Question: Can you please ask Mr. Hall to provide the ruling for the following play that I've seen on video. I'm not sure what state it took place in, but it wasn't New Hampshire. It was blatant cheating.

The offensive team was set at the line of scrimmage with three receivers split to the right side. When the ball was snapped the middle receiver ran a square out and continued to run off the field into his teammates on the sideline. Meanwhile, maybe 30 yards down the field, a player left the sideline and joined the play.This player ended up catching a long pass. You can actually see a coach sending the 12th player on the field. Not sure if the officials caught this because the video ended after the catch. Assuming the officials were aware of what happened, what kind of penalty would there be?
S.D.F., Portsmouth

Answer: The game occurred in Georgia on November 2. I saw a video clip of the play on an officials discussion board that I frequent. A foul should have been called for illegal participation, but based on what I read and saw on the video clip, I believe the officials missed the call. It's illegal participation if a substitute enters the field and participates during a down. Since this foul occurred during a pass play, the penalty would be fifteen yards from where the ball was previously snapped and the down would be replayed.

Question: Roger, I used to live in Berlin but recently moved to Manchester. I don't have a "favorite" team, but I try to see two games each weekend. I don't mind the fans yelling at the officials, but nothing annoys me more than when someone who doesn't know the rules starts yapping. Last weekend I heard a guy telling an official that
the ball should be placed where the runner's knee lands when he's tackled. Good grief!
I'm hoping Mr. Hall can provide a brief explanation of each official's main responsibility. I'm sure there's not an "expert" out there who could provide the answer.
Bill Lemay, Manchester

Answer:  When I first began officiating, I was amazed at what I did not know about the rules. (Many people today are likely still amazed at my lack of knowledge about the rules.)  Football is a very complicated game from a rules perspective, and the casual fan usually doesn't understand the details of the rules. Comments like the one you heard about the ball being placed where the runner's knee hit the ground are common misunderstandings.

While the responsibilities of each official are very detailed and spelled out in the officials manual, the following is a general description of each official's responsibility in a 5-man crew.

Referee: Overall responsibility for the crew from an administrative perspective. The referee is the crew chief and is the ultimate authority on any matter pertaining to the game. He (along with the umpire) meets with each head coach prior to the game to get captains numbers, ensure that teams are properly equipped, and answer any questions the coach may have about legality of plays.  The referee is positioned in the backfield about 12 to 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage on the passing arm side of the quarterback. He counts the offensive players before every play. He is responsible for players in the backfield until they cross the line of scrimmage, and for blocking in front of and around the runner while the runner is in the backfield. He is also responsible for the quarterback on pass plays, and is the only official who calls roughing the passer or intentional grounding.  Because of the referee's responsibility for the quarterback on pass plays, he rarely sees any action beyond the line of scrimmage on passes.  On punts, field goals and extra-point kicks, the referee is responsible for the kicker and holder.

Umpire: The umpire is responsible for checking the legality of any player's equipment prior to the game, including padding on casts, knee braces or any other equipment. The umpire is positioned behind the linebackers, usually 4 to 7 yards deep. He checks for illegal numbering of linemen and counts the offensive players. He is primarily responsible for all interior line play. He spots the ball after every down, and he walks off penalty yardage. On pass plays, he moves forward to the line of scrimmage and assists the referee to determine whether the pass is made
from beyond the line of scrimmage.

Linesman: He is positioned on the side of the field away from the press box (usually the visitor's side) and is responsible for the yardage chains. He meets with the chain gang prior to the game to go over what is expected
of them.  He counts the defense before every play (along with the line judge and back judge). He is responsible for ensuring that there are at least 7 players on the line of scrimmage at the snap. He marks the runner's forward progress on running plays.  When the ball is snapped inside the defensive team's 10-yard line, he is responsible for the goal line (i.e., he rules on whether the team scores a touchdown). On pass plays, the linesman moves 5 to 7 yards downfield to cover short passes, and is responsible (along with the back judge) for calling any illegal blocking or pass interference. He covers his sideline for the entire length of the field. On punts, he is responsible for knowing whether the kick crosses the line of scrimmage. On field goal attempts or kick tries, if he is facing the holder, he moves under the closer upright to rule on whether the ball passes inside of the upright.

Line Judge: Essentially the same responsibilities as the linesman, except that he on the side of the field where the press box is located and is not responsible for the chains.

Back Judge: Responsible for the game clock,and he times the game if there is no clock or if the field clock malfunctions.  He meets with the clock operator prior to the game to review timing rules. He lines up behind the deepest defensive player, usually about 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. On sweeps, he is responsible for getting to the sideline and escorting players back onto the field if they go out of bounds on their opponent's sideline. He is also responsible for all deep passes and has goal line responsibility if the ball is snapped outside of the 10-yard line, and end line responsibility if it's snapped inside the 10-yard line. On punts, he is responsible for the deepest receiver and for the ball if it goes beyond the deepest receiver. On field goals and kick tries, he is under an upright and is responsible for determining whether the ball goes over the crossbar and inside of the upright.

Question: I'd like to ask Steve if he would explain the pass interference rule as it pertains to a receiver behind the line of scrimmage. For example, a running back who has the ball faked to him and is tackled or held up as he attempts to get in position for a screen pass.
M.L, Hudson

Answer:  Pass interference only applies when a pass crosses the line of scrimmage, and only to contact that occurs beyond the line of scrimmage. If the pass doesn't cross the line of scrimmage, a running back could be
blocked away from the pass to prevent him from catching the ball, but he could not be tackled, as that would be holding.  However, if there is a fake handoff, the officials would have to determine whether the defender
knew the running back did not have the ball. If there was any question about whether the runner had the ball, no foul would be called.  However, a defender could not tackle a running back in the backfield if it was clear
that he did not have the ball.

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