempt to catch this touched forward pass.
5
PASS: 2nd and 8 on A's 32. A16's legal forward pass is muffed by A88 on A's 38. A77 pushes B94 in the front on A's 36 and catches the pass while grounded on A's 39.
A 2/13 A27. Legal block but illegal touching. A77 is not eligible to catch this touched forward pass.
6
PASS: 2nd and 8 on A's 32. A16's legal forward pass is muffed by A88 on A's 38. A77 pushes B94 in the back on A's 36 and catches the pass while grounded on A's 39.
A 2/18 A22. Illegal block and illegal touching. A77 is not eligible to catch this touched forward pass.
7
PASS: 2nd and 8 on A's 32. A88 voluntarily steps out of bounds on A's 33. A16's legal forward pass is muffed by A22 on A's 38. A88 returns inbounds and pushes B94 in the back on A's 36. A80 catches the pass while grounded on A's 39.
A 2/18 A22. Illegal block in the back by A88 since A88 was not eligible to touch the ball until a Team B player touched the ball.
8
KICK: 4th and 10 on A's 40. A4's untouched punt rolls out-of-bounds on B's 33. While trying to get to the rolling ball, A36 pushed B58 squarely in the back on B's 40.
B 1/10 B43. A36's push in the back is a foul since A36 may not legally recover the ball. A36's block is legal if B44 had touched ball after the punt crossed neutral zone.
9
KICK: B32 catches the kickoff, advances and fumbles on B's 20. A88 picks up the ball, advances and fumbles on B's 4. The ball rolls into B's end zone where B41 pushes A40 at the knees from the front in order to get to the ball. B41 recovers in the end zone while on his knees.
A 1/goal B2. B41 commits an illegal block below the waist foul. The block occurred during a free kick down.
Rom Gilbert / rom.gilbert@sfcollege.edu / July 15, 2011 / (p-1107)