Officially Speaking: Think safety first
Editor's Note: Officially Speaking with Steve Hall is a feature that allows readers to ask questions about high school football rules, and will run weekly throughout the season. Hall has been a New Hampshire high school official since 1989 and has officiated more than 200 regular-season varsity games in all five divisions. He has also officiated 10 championship games and more than 25 playoff games. Hall, who is a member of the New Hampshire Football Officials' Association Board of Directors, has been the NHFOA rules interpreter for the last seven years. Questions for Steve can be sent to rbrown@nhfootballreport.com. Questions may be edited for clarity.
Question: Can you please get Mr. Hall to clarify an overtime rule for me? When a game is played under federation rules the defense can not score by returning a kick, fumble or interception. The defense can score a safety or recover a fumble in the offensive team's end zone or intercept a pass in the offensive team's end zone. Although these events might be very rare, it is possible for the defense to score during overtime playing under federation rules.
J.B.
Answer: When I researched the response to this question, I realized that part of a response that I provided to one of last week's questions was incorrect. Last week, I was asked about the defense scoring on a try. My response was that the defense cannot score on a try or during overtime. The latter statement is incorrect. The defense can indeed score during overtime, although the probability of doing so is remote. New Hampshire uses the "10-yard" overtime rule where each team is given a first and goal on the opponent's 10-yard line and has 4 downs to score. If the defense gains possession during overtime, the ball immediately becomes dead and the offensive team's series of downs is ended. If the offensive team retreated deep into its own territory and was downed in its end zone, it would be a safety for the defense. If the offensive team fumbled the ball in its own end zone and the defense recovered, or if the offense threw a pass from its own end zone and the defense intercepted it in the end zone, it would be a touchdown for the defense. In either case, the score by the defense would end the game.
Thanks for the clarification, coach.
Thanks for the clarification, coach.
Question: Here's the situation: Offensive team has the ball on the defensive team's 25-yard line and trails by a point with two seconds to play in the game. Coach doesn't feel comfortable attempting a field goal, so he sends in a pass play. The quarterback's pass is intercepted in the end zone with no time left on the clock. The player who intercepted the ball immediately turns and fires the ball through the goal posts in celebration. He has not taken a knee or been tackled by the other team, and he is in the end zone when he releases the ball. Would this result in a safety and a victory for the team that threw the interception?
J.S., Amherst
J.S., Amherst
Answer: No, the game would be over and the defensive team would win because the result of the play is a touchback. The determination of whether a play is a touchback or a safety depends on who is responsible for
putting the ball into the end zone (known as "force"). If a team forces the ball into its opponent's end zone and the ball becomes dead in the end zone in possession of the opponents, it is a touchback. In this play, the offense forced the ball into the opponent's end zone by virtue of the pass. The defense then threw the ball backwards and the ball became dead when it exited the end zone. The backward pass was legal,so there is no foul on the play. When the ball exited the back of the end zone, it was in possession of the defense. Therefore, it is a touchback.
putting the ball into the end zone (known as "force"). If a team forces the ball into its opponent's end zone and the ball becomes dead in the end zone in possession of the opponents, it is a touchback. In this play, the offense forced the ball into the opponent's end zone by virtue of the pass. The defense then threw the ball backwards and the ball became dead when it exited the end zone. The backward pass was legal,so there is no foul on the play. When the ball exited the back of the end zone, it was in possession of the defense. Therefore, it is a touchback.
Question: Mr. Hall, please help me with this hypothetical play. Let's say a running back is hit at the 1-yard line and drags two defenders into the end zone for a touchdown. As the running back crossed the goal line, an official notices that the player's mouthpiece is wrapped tightly around his facemask. Clearly the mouthpiece wasn't in the player's mouth when the play began. Is the touchdown nullified? Also, would the call be any different if the mouthpiece was dangling from the facemask? In that situation it's possible that the mouthpiece was knocked loose during the play. Thank you.
J.M.J., Plymouth
Answer: If a player's mouthpiece is wrapped around the player's facemask, it's pretty obvious that it either wasn't being worn when the play started, or the player removed it during the down (which is unlikely in the above
play, since it would be difficult to wrap the mouthpiece in the facemask while the play is in progress). If the officials noticed the mouthpiece wrapped around the facemask prior to the snap, it would be a dead ball foul for failure to properly wear required equipment when the ball is about to become live (5 yard penalty). If the officials didn't notice the mouthpiece prior to the snap, then in the play described above, it would be a foul during the down. This foul is unsportsmanlike conduct for failure to properly wear required equipment during the down (although it's only a
5-yard penalty). All unsportsmanlike conduct fouls are enforced from the succeeding spot. Therefore, the touchdown would count and the offense would be penalized five yards on the try.
If the mouthpiece was dangling from the facemask, unless the covering official observed the player removing it during the down, there would be no foul since it would be assumed that it accidentally came out as a result of
contact during the down.
play, since it would be difficult to wrap the mouthpiece in the facemask while the play is in progress). If the officials noticed the mouthpiece wrapped around the facemask prior to the snap, it would be a dead ball foul for failure to properly wear required equipment when the ball is about to become live (5 yard penalty). If the officials didn't notice the mouthpiece prior to the snap, then in the play described above, it would be a foul during the down. This foul is unsportsmanlike conduct for failure to properly wear required equipment during the down (although it's only a
5-yard penalty). All unsportsmanlike conduct fouls are enforced from the succeeding spot. Therefore, the touchdown would count and the offense would be penalized five yards on the try.
If the mouthpiece was dangling from the facemask, unless the covering official observed the player removing it during the down, there would be no foul since it would be assumed that it accidentally came out as a result of
contact during the down.
Check the archives for more Officially Speaking features with Steve Hall.
