Football 101 – Officials signals and rulings



Contacting The Kicker – when an opposing player touches a kicker unless the kicker has motioned to run or pass, or incidental contact had been made which does not affect the play at the referee’s digression.


PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME SIGNALS AND CALLS CHANGE. ALSO, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND AMATEUR FOOTBALL



Crack Back Block – when an offensive player who’s lined up three yards away from the offensive line moves back toward the ball in a lateral motion to make a block on an opponent below the waist.

Cut Block – when a player hits an opponent below the knees when that opponent is blocking for a passer, a kicker, ball carrier or if that opponent is a potential pass receiver.


Penalty Declined – when a team decided to not take the gain given by an opponent’s penalty.

Delay Of Game – when team delays the play of the game in anyway unless permission given by the referee.

Player Disqualification – when a player must leave the game due to rough play, physical abuse of an official, excessive objectionable conduct against another player, and unsafe equipment.




Facemask – when an opponent grabs another’s facemask on their helmet to either make a tackle or hinder a players progress.


Intentional Grounding – when a passer intentionally throws away the football in the backfield to avoid a loss of yardage when there is no eligible receiver in the vicinity.


Holding – when another player grabs another player with either hands or arms unless making a tackle on a ball carrier.




Illegal Block – when a player hits an opponent below the waist after a change of possession or when an opponent hits another from behind in an attempt to prevent a tackle.



Illegal Contact – when an player makes contact with a potential pass receiver, either on offense or defense, to prevent a reception by the opponent.


Illegal Pass – when a team throws more than one forward pass on a single play or the forward pass is thrown after the player has crossed the line of scrimmage.


Illegal Substitution – when a team has more than the allowed twelve players to participate in the huddle or formation before the snap of the ball.




Ineligible Receiver – when a player catches a pass whose number is between 40 to 69, or has not notified the referee that they are eligible.



Interference – when an opposing player obstructs, blocks, screens, or charges toward another opponent, with or without contact, that might inhibit one from making a play on a live football.




Too Many Players – when either team exceeds the maximum number of players allowed on the field during a play.




No Yards – when a team defending either a punt or a kickoffdoes not give the receiving player five yards to catch the ball.



Objectionable Contact – when a player makes an aggressive action toward a referee, opposing player, or spectator by either taunting, verbal abuse, obscene gestures, or use of ones helmet to intimidate another or throwing ball in an at a player, bench, or referee.


Offside – when a player on offense lines up or moves across the line of scrimmage or when a defensive player enters the neutral zone causing an offensive player to move.



Piling On – when a player falls on an opposing player who is already down by contact.




Procedure – when an offensive lineman, during the set position, moves before the ball is snapped or when an offensive player crosses the line of scrimmage.


Roughing The Passer – when an opposing player makes contact with a quarterback who does not have possession of the ball.


Roughing The Kicker – when an opposing player makes contact with a punter who has started the motion of kicking the football and has not attempted to run or pass.

Safety – when a ball becomes a dead ballin the team possession the football’s own end zone resulting in a score of two points.



Single Point – when a team who has just scored a touchdown and completes the one-point convertby kicking the ball through the uprights or when a place-kicker or punter kicks the football through the back of the end zone or becomes a dead ball in the opponent’s end zone either on a missed field goal attempt or a punt.


Spearing – when a player uses his helmet to make contact with an opponent in an unnecessary and excessive manner.



Touchdown or Field Goal – when a player with possession crosses their opponent’s goal line with ball possessionresulting in a score of six points or when a place-kicker kicks the football through the uprights resulting in a score of three points.


Time Count Violation – when the offensive team exceeds the 20 second time limit to start a play after a referee has started the official game clock.


Time In – when a referee starts the official game clock.



Time Out – when a referee signals the stoppage of the official time clock.




Tripping – when an opponent intentionally hits another below the knees to stop the player.





Unnecessary Roughness – when a player used unnecessary force on an opponent including using the helmet to butt, ram, or spear an opponent, grabbing the facemaskof an opponent, contacting the passer or kicker etc…

Source: http://www.ualberta.ca/~kclay/CFLSite/Basics.htm#Huddle

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Football 101 – Officials signals and rulings

Contacting The Kicker – when an opposing player touches a kicker unless the kicker has motioned to run or pass, or incidental contact had been made which does not affect the play at the referee’s digression.
(more…)

Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.

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