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College Football/Illegal forward pass
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Question
In NCAA, Big Ten Football, is a forward pass legal if only one leg is behind the line of scrimmage and the rest of the body is in front?
Mark
Thanks for the question. NCAA rules govern all college football. The key to understanding the rule for an illegal forward pass thrown from beyond the neutral zone is that it is the passers "Entire Body" must be beyons for it to be a foul. If only one leg is behind the neutral zone and the rest of the body is in front of it, it is not an illegal forward pass because the entire body is is not beyond. This rule was changed a few years ago to reference the "Entire" body to make the rule more lenent and more objective.
The rule requires that a Legal Forward pass by a Team A player be thrown from a point in or behind the neutral zone. For the pass it be illegal the passers "entire body" must be beyond the neutral zone. The rule provides a forward pass is illegal if: "It is thrown by a Team A player whose entire body is beyond the neutral zone when he releases the ball." Rule 2-19-3 states: A player has crossed the neutral zone if his "entire body" has been beyond the neutral zone. The reference is not a foot, hand or the ball, but rather the entire body.
I hope this answers your question. Feel free to follow up if need be.
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Your answer was prompt, suthoritative and to the point. This rule has generated much controvery because it doesn't seem logical in view of other boundary rules. Thank you very much. | ||
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Vic Winnek
Expertise
Will Answer all queries RE: Rules of Football - NCAA & Federation; Officiating; Instruction on Football; Mechanics & application of rules; Setting up Instructional programs and clinics for: Officials, coaches and media; Liability Issues (Legal & Insurance questions)arising from coaching, playing, refereeing, product liability. Serve as an Consultant and Expert Witness in Football Related Matters in Tort and Contract (Standard of Care for: officials, coaches, players, assignors, BOD; Player, equipment, field & stadium Safety; Fee issues, independant contractor workers compensation. History of the College football game -its evolution. MY PURPOSE IS TO INFORM & EDUCATE FANS, MEDIA, THOSE INTERESTED IN FOOTBALL ABOUT: THE RULES, THEIR APPLICATION, PHILOSOPHIES; OFFICIATING; LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVING FOOTBALL. I WILL NOT RESPOND TO BASHING OF TEAMS, COACHES OR OFFICIALS. I will not dignify rude or disparaging comments with a response, nor entertain questions that use profanity or questions that suggest Football officials are corupt, such an insinuation is ridiculous and ludicrous.
Experience
24 years officiating High School & College football, NCAA Referee, Umpire, Back Judge & Line Judge 2 years Arena Football-substitution official Instructor of NCAA & Federation Officials, Played prep and college football; coached High School football; Athletic trainer; 23 years of instruction in Officiating Football
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Past President of Calif. Football Officials Assoc; Western Collegiate Football Officials Assoc.; CFOA-Long Beach Unit Board of Directors CFOA-South Bay Unit & Long Beach Unit, Pres. Executive Council of Calif. Football Officials Assoc.; CIF Presidents' Council on Officiating; Chairman Ethics Committee
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Referee Magazine; California Football Officials Assoc. Instructor's Guide; NACC Div. 1-AA football officials' clinic; CFOA instrutional materials; Articles written: Line of Scrimmage mechanics, Forward Progress, Side Line Warnings, 2006 NCAA New Timing Rules; various instructional materials, UWLA Law Review
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BA USC 1987
JD UWLA School of Law 1996
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Big 12 Mini Clinic
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NCAA Div. 1 FCS & Div. III, 9 post season Bowl Games, play-offs, CIF Div. 1,2,3,5,8,9,10,12 Final, 10 years CIF Semi-finals, 19 years of CIF play-offs, California State High School Football Div. 1 Championship, Southern California Jr. College Championship, NCAA Div. III Semi-Final
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