Rules review video: assisting the runner, batted ball in the end zone, and substitution mechanics

2024 Media video #12

National coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw posted his weekly video breaking down rules and interpretations from week 11 of the college football season. Before discussing plays for this week, Shaw went over statistics about kickoffs.

Injury rate on kickoff plays has decreased below the average for a typical scrimmage play, which is where the rules committee would like it to be. In FBS, an average of 11.2 kickoffs per game have occurred, with about 31% of those kickoffs being returned. In FCS, 49% of those kickoffs are being returned. The committee is monitoring the kickoff changes made by the NFL and will evaluate after the season if any changes are needed in the NCAA for next year.

• Assisting the runner. On a fourth down, the quarterback took a direct snap and ran for the first down. However, a flag thrown by the umpire resulted in an assisting-the-runner penalty. As we discussed on the 1st & 25 podcast, the runner may be pushed or driven forward, but no teammate may grasp, pull, or lift the ball carrier to assist in forward progress. This grasp-and-pull action did occur on this play, and the penalty was five yards from the spot of the foul with the down replayed.
• Illegal batting in the end zone. A runner fumbled the ball at the 20-yard line, and the ball ended up going out of the back of the end zone. Typically, a fumble by the offense that goes out of their opponent’s end zone is a touchback, but on this play a defender, while in the end zone, clearly batted the ball out of the back of the end zone. By rule, no player may bat a loose ball forward in the field of play, but in the end zone, no player may bat the ball in any direction. A defensive foul during a loose ball from the offense’s fumble is enforced from the spot of the fumble, so the offense keeps the ball with first-and-goal from the 10-yard line. (It is not a safety, because the fumble put the ball into the end zone.)
• Targeting. A runner was making his way through the line when a defender grasped and pulled on his facemask, which the umpire flagged. Just after being twisted around, a second defender targeted the runner with the crown of his helmet, drawing a second flag. Replay reviewed the call and confirmed all aspects of the targeting call. However, since both fouls were live-ball fouls, by rule, only one of the penalties can be accepted and enforced.
• Fumble. A quarterback dropped back to pass and was under heavy pressure. He was hit, and the ball traveled forward and appeared to be caught by a defensive lineman. The officials on the field ultimately ruled the play an incomplete pass, but replay intervened and reviewed the play. Replays showed that the ball clearly hit the ground prior to the defender catching the ball. However, replay reviewed all aspects of the play, and it was clear that the quarterback lost possession before his hand started to move forward, so the ball was, in fact, a fumble and not a pass. As such, even though the defender did not catch the ball before it hit the ground, he did recover it. Replay overturned the call, and the ball was given to the defense.
• Sideline interference. The quarterback dropped back and attempted a long pass. The pass fell incomplete, but we saw the side judge was on the ground and nowhere close to the play. Upon further review, upon starting his backpedal, the official made contact with a team member in the white, “restricted area.” All team personnel should be behind the white during active play. By rule, any contact with an official in the restricted area by team personnel is sideline interference and an automatic 15-yard penalty. If team personnel are in the restricted area while the ball is live or during continuing action after the ball is declared dead without contact with the official, it is a sideline warning for the first infraction, a delay-of-game penalty (5 yards) for the second and third infractions, and a 15-yard team unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty for all subsequent infractions.
• Substitution process. After a play, the offense decided to substitute, sending in two substitutes from the sideline. This triggered the substitution process, where the referee goes into the “iron cross” signal to communicate that the process has begun. Once the offense declares their new 11 players, that opens a 3-second window for the defense to start their substitution process and send new defenders onto the field. The defenders entering and leaving the field are protected, and his replacement is given time to exit the field as long as they do not delay. On this play, after the 3-second window had closed and the center judge had moved away from the offensive line, the defense sent in their substitutes. These players were no longer protected and must get off the field before the offense snaps the ball, or it is a live-ball substitution foul.