Emphasis points

KINGSTON  FOOTBALL  OFFICIALS  ASSOCIATION
POINTS  OF  EMPHASIS
2007  SEASON

Holding;

-          Traditionally we have called Holding only when the foul had a bearing on the play and / or at the point of attack

-          Not holding if hands are inside; within frame of opponent

-          Not holding if defender is not trying to get away

-          Encircling with hands outside the frame is Holding

Pass Blocking;

-          As long as O linemen is continuing to move his feet and retains position that is NOT holding

-          Retaining position means maintaining position between the rushing defender and the QB in a relatively straight line

-          Losing position means that defender has “beaten” O lineman and defender’s frame is beyond that relatively straight line

-          The critical criteria is position - if O retains it is OK, if O loses and grabs then that is Holding

-          Rip moves by D linemen have been often seen incorrectly as holding by O

-          If the hand or arm is pinned there by the defender and the O lineman cannot get it free, he should not be penalized

-          We will need to see the entire play action, not just the end result

-          Holding by D at LOS on scrimmage plays - D lineman or LB engages lineman and pulls him out of the lane, allowing another D player to fill the hole or rush the QB - that is Holding

-          A pancake situation where there is no grabbing of the player underneath is NOT Holding  

Holding on  Kick  Returns;

-          If return team player maintains contact with hands inside within the frame then it is NOT holding

-          If hands come outside or there is a takedown, then that is Holding

-         It is the obligation of the blocker to gain position, and retain position

-          Coaches wish us to call Holding wherever it occurs on the field

-         We will still need to apply an “advantage gained” judgment

Illegal  Blocks  on  returns;

-          A player has 4 sides; front, left, right, back, and is only Illegal to hit him in the back

-          Point of contact must be clearly in the back for a foul to be called

-          A block on the side of the shoulder is Legal

-          Position of the blocker’s head has no bearing

-          The direction the blocked player falls, headfirst or sideways, has no bearing

-          It is the obligation of the blocker to gain position and maintain position

-          Steer blocks where the contact is primarily from the side and continues past the ball carrier are Legal. Position of the blocker is the key criteria. If the contact point becomes the back, it is an Illegal Block

-          Players who have been knocked down and remain in the FP may be contacted as they attempt to get up as long as contact is not made in a striking fashion and above the shoulders

-          A decidedly violent hit anywhere in the back will be ruled as UR

-          Coaches wish us to call illegal blocks wherever they occur on the field

-          We will still need to apply an “advantage gained” judgment

 Roughing  the  Passer;

-          QB “protection” is a priority

-          Any contact above the shoulders, leading with the helmet or the face mask, and contact with the passers arm - we will penalize as UR

-          Defenders must be in control of their body at all times, and may not hit a QB late after the ball is gone

-          Defender jumping into the air to attempt to block a pass does not give him the right to hit the QB either late or high, whether he touches the ball or not

-          Defenders coming off blocks, and off balance, may inadvertently hit a QB low, keys being the words “off balance” and  “inadvertently”

-          Any deliberate attempt to hit a QB late, and low at the knees, could penalize as RP

-          On a shovel pass, QB will be protected if he throws the pass in a timely manner - If he waits until the last possible second to throw the ball, he will lose protection

-          If QB makes a fake handoff and attempts to show he still has the ball, he may be tackled ( but not roughed )

-          After an interception, it's not "open season" on the QB

"Legal  cheap  shots";

 -        Excessive hits far away, or well behind the play when a player wipes out an opponent not participating in the play or unaware of the coming contact will be penalized as UR

Illegal  Contact on Receivers;

-          Penalty applies prior to the ball being thrown

-          Defender may contact receiver within one yard of LS, but may not clutch or grab him as he is proceeding downfield

-          Once off the LS, the receiver has the right to run his pattern

Legal  Contact on Receivers;

-          Defender may use hands and arms to ward off an offensive player who is threatening his position

-          Contact by a defender while defending his established position is legal, however the defender cannot attack a receiver running a pattern. 

-     A knockdown or takedown where a defender is not defending his position is a foul

-          Defenders may re-route receivers but not by stepping up, or stepping out, and attacking them.

-          Defender may adjust his established position by moving his feet and then may defend that position, stationary or moving, with hands and arms

 Pass  Interference;

 -          Penalty applies after the pass is thrown, while the ball is in the air

-          Defenders do not have to play the ball - However, if they are not playing the ball they may not contact, or faceguard, a receiver

-          Faceguarding is identified as hand or hands up in the air above shoulder level, interfering with the receiver’s view of the flight and arrival of the ball

-          Two players both looking at the ball and playing the ball - have contact while attempting to catch the pass - is Not PI. Both O and D players have a right to attempt to catch the pass. Even if the contact is a collision, as long as both are playing the ball.

-          A player Off or Def, is not allowed to “go through” a receiver to get to the ball 

-          One player playing the ball, and the other not playing the ball - contact by player not playing the ball is PI

-          On an underthrown pass, if a player tries to come back to play ball and is prevented from doing so by contact initiated or created by a player not playing the ball, then it is PI

-          When an offensive player is running a pattern parallel to the sideline and the defender has inside position and is running beside the receiver, there is no foul if the ball is thrown inside and the defensive player’s position prevents the receiver from getting past him to the ball

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