2011 MINI MISSIVE #5

Helmet Comes Off During Play - 3-3-9

The ball becomes dead only when the ball carrier's helmet comes off. If any player's helmet comes off, the clock stops at the end of the down. A team may avoid ZAP 10 by taking a team timeout. But, the helmetless player must leave the game for one down regardless of whether a team timeout is taken. A false start, dead ball offside or any other foul occurring during the ready for play immediately following loss of a player's helmet do not qualify as a "down" (2-7-1). In the following plays, assume that (a) the helmet comes off during the down; and (b) the helmet comes off without a "helmet foul" by the opponent unless otherwise stated or implied.

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PLAY

RULING

1
B96's helmet comes off. Ball carrier is tackled inbounds. Measurement shows ball short of a first down. Game clock shows 0:30.
B96 must leave game for a down. Team A has ZAP 10 option. Game clock starts on ready if ZAP 10 elected, snap if not elected.
2
B96's helmet comes off. Ball carrier is tackled inbounds. Measurement shows a first down. Game clock shows 0:30.
B96 must leave game for a down. Team A has no ZAP 10 option since the clock was stopped for the first down. Game clock starts on ready unless team timeout.
3
B96's helmet comes off. Ball carrier is tackled inbounds short of the line to gain. B96 was offside. Game clock shows 0:30.
B96 must leave game for a down. Team A has no ZAP 10 option since the helmet coming off was not the only reason for stopping the clock.
4
A66 is blocking B98 to protect the passer when his helmet comes off. The blocking continues until the incomplete legal forward pass is thrown. Game clock shows 0:30.
No foul by A66 nor B98 as this is considered the "immediate action in which they were engaged". A66 is excused from the game for one down. Team B has no ZAP 10 option since clock was stopped for the incomplete pass.
5
A 4/10 B45. A19's legal forward pass is complete for a six-yard gain. B92 pulls on passer A19's face mask causing A19's helmet to comes completely off. Game clock shows 7:00.
A 1/10 B24. Roughing the passer. A19 need not leave game for a down since his helmet coming off is result of a helmet foul by B92.
6
A19's legal forward pass is incomplete. B94 roughs the passer by leading with the helmet into A19's back causing A19's helmet to come off. Game clock shows 0:30.
DQ B94. A19 must leave game for a down. Team A has no ZAP 10 option since clock was stopped for the incomplete pass.
7
A 4/8 B48. Ball carrier A16 steps on sideline on B's 42 and is then hit by B94. A16's helmet comes off. A flag is thrown for the late hit. Game clock shows 0:30.
B 1/10 B27. A16 must leave game for a down since A16's helmet came off during "immediate continuing action" after the down ended. There is no ZAP 10 option since clock was stopped when ball carrier went out of bounds.
8
Third and 12 on A's 8. B96's helmet comes off after legal block. B96 runs to catch ball carrier and is blocked by A88. B44 tackles ball carrier on B's 3. Game clock shows 0:30.
A 3/12 A8. Offsetting fouls. B96 is considered a player out of the play. B96 must leave game for a down. Team A has no ZAP 10 option since (a) there are offsetting fouls; or (b) the clock was stopped for the first down. Game ball for B96.
Rom Gilbert / rom.gilbert@sfcollege.edu / June 17, 2012 / (p-1205)