Houston TASO Football Chapter 2009 Regional Meetings The Running Game Redding Study Guide Rules in Brief

1. Houston TASO Football Chapter 2009 Regional Meetings The Running Game Redding Study Guide Rules in Brief

2. The Runner • Running play – includes run when ball in player possession, all action when ball is loose, over when ball is dead • Runner - in or simulating possession of a live ball • Ball carrier is a runner in possession of a live ball • Horse collar tackle foul, exceptions • Tackle box – neutral zone, 5 yds each side of snapper, and end line • Ball carrier loses helmet – ball dead • Ball carrier simulates knee to ground – ball dead • Cannot assist a ball carrier (5 YD, Basic Spot) • Judgment – re: runner delivering blows

3. Handoffs • Legal to hand the ball backward at any time • Legal to hand ball forward when players are behind LOS • Receiving player on LOS at snap must turn, face own goal and be 2 yards behind LOS. (5 YD from spot, loss down) • Legal to pass ball backward at any time • Handling ball forward is illegal beyond neutral zone • No ‘loose ball’ in vicinity of snapper (5 YD Prev. Spot, loss of down)

4. Fumbles • Player must have possession before he can fumble • Fumble occurs when player losses possession other than by passing, kicking, or handing to a teammate • Muff – unsuccessful attempt to secure loose ball • Ground cannot cause a fumble • Fumbles are caught/intercepted before ball touches ground • Fumbles are recovered after ball touches ground • If fumble is caught/intercepted/recovered – ball is alive and can be advanced (except 4th down or try) • Momentum rule – if within 5 YD line, original momentum carries ball carrier into end zone and the ball becomes dead there, then ball spotted where first possessed

5. Fumbles – 4th Down & Try • Before change of possession only ball carrier who fumbled can advance ball. • If other team A player recovers/catches ball – Dead ball • Dead ball spot (4th down) – spot of fumble if ball is in advance of that spot or at spot of catch/recovery if ball is behind spot of fumble • On try if fumbled and caught/recovered by team A other than player who fumbled – try is over, no score • What about muff of snap by QB?

6. Fumbles – Out of Bounds • Ball is dead, belongs to fumbling team: • at spot of fumble if ball goes out at or beyond that spot, • or at out of bounds spot if ball goes out behind spot of fumble • Game clock starts on referee’s signal • Team A fumbles in field of play (going in) and ball goes into end zone and out of bounds – touchback • Team A fumbles from own end zone into field of play and then out of bounds - Safety

7. Forward Progress • Forward progress is the end of the advance of a ball carrier towards Team B’s goal • Ball carriers advance ends: • He is down by rule • Forward progress is stopped • Steps out of bounds • Losses possession of ball • (Exception – inadvertent whistle, helmet completely off) • Ball carrier is down by rule – any part of body other than hand or foot touches ground, forward progress is foremost point of ball