Expert: Vic Winnek - 11/3/2007

Question
During the Purdue-Penn State game, a Purdue receiver stepped out-of-bounds late in the game in an effort to stop the clock, but the ref signalled for the clock to keep running. Was that because he was not moving forward when he stepped out?  The announcer said the ref was wrong.

Answer
FOLLOW UP
MIKE:
I just spoke to another official from the MidWest who saw the game and if we are talking about the same play, the receiver/runner was grasped by a defender close to the sideline, his forward progress stopped inbounds and he was driven backward out of bounds but as he was going backward the defender lost the grasp of the runner and the runner stepped OB.  This is why the official gave the wind the clock signal and did not stop the clock- because forward progress was stopped inbounds and the runner was driven backward and out of bounds [when the runner stepped OB he was not in the defender's grasp].

Is this the play you are asking about???

Vic Winnek
NCAA FOOTBALL OFFICIAL

Mike
Thanks for your question.  I did not see the play but I think you hit the nail on the head.  Usually when a runner tries to go out of Bounds but his "Forward Progress" is stopped inbounds and then he goes out of bounds, the clock will continue to run.  The covering official will been seen by winding is arm in several revolutions to signal the runner did not kill the clock and that his forward progress was stopped in bounds before stepping out of bounds.

I hope this answers your question.

Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official

Follow up information about Forward Progress.  This is an article I wrote on the subject a couple of years ago.

FORWARD PROGRESS
By Vic Winnek

Forward progress appears simple in concept – the forward most point of the ball when the play is declared dead. This simple concept is one of the most inconsistently applied and misunderstood rules of the game. “Forward progress”, one of the most significantly evolved rules,was first addressed in 1906 later edited in 1932, 1973 and again in 1988 providing the current definition.

The forward progress rules are utilized on most every play. However, officials frequently misapply them. The reason officials tend to misjudge this call is because they do not use the ball as their reference point. It is not the position of the runner’s foot or the runner’s knee. Rather, it is the position of the forward most point of the ball when the play becomes dead by rule. It is this
dead ball spot that determines forward progress.

Under the college rules: Forward progress is a term indicating the end of advancement by the runner or airborne pass receiver of either team and applies to the position of the ball when it became dead by rule. (NCAA Rule 2-8-2). Hence, the reference point is the ball. Officials must note the position of the ball when the runner or airborne receiver is no longer moving forward.

Under the high school rules: Forward progress is the end of advancement of a runner toward the opponent’s goal and determines the dead ball spot. When an airborne player makes a catch, forward progress is the furthest point of advancement after he possesses the ball if contacted by a
defender. (Federation Rule 2-15-1, 2). Again, the reference point is the position of the ball when the runner is no longer moving forward toward his opponent’s goal line. The Federation rule reference the “dead ball spot” which implies the forward most point of the ball. (2-40-3).

The rule is in part, objective – not open to interpretation. The official makes an observation and marks the spot at the location determined by the exact instant the ball becomes dead by rule. You see it and go to the spot. Mark the forward tip of the ball if the ball was carried with the length axis of the ball parallel to the sideline. Otherwise mark the forward most part of the ball.

Application of the forward progress rules also requires a subjective approach. This is when officials are called upon to use their judgment and make a decision that the ball carrier is no longer advancing toward his opponent’s goal line. Is the runner moving forward, sideways, or
backward? If the runner’s momentum is no longer going forward his progress has stopped. If the runner’s movement is solely sideways toward the sideline his forward progress has stopped.

Although the rule no longer uses the language: in the grasp of an opponent”; philosophically it is implied through tradition. Both high school and college rules deem the ball dead and forward progress stopped when the ball carries is “held so his (forward advancing) progress is stopped” (Federation Rule 4-2-2-a; NCAA Rule 4-1-3-a). NCAA Rule 4-1-3-a states that the ball becomes dead
“when the runner is so held that his forward progress is stopped.” Officials must determine if the opponent of the runner has sufficiently held or grasped the runner so as to have stopped his forward movement. This action is what kills the play not the whistle. A quick whistle can get an
official into trouble, but too much of delayed whistle can also cause problems. A quick whistle may lead to an inadvertent whistle. A slow whistle may allow for the ball to become loose or a player to become injured, etc. Therefore, officials must know when the forward movement has stopped.

Movement sideways or backward is not forward despite the fact that the runner's feet are moving and stepping  in a forward direction when the runner is in the grasp of a defender.  Plays close to the sideline also present issues.  Make sure a player who is running toward or near the sidelines gets his forward progress but also make sure that you know if the forward progress was stopped in bounds or out of bounds.  Again moving lateraly or sideways is not forward.

A runner who is running sideways and is grasped or held by an opponent is no longer advancing the ball forward. Likewise, a ball carrier that is being pushed backward by an opponent is no longer advancing the ball forward and by rule the ball is dead. In situations where a runner is hit,
knocked backward but not held in the opponent’s grasp, the runner may still advance the ball forward. The reason forward progress is not stopped is because the runner was not grasped. An airborne receiver who catches the ball and then is driven backward by an opponent and the ball then declared dead will be awarded the forward progress spot at the place where he received the pass. When a runner steps out of bounds the forward progress spot is where the ball was when the runner stepped out of bounds. On plays where the runner/airborne receiver stretched out the ball (before being downed) at the sideline, the forward progress spot is the foremost point of the ball where it intersects the sideline.

On every play officials must know when the ball becomes dead. For forward progress purposes the ball becomes dead when: the runner is out of bounds; the runner is held so his forward progress is stopped; when any part of the runner’s body other than his hand or foot touches the
ground; inadvertent whistle or when the runner’s helmet comes off. Additionally, under the NCAA rules when the airborne pass receiver is so held and subsequently carried and prevented from returning to the ground.

Marking Forward Progress:

Forward progress is not the point where the runner’s knee first touches the ground or where the runner’s foot goes out of bounds. The reference point is the BALL (usually carried at the shoulder/chest). Mark forward progress by “squaring up” from the sideline and align your
forward foot with the forward most part of the ball. Using common sense, not to give an advantage to a team, try to start a new series of downs (after a change of possession) on a yard line. This makes it easier to see the line to gain, measure and march off penalties. Contrary to
some officials’ practices, this does not mean you always mark the ball on a yard line for each down. Mark progress where the ball lies.

There are times when it is extremely difficult to determine with precision where the dead ball spot is (e.g. run plays up the middle into a pile). In this instance, the officials must watch the runner. See where the ball is being carried (i.e. tucked in one arm at his rib cage, held with both hands in front chest high, etc.) Reme mber, the ball is not carried at the knees or thigh or at the
waist level. Use the runner’s chest and shoulders as a reference point when you have lost sight of the ball and it is not loose. Mark forward progress by moving parallel to the runner then square up, pinch in as necessary. Indicate the spot by standing with both feet together, using your forward most foot as the mark.