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"Behind the Stripes" is written by veteran WIAA official B.J. Ligocki, an active message board poster who has helped many people on the forum with rules questions and clarifications over the years. The purpose of this feature is to help educate readers on any rules changes, clarify procedures and rules, provide case studies and examples, and answer any questions people may have on officiating or rules.

Feel free to email any rules or officiating questions you have at wissports.ask.a.ref@gmail.com for inclusion in future articles.

B.J. Ligocki:  Football (Master Level – 9 yrs – State Championship); Basketball (Level 5 – 17 years – Regional); Baseball/Softball (Level 5 – 17years - Regional)

Here are the answers to last week’s Football Rules quiz.
Answers are in italics.

1. 1st & 10 @ A40 A10 throws a pass intercepted by B32. B32 returns it to the 50 where he fumbles and the ball is recovered by A88. Does the clock start on the ready whistle or the snap?

The clock will start on the ready whistle. All we have here is a first down by A, an interception or fumble does not cause the clock to start on the ready, only when team B or team R is awarded a new series.

2. 1st & 10 @ B40 QB A10 rolls out and throws a pass from the B38 yard line (over the line of scrimmage). B33 interferes with receiver A88 at the B10, and B28 intercepts the ball and is tackled at the B15. Whose ball and where on the next play?

Pass interference only applies on legal forward passes. Team B will decline the penalty for an illegal forward pass and take the result of the play. B ball at the B15.

3. 1st & 10 @ B40 As time expires in the first half A20 runs out of bounds at the B10. After he is out of bounds, B55 hits him late out of bounds. What is the next play? Does this change if it is at the end of the 4th quarter?

Periods are not extended for dead-ball fouls. The penalty would be enforced on the kickoff for the 2nd half. At the end of the game, this would be ignored unless it is deemed flagrant. If flagrant, the player would be ejected, but the game would not be extended.

4. Team A scores a TD and their kicker likes to kick XP’s from the right hash, so the ball is spotted there. B90 jumps offside on the snap. Now the coach decides to go for 2, but the super secret 2 point play needs to be run from the left hash. Should the officials move the ball after the penalty is marked off?

Yes, the ball can be moved after a penalty by either team.

5. 4th & 15 @ A20 20 seconds left in the game, 5 seconds left on the play clock and the game clock is running. A66 false starts. Does the game clock start on the ready or the snap? Is this the same ruling at the end of the 1st quarter?

If the clock is restarted on the ready, the game will end. The rules allow for the referee to start the clock on the snap if he believes Team A fouled to manipulate the clock. In this situation, if the game is within a score, we would start it on the snap.

If this play occurred at the end of the first quarter, we would start it on the ready, ending the quarter.

6. **From the Forum Special** 3rd & 5 @ B10 A34 runs to the B6. During the play B99 is flagged for hitting a defenseless player away from the play. After the play, A88 is flagged for taunting. What is the location of the ball and down and distance for the next play?

The live ball foul would be enforced from the end of the run, putting the ball at the B3 yard line and giving A a first down. Then enforce the dead ball foul, moving the ball back to the B18, where it will be 1st and 10. Never start a series with the line to gain more/less than 10 yds. away unless first and goal or a penalty after the ready whistle.

7. Punt by K is rolling to R’s endzone. K33 runs into the endzone and reaches back across the goal line to down the ball at the ½ yard line. The ball never breaks the plane of the endzone. Where is the ball spotted?

1st and 10 for R at the R ½ yard. Only the position of the ball matters, not the K player.

8. Punt by K bounces over the goal line where it is grabbed in midair by K4, who jumped from the 2 yd. line. While in the air he throws it back to the 1 yd. line where R80 recovers it and returns it to the R20. Where is the ball spotted?

See #7, position of the ball broke the plane, spot the ball at the R20.

9. A punt hits R22 in the back at the R20. K10 picks up the ball there and runs into the endzone. During the run, K60 is flagged for a block in the back at the K15. Whose ball and where is it spotted?

If K recovers the ball, it is dead immediately, they cannot advance it and there is no foul for BIB. K ball 1st and 10 at R20.

10. I saw this play on ESPN this week and it was labeled “HS team pulls off amazing play.”

Don’t know time, down or distance. QB in shotgun acts confused and begins walking towards his bench communicating with the sideline. Assume everyone else is set and legal formation. Once QB gets halfway to sideline (no defense lined up outside the end of the line), the ball is snapped to the running back. The QB takes off downfield and receives a pass from the RB for a touchdown. Is this legal? If not, what is the call?

These types of plays (wrong ball, don’t have enough players, etc.) are blatantly illegal. Almost any kind of deception is legal in football, but you can’t use substitution or acts that make the defense believe the snap isn’t imminent. I can only hope they stop being shown and taught to coaches. This play is 15 yd. unsportsmanlike foul.

How did you do?