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Expert: - 9/23/2011


Question
QUESTION: When a runner with the ball in his hand before falling down touches the ground with the ball still in his hand to stop from falling, is that a good play and can he continue running

ANSWER: Ernesto
Great question.  In your question the ball remains live, the runner is not considered down - he may continue running.  A runner is considered down when any part of "his body" [not the ball] other than his hand or foot touch the ground.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWER.
Theres another issue that happened to us last weekend.
First an ten on B 20 yard line A throws a pass , B intercepts on the 7 yard line, runs around and gets inside the endzone and he is tackled from the facemask inside endzone. One of my refs makes a safety signal and then kicks from the 35 yard line. did we mess up ??

Answer
The safety is correct.  The foul is enforced on the succeeding Kick off which if from the B 20 yardline [kick after safety].  You enforced the penalty the full 15 yards from th e20 yardline.  The enforcement was correct.  Remember it is B kicking off to A.

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