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College Football/Player down -- dead ball?
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Question
NFHS Rules --
The quarterback, in the process of being tackled, places his hand (and the ball) on the ground. No other part of the player touches the ground and the player does not lose possession (or control) of the ball. The quarterback eventually slips the grasp of the defender and runs for a touchdown.
Under high school rules, was the player down or not?
Kyle,
For the the ball to be declared dead and The runner to be deemed down any part of his body other than his hand or foot must touch the ground. Your play situation leads me to believe under high school rules that the player was not down and a TD was scored.
However, you mentioned the phrases: "The quarterback, in the process of being tackled" and "slips the grasp of the defender". These phrases lead me to wonder if the QB/runner's forward Progress was stopped prior to him slipping out of the grasp and running for a TD. Often times a player will not be "down" but his forward progress is deemed stopped even though his feet are moving in place, sideways, backward.... And thus the ball is declared dead at that point.
To answer your question, it depends if the forward progress was stopped as to whether the ball became dead. As to whether the runner was down, no he was not if only his hand touched the ground, but again if you are asking if the ball should have been blown dead at some point when he was in the grasp of the defender, it is possible if the covering official deemed his forward progress stopped.
Please feel free to provide more information and I will follow up with you.
Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official
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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
Publications
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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